Fantasea FD-40X and Nikon D40x or D60?

[jgheaton]

I have just upgrade my strobes for my A620. Whilst pondering an upgrade to the Canon G10 I came across a brand new Fantasea FD-40x housing for a great price.

I love the Nikon camera and have owned a D50 for several years but the cost of housings have placed it outside of the realm to take it underwater.

The Fantasea FD-40x was such a great deal that I decided to buy it. My question are as follows?

1. Anyone with experience with the Fantasea FD-40x housing, comments would be appreciated. Is this a decent housing?

2. Have just purchased a YS110a strobe so will be adding this to the setup. Does anyone know if the TTL functions will be available with using the Sea & Sea Nikonos 5pin adapter? The specs say it will but list it for the SB8000 flash.

3. I do not have camera to fit the housing and can get my hands on both the D40x and D60 with the 18-55mm VR DX lense. I noticed there is not much difference between the two. Which would be the better purchase?

Thanks John

 

[mike_s]

There is absolutely no difference in the size, dimensions, and button placement on the d40, the D40x, and the D60. All will fix in that housing exactly the same.

The D40 and the D40x are the exact same except the sensor.
the D40 has a 6mp sensor that shoots 2.5fps and goes down to 200 ISO
the d40x has a 10mp sensor that shoots 3fps and goes down to 100 ISO


The D60 came out as a replacement for the D40x. the only difference is a dust blower on the sensor, a firmware upgrade with a few extra firmware features, and by default it now comes with a VR (Virbration Reduction) 18-55mm lens instead of a "Non VR" lens.



Which is the better purchase?

if you want 10mp, 100ISO, and the dust blower, get the D60.
otherwise the 6mp D40 is an awesome camera also.

if you can get a D40x for a lot cheaper, I'd get that over the D60. the D40x is discontinued and you can prob find some deals on them.

 

[jgheaton]

Mike thanks so sounds like the D60 would be the better option at the moment if the price is right.

Thanks John

 

[scottfiji]

congrats on your new UW housing

2) With the 110a, there's no TTL with a sync cord unless you get a TTL converter. The 110a supports optical TTl, but I don't think the fantasea housing supports firing a strobe via fiber optics.

3) like you said, there's very little difference between the two. The 1/500th sync speed a 3rd choice, the D40 (not the D40x) would be temping to me for sunburst shots.

Also, make sure you get AF-S lenses for the Nikon D40/40x/60

hope this helps

Scott

 

[mike_s]

Mike thanks so sounds like the D60 would be the better option at the moment if the price is right.

Thanks John

Iv'e got the D40x. My father and brother have the D40.

having used both, both are great cameras. The only reason I got the D40x was that I didn't want to have to upgrade it later if I wanted 10mp and I wanted 100ISO enough to justify it.

the 10mp also allows a bigger pic image for cropping if needed also. (editing after the shot).


but I don't think the D60 has enough features differences to make me even consider the change over the D40x. so if you can get a d40x for $100 to $200 cheaper than a D60, then I'd jump on that.

 

[jgheaton]

Mike / Scott

Thanks, just check the strobe and it mentions TTL, also the synch cord is for TTL so will have to try once I have all the pieces.

The D40x new is around $500 with lense and the D60 new is about $549 so not much in it. I know one of the things I wish I could change on my D50 is the dust remover. So thing for the $50 may be worth it. Will have to wait until I have housing in hand and then get the best deal on the camera.

I see many blinded people and obscure shots in my future Thanks again

 

[mike_s]

The D40x new is around $500 with lense and the D60 new is about $549 so not much in it. I know one of the things I wish I could change on my D50 is the dust remover. So thing for the $50 may be worth it. Will have to wait until I have housing in hand and then get the best deal on the camera.

if the price difference is only $50 bucks, I'd get the D60 over the D40x.

you'll get the VR lens and the dust blower.

I think the D60 firmware will let you do some other tricks also, like group X amount of pictures together in an animated jpeg or gif. (hopefully I'm not confusing that with another camera).

also with the D40x being discontinued, if you had to sell the camera, you'd get a higher resell on the D60.



This is also a GREAT above water camera also. You might consider a bigger zoom "walk around lens" such as the 18-135mm, the 18-105VR, or even the 18-200mm VR.

just make sure any lens you get is AF-S type. that's lens with the focus motor built into the lens. It's required for autofocus on the D40/D40x/D60 series. If you get a Sigma lens, HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor or something like that) is the same qualfication as AF-S lens. (motor installed in lens for autofocus).

hope this helps.

Mike

 

[jgheaton]

Mike

I agree my current Nikon D50 has the 18 - 200mm VR lens and I love it. The only problem is my wife and I haggle over who will be using the camera. This way will be able to have one each. May invest in a very wide angle for land shots to complete the lenses we have. Looking forward to it.

Thanks for all the info, helps a great deal.

Cheers John

 

[mike_s]

Mike

I agree my current Nikon D50 has the 18 - 200mm VR lens and I love it. The only problem is my wife and I haggle over who will be using the camera. This way will be able to have one each. May invest in a very wide angle for land shots to complete the lenses we have. Looking forward to it.

Thanks for all the info, helps a great deal.

Cheers John

I just picked up the Sigma 10-20mm super wide angle for my father.

it's pretty good and half the price of the Nikon. (one to consider)

 

[ilookold]

I would like to ask where you bought that underwater housing from. I myself have a D-60 and have been looking for a housing. On the website I looked on they dont sell it anymore.

thanks

Brian.