Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens Review

Sidarta Tanu Say: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
Unless you are a sport journalist, I don't think you can go wrong with this camera, 2006-11-26
This review is for: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
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. The D40 is priced reasonably (cheaper than D50/D80 and Canon Rebel XTi). In my opinion, if you are still considering whether to get a point and shoot camera or a DSLR, the D40 will be a better choice than any point and shoot camera, by far, even those with 8MP or 10MP. But if you are already deciding to get a DSLR or you want more control of the picture taking experience, then I would recommend you to also test the D50 and/or D80 first before deciding to buy the D40. I want you to make sure that you know what you will get (and not get) with the D40. Don't get me wrong though, the D40 is an awesome camera, and I don't think you will regret buying one. There are some limitation with the D40 which shouldn't bother most people, for example, the D40 doesn't have dedicated button to change picture quality, white balance or ISO settings (which generally only professional/enthusiast will care). Once you understand (and accept) 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 almost 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 (auto, child mode, landscape etc) 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). The internal flash will not pop up automatically with the P,S,A,M settings.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 (or other image editing software).To date, D40 is the smallest and lightest among all the Nikon DSLR (even smaller than the Canon Rebel XT/XTi, however the D40 is more ergonomics). I believe that choosing a camera that fits comfortably with your hands is important. Therefore, I recommend people to test the camera before buying (even if you want to buy online, please do go to a physical store and test the camera first whenever possible).The D40 has only 3 (horizontal) autofocus point (5 for D50 and 11 for D80). If you know "The Rule of Thirds", the additional AF points above and below the center focus point (available in D50 and D80) are handy to help create the horizontal third line. However, the 3 horizontal AF point in D40 is still helpful to create the vertical third line. Also one can focus with the middle AF point and after the focus is lock then move the frame upwards/downwards to create the horizontal third line. Just make sure the exposure level is still accurate when you move the frame after you lock the focus.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/AF-I 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 and AF-I type lenses. I'm not sure why Nikon choose this route for the D40 (whether to enable smaller size camera or from now on Nikon will only make AF-S lens compatible camera). There are a lot of good Nikon AF-S lenses (price range added: low, medium, high) that are fully compatible with the D40 such as:- Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX (L)- Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S (M)- Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX (L)- Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX (L)- Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED IF AF-S DX (L)- Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX (L)- Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S DX VR (M)- Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX (L)- Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX VR (L)- Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR (M)- Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF AF-S DX (M)- Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S (H)- Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX (H)- Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S (H)- Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR (H)- Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro (M)- And several other expensive prime tele/zoom lens like 200-400mm, 300m, 400mm, 500mm, 600mm.High priced lens ($1000+) are usually pro level lens which usually have better construction, faster (f-stop), and produce better quality picture. However, often times, lower price lens will serve your needs just fine. I think it is important to know what you want to use the camera for before deciding which camera and lens to buy.Image quality of the D40 is very good which is #1 factor that I look for in a digital camera.Here are the pros and cons of the D40 in my opinion:Pros:1. Nice out of the camera result picture quality2. Affordable price3. Compact size and light weight4. Large and bright 2.5 inch LCD5. 2.5 frames per second6. B/W, Sepia, several more in-camera editing features.7. Instant power on, fast autofocus and no shutter lag8. 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+ on a single charge. 1000+ if flash is not used).11. Auto (flash off) mode available12. 1/500 flash syncCons:1. No direct button to change QUAL, WB and ISO settings2. Grip comfortably but might be a bit too small for some people3. No top LCD and no front command dial4. Autofocus will not work with non AF-S or non AF-I lenses (such as the 70-300m G and 50mm f/1.8D lens)5. No AF/MF switch (have to use the switch on the lens)6. Only 3 autofocus point7. 6 Megapixel (More Megapixel needed to print larger than 12 X 18 at 300 dpi)8. No night landscape mode in pre-programmed settings9. No in camera image stabilization (like Sony and Pentax) but Nikon has lenses with it (VR).10. No depth-of-field preview buttonIn conclusion, the D40 is perfect for those who want high quality pictures, more control (than a point and shoot camera), 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 (which faster focusing processor, faster frames per second and larger memory buffer might be needed), the D40 is pretty much all you will need.Happy Photographing!Sidarta Tanu

