Photography
Buying a used DSLR:
There is always a better camera, a more suitable lens. If not today, it will be tomorrow's big announcement will follow when you buy the best today. You are hearing what the limitations are for the D40x and they are real. I'm guessing you are paying $500-$750 for that gear. It will be a great camera at that price, especially if spending $2K or more is out of the question. If the only reason to buy a camera is shooting the dog shows, then buy a used D90 and a very fast lens. If that is just one of the reasons and you would like to advance a hobby with a limited budget, buy the D40x and maybe a used fast prime lens.
I love my D40x. Using a DSLR regularly will advance your photography skills. Adjusting to its limitations is also part of the learning experience. With how quickly cameras advance, it won't be your last camera. Possibly by buying a used camera now, you will be ready to (and able to) buy your next camera sooner. The days of keeping the same body for 20 years are gone. I guess to that end, better glass is a better investment than the best body available.
Shooting concert photos:
For low light you want a sensitive sensor, low noise so that you can shoot at high ASA numbers and fast glass. I was shooting a concert with my D40x last night. I was shooting at 400-800ASA using my 18-55mm to start but with ambient light most of the shots were blurred. I switched over to an ancient manual 105mm 2.8 and got better closeup candid shots with less blurring.
Yes, I had no metering and had to manual focus but it worked out well. I also underexposed by about 1.5 stops to increase the shutter speed, shot in RAW so I will have more control over the white balance and exposure correction in Photoshop.
I would have liked to have my 50mm f1.8 for full group shots also but didn't plan that far. The closeups are always more dramatic.
Personally, for concerts, I don't see much of an issue with manual focus. It keeps the auto focus from getting the mic stand, mic, neck of a nearby guitar or whatever it wants. There are frequently objects close to the singers in the foreground. You just have to be very aware when singers lean into the mic or pull back. If you are shooting wide open, the DOF is very shallow for that perfect shot.
There is always a better camera, a more suitable lens. If not today, it will be tomorrow's big announcement will follow when you buy the best today. You are hearing what the limitations are for the D40x and they are real. I'm guessing you are paying $500-$750 for that gear. It will be a great camera at that price, especially if spending $2K or more is out of the question. If the only reason to buy a camera is shooting the dog shows, then buy a used D90 and a very fast lens. If that is just one of the reasons and you would like to advance a hobby with a limited budget, buy the D40x and maybe a used fast prime lens.
I love my D40x. Using a DSLR regularly will advance your photography skills. Adjusting to its limitations is also part of the learning experience. With how quickly cameras advance, it won't be your last camera. Possibly by buying a used camera now, you will be ready to (and able to) buy your next camera sooner. The days of keeping the same body for 20 years are gone. I guess to that end, better glass is a better investment than the best body available.
Shooting concert photos:
For low light you want a sensitive sensor, low noise so that you can shoot at high ASA numbers and fast glass. I was shooting a concert with my D40x last night. I was shooting at 400-800ASA using my 18-55mm to start but with ambient light most of the shots were blurred. I switched over to an ancient manual 105mm 2.8 and got better closeup candid shots with less blurring.
Yes, I had no metering and had to manual focus but it worked out well. I also underexposed by about 1.5 stops to increase the shutter speed, shot in RAW so I will have more control over the white balance and exposure correction in Photoshop.
I would have liked to have my 50mm f1.8 for full group shots also but didn't plan that far. The closeups are always more dramatic.
Personally, for concerts, I don't see much of an issue with manual focus. It keeps the auto focus from getting the mic stand, mic, neck of a nearby guitar or whatever it wants. There are frequently objects close to the singers in the foreground. You just have to be very aware when singers lean into the mic or pull back. If you are shooting wide open, the DOF is very shallow for that perfect shot.