Nikon D40 6.1 Megapixel

The 6 Megapixel Nikon D40 is targeted for those who want a relatively compact and light camera yet having most of the important SLR features. I would also recommend you to also test the D50/D80 first before deciding to buy the D40. There are some limitation with the D40 which shouldn't bother most people. Once you understand its limitation, the D40 is a potent and exciting photography machine

Just like all its (DSLR) siblings, the D40 powers on instantly and take pictures with no shutter lag which are the major advantages of a DSLR over a point and shoot camera. In addition to the P,S,A,M mode, the picture quality of the auto settings are also very good. With 2.5 frames per second you can capture movement progress in sports like football, basketball, baseball etc. Also great to photograph your family or child (child mode). The D40 is a great all around camera

Some notable new features:
1. Auto (no flash) mode. Without this mode the flash will pop-up (on all other pre-programmed mode) even when you don't want to use flash (which can be annoying)
2. In camera editing capability such as black and white, sepia and some filter effects etc. While sounds gimmicky, these features are useful especially for those who doesn't have Adobe Photoshop

To date, D40 is the smallest and lightest among all the Nikon DSLR. I believe that choosing a camera that fits comfortably with your hands is important. Therefore, I recommend people to test the camera before buying

About the 18-55mm II AF-S kit lens: A good lens producing sharp photos (though not a very fast lens). Also decent for close-up/macro photography. Lens uses internal focus technology and focusing operation is silent. A very decent kit lens.

Lens compatibility: Notice that with D40, autofocus function will not work for non AF-S/AF-I lens. If you already have non AF-S Nikon lenses and want a backup or replacement camera, you will be better off buying D50, D70s or D80. If you buy the D40, it will be convenient to stick with AF-S type lenses.

Here are the pros and cons of the D40 in my opinion:

Pros:
1. Nice out of the camera result picture quality
2. Affordable price
3. Compact size and light weight
4. Large and bright 2.5 inch LCD
5. 2.5 frames per second
6. B/W, Sepia, several more in-camera editing features.
7. Instant power on, fast autofocus and no shutter lag
8. Noise is acceptable at high ISO settings. Auto ISO settings available.
9. Great 18-55mm II AF-S kit lens.
10. Great battery life (400-1000 on a single charge).
11. Auto (flash off) mode available
12. 1/500 flash sync

Cons:
1. No direct button to change QUAL, WB and ISO settings
2. Grip comfortably but might be a bit too small for some people
3. No top LCD and no front command dial
4. Autofocus will not work with non AF-S lenses
5. No AF/MF switch
6. Only 3 autofocus point
7. 6 Megapixel (More Megapixel needed to print larger than 12 X 18 at 300 dpi)
8. No night landscape mode in pre-programmed settings
9. No in camera image stabilization (like Sony and Pentax) but Nikon has lenses with it (VR).
10. No depth-of-field preview button

In conclusion, the D40 is perfect for those who want high quality pictures, more control, and have a DSLR experience (instant power on and no shutter lag), without having to carry a bulky camera. And unless you are shooting sports/actions professionaly), the D40 is pretty much all you will need.

Happy Photographing!

In the market for a new digital camera that will take beautiful high-quality pictures, has many important features, and is relatively easy to use? Well, the Nikon D40 Digital SLR Camera may be just what you are loooking for!

The camera is fast, quiet and does the job! You can switch from automatic to manual settings, and there is a very wide range of shooting/flash/editing features available within the camera itself. The body feels strong and solid, but is not overly heavy. If you are a big person, you may want to try the camera in person first, as the grip may be a little too small for you and it might be uncomfortable.

