Nikon D40 – entry level digital SLR
According to Nikon, the D40 Digital SLR camera has been designed with handling and performance in mind to alleviate the frustrations often associated with compact digital cameras, making it ideal for anyone who wants to capture spectacular digital pictures without complications.
Key specs: 6.1 MP, 18-55 mm lens, ERP US$599.95
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The D40’s body is light and compact, making it easy to carry anywhere, and its design incorporates fewer potentially confusing controls and other distractions making it the perfect choice for those wishing to upgrade into the Digital SLR market. The D40 features a high-resolution 6.1-effective-megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor and a highly advanced Nikon Image processing Engine. These combine to produce image detail with true, vivid colors. Nikon’s exclusive 3D colour 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 colour with its in-built 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 spot metering, centre-weighted metering and exposure compensation are also available.
Nikon says the D40 brings the fun, excitement and superior image quality of digital SLR photography to everyone. Its compact size and ideal ergonomics make it the digital SLR solution for pictures anytime, anywhere. Its 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 monitor is also ideal for simply sharing new images with family and friends, while the operating menus have been carefully designed with color schemes and large fonts for quick, easy navigation through the camera’s options.
The newly introduced “assist images” helps users select the appropriate settings for many camera features by showing an example image typical of that setting. The D40’s innovative information displays can be shown in Classic format or with the new Graphic and Wallpaper formats for Digital Vari-Program modes and Program Auto, Shutter-priority Auto, Aperture-priority Auto and Manual (P/S/A/M) modes. All of this is powered by a new compact, high-capacity rechargeable lithium-ion battery that shoots up to 470 shots* on a single charge.
*In single-frame shooting mode at CIPA standard with Built-in Flash used for 50% of the shots. In situations where fewer flash pictures are taken, the number of shots per battery charge can be expected to increase dramatically.
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.
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, sport, 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 indoors and other low-light situations where flash photography is prohibited. For more advanced control, the D40 offers program 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 and balanced exposure. Red-eye correction locates the red-eye effect sometimes caused by a flash and corrects it automatically. Image 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).
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 3x AF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II DX Zoom-Nikkor lens, assuring superb picture sharpness and optimum contrast, along with the versatility of a wide-angle to medium telephoto lens. *Autofocus is supported only with AF-S and AF-I CPU lenses, which are equipped with built-in motors.
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 greater distances, the new, light and ultra-compact SB400 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.
Inheriting Nikon’s cutting-edge digital and optical technologies, the compact D40 offers mobility, easy operation and beautiful pictures to even first-time digital SLR users, making it ideal for anyone ready to experience the difference of Nikon digital SLR photography.
The D40 will be available in all leading camera stores from December 1st, 2006.
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