With its 3.0x AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II lens, the D40 offers ease of use and split-second shutter response that eliminates the annoyance of shutter delay.
Archived Product
Close
Supplied Accessories
- EN-EL9 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
- MH-23 Quick Charger
- UC-E4 USB Cable
- Software Suite CD-ROM
- DK-16 Rubber Eyecup
- AN-DC1 Camera Strap
- BF-1A Body Cap
- DK-5 Eyepiece Cap
- BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cap
*Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area.
/Views/87_4730_ML-L3-Wireless-Remote-Control-(Infrared).png)
/Views/87_4508_AN-6W-Nylon-Wide-Neck-Strap-(Wine).png)
D40
1242
1247
Excellent beginner camera
Excellent camera for beginners or for those stepping up from compact point-and-shoot cameras.
July 19, 2010
The best of it's class
NIkon D40 is one of the best SLR cameras that I have used so far.
July 19, 2010
Good entry to DSLR
The D40 takes very nice pictures. I taken a lot of 35 MM pictures and the D40 is better. The only problem I've had is the LCD on the back. Some pictures may look good then when I put them on the computer they maybe out of focus. Other then that the overall operation is as simple as you want and it will let you explore the manual settings us older guys knew with regular SLR cameras.
July 19, 2010
My D40 Re-entry
It had been several years since I had an SLR, and my last used film. I've had my D40 for 1.5 years, and really like it. Even though it is considered an 'entry' level camera, I can do things with it I could not have imagined with my top-of-it's-line film camera. It is very easy to use, and even my 12-24mm diesn't feel out of place on it. My only wish is that it had the tilting screen of the D5000 with the resolution of the D90.
July 19, 2010
My Nikon D40 is a great camera. I like that it gives you the flexibility of either using the various digital-vari program modes or expanding your photography skills with the other modes: apperature, shutter, manual or programmed priority modes. It's a great basic SLR camera for the beginner like me, and I imagine appealing to those with more experience. I'm currently learning more about my camera by viewing a D40 training video. Once I've mastered this camera I look forward to upgrading to the D90. Thanks Nikon!
July 19, 2010
I am more then satisfied with its features.
The camera is a prized possession for me as it gives me great results and is easy to use. It truely is user friendly and most satisfying aspect is its long lasting battery which makes it more then its worth. Over all a great buy for the amateurs and to some extent the pros.
July 19, 2010
Ups and downs
downer - the camera doesn't always want to take pictures. Both my sister in law & I purchased this camera & we both had the same problem with the shutter button. If I tap the side of the camera it begins working again.
upper - the camera takes great photos & is user friendly. It's a light weight camera, which is nice when you are out and about.
July 19, 2010
best first entry dslr
I used this camera almost everyday for 4 years and still going perfect.Light and easy to use.I love it
July 19, 2010
Great entry level digital SLR
I bought the Nikon D40 when graduating from roll film to digital. I didn't think digital would be anywhere near as good, but I was pleasantly surprised. Not only can I get excellent photographs, I don't even have to do much in the way of thinking to do it. In it's simplest form I get excellent quality and it has the versatility to give me a lot of creative scope too. An all round good performer, highly recommended for quality digital SLR on a budget.
July 19, 2010
Good starting camera
D40 was the first one consumer dSLR from Nikon. As a result of this there are some features that could be added and design decisions that could be made differently.
However, as a beginner's camera it is great. It is still a very good dSLR. It will let yo learn how to make good interesting photos. After that, once you acquire enough experience you can go to more expensive ones.
July 19, 2010
Lens jams.
We bought the D40 after reading a stellar review by Ken Rockwell. We have been pretty happy with the quality of the camera and photos so far. Some photos come out hazy but that may be operator error. We keep it in a nice padded case and really don't use it that much but somehow the lens broke on a road trip, jammed up and wouldn't zoom. Did some research on the internet and jamming seems to be a trait for this lens model. Luckily we had the extended warranty and sent it to Nikon for repairs. Don't know what we'll do if it breaks again in three years. Had it back in a little over one week! Probably would have given it a five star rating if we hadn't had a problem. Would like to upgrade the lens to a Nikon 18-200mm VR someday but it's more than the original price of the camera kit. We have a friend that has the VR and it is a fantastic lens for zoom shots. He was able to get the shots we could only dream of.
July 19, 2010
Solid, usable camera.
The only issue I've had is the 18-55 lens, which Nikon has repaired twice under warranty. The body is fine as is the 70-200 lens. No complaints.
July 19, 2010
Good enthusiast DSLR
I am very satisfied with my first Nikon DSLR camera. Although, I wish I had a live preview mode on the LCD screen. Also, there is no movie mode on this camera.