Larry Say: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
A superb deal for an excellent entry level DSLR camera., 2006-11-24
This review is for: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
This is an ergonomical, fast handling, very solidly built Digital SLR with many excellent features (like a 2.5 inch silky smooth and bright lcd found on the $1600 D200). Pictures are beautiful. It uses the same excellent 6 megapixel sensor from the D50, D70, D70s. 6 megapixel is plenty, I get tack sharp 8x12 inch prints. Don't get stuck in counting megapixels. 6MP from a DSLR will blow the doors off a 6,7,8MP compact or even DSLR-like cameras. Especially under low light conditions. 6mp is 3008x2000 pixels. 10mp is just 3888x2592pixels. Not as much difference as many people think.A Nikon DSLR body only for $499 or $599 with the lens? Darn. Nikon pricing strategy is so aggresive. With the D80 at $999 and 400DCanon at $799 body only. The main drawback for the D40 is you'd have to stick with AF-S or AF-I lenses if you want to get auto focus. You can still focus manually with other Nikon lenses. I guess they did it so D50's resale value won't drop too much. With the D50 you have access to Nikon's wide and prestigous range of lenses. Needless to say it makes a difference.However, the kit lens is adequately sharp and responsive. For $100 it can't be beat as a good everyday use lens. At wide angle 28mm distortion is minimal. Pretty sharp at the other end of the zoom, no distortion.It has a 3-point auto focus system, thats good enough. In fact I prefer it that way. I never cared for 7, 10, 11 point or more focus systems.No more top mounted LCD display, so what? Just use the beautiful 2.5" color LCD display. It's fast to see from the eyecup to rear LCD.It's got a bunch of excellent in camera processing which the D50 and D70 never had. Red eye reduction, D-lighting-automatically compensates for darker areas, image-overlay, trimming(new feature), b&w etc. The new menu is beautiful. Also zooming in during playback has been improved(one thing I always found slightly inconvenient on the D50, D70).Very fast from power up to taking pictures. Continous mode fires at 2.5 frames per second.For the price Nikon has really figured out how to built a solid , ergonomical , feature rich DSLR. Nikon really knows how to built solid SLRs. It is small in size but unlike the Canon 350/400d/xti(good picture and processor ,new dust reduction, but slightly less ergonomical and solid), you get a comfortable grip that doesn't make your hand feel cramped.For this camera, Nikon also came out with a new flash SB400(works on the D50 too) if you need a more powerful flash. The built in flash is excellent and accurate and powerful enough for most situations.I've had a bunch of digital cameras , Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Fuji, Sony 3ccd HiDef, Canon XL1 etc. The D40 is a superb camera for beginners or even semi-experienced enthusiasts, or as a second camera. You can save the money and buy some lenses or strike some big prints.

Daniel J. Zajic Say: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
Simply the best, 2007-06-15
This review is for: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
Nikon has hit a grand slam with this 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. I would get this camera even if I had an unlimited amount of money to spend. There is simply nothing like it. Lots of ingenius user interface elements, superb feel/handling, superb flash (both internal and external SB-400), outstanding image quality, instant response, superb viewfinder, superb LCD... I could go on. I have nothing bad to say about it, and I'm extremely picky. I thought I was going to wait for a full-frame sensor body, but when this came along, I could not wait to upgrade.The lack of a built-in focusing motor is an ADVANTAGE in my opinion. It's one reason the camera is so small and lightweight, and I believe all future Nikon lenses will have internal focusing anyway. So unless you want to use older, heavier, and slower focusing lenses for some strange reason, you'd be paying for and carrying around something you won't even use.In addition to the superb 18-55mm (i.e. 27-82.5mm) kit lens, I bought the 55-200mm VR II and 50mm F/1.8D lenses, the SB-400 external flash and a remote (3rd party off Ebay). I suspect many, many people will buy this exact set of equipment, since it's really all you'll ever need. No need for an extra battery, unless you ever go many photo-filled days without being able to recharge. Get at least two 1GB 50x (or faster) SD cards, so if one stops working (it does happen), you aren't stuck.The 55-200mm VR (i.e. 82.5-300mm) is a necessity for shooting any action/wildlife. The optical stabilization is truly awesome, and better than sensor-based stabilization (e.g. Pentax K10D, Sony Alpha) since you can see it working right through the viewfinder, making it easier to frame/focus your shot. Although the lens may seem slow (f4-5.6), don't forget that stabilization gives you an extra 2-3 stops, so it's really more like f2-2.8 (without the reduced depth of field, of course). DO NOT consider the slightly cheaper non-VR version, unless the slightly smaller size is an absolute