Some call it "special retro", I call it "taking a photo". ;-) When my modern DSLR broke last year I went down to the basement to get my old D100 out of storage. That one doesn't meter with AI lenses either as it lacks the necessary aperture sensor on the mount. Just like the D40. After about two minutes I was back in the good old days of just guessing the exposure and happily snapped away until the CF card was full. Still amazed that the thing is still working after more than 20 years. The sensor is a bit dirty and the stop down button doesn't work any more most of the time. But otherwise... It has been a nice throwback to simpler times. On the other hand I would have definitely preferred my current camera not crapping out on me! :D ;-)
I think you missed one significant light metering feature in the D40 when in manual mode...or at least it exists on my D40x though I expect D40 as well. The internal light meter still operates in manual mode so an external one is not needed nor is the photo trick. When in manual mode the exposure comp bar in both viewfinder and back info display switches from displaying exposure comp setting to what the light meter thinks your exposure will be compared to what it thinks is ideal based on the manual settings. Basically it says for your aperture and shutter settings if you are going to be over, under or right on. Since that indicator has a couple stops worth of range each way you can tell when you are way off of getting close and exactly whee you sit. Basically shows you what you are going in the same way if it were in an automatic mode and set that same amount of exposure comp. So you can do much better than just guess and snap a photo, you can use that to judge. Still even when I am in an automatic mode, I often snap a photo to see if I want to put in some comp o change comp setting. And as a footnote, my N2000 in manual mode will show what it says the speed should be for the set aperture rather than controlling it and even my FE2 when in manual the internal light meter will tell me what I should set while a mechanical indicator shows the manual setting. So just because you switch to manual doesn't mean the built in light meter is still available to use as a guide even going way back.
I'm not quite sure I understand what you are saying. In my video I talk about lenses the D40 or D40x do not meter with. That would be non-AI, AI and AIs lenses. If I understand you correctly, you are talking about manual mode but with lenses the D40 and D40x meters with. This is basic manual mode with the meter making suggestions. But maybe I don't understand you correctly.
@@HerbsVintageTech okay, I missed that distinction, I wasn't testing with an older lens. I find it really surprising they have the metering in the lens and none at all in the body, that basically insures non compatibility with older lenses despite the same mount.
@@andreaslack8379 No problem. Metering is always happening in the camera body, never the lens. Backwards compatibility with older lenses was left out of the "entry level" and "mid-level" (like the 5xxx series) Nikons on purpose to save money and distinguish between those cameras and the "higher tier" ones. It was simply a selling point. What I wanted to show in my video is that even the lenses that don't meter work great with the D40(x) and the Nikon 3xxx series. Just just have to meter yourself. I see this as an opportunity to learn and grow as a photographer rather than see it as an incompatibility. If you check out my video on the Pentax K100D series you will see that Pentax built in the metering option for older lenses into their bodies. These are also good cameras to check out.
Great job Herb. I have a Nikon D40X with a kit lens. I also have an older Nikkor 35-70 AF f2.8 lens with manual aperature ring that I had on an old film camera. When I try to use it on the D40X, the screen reads, "Lock lens aperature ring at minimum aperature." Everything locks up until I change the lens from f2.8 to f22. However in the viewfinder, with the lens set to f22, I can see aperature settings of f2.8 under certain exposure setting in manual mode. What is going on? This makes no sense to me. I want to use this lens exclusively for shooting at f2.8 when I want to. Thanks for your great videos. I appreciate your knowledge and presentation style.
Thanks a lot. I also like the smaller lenses, mainly the MF (AI,AIS), AF or AF-D Nikkor lenses. Although I also have newer ("better") lenses, they will not make me a better photographer.
Which one do you recommend for professional work, Nikon D40 or Nikon D90, for nature, landscape, insect, and sky photography? The biggest advantage of D40 seems to be the ability to use SLR lenses without the need for any adapter.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "professional work". If you sell your photographs you have to determine what your customers require. Much more important than the camera bodies are the lenses you will use. Invest in lenses not camera bodies. The D90 will autofocus with more lenses, so that might be an advantage. Both the D40 and the D90 don't need an adapter for Nikon F (DSLR) mount lenses. The D90 has a newer CMOS sensor while the D40 has an older CCD sensor, so your photos will have a different look. By your questions I have a feeling the D90 might be a better fit for you. Heads up that I found that the D90 has reliability issues. We had more D90s in the repair shop than any other DSLR. Depending on where you live you might want to check out a D300 (same sensor as the D90 and much sturdier body) as well.
