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Nikon D40 DSLR Review
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Review Date: Jan
3, 2007 |

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Category: Family
dSLR
The Nikon D40 digital SLR is targetted
squarely to those who desire the image quality
that is only possible with a dSLR but who nevertheless
wants an intuitive, easy and worry-free digital
camera. The D40 is Nikon's lightest and most compact
DSLR ever with 6.1 MP for large prints, a large
2.5-in. LCD monitor for image playback, a large
and bright viewfinder and a long-life rechargeable
lithium-ion battery that can take approx. 470
images/charge. There is even an optional remote
Wireless Remote Control.
Like the D50 which it replaces, the D40 provides
outstanding image quality on a large APS-sized
image sensor.
Major features of the Nikon D40:
- The lightest, most compact Nikon digital
SLR ever, D40 is ergonomically designed, featuring
intuitive controls.
- A large 2.5-inch LCD monitor enables image
playback at up to 19 times magnification (for
L-size images), while large fonts and easy-to-view
menus with carefully designed colour schemes
help simplify changing camera settings.
- Large, bright viewfinder with 0.8x magnification
ensures clear view for precise composition.
- Long-life rechargeable lithium-ion battery
allows up to 470 images* in single-frame shooting
mode on a single charge.
- Handy assist images are available to help
the photographer choose the right settings for
each scene.
- Optional Accessories: Wireless Remote Control
ML-L3, AC Adapter EH-5 (an AC Adapter Connector
EP-5 is required, available separately).
- 6.1-effective-megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD
imaging sensor (3,008 x 2,000 pixels) images.
- Nikon 3D Colour Matrix Metering II automatic
exposure control.
- White Balance: Auto; Incandescent, Fluorescent,
Direct Sunlight, Flash, Cloudy, and Shade; and
user-defined preset (custom).
- Near-instant 0.18-second power-up.
- Continuous shooting at 2.5 frames** per second
allows the capture of up to 100 simultaneous
JPEG images (FINE L-size or smaller).
- Advanced 3-area AF system with AF-assist illuminator.
- Shutter Speed range from 30 to 1/4000 sec.,
plus bulb.
- Fast image data transfer and recording to
SD memory cards of up to 4GB capacity (SDHC
compliant).
- Eight Digital Vari-Programs adjust settings
automatically, controlling ISO sensitivity,
White Balance, Sharpening, Tone (Contrast),
Colour, Saturation and Hue. Selections include
Auto, Auto (Flash Off), Portrait, Landscape,
Child, Sports, Close Up, and Night Portrait.
- P (Program auto), S (Shutter-priority auto),
A (Aperture-priority auto) and M (Manual) modes.
- Automatic control over ISO-equivalent sensitivity
from ISO 200 to 1600 plus HI 1 can be set manually.
- Simultaneous recording of NEF (RAW) and JPEG
images.
- Built-in Flash with i-TTL flash control: Auto
Flash, Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync and Rear
Curtain Sync. Flash exposure compensation is
also available.
- D-Lighting -- ideal for correcting backlighting,
insufficient flash or other situations that
produce under-exposed images.
- Red-eye Correction automatically detects and
compensates for the annoying red-eye effect
frequently seen in flash pictures.
- Trim allows for creative cropping of an image
and produces smaller files for easy sharing,
emailing and Internet use.
- Colour Effects: Monochrome (Black-and-white,
Sepia, Cyanotype)
- Filter Effects: Skylight, Warm filter, Colour
balance.
- Image overlay merges a pair of selected RAW
(NEF) files taken with the D40 to create a new
composite image that can be saved in RAW or
JPEG format.
- Compatibility with world famous, high-quality
Nikkor lenses* with Nikon F mount with AF coupling
and AF contacts***
- Supports Nikon Creative Lighting System when
using the SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-R200 or
the R1C1 Wireless Close-Up Speedlight system,
delivering accurate exposures via i-TTL flash
and versatile wireless operation.
