The D40 is a now-discontinued Nikon F-mount entry-level digital SLR,
announced November 16, 2006. Compared to its predecessor, the D50, the D40 had
several features removed, a few added, and a lower price: US$499.95 ESP as of
November 2009 with the 18–55 mm G-II kit lens, positioning it as an entry-level
model compared to the D80. The D40x has a 10-megapixel maximum resolution, up
from 6 megapixels of the D40 and D50. The D40 was the first Nikon DSLR without
in-body focus motor. Autofocus requires the use of a lens with an integrated
autofocus-motor. Despite being superseded by newer
offerings, the Nikon D40 retained some significant advantages. It enjoyed a
long production run which finally ceased in March 2009, shortly before its
introduction of its successor, the Nikon D3000.
Features The Nikon D40 was less expensive than
the Canon EOS 400D, the Pentax K110D, and the Olympus E-400, and is
competitively priced against high-end bridge cameras. It was launched
accompanied by a new small kit lens, the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18–55 mm f/3.5-5.6G
ED II. The D40's small size and low price made it attractive to
point-and-shoot photographers moving up to their first SLR, however it does
contain features and improvements that would appeal to enthusiasts as well.
Despite having a comparatively lower resolution for a DSLR introduced in
2006, the D40 held some benefits over its newer competition such as the Nikon
D40x, D60, and Canon Rebels. Because only 6 megapixels are fit onto the
standard Nikon DX format sensor, the sensitivity of each pixel is higher. The
default sensitivity on the D40 is ISO 200, and the D40 adds an ISO 3200 speed
compared to the Nikon D50's maximum ISO 1600. The D40 has a very fast 1/500
flash sync, useful for daytime fill-flash. This compares to the typical
1/200 sync speed of other entry level and even some semi-pro DSLR cameras such
as the Canon EOS 40D with its 1/250 sync speed.
Due to its hybrid electronic/mechanical shutter, it is in fact possible to flash
sync the D40 beyond its published 1/500 maximum sync speed up to its maximum
shutter speed of 1/4000. The D40x does not share this ability.
The D40 lacks a built-in autofocus motor, which means that only Nikon
lenses designated with AF-I, AF-S or compatible focus motors can be used in
autofocus mode. Reception
The Nikon D40 was tested by various independent reviewers, receiving
generally very favorable comments for its ergonomics and image quality. It
received some criticism for some of the compromises its designers made to keep
the D40's price and size competitive. For example, Digital Photography Review,
among many others, noted the loss of the screw-drive autofocus motor and the top
LCD panel. Nikon D40x
On March 6, 2007, Nikon introduced the D40X, a sister camera to the D40. While
identical in external design to the D40, it has a 10.2-megapixel CCD sensor,
continuous shooting up to 3 frames per second, and a base sensitivity of ISO
100. It has a flash sync speed of 1/200 seconds compared to the D40's 1/500
seconds. It is otherwise identical. The launch was accompanied by the
introduction of a new consumer-level telephoto zoom with vibration reduction,
the Nikon ceased production of the D40X in December 2007, shortly before they
introduced its successor, the Nikon D60. Gallery Nikon D40
See also List of Nikon compatible lenses with
integrated autofocus-motor Nikon EXPEED
References ^ "Nikon D40". Products Line Up. Nikon
Corporation. Archived from the original on 2008-03-06.
^ "Nikon D40 Specifications". Ken Rockwell. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
^ "AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II". Nikon Americas.
^ "Nikon D40". Nikon Corporation. 2006-11-16. Archived from the original
on 2007-03-29. ^ "D40 from Nikon". Nikon USA. Archived
from the original on 2010-02-17. ^ a b Rockwell, Ken. "Nikon Lens
Compatibility". Kenrockwell.com. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
^ "A compact 3x zoom lens featuring Silent Wave Motor Autofocus for Nikon
digital SLRs". Nikon Corporation. 2006-11-16. Archived from the original
on 2007-06-23. ^ a b "Nikon D40 Camera - Full Review".
Imaging-resource.com. 2006-12-16. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
^ David Chin. "Nikon D40 vs Nikon D50". Dpnotes.com. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
^ "Digitalcameratracker.com: Nikon D40 Review". Archived from the original on
2010-12-31. ^ Askey, Phil. "Nikon D40 Review".
Digital Photography Review. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
^ "Nikon D40x". Nikon Corporation. 2007-03-06. Archived from the original
on 2007-12-13. External links
Nikon D40 - Nikon global website Nikon D40x - Nikon global website
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