Nikon D40 Digital Camera with 18-55mm lens

**COMING SOON:  D-700 REVIEW**

BEFORE WE BEGIN

There are a lot of reviews on the web for the Nikon D40 and I will list some of the sites I recommend at the end of my review. Most of these reviews come from the perspective of a professional photographer and professional reviewer of digital cameras. Many of these reviews contain very detailed information and some of the information is beyond the scope of the audience I intend to target with my review. That is, the consumer who wants to make the leap from the point and shoot to dSLR for the first time. In other words, a beginner in the world of dSLR!

Now, these thorough reviews are great for people seeking more detailed information about the camera, so don't hesitate to read them. Just beware that you may need to update your vocabulary to understand many of the topics and technical lingo. Fortunately, some of these reviews offer a glossary to bring you up to speed. All of the reviews are skewed in that the authors share their personal and professional opinions on the camera and the quality of the images produced. I found that most, if not all reviewers have very positive things to say about the D40 and this is reassuring. I am going to try to condense what I learned from these reviews and add to that my own personal experience with the camera.

Keep in mind, that I am writing strictly as one who has come directly from point and shoot. I don't own or have access to a large array of dSLR's cameras, lenses and accessories to compare the D40 with. Also, I don't have extensive professional experience with which to lay judgement with authority.

I do invite any professionals who read my review and find error to either email me(see ePinions homepage) or add a comment at the end of review, so I can update the review where necessary.

I deliberately kept my review free of technical specification except when making a brief point in an area I feel is important to the 'target audience' I wish to address. The review won't be an exhaustive repetition of what has already been covered many times before in other reviews.

GOAL OF MY REVIEW

The goal of my review is to inform the consumer who is taking the 1st step from point and shoot(fixed lens photography) to digital Single Lens Reflex why I purchased the Nikon D40 and recommend it. I am not assuming that you are a professional photographer and write with this in mind. I will not embellish my review to make it seem like I know more than I do. WYSIWYG.

OVERVIEW(General)

POINT AND SHOOT VS DSLR: MY PERSPECTIVE

I've been less than satisfied with point and shoot since my last digital camera purchase. I bought a point and shoot last May thinking I finally found a camera which would meet my needs in a digital camera. The camera was nice, but it foremost wasn't responsive enough. I found that navigating menus to set manual and preset modes spoiled the spontaneity of picture taking. I will never again buy a point and shoot for the advanced features like shutter and aperture priority, or even presets, if extensive menu navigation is required. A point and shoot is just that. Buy it for it's compact size and decent optics(fixed lens), but don't buy it for any of the advanced features found on today's dSLR's. From my experience point and shoot digital camera(digicams) will try to mimic and attain the status of a dSLR, but never quite reach that standard. They always seem to fall short and there's a reason for that: They are two different animals. I'll give you an example:

Nikon recently announced a new Professional series point and shoot camera called the P5000. In my opinion, for the price, this is one the best point and shoot(here on out I will abbreviate p&s) on the market today. I was very excited with the announcement and was ready to lay down some serious money to get in line to buy it. This camera is about as close to a dSLR as you can get. It has manual controls to set shooting modes, a hot shoe for external flash and options to add external lenses(Nikkor quality glass). It has a movie mode, but, it didn't have options for RAW format(more on that later) which is almost exclusive to dSLR. P&S cameras fail to reach the dSLR standard because they try too hard to be all things to all people. But, the biggest reason they fail is because people expect a P&S to be compact. Starting to get the point? Read on.

I almost bought a P&S again, but something changed my mind. The D40 changed my mind. Ordinarily, I wouldn't give dSLR's a second glance(except to drool over them), but the D40 caught my attention in a few ways with the biggest way being price. The second attention getter was that the Nikon name was associated with this camera. Although, I have no experience with Nikon or dSLR's I was sold with almost no hesitation. After confirming the price of the D40 at $599.99 USD, I began to do some initial research. I discovered that indeed the D40 was a true dSLR and had already earned respect among professionals and amateurs alike(The D40 was introduced in the 4th quarter of last year-2006). I also learned dSLR's that Nikon and many other manufacturer's produce are sold as a body only and that the consumer or pro will have to buy a lens that best fits their special situations and needs. This makes perfect sense for a professional, but I'm not a professional. The lens kits was a perfect choice for me.

I had to do a double take when I found out that the price tag of $599.99 included both a camera body and a 'kit' lens (which offers 3X zoom to wide angle settings). I seriously read the line twice and almost called the store to confirm that this camera did indeed come with a lens and not just the body.

When this was confirmed, doubts still trickled in. As it would with any normal person contemplating this upgrade and expense. What alleviated my doubt? A couple things. First, my trust in the Nikon(Nikkor) name and second, the positive reviews(see list below). My next step was to compare what the competitors were doing. I found a few companies offering 'body only' models pretty cheap, but the only make/models that came close to the Nikon D40, in my opinion, were the Olympus Evolt series(which seemed pretty nice) and Canon Rebel XT(XTi). Pentax and Fuji close the competition as well, but I'm the least familiar with their quality and name(save their excellent lens quality). I'm very impressed with Canon and Olympus, but Nikon just edged them out with the terrific price. If I was more of a professional, I probably would upgrade the Nikon to the D70 or shoot for a Canon which seems to be the cat's meow in dSLR bar none. But, alas, that wasn't my requirement at this time, so the D40 won out. The D40 really had everything I required at the right price.

