Nikon DSLR Recommendation

Hi,

I'm currently using a Nikon D40 with a Nikkor 50mm 1.8, Sigma 70-300mm, and the stock 18-55mm. My Problem is the D40 doesn't autofocus the 50mm or autobracket so my HDRs are a real pain to shoot.

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive body that will solve those two problems?

Thank you.

-J

You should be able to get a lightly used D80 at a good price.
There is a new 50 f/1.4 out that will work on the D40 but its a lot pricier than the old one.

Welcome to the forums. Stick around and share your work and insights or questions.
I'd like to see some of you hdr stuff. People seem to have a love/hate relationship with hdr.

I found this table that gives you all the systems that auto-bracket:

http://www.hdr-photography.com/aeb.html

The D80 is the best choice for you. It has a 10MPix sensor and a fairly recent image processor.

There was a whole family of cameras with the 6Mpix sensor used in the D40. With each generation the image processor got better but the camera got cheaper. The following cameras focus with your 50mm f1.8 and do auto-bracketing, from best image quality to worst:

- D50
- D70 & D70S
- D100

Don't buy a D100 thinking its a pro version of the D40, even though it has the same sensor. The image processor is much older so there is more noise at high ISO. But then that might not matter to you.

Thank you so much, that is enormously helpful!

-J