Nikon D40

[Rex914]

Getting rather tired of this, but nobody seems to have posted even one thing about it, so I'll do the honors...

Most of you know this already, so skip down below to my thoughts, which are probably different from what a lot of people are saying.


Nikon D40

http://gallery.gureporter.com/Lens/D40-1.jpg

http://gallery.gureporter.com/Lens/D40-2.jpg


Price: $499 MSRP, body only ($599 with new G-II version of the 18-55mm (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/1855.htm))


Lenses: AF-S (internal motor) lenses only. Won't focus with older (or current, brand-new non-AF-S) AF lenses.


AF: 3 AF points, downgrade from every other Nikon DSLR. Built-in AF assist light.


Remote Control: Via IR ML-L3, same as D70/D80.


Frame Rate: 2.5 FPS.


Shutter: 1/4,000 - 30s and Bulb.


Flash Sync: 1/500



Flash: Built-in. Uses Nikon's good i-TTL system like the D80, D2X, D200 with SB-600 (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb600.htm) and SB-800. (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb800.htm)

(http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb800.htm)
Sensor: 6 MP - same as D50 (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d50.htm), D70 (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d70.htm) and D70s (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d70s.htm).


ISO: 200 - 3,200.



File Formats: JPG and NEF


LCD: 2.5″ 230,000 pixel LCD.


Meter: 420 segment color Matrix meter from the D80


Exposure Modes: The usual Program, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority and Manual.


Battery: New lithium-ion EN-EL9.


Size: 3.7 x 5.0 x 2.5" (94 × 126 x 64mm).


Weight: 16.8 oz (475 grams)




My Thoughts

A lot of people seem to have had a knee-jerk reaction to this camera. I'm not going to argue with facts. It does drop quite a few things like the autofocus motor, the status LCD and whatnot. And at this very moment, you can pick up a D50 for the same price of $500. I won't argue with that either, but that won't last long. The D50 is going to be history in just a few months.

So what is this "crippled" camera good for then? It has a couple things going for it. Price is one and size is the other. It's not an E400 nor does it strive to be, but it's Nikon's smallest DSLR yet. As for price, the price is not good now relative to the D50, but that's precisely what people said when the D50 came out. It was priced too closely to the D70. But we all know what happened a few months later. The price dropped like a rock. A $750/$900 camera has finally settled to $500/$600 today. Just imagine how cheap this camera will be in a year. I wouldn't be surprised to be able to pick a body-only one up for under $400 next year. That's the big point. It's not about now, but about the future. This camera will sell in droves not because it's the most fully-featured camera but because it'll really be dipping down into compact camera territory in price, and it offers more functionality than most people need, even with this stripped down feature set.

[wh0128]

Nice camera, though I don't mind my D50 being slightly bigger, and I really don't like that this camera only supports AF-S and not AF-D because I have an AF-D lens. And I alreayd have a body, and my next body will be a d200, so thats where my money is going. This camera is good for people jsut getting into DSLR and photography, and thats a huge plus side.

[pagnamenta]

Nikon really opened their doors to the point and shoot market. I know a lot of people didn't want to buy a dslr because of its price. Now they can get it for a bit more than a point and shoot. Smart move by Nikon, but it does little for me and other semi-pros.

[ReF]

Getting rather tired of this, but nobody seems to have posted even one thing about it

but you're our news guy around here ;). i certainly don't keep up with a lot of new stuff/announcements and i'm not sure how many of the senior members here do either. well for what it's worth, thanks for all the updates and stuff that you post 'round here

[murrays]

In reality, this camera should take very good photos, it just doesn't have a few of the bells and whistles that a typical consumer would want/need/use. Most will stick it in AUTO or some scene mode and be tickled with the results.

Also, could this make a decent second body for those that want access to two lenses quickly??

Good move by Nikon, the Best Buy crowd will eat it up!

-murray

[Scott6]

When i first saw this post title i was thinking the D40 sounds like a "Fixed lens DSLR"

It seems to me a $500-600 fixed lens DSLR (say 8x optical) point and shoot camera would reall sell well, just for the lack of shutter lag. Thats what peoepl hate most about all point and shoot jobs is the shutter lag (because there is no real shutter right?)

[George Riehm]

We all know that this camera is not for the "enthusiast" market. But when it hits $449 (with lens) they will fly off the shelves. I think Nikon is getting tired of the "prosumer" fixed lens market, and this is a great way to recycle the 6MP CCD.

Thanks Rex. Nice to know we can count on you to keep us up-to-date. A service that has not gone unappreciated over the years.