necessity.The 50mm (i.e. 75mm) is a nice walkaround lens when you want to go as light/small as possible. It's super fast (f1.8!), allowing you to take handheld photos at night with no flash! It's also a nice portrait lens, although the 55-200 is better (75mm is a little short).The D40x is a poorer choice for the vast majority of people. The extra resolution means your photos take up more space and are slower to work with. It also has a slower max. flash sync speed (1/200 vs 1/500). If you don't know what this means, trust me, it's important, and one day you'll be really happy you have it. Since the D40's pixels are larger (less pixels in the same size sensor), there is less noise, so having ISO 100 is useless. Do you really need 10MP? Do you print larger than 16x20? Heck, do you print at all? I know I don't. Think it will give you more cropping ability? Think again. Without a super expensive lens ($1k+), the lack of sharpness and magnified distortion of the cropped image won't be as good as the uncropped 6MP of the D40. Save the $200 and use it to get the 55-200 lens, or the 50mm lens and the flash.If you're ready to move to a DSLR, take this camera for a test drive. You will most likely fall in love with it's wonderful handling, and excellent performance, as so many people have. There will be a new generation of cameras coming out this fall, so you may want to wait, although there's really nothing that can be improved upon with this camera.

Tool Connoisseur Say: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
The DSLR you have been waiting for to move up from P&S, 2007-02-04
This review is for: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
The D40, quite simply, is the camera I have been waiting for. I was into 35 mm SLR photography 20+ years ago. I got back into photography with the new digitals but held off on digital SLRs because they were expensive, but more importantly, so large. Not so the D40 on either count. I compared the D40 side by side with the Canon Rebel XTi (EOS 400D in Europe) at a photo store. The XTi was slightly bigger. The XTi beat the D40 in features (it had more pixels, and more features, including the self-cleaning sensor and was a little faster) although it was more expensive. But in the end, I chose the D40 because it just felt better in my hand. My hands are medium sized and it fit very well. The Canon just wasn't as comfortable. Plus the overall build quality seemed better than the Canon and the sound of the shutter and flash pop-up was softer, more subdued, more quality sounding (and important for photographing wildlife or a sleeping baby). And the final selling point for me with the Nikon D40 was the view-finder was noticeably brighter than the XTi. If you are stepping up to an SLR from a point-and-shoot, this is the camera to do it with at about the same price-point as a good non-SLR digital. You can finally get away from that annoying lag between button push and picture capture. It's not the fastest SLR out there but I have been very happy with it, finally actually capturing those shots within a split-second of pushing the button, though it slows down somewhat in low-light situations. It takes continuous shots at 2.5 frames per second in good light, which though again not stellar, is adequate for most situations. The 2.5 inch LCD screen is incredible - bright and clear. It has an excellent menu with built-in context sensitive help screens at the touch of a button. Though it doesn't have as many features as it's much more expensive big brothers, and the 6mp max capability is a limitation, it is adequate for all but professional users, and there will be plenty of professionals buying one as a small back-up. It's not the megapixels that matter as much as the quality of the picture and the D40 doesn't disappoint there either - clear, sharp, excellent colors (it has the same image processor as the D80 and D200). There are a number of pre-set auto modes easily selected by the main dial that also work well. The built in flash does a fine job and I have seen no red-eye. One feature I like is the auto-ISO that you can set to only kick in at a certain shutter speed or slower. It also has a D-light feature which allows you to enhance an already-taken back-lit or shadowy picture in-camera to even out the shadows and highlights; it works very well. Two features that it doesn't have that I wish it did are f-stop bracketing and depth of field preview. I have been satisfied with the battery life so far, though it does use a different Li-ion battery than the other Nikons so you can't cross-use your batteries if you already have a different model Nikon DSLR. The 18-55 kit lens is nice - light and small but quality construction (version II - nicer than the first one that came with the D50 that seemed lower quality). If you read technical reviews on the lens it is a solid performer for the price. You won't be able to use most older Nikon auto-focus lenses in auto-focus mode since this has no built-in auto-focus motor (not at this size and weight!). It requires AF-S and AF-I lenses, so most of the prime lenses will be manual focus only. This is a small price to pay I think for a small light-weight camera. If you already are into digital SLR, the D40 is still a great camera, making for an excellent travel camera since it's small, light-weight and you aren't carrying around a two thousand dollar hunk of expensive hardware. I am very satisfied with it; it is an excellent value - and offers something for the novice and pro alike. It makes me really want to carry this with me all the time and get out and take pictures again.

