Nikon D40 Review - DX DSLR Camera

 

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Nikon has hit a home run with this digital SLR camera. It's as close to perfection as any digital camera has ever come. Sure, there are "better" cameras for more money, but they are all twice the size/weight.
 

16 page Nikon D40 Specifications and Brochure

Description

Nikon D40 DSLR
Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Front View

APS-C DX-format SensorNikon D40 6MP DX Camera Review •  I would get this camera even if I had an unlimited amount of money to spend. There is simply nothing like it. There are lots of innovative user interface elements, and outstanding feel and handling, teriffic flash (both internal and external SB-400), outstanding image quality, instant response, superb viewfinder, great LCD... I could go on. I have nothing but good things to say about it, and I'm extremely picky. No point in to waiting for a full-frame sensor body, with this camera available, why wait to upgrade?

Nikon D40-Left Angle
Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Left Angle View

Introduced November 16, 2006 - Extraordinary Nikon image quality: The D40's high-resolution image quality is made possible by Nikon's high-performance 6.1-megapixel Nikon DX-format CCD imaging sensor and exclusive Nikon image processing engine which assures stunning sharpness and color. Nine More Nikon D40 Images

Nikon D40-Right Angle
Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Right Angle View

The lightest, most compact Nikon digital SLR ever, featuring intuitive controls and an ergonomically designed operation that even first-time SLR users can enjoy. Advanced 3-area AF system Automatic control over ISO-equivalent sensitivity from ISO 200 to 1600 with manual override Eight automated Digital Vari-Programs [Auto, Auto (Flash Off), Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close Up, and Night Portrait] optimize white balance, sharpening, tone, color, saturation and hue to match the scene Near-instant 0.18-second power-up Versatile shutter speed control with a range from 30 to 1/4000 s, plus bulb Creative in-camera effects and editing functions consolidated under a new Retouch menu,

Nikon D40-Left
Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Left Side View

Use AF-S or AF-I Nikkor lenses to get the most from your camera. Vibration Reduction (VR) supported with VR lenses. Features

Easy operation with intuitive controls:
Intuitive controls make the D40 point-and-shoot simple, enabling even first-time SLR users to capture beautiful memories perfectly.

Nikon D40-right
Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Right Side View

Nikon's smallest digital SLR ever:
At just over 16 ounces, the beautifully styled and compact D40 makes high-performance digital SLR photography easier and more convenient than ever.

Fast startup with instant shutter response:
Fast startup combined with super-fast shutter response and rapid-action shooting at up to 2.5 frames per second makes it easy to freeze special moments instantly.

Nikon D40-Back
Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Back LCD View

Includes 3x AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II lens:
Designed exclusively for use with Nikon DX-format digital SLRs, this ultra-compact 3x zoom offers Nikkor sharpness and versatility in a wide variety of shooting situations.

Shoot at up to 2.5 frames per second:
The D40 can fire continuously at a speed of up to 2.5 frames per second, capturing high-quality action sequences of children in sporting activities such as soccer, baseball and much more.

Nikon D40-Top
Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Top View

2.5-inch color LCD monitor with 3 colorful display options:
Playback images are easy to see and function menus are easier to use with a larger and brighter color LCD monitor. The large 2.5-inch LCD monitor enables image preview at up to 19 times magnification and has large type fonts and easy-to-view menus as well as three all-new display options: classic, graphic and wallpaper.


A CCD image sensor on a flexible circuit board
High-performance 6.1-megapixel Nikon DX format CCD imaging sensor:
Nikon's DX-format CCD image sensor delivers vivid color and sharp detail, great for making beautifully detailed enlargements of 16 x 20 inches and beyond. High resolution also provides room for creative cropping.

In-camera image editing: Highly versatile in-camera editing features include:
Nikon D-lighting, red-eye correction, image trimming, image overlay, monochrome black and white, sepia and cyanotype along with skylight, warm tone and custom color filter effects. These features provide greater creative freedom, without the need for a computer, for those who prefer to send pictures directly to a printer.

New advanced help menu system with assist images:
The D40's newly introduced "assist images" help you select the appropriate settings for many camera features by showing an example image typical of that setting as well as an advanced help menu for the current item selected. The D40's question mark icon (?) indicates that help is available for the currently selected item. Just press the help button beside the LCD monitor to see a context sensitive help page.

Fast, accurate 3-area auto focus:
The D40's advanced 3-area AF system and the refined algorithms inherited from more advanced Nikon digital SLR cameras deliver fast, efficient and precise auto focus. AF refinements deliver greater precision with fast, more consistent subject acquisition and improved focus tracking for consistently sharper pictures.

Image optimization options:
The D40's image optimize setting lets photographers adjust color, contrast and sharpening as well as other image settings according to the type of scene or output desired. Settings include: normal, softer, vivid, more vivid, portrait, custom and black and white, each of which are automatically adjusted based on sophisticated Nikon algorithms or user-selected settings for optimum results.

Built-in Speedlight with i-TTL automatic flash control:
Nikon's innovative i-TTL flash control evaluates flash exposure with incredible precision to achieve better automatic flash balance and deliver outstanding results. The built-in Speedlight is always at the ready bringing beautiful exposures to darkened conditions as well as adding a flash to outdoor situations for enhanced twilight shots or an added impact to daylight images.

