The 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. They've trimmed some of the 'less important features' (you can't 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.
For the Nikon D40’s focusing, Nikon’s MultiCAM-530 module provides a basic 3-point AF configuration with closest subject, dynamic and single area AF options, although to keep the size (and perhaps price) of the camera to a minimum there’s no autofocus motor in the body. So, unlike previous models, the Nikon D40 only provides automatic focusing using AF-S and AF-I lenses – as these types have a focus motor built-in to the lens itself. While you can readily fit older ‘G’ and ‘D’ F-mount lenses to the Nikon D40 these will be limited to manual focus only, which also means you have to be careful buying third-party optics – only Sigma’s HSM lenses will provide AF functionality for the Nikon D40, for example.
IMD Source : Amazon.com |
Yet, despite the Nikon D40’s ‘entry level’ status the camera provides a lot of growing room, so as you gain experience you can dabble with the PASM modes (program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual) found on professional cameras and take your photography to the next level.
Nikon's 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 can't change the CW average area, exposure steps are fixed at 1/3 EV and there's 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.
Body color | Black or Silver |
---|---|
Sensor | • 23.7 x 15.6 mm CCD sensor • Nikon DX format (1.5x FOV crop) • 6.1 million effective pixels • 6.2 million total pixels • RGB Color Filter Array • 12-bit A/D converter |
Image sizes | • 3008 x 2000 (Large, 6 MP) • 2256 x 1496 (Medium, 3.4 MP) • 1504 x 1000 (Small, 1.5 MP) |
Image quality | • NEF (12-bit compressed RAW) • JPEG fine • JPEG normal • JPEG basic • NEF (RAW) + JPEG basic |
Color space | • IIIa (sRGB - more green for colourful landscapes) default • Ia (sRGB) • II (Adobe RGB) |
Lens mount | Nikon F mount (with AF contacts) |
Lens compatibility | Type G or D AF Nikkor
• AF-S, AF-I
• Other Type G or D AF Nikkor • PC Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D • Other AF Nikkor*2/AI-P Nikkor • Non-CPU • IX Nikkor
- All functions supported
- All functions supported except autofocus - Can only be used in mode M; all other functions supported except autofocus - All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II - 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 - Can not be used |
Autofocus * | • Three area TTL phase detection • Nikon Multi-CAM530 autofocus module • Only with AF-S or AF-I lenses • Detection range: EV -1 to +19 (ISO 100 equivalent, at normal temperature) |
Lens servo | • Single-servo AF (AF-S) • Continuous-servo AF (AF-C) • Automatic AF-S/AF-C (AF-A) • Manual focus (M) |
AF Area mode | • Single Area AF • Dynamic Area AF • Closest Subject Priority Dynamic Area AF |
Focus tracking | Predictive focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status in continuous-servo AF |
Focus area * | One of three areas can be selected |
Focus lock | Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button |
AF Assist | White light lamp |
Exposure mode | • Digital Vari-program - 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) |
Metering | TTL full-aperture exposure metering
system • 3D color matrix metering II • 420 segment RGB sensor • Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to a 8mm circle in center of frame • Spot: Meters 3.5 mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on active focus area |
Metering range | • EV 0 to 20 (3D color matrix
or center-weighted metering) • EV 2 to 20 (spot metering) (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, 20 °C) |
Meter coupling | CPU coupling |
Exposure compen. * | • +/- 5.0 EV • 1/3 EV steps |
AE Lock | Exposure locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button |
AE Bracketing * | None |
Sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200 equiv. (HI 1) * |
Auto ISO options * | • On/Off • Maximum ISO (400, 800 or 1600) • Minimum shutter speed (1 to 1/125 sec) |
Shutter | • Combined mechanical and CCD
electronic shutter • 30 to 1/4000 sec (1/3 EV steps) • Flash X-Sync: up to 1/500 sec • Bulb |