[ReF]

When i first saw this post title i was thinking the D40 sounds like a "Fixed lens DSLR"

It seems to me a $500-600 fixed lens DSLR (say 8x optical) point and shoot camera would reall sell well, just for the lack of shutter lag. Thats what peoepl hate most about all point and shoot jobs is the shutter lag (because there is no real shutter right?)

fixed lens slr sounds kind of pointless. why fix a lens in place when it could be detachable - not a very good selling point. the companies make more money on selling lenses and a decent 8x optical lens for a sensor that size wouldn't be cheap to make.

[bascom]

No official announcement from Nikon yet.

[Patang]

well to me, the 'new' D40 seems to be a re-hash of the Pentax *ist series - mainly the DL - which was selling like hotcakes earlier this year due to the low price of it.

So does this mean Nikon is going backwards, or Pentax was ahead of the game? ;)

[Nexu]

I just got a new point and shoot camera and have been seeing some of the limitations of it. I still like having the point and shoot that I can stick in the pocket of my jeans and take wherever without concern but I am debating on buying a "real" camera to make more of a hobby out of it. Since I spread myself fairly thin with other hobbies I wouldn't want to spend too much on a camera, and from looking around these forums it seemed that the Canon S3 might be a good, low priced, quality camera for taking some more serious photographs. This new Nikon, for a couple hundred more, might be an improvement over that, and still be in my price range.

[wh0128]

So does this mean Nikon is going backwards, or Pentax was ahead of the game? ;)

It sounds to me that Nikon is TRYING to go backwards to compete with Canon and try and get all the people that have p&s cameras to go DSLR by showing them that it really isn't that much more expensive, and by giving them better quality in the run. Pretty soon everyone will have some Nikon DSLR instead of a small p&s, because of how cheap Nikon is making their cameras.

[murrays]

It sounds to me that Nikon is TRYING to go backwards to compete with Canon and try and get all the people that have p&s cameras to go DSLR by showing them that it really isn't that much more expensive, and by giving them better quality in the run. Pretty soon everyone will have some Nikon DSLR instead of a small p&s, because of how cheap Nikon is making their cameras.

Pretty smart move IMHO. If size isn't an issue, a D40 should take better photos than just about any P&S, especially in low light/high ISO situations.

-murray

[jeisner]

well to me, the 'new' D40 seems to be a re-hash of the Pentax *ist series - mainly the DL - which was selling like hotcakes earlier this year due to the low price of it.

A rehash without MLU, Bracketing, DOF preview, top LCD or support for older lenses (both 1st and 3rd party)

And worse still as the DL has been replaced by the K100d which is in the same price range and adds SR, and 11 focus points (9 cross) instead of the DL/D40s 3 focus points ( 1 cross)..

[CptOfGondor]

unlike some 'rebellious competitor' LOL!

You can still use lenses as manual right? I know the viewfinder on the D40 is a pentamirror..but still.

I rarely rely on the 5 AF points on my GX-1L (*ist DL2) anyways and I've gotten some neat shots.

[jeisner]

You can still use lenses as manual right?

yes, just I would feel rather cheated paying for a 35/2 AF or 50/1.4 AF lens and only being able to use it in MF..

I rarely rely on the 5 AF points on my GX-1L (*ist DL2) anyways and I've gotten some neat shots.

Different strokes I guess, my camera is always in 'focus point selection' mode as I use all 11 to avoid focusing and recomposing...

[Patang]

A rehash without MLU, Bracketing, DOF preview, top LCD or support for older lenses (both 1st and 3rd party)

And worse still as the DL has been replaced by the K100d which is in the same price range and adds SR, and 11 focus points (9 cross) instead of the DL/D40s 3 focus points ( 1 cross)..

preaching to the converted! Am waiting for the K10D to come out - in 11 days someone said for sydney!

[toriaj]

I just got a new point and shoot camera and have been seeing some of the limitations of it. I still like having the point and shoot that I can stick in the pocket of my jeans and take wherever without concern but I am debating on buying a "real" camera to make more of a hobby out of it. Since I spread myself fairly thin with other hobbies I wouldn't want to spend too much on a camera, and from looking around these forums it seemed that the Canon S3 might be a good, low priced, quality camera for taking some more serious photographs. This new Nikon, for a couple hundred more, might be an improvement over that, and still be in my price range.

Nexu, either camera would be a great choice, and you would probably be satisfied with either.

The most important thing imho is to realize that they are very different kinds of cameras. If you really want to be able to stick it in your pocket, I'd suggest the S3. You would need to have a much longer lens on the D40 to have the zoom reach of the S3. (not pocket friendly :D )

Basically, if you want to get a camera that is small, and want your initial purchase to be the biggest investment, choose the S3.

If you don't care as much about size, and want to make an investment in lenses that you will later use on a more advanced body, choose the D40.

Either way, great purchase, and show us some shots!!