For lots of people, it became pretty difficult to choose the right (most appropriate) camera body. Lots of criteria exist to select a camera: price, functionality, handling, robustness, resolution, noise, ... and to make things more complicated, in the digital world, buying a camera body is always a bad investment: prices are going down so fast that just after you bought your camera, there will be a slightly better choice at a lower price.
The first thing to know is that you have to buy the camera that fits your current needs and budget.
If you look at the current Nikon range, there are two main possibilities: buy a new camera or go for a good used camera (if you are interested in high end bodies and robustness at an affordable pricepoint).
Here are the main choices:
D40: a very basic camera with a lot of serious limitations (autofocus only works with lenses with built in motor, small viewfinder, 3 areas AF, no wireless flash, limited functionality compared to all other cameras). This 6MP camera gives very decent pictures and is very compact. Probably a good choice for beginners who don't want the sophistication of higher level versions.
D40x: Nikon just announced a new version of the D40, basically integrating the recent 10MP sensor in a D40 body. This is a much better choice than the D40, making the D40 almost absolete only a few months after introduction.
D50: a very decent 6MP camera, for beginners or amateurs, with quite some limitations (flash system, small display and viewfinder, one thumbwheel, no DOF preview, 2.5 fps, etc...). This version will be discontinued in 2007, but is still a very attractive package for those who want to learn digital photography
D70/D70s: discontinued. This was the entry level camera for the serious amateur afew years ago. 6MP, lots of possibilities including wireless flash, two thumbwheels, very nice user interface, 3fps, but the pictures are a bit noisy to recent standards. An ideal camera for learning.
D100: discontinued, was the version before the D70, much more expensive but with approxmately the same functionality. Only advantage is that it can be used with a vertical grip. Other than that, needs a bit more postprocessing than the D70. A camera I would not recommend anymore.
D80: the new star for serious amateurs: it has more or less everything a D200 has in a cheaper and a bit less robust package. This is the one you need to have if you are serious about photography: nice display, viewfinder, lots of pro-functions, 10MP, high quality pictures, 3fps, takes SD cards, can be used with a grip...
D200: even if it is not marketed as a pro camera, I consider this one to be the entry level semi-pro/pro camera. Functionality is close to a pro level D2-something camera but with limitations (AF system excellent but slower than D2x for instance, no integrated grip, crop mode...). This camera is weather sealed, fast (5fps), and delivers excellent pictures under most circumstances. It can be used with a grip, is compatible with old manual lenses (metering will work correctly). Buttons are bigger than on the D80, lots of "pro" functions are immediately accessible (ISO, white balance, picture quality, AF modes etc...). A real winner to me, probably the best offering today, next to the D80.
This was the story until end of 2007... now the D300 surpasses the D200 and even the D2Xs. With the optional grip you get up to 8fps, you have a 51 points AF, 15 cross sensors, 12MPS, life view, a better display and much more.
The old pro cameras: (sometimes bargains because they can be found relatively cheap on the internet)
D1: the very first serious pro camera: now to be avoided
D1H: a low resolution sports camera, interesting to learn because of the speed, the handling and robustness.
D1X: a super-pro version of a D70: 6MP but pro-AF, body, handling and everything else. This is still a highly recommended camera. Limitations are picture quality at high ISO and the LCD display, not a reference anymore (compared to more recent cameras like the D80). The AF is only 5 sensors but CAM1300, better than one the consumer grade camera's. A limitation of the D1X and older bodies is the incompatibility with the recent CLS system (wireless flash system). You'll need to buy an old flash for flash photography.
The best pro digital cameras
D2H/D2Hs: the reference cameras for the sports shooters. Extremely fast and excellent sensor and hence picture quality. Those cameras have "only" 4MP but the picture quality is outstanding. It can be found at reasonable prices used and the handling is incredible. Highly recommended.
D2X/D2Xs: a photographer's dream. 12MP, super fast, pro-stuff. The excellence in a Nikon body. Very highly recommended. However, I think that the much more expensive s version doesn't add anything (only cosmetic improvements)
Now that the D3 is on the market, the D2Xs seems outdated. The picture quality you get from the D3 is just incredible. Main differences vs the D2 range are: full frame (FX) sensor, 51 areas AF system, better and faster AF, life view, up to 11 fps, new LCD display and many more...
Other than those, you can find film cameras at incredible prices, but be careful, I have been thinking of this: for amateur use: no flexibility, MUCH more expensive than digital, and for pro use: almost NOBODY accepts anything else than digital files. Think twice, but on the other hand, the feeling of a pro-body you can get for nothing is fantastic for real photographers...
A few suggestions in that film category: F100, F5, F6.... the other cameras are more collector items... at least that's my opinion.
My current recommendations
- for the beginner: D40x
- for the enthusiastic amateur: D80
- for the very enthusiastic amateur or the cost conscious pro: D300
- for the rich and knowledgeable amateur or the pro: D3
- for the film enthusiast with pro ambitions: a used F5 or F6