May 11
11
Next year I will be entering college and studying photography. the college I'm going to requires that I purchase a professional quality DSLR, and I've been researching a bunch of different ones. I kind of fell in love with the Mark II (even though it's way out of my budget), and I'm wondering if I should put some serious consideration into buying it. Right now I have a nikon D40, and I've definitely outgrown it. I'd appreciate any opinions or advice 
The big question would be how much do you have invested in Nikon lenses and other accessories. If you're not all that invested in Nikon gear and you like the 5D Id say go for it. I am a Nikon shooter and have been for a long time so this isn't just from a Canon drum thumper. Canon and Nikon both make great cameras and lenses. If you're falling for the Canon it wont be a bad decision.
Hope that helps and happy shooting.
With state universities running at $6000 a year a $3000 camera (body only) seems a little nuggin futs to me. then a good lens to get the best out of a full frame sensor goes for $1000+ Flash for $400; you'll have the most basic set up of pro equipment for more than the price of the school you are going to to learn how to use it!
I don't see how a D40 you can out grow. 1840-1987 it was hole, flap, film = picture. and no one got board of those. you can upgrade to a Nikon d90 or something to get faster sync or something silly like that but to get more out of your camera new lenses are the way to go.
You can get the camera or-
or a 4 year beer supply.
or 1 year of school.
or a used Toyota.
or Pay off the one horrible injury you will get at school, (I got a $2000 bike crash).
or Christmas gifts for friends and family + shipping for the 4 years.
or one nice camera and a full kit to get all the pictures you want to get. instead of finding out you just don't have the extra $800 for the really cool fisheye project or the flash set up etc. the mark ll is just totally squirrel hunting with a bazooka.
Next year as in next fall? or this spring? It may not seem like a big difference, but it's huge. Cameras become outdated soon after they come out now.
I think it would be better to do one of few things: go for a camera such as the 50D/40D or Nikons D300 or D90. They are more advanced than your D40 but not as expensive as a Mark II. or wait a while and get the Mark II later when it's marked down. Another option might be to go for a 5D, I've heard good things about it.
Good luck!
perhaps you only THINK you've outgrown it. all SLRs work basically the same. unless it has an amazingly faster flash sync speed or you need to shoot pictures a 1/8000th of a second or something crazy, I just don't see why you would need a new SLR
How do you know that the school requires you have a "professional quality DSLR"? and do you know what they really mean by "professional quality DSLR"?
Don't overlook the Nikon D700. If you really know your way around your D40, you already speak the Nikon language. you will LOVE the controls on the D700.
If you have a lens or two for your D40, though, don't conut on them working the way you would want on a D700, because it is a full-format (FX) camera and the lenses you have are most likely cropped (DX) format lenses. This means that there is no argument regarding lens compatibility that would keep yo uin the Nikon family if you want to switch. If you DO want to switch, then now is the time to do it.