Help me choose a lens

[Draconian Guppy]

Spot on

http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/slr-lens.html

[crazzy88ss]

but support for older used lenses is a major consideration.

Not for the majority of people buying a DSLR for the first time, which is what the D40 is aimed at. I know 5 people with a D40, D3000 or D5000 and I asked 2 of them about the AF issue; they didn't know what I was talking about. That's exactly the market Nikon is marketing to with their entry level bodies; people who are just starting out and don't know much about camera gear.

I completely agree, however if it didn't matter that much, then why no just cut AF from all bodies? Low mid or high?

Because people buying higher end cameras are more likely to have older "legacy" lenses hanging around still. Give it time; in-body AF modules will be gone in 5-10 years on Nikon.

[threetonesun]

Most people I know with a D40 have a kit lens and that's all they use. I think Nikon made the right decision removing the motor from the entry level cameras. I think people were somewhat disappointed by the disappearance of a D50 level camera, the mid-low range DSLR that had a motor and semi-large body.

[yeoo_andy_ni]

Holy hell, I totally forgot about this thread! Thanks for all the replies by the way.

@Argote - My studio is a 10x10 shed out the back of the house, but I have had a litle rain related issue recently, so it's all being stripped out right now. However I have a couple of lamps with the brollies on the end and it is (see was) painted white, with a few coloured king size bed sheets to give a bit of variety to the colours (black, blue, red and tan/beige/light brown).

I think I'll probably go with the 35mm lens, thanks to the feedback from everyone here. I'm not looking to break the bank just just, and hopefully if I get good enough, I'll invest in a more professional body and a better lens or two. I'm going to be doing friends and family right now, just to get me started, and they will be less forgiving if my post processing is not as good as it should be!