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I'm getting $499 rather than $409. Is there a coupon that must be apply?

No, it's $489 with the kit lens.

Bad-Boy comes up as $509 with the No Lens Option...whatupwitdat?

I'm too dense. Can someone post a link to the black version at $409?

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&oc=CDRXTIBB

I'm still getting $499 with the link above before I add the lens. When I click go to next component, the lens kit (18-55mm) is not available anywhere...

I guess it's too early in the morning for my brain to function properly because I'm missing something here...

oops... that was $499...

I'm not getting $409 either.

Spend your money on the Nikon D40 instead

Ah, no #9. I would much rather have a Canon Rebel XT[i] than a Nikon D40[x]. Sounds like you've been listening to marketing rather than actual specifications. It also seems Nikon is continuing the trend of crippling features with the D60, which is largely the D40x re-labeled (there was far more change between the D40 to D40x than the D40x to D60). For awhile there over the holidays you could get a Pentax K10D for $350 that kicked the crap out of both of them.

Nikon makes one of the absolute best "semi-pro" dSLRs in the D300, as well as other, earlier cameras before it compared to the competition at the same price-point. Most people who have it rightly so believe Nikon is outstanding. The problem is that different models vary, and the D40 and D60 series suck, hard. I can honestly say I'd rather spend $500 more than a Pentax K20D (which really needs to come down in price IMHO) or $200 than a Sony A700 and get the Nikon D300, no question.

But I haven't found a pro who has actually used a D40 who believes its good compared to other cameras for the price. The majority of amateurs and pros who recommend a D40 have never used it, or they fall back, "oh, you can upgrade to a better camera later and reuse your Nikon glass." That's fine for an amateur or, even more so, pro. But for a novice or non-amateur, it's stupid to buy a crippled, "stop gap" camera that you will discard.

Thanks for the info, TheBS. I'm hopefully going to be getting an entry level DSLR soon and almost bit on a deal for a D40. I think I have some more info grabbing to do.

i've got an XTI. nothing to compare it against, but i'm very happy with it. i'm a beginner. only things that have bothered me are no spot metering and the noise level on higher ISO's seems a bit much.

#11 if you can wait, Canon XSi coming soon: 12MP, live preview lcd and Digic III.

#10 - How do you respond to this guy then? http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm

and this?

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm

#14, let me help #10 answer your questions.

Ken-rock-for-brain is a burp rodeo cowboy. Search for his name in any photography forums and you will see why. If you are too lazy, here's a couple: photo.net, fredmiranda.com.

The burp even admitted that he lied about writing reviews for gear that he didn't even see after being exposed by several people on these forums.

I despite asshats like him whom lives by scamming newbies

To heat (or calm?) the debate here - the reviews in dpreview.com for both D40 and D40x seems very favorable. I would still get the XTi (well, actually I would get the G9 so I can actually carry it around, but that's another thread), but some image comparisons are here http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD40/page21.asp

#10/17, most of the ppl I know got a Nikon D50/40/40x. Why? Not because I I had a D70s, but because the Canon still felt like a cheap kid's toy.

Yes I know the Canon is very capable. I also know that most people forget/don't know how Canon screwed all their users when they went from MF to AF.

Nikon D40/40x/60 isn't that crippled. The only major setback is lack of a focusing motor on the body. Most will only use a few lenses, usually the kit. I myself haven't removed my 18-200VR from my D70s, except when I take the camera on the boat for tubing pictures (use an old Nikon 70-210 f4-5.6):

http://members.aol.com/d70bites/pics/lake2005/wipeout.jpg

Only other lens I may buy is the 70-300VR...

#17, since Sony purchased Minolta, so the Sony is just a rebadged Minolta, as well as some of the lenses (would be prudent to find/purchase the Minolta version of the ""new" Sony lenses)...

Nikon's 18-70 was a great lens. The 18-55 & 55-200 get good marks as well. Not sure how well the lowend VR lenses are, but the 22-200VR costs not much more than the non-VR version.

Granted, speed of the newer P&S have greatly improved, they still down't have the lowlight capabilities, flash options, big sensors that can produce non-grainy ISO1600 - 3200 exposures.

Anybody wanting to purchase a DSLR, since it's more a "system" purchase, go to a camera store to actually handle the different choices. The one you want may not fit comfortably in your hand (ergonomics can be all wrong), do research on the lenses available for each system. Bring a memory card(s) with you to take pictures with each camera to take home and do some comparisons.

#13 This is the very reason the XTi price is dropping. I'd rather go for a rock bottom XTi.