WHERE TO BUY

After making a decision to purchase my first dSLR, the Nikon D40, I had to find a retail outlet to purchase it. Online at Amazon.com or Ritzcamera.com seem to be the best and most reliable sites, but I decided I wanted my baby 'today' and sought out a local retail store. CompUSA, Circuit City and Best Buy all offer the D40 at around $600.00USD. I bought mine at Circuit City and even got a free 1gb SD($30.00 value) memory card for free. SD memory is not included with the kit. SD memory is sort of a deviation for dSLR since the bulky CF(compact flash) is the normal choice. Comparable deals can be found at the other outlets. Shop around because you might want to get a service plan with a company that you've had previous experience with before.

Note: You will be required to buy SD memory to begin taking pictures with the D40. You can find some decent prices at Big Lots.

WHY DSLR? WHY NIKON?

I had misgivings about investing in a dSLR-there's no denying that. Even at $599.99 for a dSLR, the Nikon D40 represents is a huge chunk of anyone's income. Here's how I rationalized my purchase:

First, I will finally get the camera I want with the requirements I need. I won't have to 'play the game' for awhile. That is, I won't have to upgrade my P&S to get one more feature that has been standard on dSLR's for years. dSLR's become obsolete or outdated at a slower pace than P&S's. Typically, dSLR's seem to cycle through every other year(or longer) as compared to the annual or biannual introduction of new models on compacts. I expect to use and keep my D40 for five or more years. It's such a versatile camera that I'll probably keep the D40 as a backup even if do upgrade to a better camera. It's seems many professionals are using the D40 for just this purpose. Many express that the D40 is just a 'fun' camera to take pictures with. I concur.

Second, a dSLR has built-in upgradeability with quality components. For example, the camera comes with a 'kit' lens, but you will out grow that lens. You will want telephoto, macro, wide or prime(not available yet) or perhaps a fisheye lens(one available). You may find special lighting challenges that require an optional speedlight. With an dSLR you don't have to buy a new camera, you simply buy the quality accessory tailored to your requirements. Granted some of these accessories cost more than the camera itself, you will see that the camera does grow with your experience. And, to be fair, Nikon does offer some very fine quality lenses and flash units for surprising and affordable prices. So that's a plus for this camera.

Finally, I will have a camera that will give me the results I expect and require. I want to buy a professional output photo printer to print 13X19 " prints. The D40 6.1 MP dSLR will easily print these and I can't wait to see the results. dSLR have better sensors than compacts because the sensor area is larger. To be honest, I don't understand the technical part of this. The megapixels in a compact may be the same, but since the dSLR's sensor is larger and accepts more photons(units of light) across this area producing better quality images.

Along these lines, you can select a compressed RAW format(NEF) which gives you more post editing control than with TIFF or JPEG(Basic, Normal, Fine).
Occasionally, I like to play around with Photoshop. Nikon also offers a decent, user-friendly program called CaptureNX(for a price) that allows detailed RAW editing. I think you will find a remarkable difference in editing compressed RAW(lossy) as compared to JPEG.

One of the first things people notice about the camera is it's design, but before I get to design lets talk about setup. How easy it is to get 'up a and going' out of the box to take that 1st shot!

SETUP(QUICK START DIRECTIONS) and FIRST SHOTS

You can expect to give yourself a little over 90 minutes before you can begin taking your first pictures with the Nikon D40 dSLR. That's because Nikon supplies a battery that is uncharged when delivered. Unlike some brands, who will partially charge your battery, Nikon neglects this convenience for whatever reason. No big deal, spend the time reviewing your quick start directions and manual. I recommend without reservation reading the manual completely and thoroughly at least twice. Better yet read it three times! There is a lot of information compressed within these pages. The information will help you to become a better photographer.

My school of thought is to learn intuitively. Many manufacturers build with this in mind. I feel this type of learning aids me with more spontaneity in the artistic process. But with a sophisticated device like the Nikon D40, you really need to review the detailed information provided in the manual, unless you have a tutor available or a service like FireDog.com to guide you through. The manual is concise and well organized. It is written in a way that won't leave you drowning in technical information. I used a blend of intuitive learning and classic learning to become acquainted with the D40 and dSLR photography. I have a few years background with digital photography and more advanced techniques, so I had less of a learning curve than most true beginners would have.

Keep in mind, there are many sources to learn how to use this camera including Nikon's very own website which offers a very practical QT (QuickTime) movie covering all of the shooting modes and most of the settings. The goal, in the beginning, is just to familiarize yourself with the camera. Nikon makes this easy to do. In fact, the AUTO setting is excellent for most photographic scenes.

Once your battery is charged(90 min.), you have a few preliminaries before shooting. You have to set the 'World Clock' a new feature for the D40. You need to install and format the memory. You should attach the shoulder strap(a very nice accessory indeed). You have to attach the lens, of course. Nikon provides an index on the camera body and lens that you line up and turn CCW. No worries here, it's foolproof! Oh, you have to adjust the diopter for your viewfinder. All this takes just minutes. Now, you can either take the Tutorial in your manual or you can just begin experimenting on your own. I wouldn't worry to much about doing stuff on your own. In the AUTO mode it's pretty intuitive. The menu system is a little different from what I've been use to, but referring to the manual I figured out a lot of stuff. If you've owned any kind of camera or a digital camera before, you will recognize many of the icons on this camera and know their use. This will guide you through most of the basic operation functions.