All in all, I am very satisfied with the picture quality and ease of use of this D40 DSLR camera.
July 19, 2010
Great camera w/ some limits and some advantages
The D40 is a great budget DSLR that has some features which make it an appealing option for pros with nicer cameras.
The Good:
**Great feel and Nikon build quality: When I was making the switch to digital from my film camera, I spent a lot of time poring over interface reviews as well as time in stores to see how the different brands felt. For my price range, the tech specs on competing cameras were similar or slightly better on other cameras, but the D40 felt so much more usable. It's not a camera that will get in the way of your shot, and it's hard to state how important that is.
**Electronic shutter: This is the "feature" that makes this an important camera for even the pros. It states the maximum sync speed for the flash is 1/500 of a second, which is true for the pop-up flash. However, if you connect a flash to the hotshoe via a PC cord, you can get it to sync to the maximum shutter speed, 1/4000 of a second. Consider that this is 15-20x faster than a lot of professional cameras, and you've got a fantastic camera with a lot of versatility for freezing action. And to think, it probably has this as a cost-cutting feature!
The Bad:
**Needs more buttons: The downside of the D40 being a smaller DSLR is that there's not much room for versatile buttons (such as for changing the ISO quickly). It's not a problem for beginners, but it can slow you down at times if you're looking to grow as a photographer with the camera. Because of the good software design, it's not a huge problem, just a small hindrance at times.
**Auto White-Balance can sometimes drift yellow: It's not always a problem, and it's trivial to prepare for/ correct afterwards, but I'd describe the auto white-balance as "Pretty good" moreso than "Spot-on".
The Ugly:
**No auto-bracketing: If you want to take a bracketed sequence of pictures, you'd better be sure it's on a sturdy tripod, because you're going to have to adjust the settings after each shot. I understand that more expensive cameras have more features and you have to make some tradeoffs, but this is an incredibly frustrating one. If the camera had this feature, I can unequivocally state I'd give it 5 stars.
**No lens motor: To use autofocus with this camera, you have to have AF-S lenses. This limits your options drastically for finding cheap older lenses unless if you want to use them with manual focus. Nikon has a huge library of old lenses that are compatible with their new cameras, so it can be frustrating not to have easy access to them. However, given the cost of the camera, this is an understandable trade-off.
Overall:
I love this camera. It's let me grow as a photographer in so many ways, and it's let me get some great shots along the way.
July 19, 2010
I have had my D-40 for about 3years. It has been a very reliable and convienent camera that has gone with me where ever I have gone. It responds quickly & easily. I have two lenses and both perform admirably. The colors the camera produces are very rich and I think overly saturated. That is corrected in printing. This is my first digital SLR. I do have a Nikon Coolpix 995 that started my digital work. I previously had Nikon FTN, Nikkormat FTN, FE and F2 and Hasselblad. The D-40 is the lightest, quickest, and most versatile to use. I think I am ready to step up to a 3000 or the next generation compact digital slr.
July 19, 2010
Great camera, but not for beginners
This camera will do well with a person who likes photography and not gadgets. It's 6MP, which some will scoff at, but it still takes great photos. Base ISO is 200.
Pluses: 1/500 flash sync, 6MP, base ISO 200
Minuses: only 3 AF points, no built-in AF motor, no remote flash commander mode
Subjective: No video, no live view
July 19, 2010
Great DSLR entry level camera.
This camera is easy to operate, fits my hands better than any other camera I tried, enough features to keep me interested but not overwhelmed. Teamed with a good lens it's capable of taking photos anyone would be proud of.
July 19, 2010
Nikon D40 produces fantastic quality pictures
I concentarte on Black and White pictures and, mostly of landscapes. I get much better pictures with my Nikon D40 than I used to get with Nikon 35 mm or other large format cameras. I like all the features available. This is a great camera.
July 19, 2010
Pros:
Size and weight.
Synch speed
Cons:
No CLS for remote flash
July 19, 2010
A winner
It's a great camera that takes great photos. I don't take photos for a living by selling for card stock and hardly print over 8 X 10's so I don't need the extra mpixels. It's a small enough form factor to carry around and easy to use but has many of the extra features you'll want in a dSLR. It has grown with me as i've gotten more into the hobby by acquiring more lenses and accessories. The only reason for not giving it 5 stars is the lack of a motor in the body which means you need to purchase lenses with the motor. What does that mean to you? lenses with a motor cost more money and some older Nikon lenses that have great glass can't be used on the D40. So I have a D50 as a spare which has a motor. I understand the tradeoff for Nikon. If you add the motor, the price goes up for the D40 and you might miss the newbie market. So if you want to use old glass or buy lenses without motors then be sure you know the caveat of the d40. If you need this capability, grab a used d50 as well or go up to the d90 or higher. Despite this one issue, it is consistently the camera I grab going out the door and I'm glad I took kenrockwell's advice and got the d40.
