That is suposed to be like that, its to do with DOP or Depth Of Field and is something you may not come across as much with Point And Shoot cameras. It's basically about choice. To blur or not to blur.

Danny

Although I haven't used it much, here are some pics taken without care or attention and generally just messing.

The first was taken with the 75-300mm lens @ f5.6 and fully zoomed out to 300mm. ISO 400. The camera was just set on AUTO. It's also been compressed as jpeg down to 500Kb so its not great but at the above lens and camera settings its not bad.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/2571895524_7049c78112_b.jpg

Second picture was taken with the same lens 75mm @ 4.5 ISO 100.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2571087269_8dac9d5607_b.jpg

You will find the similar results with the 18-55mm lens. That said, i've since had better but photos are on home computer. Better results come about when you actually know how to use camera. I was rushing during these shots therefore focus wasnt perfect.

Nikon are know for good lenses throughout the range. Even cheap lenses are okay. The cheap lenses that come with the canon XT/rebels/xti's etc aren't as good but how much different? Splitting hairs perhaps. There is slightly more clarity with the forementioned nikon lenses but the canon more than makes up for it in features that you just cannot live without.

It boils down to the photographers needs and preferences and you will only find that after uses both. This thing about feeling natural/easier to hold is nonsence. I can switch between both Nikon and Canon without issue. It's simply what you get used to.

Taking good photos is as much about the camera as it is about the photographer understanding how to use it. If your after the best/easiest camera! Buy one and learn to use it properly otherwise you will always be dissapointed.

Danny

Just in case, my email is nokuaru@gmail.com

Thanks!!

I have been going back and forth between the canon xti and the nikon d40x. this will be my first dslr and i really dont want to make the wrong decision. can anyone help me out? if im looking to shoot portraits, landscapes, concerts/moving subjects, which camera should i buy? i also wont have the money to buy too many lenses, so i want to make the right the choice. can anyone tell me which one would be better for my needs?

Help me choose the right DSLR Cam for me and my sport. Thanx!!!

from your comparison, i've gathered that the d40x is harder to focus and catch action in dim lighting, which would be important for the type of shots i would be taking. but the XTi also requires more lenses to get better shots, which is not something im ready to start doing quite yet.

any help?

I've been reading on the SLRs and I wanted to make the change from the point and shoot to entry level SLR cameras. I'm really looking at getting a camera to allow for good indoor shots (not sports), but obviously will use it for all other occasions, (trips, landscapes, portraits).

I'm deciding between the D40X and the 400D, sounds like the basic D40X twin lens kit with the 18-55 lens and VR 55-200 kit sounds like a better option since most reviews have somewhat argued that the canon lens kit is not good.

What I'm stuck on is the dust reduction capability of the canon 400D, does this really make any difference to the camera performance over time. Furthermore, I've been led to believe that the 400D is overall, a better camera, that comes with a very bad lens. I've heard there are 'enthusiast' (excuse my spelling) dual lens kits that can come with the 400D, so was wondering wheter this kit would provide images that are equivilent to the kit I've described above.

I'm on a budget (I live in Australia) so don't want to spend megabucks on a expensive lens for the Canon 400D. Can you help me decide which to go for?

Roger

I was planning to go with the 400D but only today that Ive came across the D40x. I know both have underwater casing for scuba diving. The cons about the 400Ds lenses and the D40x indoor shooting got me confused with what camera to buy.

I shoot indoors when I shoot aquarium photos and lighting is a problem when scuba diving (problem with the D40x). While the 400Ds lenses having just low quality pics (my friend has one and he's not satisfied with the lens kit included). Im still opting for the 400D and I don't mind tweaking photos but the canon lenses are to pricey.

I hope you could help me decide which camera to buy. Thank in advance.

1. The XTi is now $499 online with the kit lens (check http://www.pricegrabber.com)

2. Nikons in general seem to be more affordable than Canons (at least in the entry-level, lower ended DSLR market) – hence more suited for those on a budget

Once again, I'd advise the rest of us to not worry too much about the technical aspects (self-cleaning, ISO settings, auto-focus, etc.) and try to learn the fundamentals first. Perhaps the D40 series will help you to become more of an "all-rounded" and well balanced, skilled photographer first; and a technical photographer second.

Good luck to all!

(btw, Armando, you are a shining example of what i'm trying to say. Superb photos sir! You are a great inspiration to my mantra of "skills first, tools second".)

I'm yet another photography junkie, new to the game of DSLR's and excited about getting my first DSLR fairly soon!

I think the general trend here in this thread is that the Nikon D40 & D40x would be the camera of choice for those of us who'd prefer to learn the basics and fundamentals of photography without the hassle of technical jargon or technobabble (not every former Point & shooter knows what f-stops and shutter speed and ISO sensitivities are about – not just yet anyway).

The reviews I've read so far about the Nikon sing praises about its ease of use, above average Kit-lens performance and ergonomic design. I my humble opinion, I feel that this is the more ideal situation for a budding amateur photographer – this camera helps make photography easier for you while you learn about the fundamentals; composition, timing, patience, exposures, focal lengths and technique. The lack of auto-exposure bracketing, field-of-view preview and so on as compared to the XTi shouldn't affect what's one of the more important considerations of photography – learning to take "well thought out, properly composed and oriented pictures". The d40 and d40x should be the beginner's dream, where they can learn to create a picture first, then later on as their skill grows, learn to manually tweak the D40/x and learn the finer aspects of this art.

That being said now, the Canon XTi is a fantastic camera, once you've learnt how to pair it with a better lens (assuming you know some caveats of photography already). The marketing machine behind canon has perhaps pushed its kit 18-55mm lens towards the consumer who is ready for their first DSLR and is hungry to grow and learn much more – thus coaxing them towards purchasing a better lens from Canon or its supported 3rd parties – and generating more profit. Now, Canon lenses are in general: fantastic. The XTi is also a fantastic camera (read the reviews online – they all sing high-praise, so I'm sure it wouldn't be a bad final choice) but it doesn't seem as geared towards the budding beginner as the D40/x. It's perfect for those who want to jump right into the deep end and learn the more technical aspects of photography, perhaps assuming they already have a grasp of the fundamentals of "creating" good pictures.

Now with the announcement of the new D60 from Nikon, this is a very exciting time for us newbies . I'm very excited to see a lot more technical aspects being included in the new D60, and it seems so far that it's even better for us who may need the training wheels to help us grow into photography. The new Canon 450D XTi is also very exciting, but in my final word , i would like to say that I would personally go for the Nikons.

Perhaps as my skills (and budgets) grow over time, the months, the years, I will become a balanced composing-photographer (and I hope you all do too!!). Then the choices between Nikon and Canon may become clearer, as we'd be ready to get into the more pro-sumer level of DSLRs (the Canon D30 and above, vs. the Nikon D300 and so on).

Good luck to all you beginners, I'm choosing the Nikon (i currently use a Canon Powershot S3is, it's great to learn on) and I look forward to hearing what you guys have to say!

cheers!

If you see yourself taking snapshots for memories, then I'd say go with the Nikon D40X.

If you want more functionality in order to learn all you can about SLR photography, then I'd say the Canon 400D / XTi is a better choice.

If you want to shoot, for instance, macros 90-plus percent of the time and most of your photos will be shot in good light, then a prosumer superzoom camera such as the Panasoninc DMC-FZ18, might be a better idea.

Equipping a DSLR to match the huge zoom flexibility of the Panasonic FZ-18 would mean that you'll end up spending a lot of money, which is something you'd want to think about carefully first.

Good luck!