Twain Steinbeck 2009-01-08

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After a bit of deliberation - and some exposure to a friend's D70 - I took the plunge for the D40. As a basic platform for any likely kind of consumer level photography it's among the best. It's quick to power up, the viewfinder is bright and informative, and the LCD is big and tack sharp. With its intuitive features and menus I'm as completely happy with it as I've been with the 25+ years I've had my Olympus OM series film cameras.

Out of the box the 18-55mm lens is a match for point and shoot portraits, landscapes, outdoor candids and close range sports events. Quiet and quick to focus, light and compact, you won't miss the VR feature handy on longer lenses.

Don't be put off by the "low" pixel count. Unless you are planning on large format prints, images taken at the normal setting are more than sharp enough for desktop images or print sizes to 8 x 10 and beyond.

Reasonably priced and feature rich cameras like this are the "gateway drug" of the DSLR world, and as such are terrific values designed for ease of use. Once hooked on the D40 you'll find yourself shopping for those "just right" lenses or accessories - or even an upgrade - which is what Nikon had in mind anyway. Stands to reason they'd do their best work to make sure the hook is well set, and this slick little DSLR does just that. I might add that despite taking a couple hundred pics since getting the thing, I haven't yet had to recharge the battery.

Two caveats - if you are used to composing in the LCD with your current point and shoot, keep in mind that this camera doesn't. Olympus' LiveView and similar implementations on higher-end Nikons and Canons will, if that's critical for you. And there is a dizzying array of lenses available for these; it's handy to have a friend who will let you try before you buy.

If you're looking at this as a solid entry level DSLR, take the plunge!

Emilian M. Sabau 2009-01-08

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This is an excellent buy. I recommend it for any family who likes pictures. I also recommend it for a semi-professional who needs the second camera on hand.

ChrisInCali 2009-01-08

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Before buying this Nikon D40 DSLR I've only used compact "point and shoot" digital cameras. The jump in quality between the two is amazing. The D40 takes fantastic pictures, especially in low-light situations. Compared to my other cameras, the Canon G10, Canon SD1100, and Sony W-150, the D40 blows them away. It took me about an hour to learn all of the different modes and features, but once I got that down and felt comfortable with the camera I was taking great shots. I tried out the Canon Rebel XS, and the D40 at my local camera shop before buying it here on Amazon, and I was much more impressed with the D40 overall. I highly recommend this camera if you're looking for a cheap DSLR.

schlooble 2009-01-07

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The D40 really is a great camera that has many more positives than negatives. Because of that, I'll start with the negatives.

Negatives:
1. Poor high ISO capability
2. Only 3 Focus points - makes photo composition a lot harder than it needs to be
3. Inability to wirelessly trigger speedlights
4. Small size and lack of buttons makes changing settings difficult in full manual
5. No autofocus motor in the body (but I think this may be more of a positive than a negative)

Positives:
1. Excellent IQ
2. Very lightweight and small
3. Excellent price point
4. Compatible with numerous Nikon accessories and third party accessories
5. Easy to navigate menus
6. Building on Negative number 5 - I think that the lack of internal autofocus motor is actually a positive thing because it makes the camera lighter. The "limitations" on lenses is really not that big of a deal because most of Nikons newer lenses are AF-S or AF-I anyways. This really only comes in to play when buying third party glass. As for Sigma, the HSM lenses are compatible. All of Nikon's nicest lenses are AF-S or AF-I so that would not be a problem, although I don't really see the standard D40 user putting a $4000 lens on the camera.

It truly is a great camera, don't feel like you have inferior equipment with this camera and don't feel like you need to spend a lot of money on a body for your first camera.

Rita Tisinger 2009-01-07

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

I purchased this camera for my daughter to use in her photography class. This is a great entry level camera that is light in weight and easy to use. The quality of the photographs are remarkable. I also purchased a Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor Lens, that I recommend highly as well.