Nikon D40 Digital Camera Review

Nikon D40

Digital Camera Review

Mar 02, 2007 - By Patrick Singleton
3.7 The 6.1-megapixel Nikon D40 retails for $599 with its 18-55mm kit lens. The price indicates a modest step down from previous Nikon entries, and the D40 shows the effects of that cost-cutting. Most notably, it only has 3 auto focus sensor zones, and it does not accept all Nikkor auto focus lenses. Still, Nikon has included a range of features that will appeal to beginners such as in-camera editing and an increased number of scene modes. There are many choices for snapshooters looking to spend $599. Read on to see if Nikon has put together a compelling package for the price.
Advertisement
Recently Viewed Products
Panasonic
Lumix DMC-FX50		 $200
Panasonic
Lumix DMC-FZ18		 $550
Panasonic
Lumix DMC-LX2		 $353
Kodak
EasyShare P880		 $400
Top DSLR Cameras
Max Price: $7700
$0 $1925 $3850 $5775 $7700
Filters
All
Canon
Fuji
Nikon
Olympus
Panasonic
Pentax
All
Consumer
Professional
Prosumer
1.Olympus E-P1
Consumer		$800
2.Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Prosumer		$2,680
3.Nikon D5000
Consumer		$719
4.Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Consumer		$795
5.Panasonic DMC-GF1
Consumer		$900
D40 Prices
Latest Camera Reviews
DSLR Point & Shoot
Panasonic
DMC-GF1		Samsung
TL225
Pentax
K10D		Canon
PowerShot S90
Olympus
E-P1		Canon
G11
Canon
EOS 5D		Panasonic
DMC-ZS3
Nikon
D3000		Canon
PowerShot A650 IS
External Reviews
Imaging Resource
Nikon D40
Ken Rockwell
Nikon D40


Auto Mode (8.0)
The camera industry seems to be standardizing green as the universal indicator of ultimate simplicity. The Nikon D40's full auto mode has a green position on the mode dial, and it takes care of everything: aperture, shutter speed, flash, focus mode, white balance and “image optimization.” For users who trust the camera better than themselves, going green covers everything it should.
 
Custom Image Presets (8.0)
Custom image presets are programmed so that the camera does what an experienced photographer would do to get a given sort of picture. The D40's presets include: Auto flash off, which automates exposures but doesn't fire the flash even in dim light. Portrait sets the focus system to focus on the closest subject and opens the aperture to blur the background. Landscape switches optimization to vivid, shuts off the flash and the focus assist light, extends depth of field with small apertures, and sets auto focus to the nearest object. Nearest object may seem like an odd choice, but it will generally give good results because the AF sensors are all at the middle of the frame. A branch or a rock in a corner of the image won't throw it off. Child mode assumes active children so it tries to freeze action with high shutter speeds, while it boosts background colors and softens skin tones. Sports uses high shutter speeds to freeze action and tries to track focus on moving objects. Close up appears to use the center focusing point and boosts colors. Night portrait combines a flash exposure for the foreground with a time exposure for the background. 
 
Preset Modes
 
Auto
Set for fully automatic default settings of ISO sensitivity, white balance, shutter speed, and flash
Auto [Flash Off]
Set for suppressed flash during automatic mode that pre-selects ISO, white balance and shutter speed
Portrait
Set for in-focus foreground with higher f/stop for blurred background and pop-up flash
Landscape
Set for lower aperture for greater depth of field and suppressed flash
Child
Set for faster shutter speed and auto flash
Sports
Set for high shutter speed and suppressed flash
Close Up
Set for macro mode and pop up flash
Night Portrait
Set for slower shutter speed and default flash setting
 
The modes work as advertised, though, more experienced users will probably depart from them as unusual situations come up. The Nikon D40 has more scene modes than most DSLRs, probably because it is an entry-level DSLR hoping to attract point-and-shoot graduates that are used to working with scene modes.
 
Drive / Burst Mode (7.0)
The Nikon D40 has a burst mode, shooting about 2.5 frames per second. 3 fps is more common. The D40's burst mode is not fast enough to catch sports sequences, but it should help with portraits and spontaneous snapshots at parties and with family. The D40 also offers a self-timer with a delay from 2 to 10 seconds.
 
Playback Mode (7.5)
Playback mode on the Nikon D40 is simple: Pressing the playback button brings up the last image shot. Pressing the thumbnail button, which is also the decrease magnification button, shows 4 or 9 images at a time. The magnification button goes up to 19x, which is enough to judge image sharpness. Like other Nikon DSLRs, the D40 can superimpose shooting information, histograms, and highlights over the playback image as the user operates the 4-way controller. This also accesses the histogram. The slide show function allows the user to choose which folder is played back, but it's not a complex or ambitious slide show.
 
The best playback feature the D40 inherits from it predecessors is the option of looking at the same zoomed-in section of a series of images. Here's how it works: Zoom in on one image and use the 4-way controller to navigate to a detailed area. Then, turn the control dial. The D40 shows the same detailed area on the next frame. It's great for comparing multiple shots of a single scene.
 
Movie Mode (0.0)
The Nikon D40 has no movie mode. It lacks a live preview function, and that is necessary to make movies. DSLRs generally don't offer movie modes.
Design / Layout Page 6 of 13 Control Options
Nikon D40 Digital Camera Review Navigation
   
Advertisement