July 19, 2010
easy to use
great pictures
good lense selection
well balanced
July 19, 2010
Good, but issues
The pictures this camera takes are extraordinary, however in the relatively short period of time I've had it it's had to go in for a major repair to it's internal power, and now the auto focus on my regular lens is beginning to malfunction. Too many big repairs required in a short period of time (about 3 years) to give it the excellent rating I would have given it right after purchasing it.
July 19, 2010
Too bad it has been discontinued!
This is a great camera for the price. There is nothing entry-level about the image quality. This camera is so much better than the new D3000. The flash sync. speed is 1/500 which is so much better than 1/200 or 1/250. It also processes much faster than the 10mgp. cameras do. Change is usually good except when you go backwards. Put a 50mm f1.4G on a D40 and portraits are awesome!!!
July 19, 2010
Good ol' camera
The D40 has served me well, and so I've chosen to spend my photography funds on lenses rather than a newer camera. Mine still meets my needs, though I'd like some of the advanced features of its brethren, such as video and multi-parameter setting presets. When the D90 is upgraded to match the capabilities of the competition, in regard to video and other features, I'll think about a new camera. Or perhaps it will be the 5000 that acquires a prism and a hi-res display? I don't need a motor in the body.
In any event, I do like one feature of the D40 that has vanished from the newer cameras: the 1/500 second flash sync.
July 19, 2010
Best First DSLR
Great Photo Quality, Easy to use.White balance and exposure can be make better.
no dust-reduction system.
July 19, 2010
Compact, easy to use with great pictures
Even though the camera only has a tad over 6 meg, the pictures are still 300 pixels per inch which makes all the difference. It's ready to use quickly and has never let me down. Has plenty of features, most I don't really need but it's nice to have them if the need arises. My only complain would be way too much red on longer exposure night shots.
July 19, 2010
This camera is great
The camera is great, but I wish that there were more accs.available, such as lens x1.5 or 2.0
and some other things.
July 19, 2010
Very Pleased with My D40
The D40 is my first digital SLR, after 30 years of film photography. I've had it for three years, and have used it in every environment except underwater. I'm very, very pleased with it. 6.1MP is not a limitation in any way -- the resolution is limited by the printer or monitor at sizes up to 8x10. The quality of the lens is far more important than the number of megapixels in the sensor. My only complaints are: One, scenes which include the sun or other very bright source of light show obvious gradation and are not "smooth." This seems to be a common problem in digital photography, I see it everywhere, not just with my D40. Two, exposure is consistently too high, with frequent "blow-outs." This is easily avoided by keeping exposure compensation at -0.7 at all times, and using "D-Lighting" in Capture NX to restore the right exposure. This is not a great drawback, as anyone with a digital camera should have Capture NX or similar editing software -- it's the first accessory you should buy.
Overall, I absolutely love my D40.
July 19, 2010
Best Camera Ever except....
Fantastic camera meets and exceeds all expectations but has one niggling problem. With the chronic "Lens Not Attached" problem that many have blogged about. Am using the 18-135 lens that came bundled with the camera. Wiggling solves the problem and a dry wipe and repeated depressing of the contacts and fingers resolves for a while.
I wish the factory would offer a fix. Five stars without that problem.
July 19, 2010
51 Questions | 60 Answers
Product Q&A
Ask your questions. Share your answers.
51 Questions | 60 Answers
Have a new question?
Ask a new question Search the Product Forum
All
All
Is the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor Lens compitable w/the Nikon D-40 digital camera? The manual states "...type G and D AF Nikkor..." are compatible
1 year, 3 months ago
by
Scag
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Family & Friends
Nikon Family: 0-1 years
Experience: Less than a month
Role: Occasional user, memory keeper
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
yes it is fully compatible. the af-s means it has a focus motor built in to the lens and will focus with all nikon dslrs that i know ofAnswer:
Yes, this lens is compatible with the D40.1 year, 3 months ago
by
ED
Florida
Location :
Florida
Age: Over 65
Favorite Subject: Landscape
Nikon Family: 2-5 years
Experience: More than a year
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
with a nikon d40 you cannot. it has no "live view" like the d90 and newer nikon dslr's haveAnswer:
Unfortunately you cant use the rear screen to view as the D40 doesnt have live view, you have to use the view finder.1 year, 3 months ago
by
Richie
Philippines
Location :
Philippines
Age: 45-54
Favorite Subject: Nature
Nikon Family: 2-5 years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Semi-professional photographer
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
just from the info given, sounds like shutter box failure and requires nikon service repairAnswer:
If the battery doesn't have power it will lock the shutter and it won't allow you to take pictures. If the problem persists after you recharged your battery, you are welcome to send your camera for evaluation.Title: How do I get my Nikon product serviced?