For instance, most people want to review their picture after they take their shot to make sure they have it framed right and the exposure is correct. The D40 doesn't disappoint here. You are offered a preview of a few seconds on the sharp and bright 2.5" LCD tft screen. You are not offered any choice to delete your shot at this point though. But, the D40 has a dedicated delete button(trash can) which is easy to use. Shot are framed TTL(through the lens) via viewfinder. Some critics contend the viewfinder isn't bright enough, but I didn't mind it. You never frame a shot on the LCD screen. Just isn't done on a dSLR. Incidentally, you won't find a movie mode on any dSLR either.

You want to be sure about deleting your image because I don't find any way to recover deleted photos. Ok, that's it, start shooting you pets, children, spouse or houseplant. I usually shoot my feet first, but that just me. Then go for more aggressive scenes. If you want to have fun with photography, Nikon D40 makes it easy.

TOPIC CENTER(Specifics)

DESIGN AND ERGONOMICS
Is the product attractive? Does the design add to functionality and ergonomics? Is it easy to use and comfortable to carry?

People are very much aware of these characteristics and so is the manufacturer. Nikon designed one of the smallest dSLR's ever in the D40. How did they do it? One way was to eliminate certain features typically standard on the body of the camera. Nikon no longer has a focusing motor inside the body of the camera. It's in the lens now. So to go with the Nikon D40 you have to buy special 'DX' lenses to adapt to the camera(see Lenses in Topic Center for more info). Also, Nikon took away the prized and much coveted status LCD, located at the top of many of their higher prices models. This status info is still available, but it's now accessed from the menus system. Also, Nikon manufactures a new battery for the D40 to decrease the overall body size. Finally, the D40 has forsaken the bulky compact flash memory chip for the svelte SD/SDHC memory card.

I've never really seen or held a dSLR in my hands close up. I've only seen picture of them in photographs(usually black and white newsprint), so I had no idea what to expect as far a size, look and feel of this camera. The day I decided to purchase my D40 was the 1st time I've seen a dSLR live! I was imagining a camera much smaller than the D40's actual size. I was a little shocked and intimidated by the size(and professional look, I might add) of the camera's overall size.

From rear to front of lens I measured roughly 8.5 inches. The width is seven inches and it's about 5.5 inches high(From base to tip of the protruding flash). I understand it's dimensions are very similar if not exactly spot on to the Canon's Rebel at this price point. Canon might weigh a little more. Speaking of weight, the D40 does carry some 'heft' to it, but not a burden by any means. It felt good in my hands which are probably a little smaller than medium size hands. From various reviews I've read, the grips of the camera are a point of contention for many professionals( grip being too small), but I found the camera to be 'just right' as Goldilocks might have said. The D40 was felt very well balanced.

I recently took the camera on an urban field trip with the camera hanging around my neck with the ample, secure and handsome strap provided with the kit. The weigh of the camera(slightly over 16oz./454 g.) made it swing to and fro with the rhythm of my gait. I found I had to adjust the pace of my stride to keep this 'swing' in check. Most of the time, I just held onto the camera with a free hand which is a good idea for spontaneous shots anyway. A case might be more appropriate in these situations, but I haven't invested in one yet and that might be more weight to deal with.

This is definitely not a camera you can attach by case to your belt loop. I also received some questioning looks from bystanders as to what my intentions might be with this 'professional looking' camera. I sort of played along with these glances, letting them imagine I might take a 'candid' picture at any moment. One young lady even used some profanity curtly intimating that I take her picture. "Take my picture, @$$#0%3!" I was amused to say the least. I guess what I'm saying, is that this camera will draw attention. Like I said, I just played along, imagining that people might think I was affiliated with the press or something like that. It was sort of fun!

To sum up this topic, I think the D40 passes and gets high marks in design and comfort. It's a big camera, but not as big as most dSLR's. The controls are intelligently placed within easy reach and I couldn't find flaw with that. My only complaint was the strap that tended to get twisted easy. A better design would be a swivel where the nylon attaches to the camera body. Not a big deal. The camera has an overall solid feel to it. You can grasp the camera almost anywhere without fear of breaking it. The camera is make of a durable, texture plastic case that looks attractive.

Note: It should be noted here again that the D40 is an entry level dSLR and not intended for the professional. It won't stand up to the day to day rigors of that type of use. But, with reasonable care, you should get good use from the d40. Please see Comments for this review for more info.

Side Note: One thing that I really like, though subtle, is the text printed on the camera case. The printing of text and icon is 'painted' on with an off-white cream color that is so subtle, I didn't notice it at first until the camera was in a certain light. The color scheme next to black encasing looks so good! It's a small thing, but add so much to the overall professional, attractive looks.

A PHYSICAL TOUR OF THE D40

Here's where I give you tour, in my words what the D40 is like visually. I won't get into too much detail here, but I may touch on the function of some of the features. Of course, it warranted, I will cover a feature in more detail and give comment in other topics. So here goes:

This is a stunning camera to behold, everything about it exudes quality and professionalism. To hold this camera is to instantly feel like a 'pro.' It invites you to take better pictures. The body isn't over-complicated with features and controls and yet this exterior really hides how powerful this camera really is!

