Even though we've both shot this part of London to death, my friend Jena and I just couldn't resist it after a big lunch, and we certainly needed to walk it off. These are my shots, and in due course I will post Jena's too. There really is no shortage of potential compositions especially if you keep looking. This is always a good way to train one's compositional eye to continually strive to see something new. I just had my old D40 in my rucksack to keep things light, and I only shot with the Nikkors 50mm F/1.8G AF-S and 35mm F/2 AF-D primes. The 35mm AF-D will not autofocus on the D40, so I manually focused with this lens, which was very easy. Once again, and despite its age, the D40 did not disappoint, providing some richly detailed 6MP RAW files. Even high ISO shots (of which there were a few hand-held) had a finely textured grain that was either unobtrusive or easy to clean up in software. Shooting with primes also forces you to think about your compositions and to see things differently. With a limited focal length and only your feet to zoom, you need consider more carefully what makes a photo work, what to leave in and what to leave out. For example, with a 50mm lens, from where we were, I couldn't get the entire London Eye in the shot, so I accepted that only part of it would make it into the frame. I then had to consider how arrange that part within the frame, and/or in relation to other elements to make an reasonably interesting photo. Other elements not only being structural, but also light and colour. (See the last photo) Anyway, I'm glad I kept the now ancient D40, even though I have newer, more capable gear. I'm sure I'll keep it yet for a very long time.
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey PhotographyEven though we've both shot this part of
London to death, my friend Jena and I just couldn't resist it after a big
lunch, and we certainly needed to walk it off.
These are my shots, and in due course I
will post Jena's too. There really is no shortage of potential compositions
especially if you keep looking. This is always a good way to train one's
compositional eye to continually strive to see something new.
I just had my old D40 in my
rucksack to keep things light, and I only shot with the Nikkors 50mm F/1.8G
AF-S and 35mm F/2 AF-D primes. The 35mm AF-D will not autofocus on
the D40, so I manually focused with this lens, which was very easy.
Once again, and despite its age, the D40
did not disappoint, providing some richly detailed 6MP RAW files. Even high ISO
shots (of which there were a few hand-held) had a finely textured grain that
was either unobtrusive or easy to clean up in software.
Shooting with primes also forces you to
think about your compositions and to see things differently. With a limited
focal length and only your feet to zoom, you need consider more carefully what
makes a photo work, what to leave in and what to leave out. For example, with a
50mm lens, from where we were, I couldn't get the entire London Eye in the
shot, so I accepted that only part of it would make it into the frame. I then
had to consider how arrange that part within the frame, and/or in relation to
other elements to make an reasonably interesting photo. Other elements not only
being structural, but also light and colour. (See the last photo)
Anyway, I'm glad I kept the now ancient
D40, even though I have newer, more capable gear. I'm sure I'll keep it yet for
a very long time.
35mm F/2 AF-D, manually focused on Jena's tripod
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
1
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:36 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
35mm F/2 AF-D, manually focused on Jena's tripod
DSC_0081
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0081
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:36 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
DSC_0084
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0084
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:36 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
ISO 1600.Proof that (all else being equal - processing algorithms, on-chip NR etc)bigger pixels take in more light and deliver cleaner, crisper images, even on a5 year old camera. The D40 has a similar pixel size to the D3S, Nikon'slow-light king.
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0091
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:36 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
ISO 1600.
Proof that (all else being equal - processing algorithms, on-chip NR etc)
bigger pixels take in more light and deliver cleaner, crisper images, even on a
5 year old camera. The D40 has a similar pixel size to the D3S, Nikon's
low-light king.
This was Jena's idea. I couldn't resist. She got a better shot than Idid though.
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0100
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:36 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
This was Jena's idea. I couldn't resist. She got a better shot than I
did though.
With grey or colourless skies, sometimes making theimage black and white can be a save. I kept the distinctive red of the London bushere
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0107
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:36 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
With grey or colourless skies, sometimes making the
image black and white can be a save. I kept the distinctive red of the London bus
here
DSC_0110
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0110
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:36 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
DSC_0126
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0126
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:37 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
DSC_0157
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0157
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:37 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
DSC_0160
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0160
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:37 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Another at ISO 1600. Manually focused with the 35mm, shot hand-held at F/2 and 1/15 sec.
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0177-2
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 10:07 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Another hand-held at ISO 1600.
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0186
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:37 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
DSC_0200
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0200
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:37 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
DSC_0217
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0217
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:37 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
DSC_0232
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0232
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:37 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
DSC_0250
Jan 11, 2012Jan 11, 2012Alpha Whiskey Photography
|
DSC_0250
Capture Date: Jan 11, 2012 09:37 PM
Show Photo Info
Close |
|
DianeJan 11, 2012 11:52 PM
Read about this on flickr D40 group. Wow. I hope I can get 1/2 this good with my D40 and the same lenses. Talent matters.
Jane (Luv my D40)Jan 12, 2012 05:41 AM
What an amazing set, I just love anything London and you have captured it very well. Great light, compo and details, night shots just awesome. I called my first dog Ben after Big Ben (and Micheal Jacksons song Ben)!
Alpha Whiskey PhotographyJan 12, 2012 06:48 AM
Thank you Diane and Jane for the nice comments! London is never short of great shots, especially at night! :)
GeophotoAug 23, 2012 01:44 AM
I have both the D40 and the D200. I bought both of them because of the ease of use with manual focus lenses, which are much less expensive than modern AF-S lenses, and I prefer the solid feel of the metal and glass. No plastic in the 60's-80's. I especially prefer the 60's lenses which are AI converted. Even though they don't have all the fancy coatings, they render beautiful images, especially on the D40. Although the D200 meters and has more accessibility to control buttons, the LCD on the D40 is larger and brighter, and for some reason the colors are more vibrant.
Also a nice aspect of low megapixels is the low-light capabilities. I especially like going out with the 50mm 1.4 from 1970 (we are the same age) and shooting at sunset. I would like an option of 100 ISO, I would like a tab for measuring light on the lenses, and also I would like internet capability so that the photos can be immediately uploaded to Flickr or Facebook. Alas I have only the camera, and must carry other devices to get internet access and messaging, though I did invest in an Eye-fi card recently, though it uploads very slowly. What I would really appreciate from Nikon is a rugged metal bodied DSLR which exactly resembles a Nikkormat or FM but with up-to-date capability, though I wouldn't mind if it was only manual focus, since most of my lenses are MF anyway.
Ken MJan 30, 2021 04:25 PM
I have an old D40X with a Nikkor 18 - 200mm f 3.5 - 5.6 lens. Trying to take night shots of a distant Telecom tower at night in Canberra where I live proved impossible using ISO1600.
Grateful any suggestions.
All fields are required.
Comment successfully added.