Nikon D40 DSLR. Photo Credit: NikonTokyo – Nikon's D40 SLR that combines the performance of Nikkor interchangeable lenses and the practicality of a remarkably small and light camera body.
The D40 features a Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor with 6.1 effective megapixels and a Nikon Image Processing Engine. Nikon’s exclusive 3D Color Matrix Metering II assures accurate exposure control even in difficult lighting conditions. Using its frame-wide 420-pixel sensor, the D40 instantly assesses and compares each scene’s brightness, contrast and color with its built-in database of information from over 30,000 real-world lighting scenarios, then instantaneously determines and sets the accurate exposure. For those who want more control, alternative exposure control tools such as Center-weighted metering, Spot metering and exposure compensation are also available.
The AUTO ISO feature makes the most of available light by automatically setting the camera’s light sensitivity from the available ISO range of 200 to 1600. The camera’s ISO can also be set manually between this range, plus HI 1 (one step over 1600), allowing you to capture beautiful pictures even in low-light situations without a flash.
The D40 incorporates Nikon's Multi-CAM530 autofocus module and a 3-area autofocus system with a cross-type sensor located in the center. The refined algorithms that control autofocus of the lens are inherited from Nikon’s D200 and D80 digital SLRs, delivering more precise focus, faster subject tracking and more accurate autofocus response and detection – even in low light.
The D40 is ready when you are. It takes only 0.18 seconds to power up, and the camera’s nearly imperceptible shutter release lag time does away with the frustrating picture-taking delay common with point-and-shoot digital cameras – assuring that special moments are captured beautifully. Continuous shooting makes it easy to capture the action by shooting at 2.5 frames* per second for up to 100 shots (JPEG FINE L-size or smaller). Images are rapidly processed and recorded to a compact SD memory card, and a USB 2.0 Hi-speed interface supports fast transfer of image data to a connected computer. Even previewing images on the bright and sharp 2.5-inch LCD color monitor is near instant.
Nikon’s scene-optimized Digital Vari-Program modes allow the photographer to concentrate on capturing nearly any type of scene without being distracted by camera settings. All eight modes – Auto, Auto (Flash Off), Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close Up and Night Portrait – are designed to produce remarkable results by automatically calculating the best settings and ISO-equivalent sensitivity for each scene. The new mode, Auto (Flash Off), prevents the Built-in Flash from popping up while boosting the ISO, thereby allowing the photographer to take pictures in museums, concerts, school plays, weddings and other low-light situations where flash photography is prohibited. For more advanced creative control, the D40 offers Programmed Auto, Shutter-Priority Auto, Aperture-Priority Auto and Manual modes.
The D40’s new Retouch menu offers exclusive in-camera image editing features that add to the D40's “fun factor” by providing greater creative freedom without the need for a computer. Included in the Retouch menu is Nikon’s D-Lighting, which automatically brings out detail from the dark areas of a scene, producing a more pleasing exposure balance. Red-Eye Correction locates the red-eye effect sometimes caused by a flash and corrects it automatically. Trim allows for creative cropping of an image and creates smaller files for easy e-mailing. Other creative features include Image Overlay, Small Picture, Monochrome (Black-and-white, Sepia, Cyanotype) and Filter Effects (Skylight, Warm filter, Color balance).
Nikon D40 DSLR. Photo Credit: NikonWhile wonderfully easy to use, the D40's transparent technical capabilities include sophisticated white balance control that not only matches white balance to its light source, but also measures the entire scene to produce consistent and color-true images. Advanced Auto White Balance handles most lighting situations, but the D40 also offers six specific manual settings, as well as a preset option when using gray or white objects to calibrate under mixed lighting conditions. Features like this further prove how an easy-to-use digital SLR can also provide features and technologies that help users grow in photography if they decide to.
One of the most important advantages of using Nikon digital SLR cameras is the wide variety of interchangeable lenses available. The D40 is fully compatible with all AF-S/AF-I Nikkor lenses, each providing the exceptional sharpness, image clarity, color reproduction, and fast, accurate autofocus performance that Nikkor is famous for.
The kit lens for the D40 is the new AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II lens, assuring superb picture sharpness and optimum contrast, along with the versatility of a wide-angle to medium telephoto lens. The lens is included in the D40 Digital SLR Camera Outfit depending on country or area.
The D40's bright and sharp viewfinder with 0.8x magnification ensures precise composition. After shooting, the camera’s large 2.5-inch high-resolution color LCD monitor provides a clear view for checking sharpness, exposure and focus by enlarging the picture up to 19 times.
The powerful Built-in Flash of the D40 employs Nikon’s market-leading i-TTL flash control. This means greater precision in flash exposure evaluation and better automatic flash balance, even for scenes with backlit subjects or reflective objects in the background. For flash photography of subjects at longer distances, the new, light and ultra-compact SB-400 Speedlight provides a simple solution for adding more power and bounce flash capability. If you want even more system versatility, Nikon Speedlights such as the SB-800, SB-600 and SB-R200 enable the use of simple and consistent wireless flash photography through Nikon’s Creative Lighting System.
Included with the camera, Nikon’s PictureProject software makes transferring, organizing and sharing images fun and easy. Just follow the design templates to correct Red-eye, produce prints, create slideshows with your favorite music or adjust images for use in e-mail or creative album layouts.