This last black Friday I managed to snag one of these and I absolutely love it. Before getting one, I had an old school Canon AE-1 SLR and a Canon SD750 for a point and shoot (Notice the trend there). Decided to go Nikon for my first DSLR. Why?
Pros: The price was phenomenal got it at 409.99 after instant and mail-in rebates. Very compact and easy to use. I was also impressed by the numerous auto shooting modes it had.
Cons: Takes a while to focus when using the auto focus functionality (Use manual mostly now) and the megapixels are kinda low - comes with 6.1.
My conclusion, it's definitely the perfect transition camera from point and shoot to DSLR.
Nikon D40 (with 18-55mm lens)
The Nikon D40 is a great transition camera for going from point-and-shoot to your first dSLR.
Reviews
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CNET Review
The Good: Excellent feel and compact size; very customizable menu architecture; nice guidance for dSLR newbies; excellent noise characteristics for high-ISO shots.
The Bad: Slow kit lens; occasionally slow to focus; only 6 megapixels; raw editing software costs extra; control scheme can be awkward; no automatic sensor cleaning.
The Bottom Line: The Nikon D40 is a great transition camera for going from point-and-shoot to your first dSLR.
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alaTest.com
Review Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 3337 reviews of Nikon D40 from international magazines and websites.
The Verdict: Experts rate this product 81/100 and users 92/100. Comparing these reviews to 124584 other Digital SLR Cameras reviews gives this product an overall alaScore 87/100 = Very Good.
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digitalphotographygear.com
Review Summary: The Nikon D40 was introduced in 2006 as a trimmed-down, lower-priced version of its D50. The D40 entered the marketplace at a price of US $599, about US $300 cheaper than its D50 predecessor.
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digitalslrphoto.com
Review Summary: Small, lightweight and with a low price tag of £450 with lens, the Nikon D40 is certainly a tempting proposition for those on a budget. Dan Lezano finds out if this 6.1-megapixel SLR has what it takes to make it a hit with the beginner
The Verdict: Two things are clearly obvious on picking up the camera. The first is that the D40 is small and lightweight; the second is that, despite the low price, it’s still very well made. Despite its small size, the D40 is very easy to hold, thanks to its...
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electronicsme.com
Review Summary: For the beginning SLR user, you can't beat the D40 for price/performance. It's solidly built, has a comfortable feel and offers image quality vastly superior to point and shoot cameras with their small sensors. And don't let the “small” MP number...
The Verdict: The Nikon D40 Digital SLR is Nikon's smallest and least expensive...
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photocrati.com
Review Summary: If you own or have used this camera, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below. Get information and user reviews for this camera from Amazon: Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX...
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popphoto.com
Review Summary: After rampant rumor-mongering, leaked specs showing up on random sites, and photo forum banter, we can finally tell you about the just-announced Nikon D40, a slim, 6.1-megapixel bargain at $600 street with Nikon's 18-55mm f/3/5-5.6II AF-S Zoom Nikkor...
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thinkcamera.com
Review Summary: With today's economic climate, money is tight. Yesteryear's Nikon D40 comes in cheap, but how does it stand up by today's standards?
The Verdict: Despite the low cost, the Nikon D40 does not seem built down to a price. It feels nicely robust in the hand; light and plastic, but solid polycarbonate. The 2.5" rear LCD is bright and doesn't seem small unless you compare it to later designs. The menu...
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pcpro.co.uk
Review Summary: Nikon's lowest-cost DSLR has been around since the end of 2006. During that time the competition has moved fast, but the D40 has fought back by almost halving in price.
The Verdict: The aggressive price and Nikon design know-how mean there's still a place for the D40.
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dcresource.com
Review Summary: Is the D40 the ultimate entry-level digital SLR? Read on to find out
The Verdict: If you're ready to enter the world of digital SLRs, the Nikon D40 is a great way to do it. It offers a compact, truly portable body, great performance and photo quality, and a really user friendly interface for not a lot of dough. I can recommend the...
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amateurphotographer.co.uk
Review Summary: Damien Demolder tests the Nikon D40 What's the difference between cheap low-end low spec camera and a quality one designed for novices? Nikon claims to have the answer in it's new entry-level D40 DSLR.
Price Range: $888.00 - $888.00
- Nikon Inc.
