Camera advice ?

[gbb]

Bit of a long shot..
Nikon D40 DSLR. I have two of them and am re-aquainting myself with them after many years of not using them.

Focus...in the viewfinder, one has a ring display to assist with focus , when youre not in focus the ring is misaligned, it helps you focus really accurately.
The other camera (same.model) doesn't have that ring and despite looking everywhere In settings, I simply cannot find out how to turn it on.

Any advise / experience ?

 

[gbb]

Sorted. One camera has a plain mirror, the other has the focus rings on the mirror itself...so I will just use the appropriate camera body.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Pre-DSLR, just on SLR my old Olympus OM-1 (the original proper one, not the modern use of the reputation associated with the name) you could change focus screens. Easy to do, get the screen of your choice. Different screens were better suited to different lenses eg my 800mm mirror was a lot easier with one type of focusing screen vs the screen better suited for general use. Get the screen of choice, take the lens off, flip a small catch and the screen drops out, put in other screen and it clips back in. Takes seconds and done.

No idea about more modern cameras and no idea about D-40.

eg for OM-1 (original SLR not modern version) https://esif.world-traveller.org/om-sif/findergroup/focusingscreens.htm

 

[Bristolian]

Blimey, that's three D40's I know are still in circulation - there's one in my camera bag too

It still takes really good photos, albeit rather small compared to modern bodies.

 

[gbb]

My elder son brought one after I got mine (some years ago). He passed his to me for spares after it stopped focusing correctly.
Im trying t9 see if using it in manual allows correct focusing.

I was always overwhelmed by digital SLRs but have persevered and actually the D40 is remarkably simple to use in manual ONCE you figure how to access ISO, F stop and shutter speed. Not sure why I struggled in the beginning when I brought it.
Even the batteries still recharge after many years sat in a cupboard.

 

[SteveH80]

... you could change focus screens ...

That takes me back.
I remember the process; remove old screen, insert new screen, remove new screen, clean thumbprint off new screen.
After a while the novelty wore off and it went to the 'unused things' pocket of the camera bag

 

[Shearwater Missile]

Pre-DSLR, just on SLR my old Olympus OM-1 (the original proper one, not the modern use of the reputation associated with the name) you could change focus screens. Easy to do, get the screen of your choice. Different screens were better suited to different lenses eg my 800mm mirror was a lot easier with one type of focusing screen vs the screen better suited for general use. Get the screen of choice, take the lens off, flip a small catch and the screen drops out, put in other screen and it clips back in. Takes seconds and done.

No idea about more modern cameras and no idea about D-40.

eg for OM-1 (original SLR not modern version) https://esif.world-traveller.org/om-sif/findergroup/focusingscreens.htm

I still have mine, bought in 1980. Sadly no longer used but it has been to many places. Worth nothing but makes a good paper weight.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Slightly different thing

but if you go cycling them how do you carry a half decent camera??

I have a DSLR and a superzoom thing but when I am riding I am always worried that it the strap will break
and putting it in the bike bag means it is subject to the road bumps which could damage it

but I want it available quickly to take photos of wildlife as soon as I stop if I see something


any ideas??

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Slightly different thing

but if you go cycling them how do you carry a half decent camera??

I have a DSLR and a superzoom thing but when I am riding I am always worried that it the strap will break
and putting it in the bike bag means it is subject to the road bumps which could damage it

but I want it available quickly to take photos of wildlife as soon as I stop if I see something


any ideas??

Look for a high end compact. They take pretty decent photos now and many have a good zoom.

 

[Reynard]

Slightly different thing

but if you go cycling them how do you carry a half decent camera??

I have a DSLR and a superzoom thing but when I am riding I am always worried that it the strap will break
and putting it in the bike bag means it is subject to the road bumps which could damage it

but I want it available quickly to take photos of wildlife as soon as I stop if I see something


any ideas??

A decent little compact point & shoot that you can stash in your bar bag. If you're worried about getting it crunched, then just get a secondhand one from Computer Exchange or Ebay etc.

Now I *prefer* to use a dslr when taking photos (I'm a Canon girl), but my point & shoot Canon that I bought for £12 in CEX seven years ago has really served me well on those occasions where I want a camera but don't want a DSLR.

 

[SteveH80]

Slightly different thing

but if you go cycling them how do you carry a half decent camera??

I have a DSLR and a superzoom thing but when I am riding I am always worried that it the strap will break
and putting it in the bike bag means it is subject to the road bumps which could damage it

but I want it available quickly to take photos of wildlife as soon as I stop if I see something


any ideas??

I usually take an old Fuji EXR compact zoom with me. The results are good enough, the camera's themselves can take an extraordinary amount of battering and are readily available used for £50 - £100.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

I still have mine, bought in 1980. Sadly no longer used but it has been to many places. Worth nothing but makes a good paper weight.

<offtopic>
I traded mine in many years ago (with my OM-4) and a regret having done so. The OM-1 was in need of significant work as the foam light trap round the closing back had fallen apart so no light trap. OM-4 was in good condition. I was amazed at how well the OM-4 stood-up to harsh conditions eg one trip I spent a month solo camping in Central America rainforest and took both OM-4 and OM-1, taking OM-1 as I'd thought it likely the mostly electronic OM-4 would fail in the conditions, but it didn't. OM-1 led a very harsh like and never even hiccuped.

I can't see me using it had I kept it but as in your use, it's travelled with me all over the world and had massive emotional value ... but then keeping it would have made it no more than a historic paper weight.
</offtopic>

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Slightly different thing

but if you go cycling them how do you carry a half decent camera??

I have a DSLR and a superzoom thing but when I am riding I am always worried that it the strap will break
and putting it in the bike bag means it is subject to the road bumps which could damage it

but I want it available quickly to take photos of wildlife as soon as I stop if I see something


any ideas??

It's a question I'd also appreciate a safe solution.

When I cycle (including long tours in EU) I take my compact (Sony RX-100) which has a superzoom lens with a fair reach (as it's a 1" sensor so big crop factor). And that works well from a bar bag (though on tour in a bar bag I have 1" soft foam under the camera.

But from home I've love to take my mirrorless and wildlife lens, more to cycle somewhere, stop, unpack and spend an hour or two waildlife watching/photographing. But given the nature of the lenses I've been too concerned given the state of UK roads.