P. Burnett "pbdesignphotography" Say: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
Made for beginners but a great walking camera for pros too!, 2006-12-12
This review is for: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
I bought this camera as a compliment to my current professional system based on the Nikon D2X. It's a great "walking around" camera for a pro as it will do all the things that pros are used to asking of a camera, great nikon metering, kit lens is decent, programming and screen quality are par with the flagship D2X. All this makes it the perfect 2nd camera or "pro's snap shot camera". I would not consider doing pro work with it, that's the X is for, but as far as it shooting excellent quality, tough nikon build quality, superior metering and battery performance for, so far in my testing, over 600 shots! The downside is, and I say this as primarily a prime lens shooter, it will only AF with AF-S or AF-i lenses, or those with built in focusing motors. Yes, this kinda sucks, but really only to those who probably rely on AF too much anyways. The novices will probably only use AF-S lenses and the kit lens at that. As a pro, I tend to shoot the D2X full manual and often only turn on AF when needing a quick shot, the rest I still focus by eye. Most of the pros I know do this as well.SO, if you are a pro and, like me, long for the days when you carried around that old tank of a film camera (FE2 for me!) but wish there was a digital equivalent that could do all it would do and more, then this is a perfect compliment to your system. If you are a beginner, and you started with this camera, it would open up a whole new world of professional digital photography for you and then you'd want to move up to the D80, D200, then possibly D2X or beyond (when available) but I guarantee you'd keep this one for fun even if you moved up.The point is this camera is fun, advanced features for pros, ease of use for novices, and much more accessible, super lightweight camera for all.

Gadget Man "Gadget Man" Say: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
A Keeper, 2007-01-15
This review is for: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
I go through lots of cameras. This was my third DSLR, and about 15th to 20th digital camera. THe D40 takes superb pictures. Don't let the reviewers mislead you into thinking this is just for newbies. It works great for newbies, and for serious advanced photo-enthusiasts. I fall in the latter category and like the camera for the following reasons:1. Size and weight - easy to travel with.2. Great image quality right out of the camera. It's nice to enhance photos in software like Photoshop. But it's even better to have a camera that doesn't require you to do that for every shot. I recommend setting the photos to Vivid or More Vivid. Contrary to popular perception, I found these settings actually give you a more accurate color portrayal of the scene.3. I use the D40 with the 18-200mm Nikon VR lens. They work great in combination.4. Changing settings is quick and easy even though many are not set with dedicated buttons.5. I like the way you can review a series of photos zoomed in, and the camera keeps the same zoomed in setting for each photo -- just turn the rear wheel.6. Camera has a high quality feel.7. LCD screen is bright8. Viewfinder is bright.One thing I wish Nikon had included is grids in the viewfinder -- but can't have everything.

