Nikon D40x - best settings for fish?

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12490616#post12490616 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by latazyo
dont feel stupid todd, I was the one that said index card in the first place

I wanted to point that out but...

But, I am going to have to try that, esp., since I have new 20K bulbs sitting in front of my door right now, sure that will screw things up.

I've been using the ( for lack of a better term ) chart that is in the white balance menu -- where you can move the "dot" around for bluer, redder, etc. Been working okay, but not perfect.

 

[luisgo]

Chris, maybe we are hijacking this thread but I will answer your question.

My father has a Nikon D80. It is a better camera but it is heavy! One good thing about the D80 is that old AF lenses will focus. With the D40x you will need the new AF-S lenses. The reason is that the focusing motor is in the lens in the D40x and only lenses with a motor will work.

One thing that I like more in the D40x is that the shooting information is in the LCD display. In the D80 the information is in the top control panel, which is very small. In dark rooms like when shooting your aquarium, it’s difficult to see the top panel.

I think that the quality is in the lens more than in the camera. I sold my 18-55mm lens included with the kit at ebay and purchased a used Nikon 18-70mm, which is of better quality.

For white balance I used the preset white balance setting with the white card but with the automatic setting I obtained almost the same results. I use post-processing software to adjust white balance.

Hope this helps.

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

Thanks for the info, this thread is about the settings for Nikon D40x...I'm just trying to figure out if that camera is the one I need, as I'm considering it. Sorry if we hijacked! Not intended.

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12492933#post12492933 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luisgo
Chris, maybe we are hijacking this thread but I will answer your question.

My father has a Nikon D80. It is a better camera but it is heavy! One good thing about the D80 is that old AF lenses will focus. With the D40x you will need the new AF-S lenses. The reason is that the focusing motor is in the lens in the D40x and only lenses with a motor will work.

One thing that I like more in the D40x is that the shooting information is in the LCD display. In the D80 the information is in the top control panel, which is very small. In dark rooms like when shooting your aquarium, it’s difficult to see the top panel.

I think that the quality is in the lens more than in the camera. I sold my 18-55mm lens included with the kit at ebay and purchased a used Nikon 18-70mm, which is of better quality.

For white balance I used the preset white balance setting with the white card but with the automatic setting I obtained almost the same results. I use post-processing software to adjust white balance.

Hope this helps.

Some would say having the LCD display on top is better and easier to see on top in that panel, out in the daylight...vs that color LCD screen, which can be hard in the daylight...right?

 

[latazyo]

the LCD can be hard to see in the daylight, but you can see pertinent information perfectly through the eyepiece as well and that is not affected by bright daylight or darkness

you can even see the shutter speed change as you turn the dial

 

[TriggerHappyDude]

So are you saying you like the D40 better than the D80?
I've still yet to hold these, is there a big diff?

 

[latazyo]

let's think of it this way, IMO a D40 is always great to have around because its super light, small, and makes awesome images

BUT, if it were my only body (which the D40 is) I would rather have a D80 if I were choosing b/w the two

I will keep my D40 until it dies, but Im already looking at getting a D300 for my next body