The Back

Since the photographer see the back of the camera more than any other side, I will cover that 1st. As with any digital camera the LCD will be the most obvious feature at the back.

U P D A T E
I am now recommending that D40 owners purchase 3rd party protection(TPP) for their LCD screen. For more info see Vincedog's review here:

prevent LCD scratches. Delkin has you covered

The D40 has a 2.5" LCD(tft). The actual LCD is cover by thick piece of clear plastic or glass. I would hope this is poly-carbonate, but that is doubtful. To the left of the LCD are four separate buttons placed in a row from top to bottom. The topmost button is a standard PLAYBACK button to turn on the LCD and preview the pictures you've taken. Below that, the MENU button, which gives you access to camera's menu with many options that I will discuss more in the Menu topic.

The next two buttons have dual purposes. They zoom in and out while previewing(in Playback) and they bring help and info screens respectively. The info button is used in conjunction with a button at the top of the camera that brings you into some very specific camera settings(i.e., ISO speed). Of note, Nikon places a small green dot next to these 'info' buttons so the user doesn't get confused.

Right next to the lower right corner of the LCD is the TRASH button for deleting files from memory. Near the trash button is a small memory access lamp. Above the trash button is a standard four way/OK button.

At the top of the LCD is the Viewfinder and to the right of the viewfinder, the diopter. To the right of the diopter is AE-L/AF-L button. And to the right of that a command dial.

Top

The top of the camera again is very uncomplicated. There's a hood shaped object that hide the pop-up flash. Behind the flash is the hot shoe. To the right of the hot shoe is a dial for making changing the camera's shooting modes. In front of this dial and slightly to the right is a triangular matrix of controls with the largest being the ON/OFF switch. Centered within the switch is the shutter release button(chrome). Behind this button are two more button completing the points of this matrix. The left button is the INFO button I mentioned earlier and the right button controls aperture and exposure( /-).

The neck strap is anchored from either side with metal eyelets.

Sides

The side aren't very exciting. The right side houses the memory card. A sliding door flips up with spring tension. The door is snapped in place. The SD card is pushed into a retaining slot that has some give to assist in it's release later. There's a small little icon inside the compartment to let the user insert memory correctly. On the door, the word 'CARD' embossed along with another icon representing the memory card. An embossed arrow shows the user which direction to open the door. There are 4 embossed lines to grip the door to open it.

The left side is a little more interesting. Here, a plastic part combined with a moisture-proof rubber seal, protect the A/V jack and USB connection. This part snaps in place and is held to the camera by the rubber seal. There a little lip to aid in opening the compartment. Icons again represent the use of these jacks. Toward the front center of this side are two small buttons. One is a programmable functionfn key(default timer) and the other is used for advanced flashz function.

Front

At the front of the camera near the top left is the focus assist light. On the grip, near the top is the Infrared receiver for remote shutter operation. To the right of the lens is the quick release button for the lens. Near the top right of the lens, at the base is a small white dot that's called an index. There is a companion dot on the lens.

Bottom

On the bottom left is a small rectangular compartment that houses the battery and provides access for an A/C adapter. The door is similar to the SD card's, but it isn't spring-loaded. The door snaps in place snug. There's a little 'pac man' icon indicating power source. Of course, the battery housing is located inside the camera's grip Also on the bottom is a plate with model and serial number. Centered with the lens is a metal tripod thread.

That's about it! A simple layout that hides most of the power and complexity of the camera. Nikon added some nice cosmetic touches to the D40 and of course, they tastefully add their logo at strategic areas. Nothing looks gaudy on this camera, it's quite pleasing to eye.

THE IMAGING SYSTEM

Depending on the source, I've found a rating of good to above average for the lens quality. This rating is being taken from a dSLR's standards(professional level) and from this perspective the lens is excellent for someone just starting out in dSLR photography. From my point of view the lens determines the 'quality of the light' that's recorded to your sensor and written into memory. It's where photography begins outside the photography herself. If you look at the lens from this point of view, the D40 shines. I've had my camera for about 2 weeks before writing this review and have had quite a few photographic opportunities present to test the lenses performance. I've tested in the harsh afternoon sun to overcast cloudy day. From moonlit black nights to challenging soft indoor portraits. I've zoom out and in to wide angle. I've tried most of the preset modes and experimented with manual controls. I've intentionally shot out of focus by switch the lens to 'M' manual. I've done all this testing not to produce a fantastic photograph, but to test some of the limits and capabilities of the camera and specifically the integrity of the lens and it's systems(focusing and processing).

For the most part, I've been very pleased with the results of this 6.1 MP camera. It seems to be everything the other reviewers have boasted about and more. I don't find the kit lens to be crystal-clear sharp, but I was actually pleased to find this out. Rather, the lens seems to exhibit idiosyncrasies, which are far more pleasing than just a sharp, realistic or graphic picture. I'm sure much of the idiosyncratic behavior was influenced by my inexperience with dSLR shooting, but I think much was due to the special manufacturing of the Nikkor kit lens. It seems to be a lens that favors amateurs. Certainly, there are artifacts in the final image, but I don't believe they are due to lens imperfections. I haven't the experience yet to differentiate between what is actual lens flaw or other conditions produced by the photographer or camera.

I would recommend going to a professional review for this information and critique. I have read reports of some barrel distortion(at certain focal lengths) and chromatic aberration, but to my untrained eye, I haven't notice this. There may be chromatic aberration if the photo is blown up to where you see pixelation, but for printing I don't think this edge aberration will be significant. I've also heard reports of mild vignetting.