Donald Miles "don in PA" Say: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
Don't get a D50 or D80 over a D40, 2007-06-18
This review is for: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
Don't follow the advice in some of these reviews that you have to get a Nikon D50 or D80 instead of the wonderful Nikon D40 (which I've had for almost a year and taken thousands of pix on):The D40 is barely half the price of a D80 and has better controls, is lighter/smaller, and takes photos the equal of any you can get on the D80.The D50 is virtually off the market and has nothing substantial that the D40 hasn't (except the ability to use autofocus with AF/non-AF-S older lenses).The inability to use autofocus with older AF lenses is no big deal: they still auto-expose and you can still focus them manually. Besides, with the great 18-55mm kit lens that comes with the D40 (all the lens most casual photographers will need) or the wonderful 18-200mm VR (expensive, but able to replace virtually every lens you'll ever want), you really wouldn't want to use those old AF lenses anyway, for almost any shot.If you really need the few things that the D40 lacks (better metering, better color, better Auto ISO, faster sequential shots), spend more for the D200, a professional camera (the D200 is only a little more than the D80 -- which is no better than the D40 -- so why get a D80?).Ignore reviews that try to put down the D40 as an "entry level DSLR" or a somehow lacking in what's necessary to take 99% of the photos you'll ever take: it's a great, inexpensive, wonderful to use tool for taking great photographs. It's the real deal.

Baltimore Jack Say: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
Not for Soccer Moms, Sports Shooting, Others will Love It., 2007-02-23
This review is for: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
The D40 is a hard camera to rate because for some, it will be a 5 star camera, but others will regret their decision to buy this camera. If you are in the 5 star group, you will LOVE the D40. But . . . because of a decision Nikon made to save $$$ by leaving out an autofocus driver out of the camera body, if you want to add a lens to shoot your kid playing soccer, the D40 is a very bad choice, and you may be a dead man walking. Let me explain:The 5 Star buyer:If you are moving up to a digital SLR, and want nothing more than to use the kit lens (which is very good), then you will LOVE this camera: it is light, feels good in the hand, and puts out better looking JPEG files than the more expensive D70 and D50 cameras. If you intend to use this camera for general travel and around-the-house kid pictures, the D40 is a great choice, and I think you will be very, very happy.The 1 Star buyer:You want a camera for sports or telephoto shots of nature. This is not the camera for you, and here is why: the D40 has a DIFFERENT lens mount than every other Nikon DSLR which came before it. To save costs, Nikon left an autofocus driver out of the camera body, which means you must buy special/more expensive add-on lenses with the autofocus driver built into the lens itself.Why is this significant? Because of the 200 lenses made for Nikon DSLRs by Nikon, Sigma, Tokina, and others, only 20 or so work with the D40 with autofocus - something most amateurs will need to shoot sports and day to day photos. Many of Nikon's own consumer grade lenses, such as the 70-300mm G Zoom (Street price $150), will not autofocus with the D40. As a practical matter, this means that if you want an autofocus lens to shoot junior playing soccer, you must spend $525 for a zoom lens, the fantastic, yet pricey Nikon 70-300mm VR Zoom. That is almost as much as what you paid for the camera itself. The D40 is significantly limited in the number of lenses it will accept, and you really need to think about these limitations before purchasing. Moreover, what if your intentions change and want to pick up a cheap zoom for occasional use? With the D40, you can't, and I really think this is a significant limitation on this camera.But hey, if you are in group 1, this is a 5 star purchase, and you will be a very happy camper. Good luck!P.S. - In April, 2007, Nikon will begin selling the D40x, the same camera with an upgraded 10 megapixel sensor for $800 w/ lens.

