Hi,

I'm a Nikon SLR beginner (D80).

I think the little control panel at the top of the camera is "stupid". It's in the wrong place , and the text/symbols are too small. Actually the main problem is that some information is only avialable there. What's wrong with the much larger and brighter screen at the back of the camera?

I'm still hoping there is some setting I haven't found yet that will allow me use the rear screen. Is there?

Haven't got my housing yet. I imagine the housing will make that control panel even harder to use. (Actually I don't know if I'll be able to see it at all.) If I want to change the shooting mode I have to press and hold the shooting mode button while turning the control dial. The only way to see which setting I end up with is by looking at the control panel at the top of the camera. Please tell me there is another way.

/Anders

You need to find the button marked:

"Buy A D40"

I believe the D40 is the first Nikon to have this feature. Look for it in future models perhaps even at the pro level someday.

FWIW I find it very convenient to look at the top LCD and I can see it through the Ikelite housing. Everything you need is visible in the very bright viewfinder--esp. on your D80 which shows ISO. The D70 does not.

Its a holdover from the film days where there was no rear display. I think the D40 is on to something.

I miss my Olympus 7070, and I feel maybe I should have bought that EOS-400D after all.

Trying to imagine how I will operate the camera under water (don't have the housing yet); I just don't get it.

While convenient in the beginning, I can't help thinking that these entry level DSLRs that use the rear screen for display of settings are ultimately wasteful of battery life which can be an issue underwater, especially when the same cameras often have scaled down battery capacities to keep the body size down. The battery for the D40 is 1000mAh, while that for the D80 is 1500mAh.

The viewfinder is the place to look on any SLR. Not only is the picture there before you take it, but all the really pertinent settings too. Just look at that work of art...

Imaging the Aston is a whale shark, it's not that hard.

My tip would be to get used to driving the camera through the viewfinder. It's a real eye opener to the power of SLRs when you get the knack. Compacts with live previews are great as I'm sure you know, but nothing is as direct as a good optical viewfinder.

Martyn

For me, the viewfinder (mainly) and the top lcd (less often) are pretty adequate. And while the rear display on the d40 might sometimes be better, it wouldn't drive me to the D40 over the D80 if for only one reason: lacking a drive screw, it can only use lenses with internal focus motors. This removes the AF 10.5 and 16 fisheyes and the 60mm macro from your camera bag (along with a host of other wonderful lenses). You'd be left with just the 12-24 or the 17-55, and 18-70 as credible uw wideangles, and only the 105 AF-S vr as a macro (and the 12-24 is rather slow at f4, and the 18-70 is even slower). Finally, with the exception of the 18-70, all of these cost about twice as much as the d40...in the end, that makes it less than a bargain to me.

All the best,
Chris

I think the rear display should come on whenever I press any button. (I'd like that option.)

When I press "menu" the rear display is used. Many of the other buttons are short cuts or alternatives to menu items, but the rear display is not used. Instead I have to use the top display or the view finder.

I'm not in any way against getting information through the viewfinder, but everything doesn't fit there. The top display is just silly.

/Anders

You might find that annoying depending how bright that rear LCD display is as it will be distracting while you look thru the viewfinder and hit a button to change settings. (in the case of my Canon 400D) I find I prefer having to hit the diplay button to turn it on at demand while u/w.