Nikon's PictureProject software (included) lets
photographers easily share, organize and edit
their pictures with ease. Capture NX (available
separately) is Nikon's new photo editing software
for those who want to shoot in RAW file format.
U Point technology, by Nik Software, simplifies
the editing and enhancement procedures to a few
clicks of the mouse, without calculations and
guesswork.
A new AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G
ED II lens comes standard with the Nikon D40 as
a lens kit:
- 18-55mm (picture angle equivalent 27-82.5mm
lens in the 35mm format) 3x optical zoom.
- Compact SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for quiet
and smooth autofocusing.
- An ED glass element minimizes chromatic aberration,
while a hybrid aspherical lens element minimizes
astigmatism and other forms of distortion.
- Seven-blade rounded diaphragm opening makes
out-of-focus elements appear more natural.
Photographers would also want to add the optional
Nikon SB-400 speedlite. It is compact, looks cool
and has a titltable head that allows bounce flash
for pleasant natural lighting:
- Compatible with i-TTL and D40's M mode
- Flash head can be tilted in four steps: horizontal,
60, 75 and 90 degrees
- Flash shooting distance range: 0.6m - 20m
(depending on the ISO setting)
- Guide number: 30 [ISO 200, m, 20*C]
- Angle of coverage: 18mm (with Nikon-DX format
cameras), 27mm (with Nikon F6)
- Depending on the camera in use, the following
flash modes are available: Slow Sync, Red-eye
Reduction, Red-eye Reduction with Slow Sync,
Rear-curtain Sync, FV Lock, Exposure Compensation,
M (manual, only with D40 camera)
- Power source: two AA-size 1.5V batteries (also
compatible with lower voltage batteries)
* CIPA standard, with Built-in
Flash used for 50% of the shots.
** Photographs taken at an ISO sensitivity of
HI 1 are automatically processed to reduce noise,
increasing recording time by about 1 second per
frame.
*** Autofocus is supported only with AF-S and
AF-I CPU lenses, which are equipped with built-in
motors.).
The Nikon D40 digital SLR falls into our
new "Family dSLR" category -- a new
category that targets families who desire the
SLR experience and image quality combined with
point-and-shoot ease-of-use.
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Nikon
D40 |
QuickFact
Sheet
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CAN
| USA
| UK |
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Type
of Camera |
Single-lens
reflex digital camera
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Effective
Pixels |
6.1
million |
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Image
Sensor |
RGB
CCD, 23.7 x 15.6 mm; total pixels: 6.24 million,
Nikon DX format |
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Image
Size |
3,008
x 2,000 [L], 2,256 x 1,496 [M], 1,504 x 1,000
[S] |
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ISO Sensitivity |
200 to 1600 in
steps of 1 EV with additional setting one
step over 1600 |
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Storage
Media |
SD memory card, SDHC compliant
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Storage
System |
Compressed NEF (RAW): 12-bit compression;
JPEG: JPEG baseline compliant
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File
System |
Exif 2.21, Compliant DCF 2.0 and DPOF
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White Balance |
Auto (TTL white
balance with 420-pixel RGB sensor); six manual
modes with fine tuning and preset white balance |
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LCD
Monitor |
2.5-inch, 230,000-dot, low-temperature
polysilicon TFT LCD with brightness adjustment
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Playback Menu |
1 frame; thumbnail
(4 or 9 segments); magnifying playback; slide
show; histogram indication; highlight point
display; auto image rotation |
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Delete Function |
Card format, all
frames delete, selected frames delete |
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Video
Output |
NTSC or PAL
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Text
Input |
Up to 36 characters of alphanumeric text
input available with LCD monitor and multi
selector; stored in Exif header
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Compatible Lenses*1
*1. Excluding lenses for F3AF