@@HerbsVintageTechThese are the options that fit my budget in the area I am in (I wonder if all of these support analog SLR lenses as well?) 1- Nikon D50 + Nikon AF-S DX 18-55 mm 2- Nikon D70 35-70 mm 3- Nikon D80 Tamron 17-50 mm 4- Nikon D90 body 5- Nikon D5000 body 6- Nikon D3000 body 7- Pentax K10D 18-55 mm
@@imam-icereyan5471 They all support analog SLR lenses except the D5000 and D3000 (watch my video Nikon D40 in Special Mode for more info as it applies to the D3000 and D5000 as well). If I would have the choice between all these cameras I would chose the D80 or the Pentax K10D. They are all capable of excellent photos.
I am getting a magenta cast when shooting black clothing on my D40, in both daylight and studio using flash. Have you experienced this, and what is the solution to get proper blacks?
Yes, I have done a preset white balance, and tried adjusting levels in custom optimize image and preset white balance. This has improved it a little, but not totally. I only shoot in JPEG, but will try JPEG/Raw and see if there is a difference. If not, I fear it’s just the sensor deteriorating given its age, so may have to just use it for shooting in black and white.
@@duncanthorn6338 I have not experienced any deterioration of the sensors of my 6mp APS-C cameras. I have also not seen any magenta casts in the shadows. It's possible of course. I have seen a sun damaged sensor once. I would think that if the sensor is deteriorating, it would affect not only the shadows. I would try to shoot raw and see if you can adjust the white balance manually. If you would like to send me a sample image, I could take a look. www.delmundoimages.com
Hi Herb Could youi tell me what brand exposure meter and model please. I also have a D40 and just got in and will be using it in manual mode. I have many exposure meters like gossin and sekonic. I also have Miranda and nikon cameras.
This was my first digital camera. I went all in and took the bait and ran because everyone was talking about how film was dead. Kodak was in bankruptcy, Nikon was ending the film camera game. And look at us now…. Film is still strong and film cameras are not going away
Yes, film is alive and well also. I truly like both, film and digital. What I don't like are overbearing digital cameras that have an unbelievable amount of functions and in the end deliver no better images.
The D40x uses a 10mp image sensor. If you do a side-by-side comparison of the 6mp sensor of the D40 and the 10mp sensor of the D40x you will see VERY little difference in resolution but quite a bit of increase in noise on the 10mp sensor, especially with ISOs over 400. This noise has a different look. The 10mp has a base ISO of 100 on the other hand, which can be of benefit. Personally I prefer the 6mp sensor in of the D40 as well as its faster flash sync (The D40x has "only" 1/250 sec.). If you can find a D40x for a good price, go for it, though. It's still a great camera. I will have a look at the sensor of the D40x in a future video.
@@omni1951 These are both AI lenses. One is the Nikkor 50mm f2 AI, the other is the 50mm 1.8 Series E (also a AI) lens. But you can use any 50mm non AI lens as well.
So, being a olympus user for 15 years im pretty ignorant with nikon. What would be a good 35mm equivalent lens thats compact with auto focus? Don't have any interest in manual.
I would just use the 18-55mm kit lens at 24mm. It's excellent and the set is light. Other than that there are not many options for cheap 35mm equiv. primes with AF on the Nikon D40. The 24mm 1.8 AF-s G is excellent, but I would not consider it compact. It's not cheap either. A D80 with a 24mm AF-D would be good.
Make shure to ONLY do this with pre Ai oder retrofitted ai lenses where the back of the aperture ring is flush in the back with no nose sticking out (thats an ai or ai-s lens). On most modern Nikon DSLRs this nose will lock behind a small plasic lever and you can‘t take it off anymore. Only exeptions to this i know is the old Nikon Df and the D5200.
You can use pre Ai lenses with the D40 no problem. I can make a video about this subject some time. Here some more info: www.aiconversions.com/compatibilitytable.htm Have a great day!
I have purchased a Nikon D40 KIT Set including the original Box in really rarely used condition. I am super excited. 🙂
Congrats! I'm sure you will have a lot of fun with it.
I like your attitude, Herb! Very refreshing.
Thank you!
Wow, what a cool tutorial. I just subscribed!!!! I have my Dad's old Nikon D40, hands down coolest video on this gem of a camera!!!
You can also use a photometer app in your cellphone to get the shutter speed if you don't have a proper photometer
That is a great way to practice the "Sunny16" rule for us film guys,( and yes I own 2 D40's and love to shoot with them as well).
Good video. I enjoy using old manual lens on my original D70 and D200. Both produce very pleasing color.
Some call it "special retro", I call it "taking a photo". ;-) When my modern DSLR broke last year I went down to the basement to get my old D100 out of storage. That one doesn't meter with AI lenses either as it lacks the necessary aperture sensor on the mount. Just like the D40. After about two minutes I was back in the good old days of just guessing the exposure and happily snapped away until the CF card was full. Still amazed that the thing is still working after more than 20 years. The sensor is a bit dirty and the stop down button doesn't work any more most of the time. But otherwise... It has been a nice throwback to simpler times. On the other hand I would have definitely preferred my current camera not crapping out on me! :D ;-)
D40 and D40X are really great budget cameras. I have them both.