Roger J. Buffington Say: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
A real winner and a wonderful introductory digital SLR, 2007-02-23
This review is for: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
Good job, Nikon! The D40 is an ideal entry level DSLR. It is aimed at persons who want better quality images than a point-and-shoot pocket camera can deliver, who are willing to put up with the somewhat extra bulk of a true SLR, but who do not want to spend a lot more money. The D40 is an outrageous bargain at its price point. Only a tad bit more money than the high-end point-and-shoots, the D40 will produce better images with the kit lens, and more importantly, enables the user to expand the capacity of the camera at will, by buying other Nikon and compatible lenses. Or by equipping the D40 with one of Nikon's superb outboard flash units, such as the SB400, SB600, or SB800. You cannot do that with point-and-shoots.Thus, it is a mistake, in my opinion, to spend a lot of time comparing the D40 to other DSLRs, because its real competition is the top-end point-and-shoot cameras, which are pretty good these days. Nevertheless, I will point out some of the advantages and disadvantages of the D40 vis'a'vis other low-end digital SLR cameras.First-price. The D40 gives a lot of bang for the buck compared to any other DSLR on the market. Particularly for folks for whom its price is a bit of a stretch, the D40 is a howling bargain, in my estimation.Second-ergonomics. Nikon got the D40 just right. It fits in one's hand in a solid and agreeable way. This is a camera most people will not mind carrying around all day. It is small, but has a wonderful "quality" feel that Nikon seems to get right more often than other manufacturers. The menus are pretty good. Yes, I miss the top LCD display (the D40 uses the big rear LCD for this information, to cut costs) but once you get used to it, it is OK. The control layout on this camera will appeal to most users.Downsides: the focusing system is less advanced than either the D70s or D50, with three focus points. This may annoy some purists, but the user group to whom the D40 is aimed will mostly not mind this. The other downside is that the D40 does not have the built-in bayonet mount motor, which means that it can only autofocus with the newer Nikon lenses which have the motor in the lens. The older lenses will be autofocus only. In reality I doubt that many will mind this, as the targeted user group for the D40 will likely not own any older Nikon lenses, and will simply confine their subsequent purchases to the newer lenses. Lastly, the D40 is 6 megapixels (in common with the D50 and D70s) rather than the 10MP of the superb D80 and D200. This is probably not going to be a big deal to many D40 owners. You can take awesome pictures at 6MP, the differences as between 6 and 10MP are subtle, and not likely to make a difference to most users.The D40 is a wonderful choice for someone who wants to be able to take high-quality digital photographs and take advantage of the Nikon system of lenses and flashes, but does not want to spend the kind of money involved in the higher-end cameras. And the wonderful thing is, that if you buy a D40 and get hooked on photography, the D40 can grow with you for quite a ways, since it can use the high-end Nikon equipment. And if you do upgrade the camera body, all the extra lenses and flashes will work with the higher-end model. This makes the D40 an excellent choice for many.Nikon put a lot of thought in the design of the D40, and by doing so they produced an excellent product for a bargain price.

C. Scanlon "least helpful reviewer" Say: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
FAR MORE CAMERA THAN YOU WILL EVER REALLY COMPREHEND AT A QUICKLY DROPPING COST, 2007-04-16
This review is for: Best Selection on Nikon D40 61MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f35-56G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for Sale
I began as a child with brownies and graduated to instamatics, wondering at the wonderful new technology and the convenience of a contained drop in roll of film and a cool flash. In high school I progressed to dark room processing (whose magic and science later served me in a sweltering subtropical environment), but still with the most basic of cameras unless a friend lent me his Mamiya Seikor and hand held light meter. I have an old soviet all mechanical KGB 35 mm SLR camera laying around somewhere, but my main camera which became like a part of me, another organ of my body, was my Canon AL-1, with the wonders of a rudimentary Focus assist system and aperture priority photography. That Canon saw me across thousands of miles through Nicaragua and the heights of Machu Picchu, and finally gave up the ghost when twenty years came and went and duct tape couldn't hold it together anymore and the long lens fused to the body.Being known as a photographer, or one who has taken pictures, has its draw backs, as people ask you about the latest technology. In the mountains of NIcaragua in the eighties new tourists asked me how their latest point and shoot knew which ISO to set to. I had no idea. More recently people handed me their digital point and shoots, tiny as cellphones, and I had no idea and a lingering commitment to a roll of film as true photography, and a full sized SLR as the only way to go. I cannot grasp the concept of parallax which point and shoots require, but must compose in the viewfinder as I cannot control the darkroom with commercial and color film processing.Then I met this D-40Being obliged to buy a digital as the price of film processing soared, I searched desperately here on the amazon, feeling unfaithful, comparing