Nikon D40 Nikon D40 Review, December 2006, Phil Askey

Review based on a production Nikon D40The Nikon D40 is an all new affordable, compact, point-and-shoot digital SLR from Nikon, it follows on from the D50 but at a significantly lower price point and with a subtly different feature set. The biggest news however is probably fact that Nikon resisted the temptation to keep chasing megapixels (hooray for that) and instead appear to have concentrated on what makes a good camera, a decent viewfinder, short shutter lag, very short viewfinder blackout. Theyve trimmed some of the less important features (you cant change the exposure steps for example) but have squeezed a range of new features such as custom Auto ISO which we welcomed with the D80. Auto Focus only for AF-S or AF-I lensesPerhaps the biggest negative on the D40 is that it doesnt have an internal focus drive motor and hence no mechanical focus drive pin, instead it only has CPU contacts which means it can only Auto Focus with AF-S and AF-I lenses (those with built-in focus motors). Indeed our standard lens the Nikkor 50 mm F1.8D (and the F1.4D) are manual focus only on the D40. The images below show the difference between the mount on the D40 and D80, the D80 has a mechanical focus drive pin at about the 7 oclock position. Key features6 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop, as D50)Nikon Image processing engine (as D80 / D200)3D Color Matrix Metering II, 420 pixel sensor (as D80 / D50)New Multi-CAM530 three area AF sensorISO sensitivity range 200 - 1600 plus HI 1 (3200 equiv.)Custom Auto ISO (selectable maximum ISO, minimum shutter speed)2.5 fps continuous shooting (as D50), unlimited in JPEGNo status LCD, new LCD monitor based status / settings screensHelp suggestions on LCD monitor (eg. scene too dark, try using flash)Large 2.5" 230,000 pixel LCD monitorBigger viewfinder view (x0.8 magnification, 95% coverage)Short shutter lag and viewfinder blackoutSupport for SDHC (SD cards over 2 GB in capacity)In-camera retouchingD-Lighting (shadow / highlight enhancement)Red-eye reductionTrimmingMonochromeFilter effectsSmall pictureImage overlayUSB 2.0 with PTP and Mass Storage device supportVery compact, light body (smaller, lighter than D50)Improved menu user interface (as D80 / D200)New EN-EL9 Lithium-Ion battery (7.2V, 1000 mAh)New Version II AF-S DX 18-55 mm kit lensCompared to the Nikon D50, major feature and specification differencesNikons choice of "compromises" with the D40 are switching to a new three area AF sensor (although it seems to be just as fast), removing some of the flexibility (you cant change the CW average area, exposure steps are fixed at 1/3 EV and theres no bracketing) and removing the status LCD (although this has more to do with making the camera smaller than saving money). What the D40 shares with the D50 are some of the important things, the six megapixel sensor, the 420 pixel metering sensor (also used on the D80), the more consumer like default IIIa color mode and 2.5 frames per second continuous shooting (although now unlimited in JPEG mode).On the plus side you get ISO 3200 equiv. (HI 1), the ever useful customizable Auto ISO, a larger viewfinder view, shorter shutter lag and viewfinder blackout, a larger LCD monitor, a considerably nicer user interface, SDHC support, a new image processing engine, unlimited JPEG continuous shooting, in-camera retouching (including D-Lighting) and of course a smaller and lighter body. It would not therefore be fair to describe the D40 as a dumbed down D50, far from it, the range of improvements and new features out-weigh those which have been removed or reduce, which would most likely not be missed by the average D40 owner.  Nikon D40Nikon D50Introduction priceAutofocusCW Avg. sizeExposure stepsSensitivityAuto ISOBracketingBuilt-in flashContinuousImage presetsViewfinderLCD monitorStatus LCDStorageBatteryDimensionsWeightProgrammable FUNC buttonIn-camera retouchingWorld timeKit lens

$599 (Kit)	$899 (Kit)
• 3 area TTL • Nikon Multi-CAM530 • Only AF-S or AF-I lenses	• 5 area TTL• Nikon Multi-CAM900
8 mm	6, 8, 10, 13 mm or frame average
1/3 EV	1/3 or 1/2 EV
	ISO 200 - 1600
• Selectable maximum ISO• Selectable minimum shutter speed	On/Off
None	• Exposure• White balance
Guide number 17 (ISO 200)	Guide number 15 (ISO 200)
• 2.5 fps (1 fps at ISO 3200) • Unlimited / 9 frames (JPEG / RAW)	• 2.5 fps• 12 / 4 frames (JPEG / RAW)
Normal, Softer, Vivid, More Vivid, Portrait, B&W	Normal, Vivid, Sharper, Softer, Direct Print, Portrait, Landscape
• Penta-mirror type• Eyepoint: 18.0 mm (at -1.0 m-1)• Frame coverage 95% (approx.)• Magnification approx. 0.8x• B-type Bright View Clear Matte Mark V	• Penta-mirror type• Eyepoint: 18.0 mm (at -1.0 m-1)• Frame coverage 95% (approx.)• Magnification approx. 0.75x• B-type Bright View Clear Matte Mark V
• 2.5" TFT LCD • 230,000 pixel TFT	• 2.0" TFT LCD • 130,000 pixel TFT
No	Yes
SD / SDHC card	SD card
Lithium-Ion EN-EL9 (7.4 V, 1000 mAh)	Lithium-Ion EN-EL3a (7.4 V, 1400 mAh)
126 x 94 x 64 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 in)	133 x 102 x 76 mm (5.2 x 4.0 x 3.0 in)
• No battery: 471 g (1.0 lb)• With battery: 522 g (1.2 lb)	• No battery: 540 g (1.2 lb)• With battery: 620 g (1.4 lb)
Yes	No
	No
Yes	No
AF-S DX 18-55 mm F3.5-F5.6 G II	AF-S DX 18-55 mm F3.5-F5.6 G

Nikon D40 Foreword / notes

Nikon D40 More INFO

Nikon D40 specifications

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