Digital Cameras : Nikon D40

Wow, all I can say is the D40 delivers! Here is a camera that does not break the bank but gives you many of the same features and performance of its bigger brother like the D80. For example it has the same bright and large 2.5" LCD screen and same image processing engine. If you are upgrading from a P&S you will love the auto settings on the D40 which will give you excellent results. For those of you who enjoy tweaking camera settings you can do that to your hearts content. As far as the image sensor it is the same as in the D50/D70(s) and don't be fooled by the megapixels game that the manufacturers play on the consumer! A 6 megapixel camera will give you indistinguishable prints compared to an 8+ megapixel camera. A 4x6, 8x10+ prints will look the SAME!

In any case, this camera is fast becoming the favorite in the collection we gave at home (Canon XT and Nikon D80). It is easy to use, ergonomic (I have lenses that weigh more!) and has great picture taking abilities. I originally bought this for my wife but use it any chance I get over my more expensive D80.

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I carry a Canon digital camera in a little belt case whenever I go out so I don't miss a shot, but when I really want to take photographs instead of snapshots, I take the Nikon. The other day, I grabbed my knapsack and started to heave it over my shoulder. To my utter surprise and horror, my Nikon tumbled out of the unzipped pack and crashed down onto the concrete in the parking lot. I heard pieces flying and I just stood there taking in the scene. There was my camera on the pavement below, the lens cap was fifteen feet away, and a plastic piece was at my feet. I bent down and gathered up what I thought was a broken hunk of plastic and the camera. The battery cover had come off, but it snapped back into place. Nothing else looked amiss, but there's no way the camera was going to work after that crash. I took a test shot. Too bad! I got an error message on the screen. I turned the camera off and on to reset it. I shot one, then another, then a dozen photos. The camera works! I dropped a Nikon and it didn't break! My camera works! I'm so happy, I can't tell you.

I'm an old guy who grew up with SLRs (and twin lens reflex cameras before that). This camera lets you use aperture or shutter priority settings! It knows depth of field, shutter speeds, f-stops, and film speeds. All my knowledge is again useful. I can stop it down to F22 or shoot at a1/4000 of a second.

Downside: when I'm shooting a portrait, the auto focus doesn't know enough to focus on the pupils of the eyes. I've shot a couple great portraits, but until I learn how to use the manual focus quickly or to use the single spot focus, I'm not getting what I think this camera is capable of producing.

The lenses I have are not fast. That's typical of zooms, I guess, but I'm used to a 1.4 or 1.8 and the lenses I got are 5.6. I think the digital electronics compensates to some extent, but that's another thing to figure out.

Overall, this Nikon lets a beginner get into a through the lens camera BUT - because it's a different technology than simple digital cameras, you can NOT frame your picture on the screen; you MUST look through the eye piece. That's not a problem, it's just a difference. You use the screen to review your photo AFTER you take it. ALSO, you can NOT take a video with a camera like this. Hide Full Review

I have been astonished at how easy this camera is to use. It produces high quality images and essily corrects simple mistakes like red eye. I would definitely suggest this camera to anyone who is interested in moving to DSLR without a huge investment. Hide Full Review

I wanted to buy a Canon EOS 300D, but my friend recommended me this Nikon D40 with kit lens and 55-200mm lens, so afer careful concideration, after reading many user and professional reviews I decided to buy this camera. And you know what? I`m fully satisfied with my choice!
I love tihs camera. Now I`m thinking about buying macro lens for it.. :) Hide Full Review