I enjoy that with my D200 as well
I Love tais approach. I do it with my D5300. I use algo a lunasix 3 meter I bougth in 1972. I recognise that CCD have advantages over CMOS sensors.
It's not so much an advantage as a different look that's a bit hard to explain. In the end it's coming down to personal preference.
I was doing this on my D40 in 2008 using a Nikkor 28mm 2.8 ai manual focus lens.
It gives the equivalent of a 40mm lens. Perfect.
were you snapping portraits with 28mm 2.8ai ?
I think you missed one significant light metering feature in the D40 when in manual mode...or at least it exists on my D40x though I expect D40 as well. The internal light meter still operates in manual mode so an external one is not needed nor is the photo trick.
When in manual mode the exposure comp bar in both viewfinder and back info display switches from displaying exposure comp setting to what the light meter thinks your exposure will be compared to what it thinks is ideal based on the manual settings.
Basically it says for your aperture and shutter settings if you are going to be over, under or right on. Since that indicator has a couple stops worth of range each way you can tell when you are way off of getting close and exactly whee you sit.
Basically shows you what you are going in the same way if it were in an automatic mode and set that same amount of exposure comp. So you can do much better than just guess and snap a photo, you can use that to judge. Still even when I am in an automatic mode, I often snap a photo to see if I want to put in some comp o change comp setting.
And as a footnote, my N2000 in manual mode will show what it says the speed should be for the set aperture rather than controlling it and even my FE2 when in manual the internal light meter will tell me what I should set while a mechanical indicator shows the manual setting. So just because you switch to manual doesn't mean the built in light meter is still available to use as a guide even going way back.
I'm not quite sure I understand what you are saying. In my video I talk about lenses the D40 or D40x do not meter with. That would be non-AI, AI and AIs lenses. If I understand you correctly, you are talking about manual mode but with lenses the D40 and D40x meters with. This is basic manual mode with the meter making suggestions. But maybe I don't understand you correctly.
@@HerbsVintageTech okay, I missed that distinction, I wasn't testing with an older lens. I find it really surprising they have the metering in the lens and none at all in the body, that basically insures non compatibility with older lenses despite the same mount.
@@andreaslack8379 No problem. Metering is always happening in the camera body, never the lens. Backwards compatibility with older lenses was left out of the "entry level" and "mid-level" (like the 5xxx series) Nikons on purpose to save money and distinguish between those cameras and the "higher tier" ones. It was simply a selling point.
What I wanted to show in my video is that even the lenses that don't meter work great with the D40(x) and the Nikon 3xxx series. Just just have to meter yourself. I see this as an opportunity to learn and grow as a photographer rather than see it as an incompatibility. If you check out my video on the Pentax K100D series you will see that Pentax built in the metering option for older lenses into their bodies. These are also good cameras to check out.
Great job Herb. I have a Nikon D40X with a kit lens. I also have an older Nikkor 35-70 AF f2.8 lens with manual aperature ring that I had on an old film camera. When I try to use it on the D40X, the screen reads, "Lock lens aperature ring at minimum aperature." Everything locks up until I change the lens from f2.8 to f22. However in the viewfinder, with the lens set to f22, I can see aperature settings of f2.8 under certain exposure setting in manual mode. What is going on? This makes no sense to me. I want to use this lens exclusively for shooting at f2.8 when I want to. Thanks for your great videos. I appreciate your knowledge and presentation style.
The len's physical aperture changing doesn't fit with the cameras mount from what I understand
@@mpk6664 okay, thank you Herb.
Thanks a lot.
I also like the smaller lenses, mainly the MF (AI,AIS), AF or AF-D Nikkor lenses. Although I also have newer ("better") lenses, they will not make me a better photographer.
Which one do you recommend for professional work, Nikon D40 or Nikon D90, for nature, landscape, insect, and sky photography? The biggest advantage of D40 seems to be the ability to use SLR lenses without the need for any adapter.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "professional work". If you sell your photographs you have to determine what your customers require. Much more important than the camera bodies are the lenses you will use. Invest in lenses not camera bodies.
The D90 will autofocus with more lenses, so that might be an advantage. Both the D40 and the D90 don't need an adapter for Nikon F (DSLR) mount lenses. The D90 has a newer CMOS sensor while the D40 has an older CCD sensor, so your photos will have a different look. By your questions I have a feeling the D90 might be a better fit for you. Heads up that I found that the D90 has reliability issues. We had more D90s in the repair shop than any other DSLR. Depending on where you live you might want to check out a D300 (same sensor as the D90 and much sturdier body) as well.
@@HerbsVintageTechThese are the options that fit my budget in the area I am in (I wonder if all of these support analog SLR lenses as well?)