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Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts
Type G or D AF Nikkor: 1) AF-S, AF-I: All
functions supported; 2) Other Type G or
D AF Nikkor: All functions supported except
autofocus; 3) PC Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D:
Can only be used in mode M; all other functions
supported except autofocus; 4) Other AF
Nikkor*1/AI-P Nikkor: All functions supported
except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering
II; 5) Non-CPU: Can be used in mode M, but
exposure meter does not function; electronic
range finder can be used if maximum aperture
is f/5.6 or faster; 6) IX Nikkor lenses
cannot be used
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Picture Angle |
Equivalent in
35mm [135] format is approx. 1.5 times lens
focal length |
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Viewfinder |
Fixed-eyelevel penta-Dach mirror type;
built-in diopter adjustment (-1.7 to +0.5m-1)
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Eyepoint |
18mm (-1.0 m-1) |
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Focusing
Screen |
Type B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark
V with superimposed focus brackets
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Viewfinder
Frame Coverage |
Approximately 95% (vertical/horizontal)
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Viewfinder
Magnification |
Approx. 0.8x with 50mm lens at infinity;
-1.0 m-1
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Viewfinder
Information |
Focus indications, AE/FV lock indicator,
shutter speed, aperture value, exposure/exposure
compensation indicator, exposure mode, flash
output level compensation, exposure compensation,
number of remaining exposures, flash-ready
indicator
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Auto Focus |
TTL phase detection by Nikon Multi-CAM530
autofocus module with AF-assist (range approximately
0.5-3.0m/1ft. 8in.-9ft. 10in.); Detection
range: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100 at 20 degrees
C/68 degrees F)
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Lens Servo |
1) Autofocus (AF): Instant single-servo
AF (AF-S); continuous servo AF (AF-C); auto
AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus
tracking automatically activated according
to subject status, 2) Manual focus (M)
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Focus Area |
Can be selected from 3 focus areas
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AF Area Modes |
1) Single Area AF; 2) Dynamic Area AF;
3) Dynamic Area AF with Closest Subject
Priority
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Focus Lock |
Focus can be locked
by pressing shutter-release button halfway
(single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L
button |
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Exposure
Metering System |
TTL full-aperture exposure metering system:
1) 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and
D lenses); Color Matrix Metering II (other
CPU lenses); metering performed by 420-segment
RGB sensor; 2) Center-weighted: Weight of
75% given to 8mm circle in center of frame;
3) Spot: Meters 3.5mm circle (about 2.5% of
frame) centered on active focus area |
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Exposure
Compensation |
±5 EV in increments of 1/3 EV |
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Exposure
Metering Range |
1) 0 to 20 EV (3D Color Matrix or center-weighted
metering); 2) 2 to 20 EV (spot metering) |
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Exposure
Modes |
Digital Vari-program (Auto, Auto [Flash Off],
Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close
Up, Night Portrait), Programmed Auto (P) with
flexible program; Shutter-Priority Auto (S);
Aperture Priority Auto (A); Manual (M)
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Exposure
Lock |
Exposure
locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button |
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Shooting Modes |
1) Single frame shooting mode; 2) Continuous
shooting mode: approx. 2.5 frames per second*;
3) Self-timer mode; 4) Delayed remote mode:
2 s. delay; 5) Quick-response remote mode*Approx.
1.7 frames per second with Noise reduction
turned on and approx. 1 frame per second
with ISO HI1
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Shutter |
Combined mechanical
and CCD electronic shutter, 30 to 1/4000 sec.