product details, etc. which are so generously given here on the amazon, and I discovered: This D-40 is all of the camera you will ever need forever, case closed (Of course I felt the same about my Canon).I now once again sleep with my SLR literally, and its manual I commit to memory. This camera is really more than you will ever need, and since it is behind the latest wave its price is very reasonable and generous. The number of megapixels is more than sufficient for enlargement, and for cropping to details while recomposing. In fact, the camera is its own darkroom, as it allows you to crop and otherwise alter and adjust all aspects of images, including going sepia tones, and dump them to a printer or your computer, without the need for further graphics programs. The full functions of the camera quickly become intuitive, with its easily accessible and ergonomic buttons and switches and menu screens, and as one who used no more than a mainly mechanical SLR for years and loved it, this D-40 is truly magical and well beyond my needs, desires and imaginings. It can do everything and more.I strongly suggest you get the very inexpensive 55-200 mm long lens designed for this camera series. Watch for the full description of the lens to be sure it is fully compatible with all of this camera's features. And before going outside, as you learned in your first photogrpahy class, be sure to get the UV lens filter, or other filter, mainly to protect the lens from scratches and the world and your fingertip oils. Be sure to get the semi-soft camera case which is ample enough to cover the surprisingly short long lens. Also hunt around for the best price on SD memory cards, of which you will want several, and which are very inexpensive here on the amazon. If you can afford it get an extra rechargeable battery to carry in your case, and get the plug in transformer for use where plug in is available and long service is required. Pick up the remote control device and all the rest of the bells and whistles while available, but essentially get the long lens, lens filters, SD cards, and semi soft case. Also get a great all around technique refresher book like Understanding Exposure (see my review there please).One surprisingly expensive accessory is the Speedlight flash attachment. I got sticker shock at seeing the price on these nowadays, for one that angles, etc. We used to get these used for next to nothing, but now I'd get another lens instead! In any case the built in pop-up flash on the D-40 serves for most any flash situations without being annoying and with a red eye assist, etc., even at a good distance (ever seen those folks at a football game stand up and try to fill the stadium with their disposable flash or their CELLPHONE? Or stand more than twelve feet away?).I normally go with ambient light no matter how long the exposure, for the suffused effect, and so rarely use a flash. So I was glad to learn the flash can be suppressed in the "fully automatic no flash" mode, as well as other modes, but having it there to pop up whenever people require you to "take my picture" under unfavorable conditions is very comforting. This is a great all around camera with also wonderfully implemented specific skills.The only con mentioned elsewhere that I can agree with is regarding the three point automatic focus system which focusses on the nearest object. I lean on the law of thirds myself and so have to lock focus and recompose in the viewfinder, or think of cropping later. Obviously the focussing points were set up to favor the exact center, which is death to any photograph. But hey, work around this already!You cannot go wrong with this camera. Did I mention the ample rear screen, full color, which permits zooming in very closely to check your focus, etc., and which scrolls through several functional menu screens? It has everything and more, including settings for aperture priority (and even if you do not have a manual aperture ring on your lens, you can do it through the camera itself), shutter priority, etc. etc. etc. If you feel there is something this camera CANNOT do, as mentioned in other reviews, just READ THE MANUAL (we used to have an interesting acronym for that in the early days of PC's) and you will discover this camera in fact can do it all and more.You can set this up so that every iota of information regarding focal length, shutter speed, aperture, etc., etc., gets saved with the photo instead of jotting it down in a pad, and thus you can even see that the ISO is altered automatically to fit conditions. No more blowing off a roll of 100 ISO before nightfall just to take low light pictures by oil lamp with ISO 800 and using it up before daybreak. You can also set the ISO instead of automatically switching it from shot to shot as the camera wills.I have not yet tried setting the ISO to 1600 to see if it comes out as ethereally grainy as that film did when first marketted twenty years ago. Got some great shots of people and places that way. I suppose in the DSLR it simply grants greater latitude in low light situations without flash. But I see no pressing need to have a button dedicated directly and only to adjusting ISO as mentioned in another review. I trust the D-40's processor to make the decision. That's what I pay it for. Me, I am too concerned with keeping those kids in focus and in frame, or that wild bird from spooking to soon, or that flower from getting lost in too great a depth of field, or holding my breath while soaking in that altar lit by candles and wishing I had brought my tripod, or at least a monopod.Truly this is the camera to get, especially at this falling price, but be sure to protect it with lens filters and case, and READ THE MANUAL!!