- 25420
General
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Product TypeDigital camera - SLR
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Enclosure ColorBlack
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Resolution6.1 megapixels
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Optical Sensor TypeCCD
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Total Pixels6,240,000 pixels
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Effective Sensor Resolution6,100,000 pixels
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Optical Sensor Size15.6 x 23.7mm
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Field of View Crop Factor1.5
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Auto FocusTTL phase detection
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Auto Focus Points (Zones) Qty3
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Image Recording FormatJPEG, NEF (RAW)
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AV InterfacesComposite video/audio
Exposure & White Balance
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Light SensitivityISO 200-1600
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Exposure Metering3D color matrix II, Center-weighted, Spot
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Exposure Metering Zones420
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Exposure ModesProgram, I-TTL program flash, Bulb, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Manual, Aperture-priority
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Shooting ProgramsSports mode, Night portrait, Close-up, Children, Portrait mode, Landscape
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Special EffectsWarm Filter, Cyanotype, Skylight Filter, Black & White, Sepia
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White BalanceAutomatic, Presets, Custom
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White Balance PresetsSunlight, Shade, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Cloudy, Flash
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Max Shutter Speed1/4000 sec
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Min Shutter Speed30 sec
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Exposure Compensation±5 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
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X-sync Speed1/500 sec
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Exposure RangeEV 0-20 ( ISO 100 )
Lens System
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Type3 x x Zoom lens - 18 mm - 55 mm - F/3.5-5.6 G ED II Nikon AF-S DX
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Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera27 - 82.5 mm
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Focus AdjustmentManual, Automatic
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Min Focus Range11 in
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Zoom AdjustmentManual
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Lens Construction5 groups / 7 elements
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Filter Size52 mm
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Lens System MountingNikon F
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FeaturesAspherical lens, Silent Wave Motor (SWM), ED glass
Camera Flash
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Camera FlashPop-up flash
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Guide Number (m / ISO 100)17
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Flash ModesRear curtain sync, Fill-in mode, Slow synchro, Auto mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction
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FeaturesFlash +/- compensation, AF illuminator
Additional Features
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Continuous Shooting Speed2.5 frames per second
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Self Timer Delay2 sec, 10 sec, 5 sec, 20 sec
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Flash TerminalHot shoe
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Additional FeaturesDisplay brightness control, In-camera red-eye fix, Cropping an image, AF lock, DPOF support, Text input to Exif header, AE lock, Auto power save, Digital noise reduction, Histogram display, PictBridge support, USB 2.0 compatibility, Direct print
Display
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Type2.5 in LCD display
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Display FeaturesBuilt-in
Connections
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Connector Type1 x USB, 1 x Composite video output
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Memory Card SlotSD card
Viewfinder
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Viewfinder TypeOptical - Eye-level penta-dach mirror
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Field Coverage95%
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Magnification0.8x
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Dioptric Correction Range-1.7 to +0.5
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Viewfinder FramesAutofocus frame
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LCD Display InformationExposure compensation, Shutter speed, Aperture, Flash charge completion, AE lock, AF-in-focus, Exposure mode, Frames-remaining counter
Miscellaneous
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Microsoft CertificationsCertified for Windows Vista
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Included AccessoriesBattery charger, Eyepiece cover, USB cable, Lens cap, Eyecup, Dust cap, Body cap, Strap, Shoe cap
Software
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SoftwareNikon PictureProject, Drivers & Utilities
Battery
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Supported BatteryNikon EN-EL9
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Supported Battery1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery ( Included )
Memory / Storage
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Supported Memory CardsSDHC Memory Card, SD Memory Card
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Image StorageRAW 3008 x 2000 : 65 VA - With 512MB card, Fine JPEG 3008 x 2000 : 137 VA - With 512MB card, Normal JPEG 3008 x 2000 : 260 VA - With 512MB card, Basic JPEG 3008 x 2000 : 503 VA - With 512MB card, Fine JPEG 2256 x 1496 : 235 VA - With 512MB card, Normal JPEG 2256 x 1496 : 444 VA - With 512MB card, Basic JPEG 2256 x 1496 : 839 VA - With 512MB card, Fine JPEG 1504 x 1000 : 503 VA - With 512MB card, Normal JPEG 1504 x 1000 : 839 VA - With 512MB card, Basic JPEG 1504 x 1000 : 1200 VA - With 512MB card
Dimensions & Weight
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Width5 in
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Depth2.5 in
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Height3.7 in
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Weight16.8 oz
CNET Labs' Benchmarks
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Labs informationAll values are expressed in seconds. Please visit our <ref type="link" url="http://reviews.cnet.com/Labs/4520-6603 7-1014358-1.html">labs information page</ref> for information on how digital cameras are tested.
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CNET Labs Flash shot to shot time0.9
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CNET Labs Raw shot to shot time0.6
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CNET Labs Shot to shot time typical0.6
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CNET Labs Shutter lag bright0.7
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CNET Labs Shutter lag dim1.6
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CNET Labs Typical burst speed2.6
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CNET Labs Wake up time0.3
Photos
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