What important here is that the Nikon D40 uses the the same processor and sensor as some of their higher end dSLR's. The D40 wasn't 'dumbed down' to make the camera less expensive. Quality was retained, but some professional features were sacrificed.

CONTROLS

The controls for the Nikon D40 are easy to master, especially if you have prior experience with digital cameras. You may have to get used to the new orientation(layout) that Nikon uses over other manufacturers. All controls have little icons, titles or abbreviations to help you understand their function. The controls are organized and positioned in a logical way that you would expect from a time honored, reputed maker of dSLR's.

The shutter button, located forward front right, is, of coarse, the most important button. Without it you would have no way to control the shutter. Nikon gives it prominence by making it the largest 'button on the camera. It's also made of shiny chrome. Like most shutter buttons on digital cameras, when you depress the button 1/2 way down the lens pre-focuses. This is valuable to set up your shot. The shutter won't open if the lens isn't focused in AUTO mode.

The mode dial isn't a button at all, but it is a control. And, a rather remarkable control at that! The mode dial is one of the reasons I upgraded from a compact digital camera and to a professional dSLR. The mode dial isn't new to compacts or dSLR, but some of the presets are. The presets on the Nikon D40 are called Digital VariPrograms by Nikon. The VariPrograms are: Auto(Flash Off), Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close up,and Night Portrait.

The camera's processor kicks in when you set the mode dial to a preset. The processor controls camera functions like shutter speed, aperture, exposure and flash, for the shot so you don't have to. With quick access via the dial, you have a better chance of getting your shot than if you fiddle with manual controls. That's the beauty of this control as compared to many compacts that require you to navigate menus, sometimes drilling into three or four tiers. The presets aren't perfect, but in a pinch they will do rather nice. Of note here is the the CHILD preset. I've haven't tried it yet, but it's quick unique to Nikon cameras. It's it suppose to capture a childs subtle skin tones.

Another important control is the INFO button. I found it wasn't as intuitive as most other controls. I really had to read the instruction manual to figure it out. Here's how it works: You can access information about the camera's setting by pressing the info button directly. The info screen displays a information on how to take a better shot at the top(if appropriate). There are a plethora of setting information to the right(i.e, file format, ISO). Within the body of the info screen is information about battery life and focusing.

To a newcomer the screen will look 'busy,' but when you take the time to learn the setup, you'll find it's organized quite well. Nikon introduced the new graphic setup which features a graphical representation of the shutter and aperture settings. The classic style is still available and a user can even add a wallpaper background from the shots taken. Of note here is that on the D40, Nikon combines information on this info screen that previous Nikon dSLR owners might have view from a small LCD at the top of their camera.

Now, to make your info screen interactive, that is to be able to change settings from this screen, you must depress a button on the back of the D40. Then you use your 4 way/OK navigation button to make selections. Help is accessed at anytime by pressing the help(?) button which doubles as the zoom. You may want to change the default time for your LCD's sleep mode until you become familiar with the functions here.

The PLAYBACK button is another control you will used extensively. You use it to review your shot. Playback is use in conjunction with other buttons for other purposes(i.e., editing). The basic playback button will display the last shot you took or edited(on camera). You can navigate through you entire 'catalog' via the 4 way RIGHT/LEFT or command dial.

In some cases, the command dial is the best way and quickest to navigate. Use the four way( UP/DOWN), once a shot is selected OK, to gain metadata, histogram and exposure information( a cool way to see what part of your photo is over exposed.)

The latter feature is really unique in that entire areas of the over exposed shot will actually flash dark. I thought there was something wrong with my camera before I learned that I had my setting on 'Highlights.' There are 2 'pages' of metadata information for each shot. The histogram is for G in the RGB spectrum.

TIP: You can get all the channels from Filter Effects/Color Balance from the RETOUCH Menu.

You can zoom' in and out' of your catalog by using the controls with the magnifying glasses(P) on them. I could zoom in about 7 steps. What's cool is that there is a little preview of the entire shot with the frame of your zoomed shot. The preview disappears after a few seconds, so as not to interfere too much with your preview. You can navigate within the zoomed shot using the 4 way I really liked this set up. It was very helpful to see the resolution and imperfections before keeping or printing the shot.

Zoom out(b) just miniaturizes the shot. You screen fills up with 4 and 9 of your last taken shots in 2 steps. Navigate these 'pages' normally with 4 way or command dial.

The TRASH button works like most buttons of it's type except it takes 2 steps to delete once your photo is selected. This is so you don't accidentally delete you prized shot, you can cancel action by depressing the playback button.

Ok, let's take a breather here. There are quite a few controls on the D40 and many of them perform different functions and work in synchronization. They are logically organized, so they are easy to learn. Most of the controls you will have little need to learn since they are the same digital camera you may have used before. The most difficult to grasp are the dual info buttons necessary to make specific manual settings. You need to learn the sequences to make important settings in Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Programmed, and Manual found on the mode dial along with the presets. The two info buttons access the info screen to allow you to navigate that screen to select and make your settings. I'll give you an example:

If you want to change the ISO(the digital equivalent of film camera's film speed), you 1st depress the INFO button at the top of your camera. It is recognized easy by the green dot next to it. This brings up the info window on the LCD display. But, that's not enough to make your setting. You have to press the info button on the back of the camera(this button also has a green dot next to it) to make the screen interactive(navigational and selectable). That's really about as tricky as it gets. The rest you just have to learn by trial and error.