in steps of 1/3, bulb |
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Sync
Contact |
X-contact
only; flash synchronization at up to 1/500
sec. |
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Flash Control |
1) TTL: TTL flash
control by 420-segment RGB sensor. i-TTL balanced
fill-flash for digital SLR and standard i-TTL
fill-flash for digital SLR available when
CPU lens is used with built-in flash, SB-800,
SB-600, and T041; 2) Auto aperture: Available
with SB-800 with CPU lens; 3) Non-TTL Auto:
Available with Speedlights such as SB-800,
80DX, 28DX, 28, 27, and 22s; 4) Range-priority
manual available with SB-800 |
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Flash
Sync Modes |
Auto,
Portrait, Child and Close Up modes: 1) Auto,
auto with red-eye reduction; fill-flash and
red-eye reduction available with optional
Speedlight; 2) Night portrait mode: Auto,
auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye
reduction; slow sync and slow sync with red-eye
reduction available with optional Speedlight;
3) Landscape, Sport mode: Fill-flash and red-eye
reduction available with optional Speedlight;
4) P, A: Fill flash, rear-curtain with slow
sync, slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction,
red-eye reduction; 5) S, M: Fill flash, rear-curtain
sync, red-eye reduction |
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Built-in
Flash |
Auto,
Portrait, Child, Close Up, Night Portrait
mode: Auto flash with auto pop-up P/S/A/M:
Manual pop-up with button releaseGuide number
(ISO 200/ISO 100, m [ft.]): approx.17 [55]/12
[39] (manual full 18 [59]/13 [42]) |
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Flash
Compensation |
-3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3 EV
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Accessory
Shoe |
Standard
ISO hot-shoe contact with safety lock provided |
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Self-Timer |
Electronically
controlled timer with duration of 2, 5, 10
or 20 seconds |
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Remote
Control |
Via
optional ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control |
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Auto
Exposure Bracketing |
Three frames ±2 EV in 1/3 or 1/2 steps |
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Power
Source |
One
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9; charging
voltage (MH-23 quick charger): 7.4V DC, EH-5
AC Adapter (available separately; requires
optional EP-5 AC Adapter Connector) |
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Tripod Socket |
1/4 in. (ISO1222)
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Included Accessories
*Supplied accessories may differ depending
on country or area.
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EN-EL9 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, MH-23
Quick Charger, UC-E4 USB Cable, PictureProject,
DK-16 Rubber Eyecup, Camera Strap, BF-1A Body
Cap, DK-5 Eyepiece Cap, BS-1 Accessory Shoe
Cap. |
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Optional
Accessories |
ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control, Capture NX,
Camera Control Pro, EH-5 AC Adapter, EP-5
AC Adapter Connector, EG-D100Video Cable,
Semi Soft-Case CF-DC1, Speedlight SB-800/SB-600/SB-400/R1C1 |
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Dimensions (W
x H x D) |
Approx. 126 x 64 x 94mm /
5.0 x 2.5 x 3.7 in.
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Weight (Camera
body only) |
Approx. 475g (1lb. 1oz.) without battery,
memory card or body cap
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MSRP |
D40 Kit with AF-S DX Nikkor
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED II Lens: US $599.95 / CDN $589.95
Body only: CDN $489.95
D40 Kit with AF-S DX Nikkor
18-135mm f3.5-5.6 G IF-ED Lens: CDN $789.95
* Dealer may sell for less
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Specifications and equipment
are subject to change without any notice or obligation
on the part of the manufacturer. November 2006
(c)2006 NIKON CORPORATION
Product technical specifications (including MSRP and Included Accessories)
are as represented by the manufacturer and subject to manufacturer's change
without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer or of Photoxels.
Included Accessories may also differ by country or area. Please verify latest
specs from the appropriate manufacturer's site.
Before you buy, do your homework and verify a seller's reputation. One
source you may want to check with is Resellerratings.com.
And remember, if a price seems to good to be true, it probably is.
DISCLAIMER:
We strive for accuracy in reproducing these specs, but being human, we do occasionally make mistakes. Also, in the early stages of a product introduction, you can almost guarantee there will be some errors from the manufacturers themselves as they update their sites. If you see any mistakes, please contact us. We do appreciate your writing in with the corrections and thank you in advance!
| Nikon D40 |
| with AF-S DX
Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED II Zoom Nikkor
Lens |
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