White balance | • Auto (TTL white-balance with 420 pixels RGB sensor) • Six manual modes with fine-tuning o Incandescent o Fluorescent o Direct sunlight o Flash o Cloudy o Shade • Preset white balance (immediate or from photo) |
WB fine tuning | Yes * |
Image parameters | • Preset modes: Normal, Softer, Vivid, More Vivid, Portrait, B&W * • Sharpening: Auto, 6 levels • Tone: Auto, 5 levels, Custom curve • Color mode: Ia (sRGB), II (Adobe RGB), IIIa (sRGB) • Saturation: Auto, 3 levels • Hue: -9° to +9° |
Viewfinder * | • Optical fixed eye-level • Penta-mirror type • Built-in diopter adjustment (-1.7 to +0.5 m-1) • Eyepoint: 18 mm (at -1.0 m-1) • Frame coverage 95% (approx.) • Viewfinder magnification approx. 0.8x with 50mm lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1 • Focusing screen: Type B BriteView clear matte screen Mark V with superimposed focus brackets |
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 |
LCD monitor * | • 2.5" TFT LCD • 230,000 pixel |
Built-in flash * | • Auto pop-up in Auto, Vari-program modes • Manual pop-up in P, S, A or M modes • Guide number approx. 17 at ISO 200 |
Sync contact | X-contact only; flash synchronization at shutter speeds of up to 1/500 sec |
Flash control * | • 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-400, SB-800, and SB-600 • Auto aperture with SB-800 and CPU lenses • Non-TTL auto with SB-800, 80DX, 28DX, 28, 27 and 22s • Range-priority manual with SB-800 |
Flash mode * | • Auto, Portrait, Child, Close-up: Auto, auto with red-eye reduction; fill-flash and red-eye reduction
available with optional Speedlight • Night portrait: Auto, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye reduction; slow sync and slow sync with red-eye reduction available with optional Speedlight • Landscape, Sports: Fill-flash and red-eye reduction available with optional Speedlight • P, A modes: Fill flash, rear-curtain with slow sync, slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction • S, M modes: Fill flash, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction |
Flash compensation | • -3 to +1 EV • 1/3 steps |
Nikon Creative Lighting system | Supported with built-in flash, SB-400, SB-800, and SB-600; Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-800 or SU-800 as Commander. |
Shooting modes | • Single frame shooting (S)
mode • Continuous shooting (C) mode: approx. 2.5 frame per second (1 fps with HI 1 sensitivity) • Self-timer/remote control mode. |
Continuous buffer * | • JPEG: Limited only by storage • RAW: Approx. 9 frames (shooting continues at a slower rate) |
Self-timer | • 2, 5, 10 or 20 sec |
Remote control | • Remote Control ML-L3 (optional, Infrared) • Camera Control Pro software (optional) |
Text input | Up to 36 characters of alphanumeric text input is available with LCD monitor and multi-selector; stored in EXIF header |
Playback functions | • Full frame • Thumbnail (4 or 9 segments) • Zoom (magnified) • Slideshow • Histogram indication • Shooting data • Highlight point display • Auto image rotation |
Orientation sensor | Yes |
Storage * | • Secure Digital / Secure Digital HC • FAT / FAT32 • Supports firmware update via SD card |
Video output | NTSC or PAL selectable |
Connectivity | • USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) • Mass storage / PTP selectable • Video out • DC-IN (optional AC adapter and adapter connector) |
Languages * | Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish |
Power * | Lithium-Ion battery pack EN-EL9 (7.4 V, 1000 mAh) |
Working environment | • 0 to 40°C (32 to 104°F) • Less than 85% humidity |
Dimensions * | 126 x 94 x 64 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 in) |
Weight (no batt) * | 471 g (1.0 lb) |
Weight (inc. batt) * | 522 g (1.2 lb) |
Supplied accessories * | Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9, Quick Charger MH-23, USB Cable UC-E4, PictureProject, Rubber Eyecup DK-16, Camera Strap, Body Cap BF-1A, Eyepiece Cap DK-5, Accessory Shoe Cap BS-1 |
Optional accessories | Wireless Remote Control ML-L3, Capture NX, Camera Control Pro, AC Adapter Connector EP-5, AC Adapter EH-5, Video Cable EG-D100, Semi Soft-Case CF-DC1, Speedlight SB-800/600/T041/R1C1 |
Price Nikon D40 From Ebay : $265.00
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