Getting back to our example, once you enter the interactive screen, you navigate to the ISO setting, select it OK, which brings up a new screen with your options. You navigate and select from your options-AUTO, 200, 400. You use the same idea to make other settings such as
file format' or 'shooting mode.' Some settings may be 'grayed out' depending on the mode you selected from the mode dial. You can access HELP at anytime by pressing the button on the back with the question mark(?) icon next to it. Also, when you make your setting through the info screen, Nikon furnishes thumbnail representations of a photo that might be taken at this setting not available via menu navigation. Besides quicker, more specific settings gained through the info screen you get the added benefit these images and extensive text help at your fingertips. It is worth the effort to become proficient in making settings this way.

Aperture and Shutter settings(M,P,A,S)-These manual settings are made via mode dial, info screen, command dial and the little button to the right of the Info button at the top of the camera. It can be a little awkward to make these setting at first. In this case, the command dial is used to control the shutter and the aperture. The command dial alone adjusts the shutter or the aperture in respective priority modes. When in manual mode, the command dial controls both aperture and shutter, but the little button to right(with aperture icon)of the info button must be depressed while using the command dial to adjust the aperture. Programmed mode simply allow the user to preset their own mode.

Finally, the more esoteric buttons are dual purpose. The function (fn) button serves as a default for the self timer and can be programmed for quick access to a plethora of other settings(i.e., White Balance). The auto exposure/ auto focus lock is self explanatory and doubles to protect shots from deletion. And, the flash mode/ compensation button.


MENUS AND NAVIGATION

I don't want to get too detailed with menu and navigation because my goal is not to write an 'owner manual,' but I will give you take on the Nikon menu/navigation(M/N) system and how it stacks up to other manufacturers.

Nikon's M/N system is very similar to the P&S systems which you are familiar with. I relies heavily on the 4 way/OK switch for many functions. The main LCD in the back is your visual television, if you will, to show you 'where you are now.' What's unique with Nikon is the way many of the functions can be accessed either by the 2 Info buttons(indicated by the green dots) OR via the MENU button. With practice, most user will use the the Info buttons to make important camera settings rather than navigate through extraneous menus options. That is, the Info buttons should lead to faster and more direct settings.

One feature I like about Nikon's Menu system is that it can be user modified. The default setting is SIMPLE, meaning there are less options to chose from. For example, I was annoyed at first that the preview screen only stayed on for a few seconds. I found out that the user has to enable the above setting to FULL to enable this menu option. Along these lines, Nikon offers MyMenu, so the user can modify the menu to options used frequently. Nikon does this so you don't have to 'click' through so many options, to get to where you want.

The basic Menu options are:
-RETOUCH
-PLAYBACK
-SETUP
-SHOOTING
-CUSTOM SETTING

I'll just briefly touch on the subject of these options.

Retouch(Paintbrush)- is new to Nikon dSLR and the D40 exclusively. It offers some basic editing functions like cropping, filter effects and red eye correction. Nikon doesn't offer to many novel effects, but it does offer the proprietary D-Lighting which offer a high/low adjustment that will correct exposure without too much image quality loss. Also, in this menu is the quirky image overlay option. As the name suggests, two images(in RAW format) are superimposed for a hybrid result. From what I hear, this feature is hit or miss. You don't need rotation because the camera adjust orientation with it's sensor. I pleased with the performance of all these tools.

Here's an example of a filter effect applied through the Retouch/Monochromatic menu directory. It is called Cyanotype and is a refreshing addition from the standared B/W, Antique(not available in Filters) and Sepia. These filter are quality settings and offer adjustments(Hi/Lo) for Brightness. I didn't notice appreciable loss of detail when the filter was applied, just a pleasant preset tint.

http://www.imagehosting.com/show.php/479823_CSC0103.jpg.html

Playback(Arrow)-allows you a less direct way of deleting photos, but does offer more comprehensive deletion functions. You can select where PLAYBACK looks for photos(which folder). You can togge the rotation of 'tall' photo to the ON or OFF setting. DPOF settings are made here and you can view a slideshow with another option.

Setup(Wrench)-Are options to program you camera. For example, World Time can be set here. The graphic for this feature are very nice and easy to use with a visual representation of the 'flat' earth. This is also the area to modify or customize your menu.

Shooting(Camera)-Gives you the options that are otherwise available via Info buttons sans the cute little thumbnails indicating their uses. Also available here is the Noise Reduction option that you will use at higher ISO speeds.

Custom Setting( )-This menu includes six custom setting settings and a Reset option. More advanced options are available when you chose the FULL menu option in Setup. Beep is included here, turn it off if it bugs you. The important settings are available through the Info buttons as well. They are AF-area, Shooting and Focus modes. Options with these groups are dependent on the settings you make on the mode control dial. Any setting you make here, will be updated when you view the Info screen.

That's about it! There are more detailed settings when you chose FULL from the Setup Menu option. There are some cool things for you to explore if you decide to purchase the D40. For instance, there is a RBG histogram hidden in one option, if you get bored with the yellow one, representing one channel, green offered in Playback(Hint: Color Balance).