Bright, accurate SLR viewfinder:
A large viewfinder makes composition easier, and overall viewfinder brightness makes focusing in low-light photography possible. The bright and sharp viewfinder, with 0.8x magnification, ensures precise composition.

Automatic exposure with 8 digital vari-program modes: Eight Digital Vari-Program modes include:
auto, auto (flash-off), portrait, landscape, child, sports, close-up or night portrait, each of which adjusts automatically for optimal results under varied conditions.

Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II:
The D40's 3D Color Matrix Metering II evaluates each scene for brightness, color, contrast, size and position of shadows and highlights, selected focus area and camera-to-subject distance, comparing that information against an onboard database of more than 30,000 actual photographic scenes.

• Size: 126 x 94 x 64 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 in)
• Weight: No battery: 471 g (1.0 lb)
• Includes: Front & Rear Lens Caps
• EN-EL9 Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery
• MH-23 Quick Charger
• UC-E4 USB Cable Camera Strap
• BF-1A Body Cap
• DK-5 Eyepiece Cap
• BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cap
• DK-16 Rubber Eyecup
• PictureProject Software CD-ROM
• User Manual
• 1-Year Nikon U.S.A. Limited Warranty

The D40 is the smallest Nikon DSLR ever. D40 Inherits Incredible Picture Quality from Nikon's Photographic Expertise, Making it Easy for Everyone to Take Breathtaking Pictures Features an All-New, Visually Intuitive Interface, In-Camera Editing and Built-In Help

Nikon designed the D40 as an ultra-compact, lightweight, 6.1-effective megapixel digital SLR camera with simplified new features, exceptional handling speed, and a redesigned, visually-intuitive menu system that brings digital SLR cameras to a whole new level of simplicity.

The D40 packs in an incredible range of features and technologies, but even those using a digital SLR camera for the first time will be thrilled with beautiful pictures with vibrant colors, stunning sharpness and outstanding detail. And these same customers will be amazed at just how easy it is to take truly better pictures with the new Nikon D40

The Nikon D40 is ready to shoot virtually the instant it is turned on and with the ability to shoot 2.5 pictures per second, non-stop for up to 100 shots, you'll never need to wait for the camera to get ready for the next shot. The camera reacts instantly when the shutter button is pressed ensuring you never miss a great moment.

The camera lacks a built in autofocus motor, which means that only Nikon lenses designated with AF-I and AF-S can be used in autofocus mode with the D40, D40X, D60, D3000, D3100 and D5000), and the lenses designated AF, AF-D, AF-G, or AF-N can only be used in manual focus mode. Many recent third-party lenses from Sigma, Tamron and Tokina now support compatible integrated focusing motors.

Lens Chart for Nikon Cameras without built-in Motor: D40/D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D5000
Invasive
Fisheyes
Pre-AI
Modes
AI Converted***
Exposure Modes
AI, AI-s***
Exposure Modes
AF, AF-D screw
Exposure Modes
AF-S, AF-I
Exposure Modes
VR* G**
Exposure Modes
No
Breaks
Mirror
Yes
No Meter

Manual
Yes
No Meter

Manual
Yes
No Meter

Manual
AF: No
Program,
Shutter,
Aperture, Manual
AF: Yes
Program,
Shutter,
Aperture, Manual
AF: Yes

VR
AF: Yes
Program,
Shutter,
Aperture, Manual

Nikon ceased production of the D40x in December 2007, shortly before they introduced its successor, the Nikon D60.

Item Includes

• D40 Body
• EN-EL9 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
• MH-23 Quick Charger
• UC-E4 USB Cable
• AN-DC1 Strap
• BF-1A Body Cap
• DK-5 Eyepiece Cap
• DK-16 Rubber Eyecup
• BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cap
• Nikon PictureProject Software

Accessories



Reviews

Love It, August 23, 2009

By P.K.

My only camera before this was a film camera that my brother gave me for a photography class in college, and I had not gotten around to buying a digital camera, though I had been shopping for quite awhile. There were many choices and price ranges, and I knew I wanted a dSLR due to the better image quality in general and also because it felt more like the camera I was used to.

When I found this camera (I have had it for awhile now) it was perfect since it was small and light, while taking good images. The price was also worth it and I did not feel I was risking a lot of money in buying this.

I have not been disappointed with my choice. At some point I may look at some more expensive cameras or newer models, but if you are new to shooting digital SLR cameras this is a great camera and worth the money. I have printed many 8 x 10s that look real nice, so do not be concerned about the megapixels.


Great for starters!, August 17, 2009

By J. Yap (California, USA)

I got this camera to upgrade my point and shoot camera. I was mainly going to use it to take pictures of my models (architecture models) then realized I can use it for much more than that. Getting this device made me want to explore the world of photography. For the quality and how fast the shutter speed is, it's definitely worth the price. I would recommend this for people who are looking to start off in a DSLR camera and who is willing to upgrade their point and shoot camera. Note: READ THE MANUAL FIRST BEFORE USING! I love the quality of the photos and this camera. Great buy! Fits comfortably in hand and not too heavy. I would say...low medium to medium weight.

Press Release


  • Nikon D40X Review - Discontinued • Introduced March 5, 2007 • 10 MP • Image sizes: • Shutter Speed: • Size: • Weight:
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