Nikon D40 with kit lens (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor) (~$840)
Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor D 18 – 200 mm f/3.5 – 5.6G DX ED IF VR ($~1189)

Nikon 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor (wide angle lens) ($1580)
Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor (macro lens) ($1309)
or Vivitar Series 1 90mm f/2.5 macro, which has cult status and is $91 (!!)
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D (fast prime lens) ($215)

Gorillapod SLR ($50)
Sony GPS-CS1 (Geotagging for photos) ($110)
SDHC 4gig card (~$40)

Hoya UV filter ($20) (For lens protection)

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After reading the rather good reviews on sushicam
and kenrockwell as well as generally on gizmodo, dpreview, etc (and kennysia, but he doesn’t count), I decided that if I got a DSLR then the Nikon D40 would be it. Nice entry level cam, gives me the option of expanding my skill set too should I choose to.

I’ve groped it well enough too. Went to Diamonds Cameras (selling for $940) and Harvey Norman at City Cross Arcade on Rundle Mall (selling for ~$990) (btw Justin seems to really know his stuff, and he’s a Nikon man too XD He was very helpful!) Anyway I do like the feel of the D40. Nice and small and relatively light. It would fit into most of my handbags, and definitely would fit into any bag I go travelling with.

My main reasons for wanting to get a DSLR is to have a greater level of control over my photos. And lenses. I love insect/macro photography. Wideangle lenses make stuff look goooooood too. I threw in the 18-200mm lens because of the absolutely rave reviews on sushicam and kenrockwell, it seems to be a revolutionary lens and so much in demand that it’s really hard to get even a year on. (Lens prices above are Australian ones, because I’m too lazy to find prices from other places).

The only thing that I’d *definitely* get on the list above will probably the Sony GPS logger. That will be pretty essential for Japan. I might just bring along my dad’s Sony V3 instead.

Isn’t it easy to draw up a list of stuff you’re never going to buy?

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Or should I just buy a prosumer cam (point and shoot, non-DSLR)?
Sooo many different types though DX
One thing I know for sure though: these cams will definitely be obsolete before a DSLR ever will. Also I don’t have the option of buying lenses to expand their capabilities. Although with the price of these lenses I might as well keep on buying these point and shoots every time they get updated >_>

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On the other hand since I *can* just use the V3, should I buy the special lenses/lens convertors for it?
Nah, it will all become obsolete…?

Ohhh…decisions, decisions.

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Cameras direct seems to be the cheapest place in Australia so far. Body for $660, 18-55mm for $179. Yeah, they don’t sell it as a kit. Odd. I heard that if they don’t sell it as a kit then it may be gray market…I might give Nikon Australia a call to see if it’s a legit distributor if I do decide to buy from them.

Shipping comes up to about $13 (eh, pretty cheap), so altogether it’s ~$852. This isn’t too bad…in HK it would be A$728 (huh, but may come with extras like spare battery, case, etc). Then if you add in shipping + insurance to Australia it may not be worthit asking David to ship to me. I mean how many iTunes credits can one use >.> And if I wire money to him I have to consider bank charges too eh?

Hmm…since body and lens does come separately..if it is a legit product (and I’m fully covered by warranty etc etc) maybe I should just stick it out with the V3 and when I have a job I’ll buy D40 body + 18-200mm lens instead of spending money on the 18-55mm, which will be superseded by the 18-200mm. Total: $1849. Which is a lot of money still DX

Let’s play a game of equivalent values.

Stuff I think the D40 is better value for
That’s about worth a laptop. Which I don’t forsee myself buying in the near future. I’d rather not buy a new computer to upgrade to Vista.
What else is it equivalent to? Probably almost as much as a LV Epi Speedy 30 + LV Epi pochette accesoires.
Interstate airfares. Argh.
Staying at more expensive places in Japan

Stuff I think the D40 is not as good value for
Huh. I’ve probably spent a grand on clothes from Veronika Maine/Cue since the start of the year…but I think it’s a good investment because these are work clothes. Gotta make a good impression!
Eating more and buying more in Japan

…I think I’ll hold off any purchases till I get a job. V3 should be good enough…