It's a very rich menu with many options, as you would expect from this class of camera. You will find more detail in this menu system which takes getting use to, but it is very simple to use once you take the time. And, of course, you can modify the menu to make it easier to with the options, functions and settings you use the most.

The menu screen visuals are in tones of grey lest they don't overly distract the photographer's trained eye. Color is introduced only as learning aid when a feature is highlighted. I'm not sure if full monochromatic visuals can be customized beyond a Classic, Graphic or Wallpaper setting.

Again, the menu system is rife with professional settings that I won't detail in this review. One setting that stands out for me is the Folder setting. It let you determine where in a file hierarchy your pictures will be saved. For instance, you can create a folder name epinions images and save image for epinion users there. You don't have to use the default directory. This is just an example of one of the 'professional features' you have available with a dSLR.

NOTE: Help(?) is available with the help button at any stage of navigation. There is no separate help menu.

FILE FORMATS:

This is an important topic, for the professional photographer, as well as the hobbyist, because file format determines what happens to your image after the camera processes it. Depending on the format you chose or don't chose(leaving camera at default JPEG NORMAL quality setting), you will have more or less image information(data) stored in your file due to compression measures. As a rule of thumb, the better quality of your file the larger the file and hence the less pictures you can take per memory card. Larger files also take longer for the camera to process and write leaving you with less time to take pictures. Of note here, you can purchase high speed memory chip such as SanDisk Ultra to lessen this 'shutter lag'.

The default for the D40 is a JPEG file of NORMAL quality. This is fine for most photographic situation and uses. Most people won't even notice the difference between this quality file and other file choices. For instance, if you use your images for web pages the extra quality of a FINE JPEG will be wasted and even unnecessary. But, if you print anything larger than a 8 X 10" the extra quality might take on anything from subtle to significant differences that may show up in your final output. There is also BASIC JPEG which produces even smaller file sizes and more shots per card. This size is appropriate for email attachment, web pages and smaller, low resolution prints. Of note here, Nikon offers you the opportunity to whittle your file down further in other menu option I will discuss later.

There is no TIFF option in the D40, but that doesn't really matter because if you really wanted a TIFF file you could convert it from the granddaddy of images files call RAW. RAW is an interesting species of file format because it's almost can't be classified as a 'real' file format in that RAW isn't standardized to any specification like JPEG or even TIFF. Each make or brand of camera carries it's own proprietary version of RAW. In Nikon's case, RAW is a NEF(Nikon Electronic File) file with an extension of .NEF. NEF is compressed RAW. If NEF wasn't compressed the file size would be enormous and the time to take to process and write a RAW file to memory would make your picture taking experience very unpleasant as prized shots escape. Nikon and other manufacturers compromise by compressing RAW. Being a purist myself, I looked into how much image information is lost in compressed RAW file or NEF. From the research I've done, the loss seem minimal at the very least. This is an argued point that goes beyond the scope of my review. But, my target audience won't need to worry, NEF RAW will be more than adequate for their image file requirements.

So let's get down to business. Who really cares whether it's JPEG, RAW, TIFF or whatever? As mention above, most of time you won't care, default JPEG is fine. NEF files come into play for post image processing on the computer. In fact, you have to post process and convert to a standardized format(i.e., JPEG) to print or 'utilize' the image. NEF simply saves as much file information as possible without blowing up the file size to unrealistic proportions. Your NEF file is like a pristine, untouched negative in a sense. The camera does very little processing between the sensor and writing to memory to the image outside of discarding unneeded (or deemed unneeded) information. You take this 'negative,' bring it into a professional photo editing suite like Photoshop or Nikon proprietary software Capture NX and apply appropriate 'fixes' to make your photograph very unique indeed.

To sum up, NEF files(RAW) give you more control over image editing than JPEG. Nikon gives you 3 levels of quality for JPEG and these setting influence quality and size of those files. You also have the option to save RAW and BASIC JPEG at the same time. This setting has irked some professionals. They expect better than BASIC for this setting.

SOFTWARE INCLUDED

Nikon supplies free of charge PictureProject photo editing and organizing software. It's tailored specifically for the D40 and other Nikon cameras, but it really isn't remarkable from other software of it's type.

PictureProject is easy to install on Windows and is Vista/XP Pro ready if pre-installed. It's works with OS X 10.3.9 and higher. It's complementary for any Nikon purchased camera and is value at $49.95USD

The interface of PictureProject is clean and easy to use. It integrates nicely with other imaging software and you can share photo as well. It didn't hog all my photo albums like many other photo browser will do. it gives you the choice to make it the default import image application. I still prefer iPhoto over PictureProject, but I find that PictureProject does have many advanced feature of iPhoto(i.e., Straightening) . Also, included in PictureProject are Nikon image correction software like like D-Lighting. If you prefer Nikon's technology over another's the use PicturePerfect for those times.

CaptureNX, Nikon's Pro Software, is more versatile and specific to your dSLR in that it does some intricate and specialized editing with RAW format(NEF) files. I haven't tried it yet, but it seems to take a unique and more user-friendly approach toward editing photos. It uses Nikon's trademarked U-point technology and is non-destructive in that it doesn't alter your original file in any way.

The CaptureNX software can also 'dial out' many perceived lens flaws such as vignetting, barrel distortion and fringing(edge aberration).

