Product Reviews

Aimed at those who might be tempted by a high-end compact, Nikon's D40 is the company's latest entry-level digital SLR and is the successor to the popular D50. While rivals chase ever-higher sensor resolutions, though, Nikon's newest and most affordable digital SLR packs a similar 6 megapixel sensor and processor to its predecessor. At the D40's maximum resolution, 3008 x 2000 pixel images are sufficient for reproduction to 10 x 7in at 300dpi, and significantly larger photos can be output with a quality photo inkjet printer.

What the D40 lacks in pixel count, though, it more than makes up for with traditional features. Bringing it in line with recent offerings from the company, it sports a large 2.5in TFT, in-camera red-eye removal, the ISO Auto mode from D200, as well as the robust build of D80. Further, it boasts some features not found on pricier rivals, such as the recently introduced Canon Eos 400D, including a super-fast 1/500 of a second flash sync for easier daylight balanced fill-flash, precise spot-metering for heavily backlit subjects and sensitivity up to the equivalent of 3200 ISO.

The D40 is much smaller than its pictures suggest. Standing next to the D80, the new model is dwarfed, although it's around the same size and weight as the Eos 400D. Like other entry-level models, the D40 has a shooting mode dial in place of the usual LCD data panel and now shares the 2.5in TFT for all shooting info, menu navigation and playback duties.

Depending on the shooting mode selected, there are two different-looking info screens. Set one of the point-and-shoot modes and the default Classic screen is easy to see under most lighting conditions, but the light-grey background used for the semi-auto or manual exposure modes isn't so legible. It also feels a little cramped, as much of the screen real estate is taken up with a graphic display of the aperture and shutter speed in use.

Neither of the two info screens are really

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necessary. However, a second button push brings up an equally informative screen, but with shortcuts to AF modes, white balance, ISOs from 200-1600 plus H1 (3200 ISO), flash modes and image quality.

The D40 also has the neat pre-programmable ISO Auto option found on the D200 and D80. Only available in program, shutter-and-aperture priority, and manual modes, with a preset minimum shutter speed and maximum sensitivity, ISOs are automatically raised only when underexposure results. Not only does this allow a reasonably fast shutter speed to reduce blur from camera shake, but ISOs and noise levels are also kept as low as light levels permit.

However, the D40 isn't without its shortcomings. It lacks an integral AF motor, limiting autofocus compatibility to AF-S lenses and excluding a large number of past and current lenses. Further, the D40 has just three horizontally placed AF points. Although these cover a large area, they're less useful for off-centre subjects with the camera held vertically than the five-point AF system found on the old D50, and they're disappointing when compared with the nine-point system found on the pricier 400D.

The D40 is no slouch, with near instantaneous powering up and fast, quiet focusing with the new AF-S DX 18-55mm G II kit lens certainly making it feel responsive. Continuous shooting at 2.5fps is reasonable and the buffer will hold six compressed NEF (Raw) frames or 36 best-quality Jpegs before stalling. Images are saved to SD cards and there's support for the latest high-capacity SDHC format.

In our test it was the D40's sensor resolves measurably less than 8 or 10 megapixel sensors, but it's much harder to tell the difference in print. Noise levels are lower right through the range, with images appearing visibly cleaner and smoother than those from the Eos 400D. Outdoors, auto white-balance accuracy was good, and underexposure was less evident, too. Overall, picture quality was stunning.

Nikon isn't as generous as Canon with its software bundle: the supplied PictureProject utility only allows simple Raw conversion and the D40 isn't yet supported by Adobe Camera Raw. Apart from these few niggles, though, the only real downsides are the meagre three-point AF system, and lack of anti-dust features or built-in image stabiliser found in some rivals. As an entry-level camera, the Nikon D40 is several leagues above a compact and is easy to recommend, but if your budget will stretch an extra £50 or so, you should also consider the Canon Eos 400D or Sony Alpha.