[Dream]

Hello everryone, I've been browsing around e-bay and other sites on information for said cameras mentioned and I'm looking to upgrade from my D50 to something with a few more features.

Don't get me wrong, the D50 is a great piece of kit, but for me it's missing something ever since I had the oppertunity to use a D80 at university.

In terms of features I feel that the D80 has more than enough from what I've seen of it and the fact that there's less navigating to get to some of it's key features compared to the D50 is a plus. I could say the same about the D60 but I don't know if it's worth getting over a D80 as the D60 is the sucessor to the D40/D40X.

I'd like to get a D60 with an 18-55MM lens new (£420) but I feel that for the same amount of money I could probably get an immaculate used D80/D40/D40X with a lens (maybe 2) and a few other extras including a memory card and case.

I'd like to hear people's experiences with the range of camera's I've listed and have their feedback on each model's reliability, quality and features in the field.

And I'm glad to be part of your community!

[Wannabe]

I have a D80 and love it.. takes amazing pics, and i'm very happy with it.. no complaints! I'd buy it all over again!

[Dabhand16]

I'm not sure I'd swap a D50 for a D40/40x. If you want to trade up go for the D80.

[Dave]

On the basis you have already stated you have tried the D80 & like it, if you can afford it then go for it ... lovely piece of kit.

[JMitchell]

Yes, I strongly believe you'd get no satisfaction from going to a D40/x from the D50. There are less important features, and more silly things.
The D80 however is a great camera, so I'd go for that or wait until you can afford it if you can't now.

[slipstream]

If you can afford a D80 then go for it but I doubt you will find a good one for under £400, body only.

[marcinklysewicz]

could someone tell me something useful about d60? is it much better from d40x? i know that it's about £100 cheaper then d80 and i don't have enough money for d80. i'm planning to buy camera with Nikon AF-S 105mm f2.8 G VR ED IF Micro (about £490). i know that d60 is new model but it's my first DSLR camera i'm going to buy and i don't know which one d40x or d60 (d80 i would like to buy but...). i want nikon because of it's grip size - for my macro shooting i need to feel the camera comfortable. i was looking also for canon but i prefer nikon only because of that grip.

[JMitchell]

I've just got the April issue of Digital Camera Marcin, and it has a review of the D60. From what I could see, they were trying to say that it had important new features, but the only two they really mentioned were the kit lens (nothing to do with the camera!), and the eye detector below the eyepiece to turn off the info on the screen. It does have the D-Lighting feature, which is new, but probably not that useful in general shooting practice, and nothing a good exposure can't actually deal with, but perhaps you'd like it.

Apparently also, considering what you said about the size, they say it's "small, almost too small", so that doesn't bode particularly well for you really....

Things to bear in mind about the D40/x and the D60 is that you really aren't getting much dSLR for your money. I got my D50 for £240 body only, and IMO it's a far superior camera in terms of offering the flexibility of control that you are really paying for when you upgrade from a bridge to a dSLR. The three focus points on the D40/x/60 is a poor offering, and the lack of a focus drive pin is nothing short of crippling in terms of the lenses you can buy.
If I were you, I'd not go for any of them, and wait to buy the D80, which is far and away a better machine, as I'm sure others will agree. Especially for your macro work, where you will definitely want more than three focus points if you are ever using AF in the field.

[marcinklysewicz]

JMitchell your comment is very helpful, thank you . to be honest i was expecting answer like yours, and i was affraid that someone will say "wait for d80". reading d40x specification and comparing it with d60 on nikon website gaved me the same feeling that i don't really see the difference. and price for both is basicaly the same on amazon. and i need only body so those additional lenses are not eable to convinced me.
i think it's time to find some photo stock website and try to sell my photos .