You must purchase this software($149.95USD) after the 30 day trial. It's cheaper than Photoshop, but more expensive than Adobe Photoshop Elements. I eventually would like to try some extensive editing of this nature, but I only own P5 and iPhoto(which does import and edit RAW).

Nikon also includes software called Camera Control Pro(trial) to turn your camera into a 'monitoring device' of sorts. Again, I can use ImageCapture in OS X to do essentially the same thing. As my experience grows, I will want to upgrade my software, but now I'm fine just taking some great pictures. You can view tutorials in how the software works at Nikon's website.

PRINTING AND OUTPUT

The prints I made so far are outstanding. Of course, much has to rely on the printer itself, but these days even low-cost printers have decent enough technology and resolution(PPI) for clear, lab-quality prints. So to this end, it's important that the color and resolution that is captured in the camera fit into this equation. Nikon strikes a 10 with me here. I am very pleased with almost 'soft' tones represented by the D40's processing from camera to printer. The pictures are truer to life than any camera I've had yet. I'm sure a large portion of this credit belongs to the craftsmanship of the glass Nikkor lens, but the camera cradles the light from processor to memory to output with the care of a mother tending her infant. It shows in every detail of the final output whether it's images shared across the web or on printed media. The care of the image is foremost in Nikon technology. The photos of your life are important, so why trust them to anything less. You image file will not fade as a negative or print will, so why trust the technology that creates the file to something inferior. Spend a couple dollars more for a camera that will record truer.

I recently sent out a family reunion photo, taken during Easter with Nikon D40, to a reputable online photofinishing service. I order a 12 X 18 poster print from my high resolution jpeg format file(3008X2000). It came back with same definition and clarity of a 4 X 6. The beautiful, rosy cheeks of my nephew were soft with character. The smiles warm and colors were vibrant. The muted tones of cloth furnishing outstanding. The print is very professional looking and suited for framing.

I've taken close ups with the Macro setting. Getting deeply into the grain of a birch shielding itself from a blustery winter day. Again, detail is there, but soft with a pleasant character. I used the B/W onboard filter to turn this into a monochromatic. Outstanding! You can see where sap is leaking from the side of the exposed bark.

Samples:

Birch Macro http://www.imagehosting.com/show.php/478031_DSC0068.jpg.html

Sunset(low light)AUTO http://www.imagehosting.com/show.php/478174_CSC0045.jpg.html

Chandelier
http://www.imagehosting.com/show.php/479512_CSC0011.jpg.html

Note: These samples are scaled down from original per hosting requirements.

The camera does tend to overexpose( a common complaint with D40) with the AUTO setting, but that can be adjusted. I've heard reports of little barrel distortion and some 'purple fringing.' I haven't encountered this to a disturbing degree, yet.

SERVICE AND WARRANTY

Nikon offers one year service part and labor for the D40 body and 5 years extended service for the lens.

Nikon also offers extended service for their equipment as well. Circuit Ciy offered some nice protection plans. There are 2 and 4 year (also, standard and premium plans). They also offer FireDog which will help you set up your digital camera with your computer and it's software. FireDog also teaches you how to use your new dSLR. A nice service for many beginners. I opted out of all these frills. Firedog because I like to learn and discover things on my own. The protection plan because I find the repair plans to be more expensive than the repairs. I'm trusting the Nikon quality will last for a long time. And, I can always pay for service 'on the fly.'

ACCESSORIES:

There are many accessories for the D40 and more to come as it's a new generation model. I recommend going to Nikon's website or an authorized dealer for specifics

Reputable sites for purchasing accessories are:
www.ritzcamera.com and www.amazon.com

Some accessories to look for:

-lens(DX ED style Nikkor)
-flash(speedlight),model SB400, 600 and 800)
-camera bag
-IR remote(used for the timer mode
-spare battery
-A/V cable(to view slideshow on TV)
-SD Memory (up to 4GB)

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the D40 dSLR is just about everything I want and need in a digital camera at this time. The D40 is fast and responsive. It has all the features I've been pining over for years and at an affordable price. Being a true dSLR, I can obtain many professional accessories to upgrade as my demands become greater. The image quality is very good to excellent. It's a light weight dSLR making it easy to pick up and go. It has complex, sophisticated features and yet easy to use. Nikon put a lot of quality into the D40 and it's lens kit making it a good choice for anyone wanting to test the waters of dSLR.

What I liked:


-reponsive, quick exposure
-over exposure(highlights) in playback menu
-well organized menu system
-quick access help system
-basic in camera editing(i.e., red eye correction)
-orientation sensor(for rotation)
-dial to set modes(no menu naviagation required)
-hot shoe for optional speedlights
-pictBridge enabled for easy printing
-raw format(NEF) for greater post editing control
-bright and sharp LCD(tft) viewer, 2.5"

What I wish it had

-ISO setting of 50 or 100
-Strap that didn't tangled
-more megapixel

Wish List since I've had the camera for awhile now:
-Exposure bracketing
-Dedicated buttons for metering


What others wish it had:

-depth of field preview
-better quality kit lens
-LCD at top with info
-body motor to autofocus
-larger grip(NOTE: This problem has been solved by Ansmann N-40 battery grip.)
-bracketing
-larger assortment of DX format lenses

OTHER RECOMMENDED REVIEWS(Sites):

www. steves-digicams.com
www. kenrockwell.com
www.dpreview.com 
**COMING SOON:  D-700 REVIEW**

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