DSLR camera advice request

[map]

After making some inquiries in the past on this forum I'm looking to possibly upgrade my camera. What with Xmas on the way it might be a good enough excuse to extend the overdraft.

So, looking at a DSLR to do sports photography. So looking for a decent fps rate with a good buffer size.
Cameras in the frame so far are

1. Canon D400 depending on the package/lens deals and the £50 cashback if bought before end of year.

2. Nikon D40. I'm a Nikon virgin so any pros and cons welcome. Also the D40X, but what's the difference apart from the price?

3. Samsung GX1L or GX1S (don't know the difference in spec..) Same as the Pentax DL2 and DS2), The GX1S can be had for around £250. Maybe not as fast as the canon but takes SD memory (which I already have) and AA recharge batteries (which I also have).

So, any advice welcome.

Thanks in anticipation
____________________
...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Kickstart]

Hi

First off. The Pentax / Samsung has a very limited range of autofocus lenses. Basically nothing available at the longer end of the range.

Nikon D40 is 6mp. There is also the 10mp D40X. To be honest I would not worry too much about the mp count. Decent enough cameras but will only use the newer Nikon lenses (with built in a/f motors), with the older lenses (and most non Nikon lenses with the Nikon mount) just being useable for manual focus.

Canon is a decent enough camera. However best guess is it will be replaced first quarter next year (Canon seem to have an 18 month replacement cycle generally, the 400D is a year old). Decent selection of lenses, plenty of aftermarket choice.

Personally I would say the Canon is your best choice with the Nikon a close 2nd. Close enough that if you have access to Nikon lenses then it would easily go into first place, and the Nikon is priced more competitively.

However, longer term the body is the cheap bit. Go for the system that suits you best. Bodies get replaced regularly but the lenses last far longer.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[owdamer]

I just got a canon 400d and i'm well chuffed with it. I paid just over £400 for it, got a decent discout on some other stuff to go with it, and £50 cashback to look forward to. My girlfriend already has a 300d which is pretty good, but the 400 does seem to have a few more features. I bought the canon coz we we were happy with the old s40 powershot we had, she really likes her 300d, and me buying the 400 means we can share any lenses that we buy. Another added bonus was the 400d has the same batteries as my s40 so I already have a few spare.

[_Will_]

I have the D40, good little camera.
The difference between this and the X is the Mp count, which unless you are going to be blowing them up to huge sizes, i wouldn't be too fussed about if price is an issue, D40's are getting cheap around now.

Its an entry level camera comparable to the D70 in terms of performance.

The only thing about the D40 is that because its so small the motor for the autofocus is in the lens (af/s lenses) which are more expensive and generally don't have a manual focus option, you can use other lenses but will only be able to use them in manual mode.
For sports photography you'll be looking at telephoto lenses straight away regardless of what body you buy.

D40 has impressed me, you can find them cheap at the moment, they take Sd/Sdhc aswell.
____________________
Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|