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PC Advisor Best Buy

February 28, 2007

Nikon D40

The D40 SLR (single-lens reflex) digicam picks up where the D50 left off, refreshing the budget-SLR end of the Nikon family. And on paper, at least, little seems to have changed. The D40 still uses a 6Mp (megapixel) CCD (charge-coupled device), for instance. But the specifications don't tell you just how much things have evolved. This is much more than a warmed-up D50.

Starting with the physical layout, the D40 is much neater and more compact; it's actually lost a little weight compared with its predecessor. Build quality remains strong. Despite its small proportions, the camera is extremely comfortable - although those with exceptionally large hands would be wise to try before they buy.

Revamped display

One of the notable departures from the D50 - and one that stirs mixed feelings - is the loss of a shoulder-mounted LCD. Nikon has elected to use the main 2.5in LCD to relay shooting information. Newcomers will probably find this quite natural, but for experienced users it could take a little getting used to. On the up side, though, this has allowed Nikon to revamp the shooting display. The neat graphical representation of both the shutter and aperture values is great for at-a-glance feedback.

It's probably this casual accessibility that really separates the two Nikons, with the D40 placing a much firmer emphasis on ease of use. Quite simply, digital SLRs don’t come much more straightforward than the D40. There's even a handy built-in manual, accessed via a dedicated help button, in case you get stuck.

But this doesn't mean the D40 has been dumbed down. Many of the goodies from its pricier siblings have managed to creep their way in, including the excellent 3D Matrix II metering system and the usual fine assortment of shooting modes. And the D40's revised internals have blessed it with enhanced frame-buffering capability, which enables it to capture up to 100 Jpegs in one sitting, at a rate of 2.5fps (frames per second). That's before writing to an SD card.

Coming in kit form, the Nikon is equipped with a nifty 18-55mm AF-S DX zoom and a usable f3.5-5.6 aperture spread. Unfortunately, as the D40 doesn't have a focusing motor in the body - hence the weight loss - it does limit the range of Nikon lenses that can be used for auto-focusing.

As we've come to expect from a Nikon, the D40's image quality is excellent. It compares favourably even with some higher-resolution 8Mp SLRs. The image processing inherited from the more expensive D80 and D200 is delightfully subtle, leaving finer detail crisp and unspoilt with impressive saturation.

The Nikon does an admirable job of suppressing the majority of image noise, even on higher ISOs, but if clarity is a high priority the Nikon is best kept on the right side of ISO 800. The only real complaint we have is with the automatic white balance. This could become muddled - especially in incandescent light - and there was a tiny bit of fringing.

ISO settings: a brief explanation

Whether you've subscribed to the digital age or you're sticking with traditional film cameras, you've probably heard about ISO settings. Essentially, the ISO setting controls the sensor's sensitivity to light. Higher values enable cameras to be used in darker conditions. The advantage of changing the ISO setting is that you won't require slower shutter speeds - where the camera shake can cause blurring - and you needn’t resort to using the flash. But there is a trade-off: with higher ISOs comes increased noise or image grain.

A typical compact camera will have an ISO range of 100-400, although we are starting to see compacts venture into more adventurous figures as sensor technology improves. Digital SLRs tend to go much higher, usually up to ISO 1,600 or even 3,200. These will generally produce the cleanest images, as their physically larger sensors allow for greater detail and better noise suppression.

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Independent customer reviews from

Nikon D40 scored:
9.1 out of 10 100% real reviews

The 2 most helpful reviews based on 376 reviews:

10 Mar 2008 Martin, Bath, England.

9

Good Points

So easy to use, No risk if you buy this Nikon. I have read loads of online reviews & magazines before buying this camera for my wifes birthday, and it Just does what it says on the can. Just make sure you shop around for the best deal. Prices for this camera do come with big differences. Also check with the nikon web site for cash back deals as well.This is my own personal view, but i do not think it is worth spending extra money on the Nikon D 40X, I have friend who has bought this upgrade but we both say you can't tell the diffrence between my 6 mil pixcells and his 10 mil pixcells.

Bad Points

I think Nikon's range of camera bags are very limited / poor,i could not find a a good nikon case for this camera which suited. Shame i had to buy a unbranded product to put this D40 in.

24 Jan 2007 Rob, Lancashire

9

Good Points

Easy to use - in fact, my wife fell in love with it on our recent holiday and ended up taking most of the pictures! But still has enough 'advanced' features for all but the most hardened professional. Image quality excellent with the kit lens, impressive performance at low light levels. A major step up from a compact digital. Overall, I'm glad I bought it.

Bad Points

A little bulky to carry around, but all SLRs have that problem. This is outweighed by the fact that people are impressed by your abilities as a photographer (even if you don't have any!)

See more Nikon D40 reviews on Reevoo.com

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Nikon D40

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