Nikon D40 camera review

The Nikon D40 is essentially a very good and comprehensive entry-level digital SLR to use. The D40 has many of the functions you need and although it is not produced any more, it is widely available for a low price (£180-£200) on the second-hand market.The images are captured on its 3008x2000 (6.0 megapixel) CCD sensor. It has an ISO sensitivity range of 200-1600, and you can boost it up to 3200 in the on screen menu. Considering the lower resolution, the images are of very high quality. The D40 does not support "sensor cleaning" which is a shame, because it is quite common to get small specs of dust on the sensor when changing lenses, which results in black smudges on the final images which then have to be photoshopped out. It shoots in 5 different qualities, NEF(RAW), JPEG BASIC, JPEG NORMAL, JPEG FINE and NEF(RAW)+JPEG BASIC. Shooting in RAW allows you to have a lot more freedom when editing on the computer. The maximum shutter speed is 1/4000s which is great for capturing action, and high light-intensity shots. You can put the shutter speed right down to 30s which is good for capturing light trails and the likes. There is also the bulb mode, in which you can leave the shutter open for as long as you choose to, but for this you really need a remote, and there are none (yet) compatible with the D40. The continuous drive mode allows you to take pictures at 2.5fps which is also great for action shots. The metering can be set to spot, center-weighted and 3D matrix metering II; which is great for capturing macro shots.

What the Nikon D40 really stands out in is its ease of use. The D40 has an extremely well developed user interface, and you dont really need any prior knowledge to take pictures with it. The aperture and shutter priority modes are also very easy to use by using the wheel located at the top right of the camera. There are many different scene options as well such as night portrait and macro which are really helpful for specific shoots.

The D40 is also extremely light compared to its competitors, this makes it an easy camera to take with you on short day trips or even long holidays. It weighs 522g (including the lithium ion battery).

Another area in which it excels is its super bright and clear LCD screen. The screen measures 2.5" and is extremely bright and clear, perfect for examining your images right after taking them. You may think that this bright screen would sacrifice battery life, but no! On one charge you can take in excess of 1000 images! This makes it easier to travel around, not having to go through the hassle of carrying spare batteries.

The Nikon D40 is compatible with all nikon AF-S and AF-I lenses which makes it great for using with a wide range of focal lengths.

In conclusion, I find the D40 an excellent camera, even if it doesn't have "live-view", it still takes breathtaking images, and it is definitely a good option to look into when investing in the amateur SLR market.
If you are considering buying a D40, the best place to look would be Amazon.

Review courtesy of www.davidmilnephotography.blogspot.com (a partner)

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