URL: http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bi...
I havent seen a remote that does this online.
Suggestions?
Suggestions?
1 year, 2 months ago
by
E.Inge
Mobile, AL
Location :
Mobile, AL
Age: 25-34
Favorite Subject: Sports
Nikon Family: 2-5 years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
"Camera Control Pro 2" makes it possible.
Oct 3, 2011 by
by
Alex
Europe
Location :
Europe
Age: 18-24
Favorite Subject: Landscape
Nikon Family: 2-5 years
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
Answer:
The D40 doesn't have the feature to do Time Lapse Photography.
No matter what mode I shoot in, when i press the shutter button, the camera takes the pic, the gives the following error:
Error. Press Shutter Release Again.
When I press the shutter button again, it clicks, and all is back to normal.
When I review the images, the picture is there.
It in not failing to take the pictur, just throwing the error, requiring 2 presses on the shutter release for each pic.
On a side note, when I use the remote, it still throws the error, but I have to press the button on the camera, It win't accept another remote signal as another shutter release press.
Error. Press Shutter Release Again.
When I press the shutter button again, it clicks, and all is back to normal.
When I review the images, the picture is there.
It in not failing to take the pictur, just throwing the error, requiring 2 presses on the shutter release for each pic.
On a side note, when I use the remote, it still throws the error, but I have to press the button on the camera, It win't accept another remote signal as another shutter release press.
1 year, 2 months ago
by
tirpider
Hot Springs, Ark
Location :
Hot Springs, Ark
Age: 35-44
Favorite Subject: Landscape
Nikon Family: 2-5 years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Just getting started with photography
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
yup, it's an old shutter. d40 is not a recent model, so if you've taken a lot of pictures, the shutter is probably worn out. they can replace it as far as i know, but it's not going to be cheap.Answer:
I would find a nikon dealer nearest you and let them have a look. Mine did the same thing only it wasn't capturing the image. My problem ended up being shutter box failure and had to be shipped to nikon for shutter replacement.
My D40 has started having problems with focusing. On Auto (full and flash-off) it will search to focus but not focus and will not take. It will not even take and give me a blurry picture. Zooming out does not help unless I am all the way at 55mm. The same thing happens on the Close-Up mode. When I switch to Manual Focus, I am still unable to focus clearly and get a blurry picture. I have cleaned the lens and filter. I have also tried changing the AF-area mode. Please advise
1 year ago
by
hpcoker
SC
Location :
SC
Age: 25-34
Favorite Subject: Family & Friends
Nikon Family: 2-5 years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
try another af-s class lens. if the same symptoms prevail, try cleaning the mirror (the extreme sides of the mirror send light to the AF sensors, so if they're smudged the AF system might be off).Answer:
Try a different lens or the lens in another camera body to verify if the built-in AF motor in the lens is working or not.Title: How do I get my Nikon product serviced?
URL: http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bi...
is the 50mm AF-S compatible with my camera?
1 year ago
by
Anonymous
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
for portraiture work i'd suggest something with a longer focus throw, like 85mm. if you can settle with using manual focus, the af-d 85mm f/1.8 lens is pretty terrific for portrait photography (and since portraits are tricky, use of manual focus is always advised). however, the 50mm f/1.8 af-s will work very well, will have autofocus as well. (when i do portraits, i tend to go out in location, in nature, and use the 80-200 f/2.8 lens on the far end (meaning: above 100mm).)Answer:
Yes the 50 afs will work, as will every other Nikon lens made, however some will be limited in what they will do on the body, AF, metering etc, if you want to pass up on some of these minor things then there are some superb lenses that can be used.
This image that looks like a light graph of some sort shows up over my playback images. How do I turn it off?
thanks!
thanks!
11 months ago
by
michelle
california
Location :
california
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Family & Friends
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Experience: More than a year
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
Scroll up or down on the "Multi Selector" wheel and the histogram and related info will disappear.Aug 17, 2011 by
by
CapHillShooter
Washington, DC
Location :
Washington, DC
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Sports
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Role: Professional photographer
Answer:
Press the multi-selector up or down until you get the display you want.Has staff answer
D40
2 Answers
When I shoot a photo, all the info automatically shows up on the screen and I can't see what I shot. How do I get rid of that?
