Amatuer photographer Camera's of 2008

AP has voted the followig for 2008 :-

Canon powershot G9 - Digital compact of the year
Nikon D40X - Entry Level Digital SLR of the year
Canon 40D - Enthusiast Level Digital SLR of the year
Nikon D3 - High End Digital SLR of the year

PeterUK300 wrote in post #4735097
AP has voted the followig for 2008 :-

Canon powershot G9 - Digital compact of the year
Nikon D40X - Entry Level Digital SLR of the year
Canon 40D - Enthusiast Level Digital SLR of the year
Nikon D3 - High End Digital SLR of the year

Sounds about right to me.

The only gripe I have is that I generally won't recommend the D40X to anyone. It's a nice camera, but it's practically incompatible with the entire line of Nikkor fast primes and I think fast primes are something a new photographer should get.

Ignoring that issue the D40X is a great entry level SLR.

JeffreyG wrote in post #4735305
Sounds about right to me.

my exact thoughts.

I can go along with that as well.... I just wish the G9 could do ISO 800 reasonably. But it is a pretty reasonable list.

Fairly predicable I suppose - Keeps both camps happy

I don't know but it is all about if you can afford it. You could still be an amature spending big dollars on a D3. I read that Nikon required you to summit certain credential of your photography in order to sell you a D3.

PeterUK300 wrote in post #4735097
AP has voted the followig for 2008 :-

Canon powershot G9 - Digital compact of the year
Nikon D40X - Entry Level Digital SLR of the year
Canon 40D - Enthusiast Level Digital SLR of the year
Nikon D3 - High End Digital SLR of the year

I fully rate the 400D over the D40X. Who the hell buys a camera that can't use half the lens lineup?

Maybe the old "learn on what you got" is being rated here

TooManyShots wrote in post #4741989
I don't know but it is all about if you can afford it. You could still be an amature spending big dollars on a D3. I read that Nikon required you to summit certain credential of your photography in order to sell you a D3.

i HIGHLY doubt that. Why would they turn away paying customers?

the_incubus wrote in post #4745983
i HIGHLY doubt that. Why would they turn away paying customers?

maybe they wanted to get it in the hands of pro's who were going to put it through the test? get some feedback from them to improve on?

randomlinh wrote in post #4746356
maybe they wanted to get it in the hands of pro's who were going to put it through the test? get some feedback from them to improve on?

ah perhaps before the initial release. But i doubt they said "Ok we are releasing the D3 but only if you have a good portfolio" or something like that. They probably gave it to a few seasoned professionals who perhaps are sponsored or have some connection with nikon to test it for them. Sorta like beta testers.

What about the 1DSMkIII? It has to win a category, since it's in a category all to itself

Accurate list save for the D40X. While it was very nice to hold in the hand, it simply didn't satisfy me compared to the 400D.

-buried settings which should have a dedicated button
-Lack of an AF motor (this is by far the largest con, missing out on a lot of quality lens)
-mirror lock up

Otherwise, it did give some great images out of the camera.

I read a letter from Nikon through one of the messages on http://www.dpreview.co​m/ stating something like you are not allowed to resell the D3. You are required to summit a letter of credentials to the dealer and to await for your order.

the_incubus wrote in post #4745983
i HIGHLY doubt that. Why would they turn away paying customers?

sadatk wrote in post #4746494
Accurate list save for the D40X. While it was very nice to hold in the hand, it simply didn't satisfy me compared to the 400D.

-buried settings which should have a dedicated button
-Lack of an AF motor (this is by far the largest con, missing out on a lot of quality lens)
-mirror lock up

Otherwise, it did give some great images out of the camera.

What Nikon figured out is that the majority of users who they are targeting with it are going to put it in auto mode and go shoot.
They are never going to explore much beyond that.
Everyone I know who has bought one has bought it too take pictures of their kids in lighting and fast moving situations their old p&s wouldn't work in.
They have no interest in learning anything beyond what they need to take those pictures.
They re-size the jpgs and email them to friends and family and on occasion print one or 2 at a local store.

The D40x is the best dslr for doing that right now with min. fuss or training.

For someone who wants too learn photography then I would recomend the xti or higher model.