1- Nikon D50 + Nikon AF-S DX 18-55 mm
2- Nikon D70 35-70 mm
3- Nikon D80 Tamron 17-50 mm
4- Nikon D90 body
5- Nikon D5000 body
6- Nikon D3000 body
7- Pentax K10D 18-55 mm
@@HerbsVintageTech ccd colour better than cmos sensors
@@imam-icereyan5471 They all support analog SLR lenses except the D5000 and D3000 (watch my video Nikon D40 in Special Mode for more info as it applies to the D3000 and D5000 as well). If I would have the choice between all these cameras I would chose the D80 or the Pentax K10D. They are all capable of excellent photos.
I am getting a magenta cast when shooting black clothing on my D40, in both daylight and studio using flash. Have you experienced this, and what is the solution to get proper blacks?
Have you done a proper white balance with e.g. a grey card? Are you shooting RAW or jpgs?
Yes, I have done a preset white balance, and tried adjusting levels in custom optimize image and preset white balance. This has improved it a little, but not totally. I only shoot in JPEG, but will try JPEG/Raw and see if there is a difference. If not, I fear it’s just the sensor deteriorating given its age, so may have to just use it for shooting in black and white.
Update. I tested on JPEG/raw and they were almost identical, with only a very slight difference visible on the histogram
@@duncanthorn6338 I have not experienced any deterioration of the sensors of my 6mp APS-C cameras. I have also not seen any magenta casts in the shadows. It's possible of course. I have seen a sun damaged sensor once. I would think that if the sensor is deteriorating, it would affect not only the shadows. I would try to shoot raw and see if you can adjust the white balance manually. If you would like to send me a sample image, I could take a look. www.delmundoimages.com
Hi Herb Could youi tell me what brand exposure meter and model please. I also have a D40 and just got in and will be using it in manual mode. I have many exposure meters like gossin and sekonic. I also have Miranda and nikon cameras.
Hi! The meter is a Sekonic L-188. It's great, simple and reliable. Batteries are readily available.
This was my first digital camera. I went all in and took the bait and ran because everyone was talking about how film was dead.
Kodak was in bankruptcy, Nikon was ending the film camera game.
And look at us now…. Film is still strong and film cameras are not going away
Yes, film is alive and well also. I truly like both, film and digital. What I don't like are overbearing digital cameras that have an unbelievable amount of functions and in the end deliver no better images.
I don't watch videos with music playing while I'm trying to listen and learn.
Do you the prefer the image quality of the ccd sensor in D40 more than in the d40x?
The D40x uses a 10mp image sensor. If you do a side-by-side comparison of the 6mp sensor of the D40 and the 10mp sensor of the D40x you will see VERY little difference in resolution but quite a bit of increase in noise on the 10mp sensor, especially with ISOs over 400. This noise has a different look. The 10mp has a base ISO of 100 on the other hand, which can be of benefit. Personally I prefer the 6mp sensor in of the D40 as well as its faster flash sync (The D40x has "only" 1/250 sec.). If you can find a D40x for a good price, go for it, though. It's still a great camera. I will have a look at the sensor of the D40x in a future video.
Herb I need a little ore detail on you 50mm lens is it a none ai f mount or what?
I also have the D40
@@omni1951 These are both AI lenses. One is the Nikkor 50mm f2 AI, the other is the 50mm 1.8 Series E (also a AI) lens. But you can use any 50mm non AI lens as well.
Thank you Herb@@HerbsVintageTech
Bit confused here. Do Ai lenses work on this camera manually. I know I will lose the use of the electronics . Thanks in advance
Yes, you can use AI lenses. The camera can't meter, but the focus confirmation dot (rangefinder) will work. Non AI lenses will work as well, btw.
Thanks my friend
So, being a olympus user for 15 years im pretty ignorant with nikon. What would be a good 35mm equivalent lens thats compact with auto focus? Don't have any interest in manual.
I would just use the 18-55mm kit lens at 24mm. It's excellent and the set is light. Other than that there are not many options for cheap 35mm equiv. primes with AF on the Nikon D40. The 24mm 1.8 AF-s G is excellent, but I would not consider it compact. It's not cheap either. A D80 with a 24mm AF-D would be good.
Make shure to ONLY do this with pre Ai oder retrofitted ai lenses where the back of the aperture ring is flush in the back with no nose sticking out (thats an ai or ai-s lens).
On most modern Nikon DSLRs this nose will lock behind a small plasic lever and you can‘t take it off anymore.
Only exeptions to this i know is the old Nikon Df and the D5200.
You can use pre Ai lenses with the D40 no problem. I can make a video about this subject some time. Here some more info:
www.aiconversions.com/compatibilitytable.htm
Have a great day!
@@HerbsVintageTechIf you have the time do it!
put flash on camera switch on turn camera on 2000 shutter flash
Herb, I love your vids, but the music is terribly annoying. I would expect better from you.