11 months ago
by
creekrat
Age: 45-54
Favorite Subject: Nature
Experience: 3-6 months
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
If the D40 works like other Nikon DSLRs, scroll up or down on the "Multi Selector" wheel until the info disappears. The camera will then be reset to leave the display uncluttered.Aug 17, 2011 by
by
CapHill Shooter
Washington, DC
Location :
Washington, DC
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Sports
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Role: Professional photographer
Answer:
Press the multi selector UP or DOWN until you get the desire display.1 year, 3 months ago
by
Anonymous
1 answer
Answers
Answer:
You can use it without a memory card but you wont save any pictures taken, why would you not want to use a memeory card in it??
Close
Award Winner
December 2007, Nikon D40 - 2007 Eddy Award winner
Macworld’s Kelly Turner bestowed a great honor upon the entry-level D40 digital SLR, naming it a 2007 Eddy Award winner. The D40’s compact, lightweight design, in-camera feature and ease of use won the editors over proving that the D40 is a great camera for budding photographers looking to capture stunning images with ease.
Close
Award Winner
American Photo Editor’s Choice 2007 Award
The editors of American Photo and Popular Photography have awarded the Nikon D40 digital SLR camera an American Photo Editor’s Choice 2007 Award. Russell Hart and Jonathan Barkey called the Nikon D40 one of the top three entry-level digital SLRs on the market this year. They were impressed with the D40’s affordability and strong features and raved about the handling, superior performance and great picture quality. Of the three cameras selected, the D40 was named the “best buy.” The D40 was comfortable to use, and its menu system was one of the best that Hart and Barkey had seen in any entry-level digital SLR.
Close
Review
February 2007, Nikon D40
by Laptop MagazineLaptop Magazine’s recent review of the Nikon D40 begins with two words – “Power & Simplicity.” According to Laptop’s editors, the camera’s compact and lightweight design, intuitive interface and in-camera editing help users become “professional photographers overnight.” The review also highlights some of the camera’s top-of-the-line features, such as its 2.5-inch LCD screen and its ability to capture 2.5 pictures per second continuously for up to 100 pictures.
Close
Review
January 2007, Nikon D40
by Dan RichardsDan Richards of Popular Photography and Imaging has released his hands-on review of the Nikon D40. Richards introduced the D40 as “Nikon’s newest D-SLR that was designed for everyone.” Richards noted the camera’s upgrades, such as the viewfinder, processor speed, burse rate and in-camera editing. He also commented on how small and light the camera was and applauded its simplified layout. Richards concluded that the Nikon D40 was designed to “attract lots of first time D-SLR buyers” and is a camera that will not scare or intimidate anyone.
Close
Review
December 2006, Nikon D40
by Lori GruninLori Grunin recently reviewed the Nikon D40 for CNET and awarded the camera high marks for photo quality. In her tests, Grunin found “very low noise images, minimal lens distortion, excellent metering and exposure and pleasing colors.” She concluded her review of the D40 by proclaiming “if you’ve got a budding photographer in the family or want to step up to your first D-SLR, the Nikon D40 is a great choice.”
Close
Review
November 2006, Nikon D40
by Ian AustenIan Austen from The New York Times wrote about the recent release of the new Nikon D40. Austen praises the camera’s functions and points out that the “camera takes a novel approach to giving photographers advice on how to use it.” Austen enjoyed the fact that D40 users can preview the effects of different settings before they take pictures by viewing sample photos on the camera’s screen. Austen concludes that the camera distinguishes itself from its competitors by allowing users to understand and utilize the camera’s abilities to their fullest in all different settings and picture types.
Close
Review
November 2006, Nikon D40
by Shawn BarnettImaging Resource’s Shawn Barnett released his review of the Nikon D40. Barnett referred to the D40 as a “wonderful take-everywhere SLR” that had a quality feel to it, and was fun to shoot with. Barnett praised the D40 for its features and controls that were borrowed from the higher-end Nikon D80. Barnett concluded that the Nikon D40 was a “class act.”
Close
Review
November 2006, Nikon D40
by Darren MurphIn Engadget’s recent Nikon D40 review, Darren Murph proclaimed that the D40 has made a “solid entrance into the endless world of D-SLR shooting.” Murph was impressed with the D40’s strong build quality and noted that its small size did not prevent the camera from offering many features and controls. According to Murph, the D40 is easy to use, yet it contains many helpful additions to in-camera abilities that were borrowed from the more advanced Nikon D80 D-SLR.
We’ll keep track of the products you view here.