I am very impressed with the speed of picture taking (2 1/2 frames per second) and the bright, big LCD screen (2 1/2 inches), and the battery life (they say anywhere from 500-1000 pictures on one charge - and the charger is included)

Within the camera itself, you can edit the photos as you take them...you can crop, adjust the color balance (including sepia and other features), zoom in...and more. While not essential (especially if you edit your photos on the computer, with a photoshop type program), I have found it to be handy...you can fix your shot right afrter you take it. I also liked how the camera was smart enough to save the original photo, as well as the edited picture (while not erasing the original)

I was told that other lenses will work with this camera, but as the motor is in the lens itself (not in the body of the camera) the Autofocus feature will not work when using other lenses that are not AF-S type lenses. I did not think that this was a big deal.

All in all, I find this to be a LOT of camera for the price. I am very impressed with it, and while it looked a bit intimidating to me at first (after coming from a little 1 megapixel digial camera bought in 2002), I got used to it quickly and I feel very comfortable with it. I can't wait to get out there and take some photographs!

Strengths: Very nice value for the feature set, gorgeous 2.5" LCD screen, Auto-Flash Off exposure program, Nikon tries to deliver a simpler dSLR to the first time user

Cons: Only fully compatible with AF-S lenses, no top LCD

Nikon wants to capture the "entry-level" dSLR user and the folks migrating from point and shoot cameras. The D40 does a nice job introducing aspiring photographers into the dSLR world. It is powerful enough that it allow most camera users new to dSLR photography to grow into the features it has. But the D40 can still be used as a super P&S. I particularly like the Auto-Flash Off feature. Instead of forcing the consumer to fumble with menus to disable the flash (for when you're in a church or museum, for example), this automatic exposure program is an easy one step process.

One thing I like about Nikon is the way it develops its products. Unlike other camera companies, Nikon does not cripple it's lower end products by hardwiring limits to high end components. It assembles the best components it has to come up with a complete camera to meet a particular price point. For example, the D40 has a 2.5" LCD screen that it shares with the D80 and D200. This screen is better than the D50 and D70s which have other better features and is higher up the Nikon pecking order.

Lots to love about the D40. Nikon's image quality, as expected, shines through. And ergonomics are top notch. The D40 is Nikon's smallest and lightest dSLR but it manages to feel substantial and solidly built. I would highly recommend this camera. Good luck!

COMPACTS ARE GREAT LITTLE CAMERAS FOR THE FAMILY PICTURE TAKER? I thought so untill I used one for a while and then another. I missed many shots of my grandchildrens special look to shutter delay. Frustrating for an ex-SLR film camera user. The D40 is not for pros, however it allows the family photographer and hobbiest to create near pro images knowing little about aperture, focal length, focus,or shutter speed. The camera and lense do it all automatically like a compact only with near pro quality. My D40 came with the 18-55 kit lense, an excellent starter lense for taking pictures around the house and on family outings. I am now ready to advance to the Nikon 18-200 VR lense for those action shots on the little league field. I won't have to spend most of my time finding the right position for composition. Oh yes, you are going to spend some money on lenses (I have several on my wish list), but the oooos and aaaahhs on the resulting images are well worth the expense. Drawbacks to the D40 as with most SLRs are; #1 size--it doesn't fit in your shirt pocket--#2 no live view--you have to look through the viewfinder(now remedied with the new Nikon D300-more money) and #3 price--which isn't so bad with the D40 and a kit lense if you have been looking at the better compacts. The D40 affords the ability to enjoy great images now and to purchase specialty lenses later for taking action, landscape, and wildlife images that will impress friends and self. I selected Nikon for the very fact that they make lenses and always have. About megapixels (6.1 on the D40) thats all I need for the images and prints that I want. My son chose the D40X (10.1 megapixels). I guess he wants to crop the head of a giraffe and make a poster out of it. With 6.1 PICKLES(thats what my wife calls them) and the right lense I can make an impressive 8x10 to set on my desk. I went through all the usual research, reading many reviews, some by pros, some by consumers. I would recomend anyone interested in a camera do the same and include the Nikon D40 seriously. Considering price, ease of operation, and flexibility I made the Nikon D40 my choice and have not been disappointed.