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Nikon's D40 digital SLR. Copyright � 2006, The Imaging Resource. All rights reserved. Nikon announces D40 DSLR (UPDATED)
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(Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 01:00 EST)

The rumors have been swirling for a while now, but today it's here - Nikon has announced the D40, a camera that couples aggressive pricing with a feature-set that's been optimized for the entry-level photographer.

The Nikon D40 retains the six megapixel image sensor used in the D50, housed in a body that sets an impressive benchmark among its Nikon DSLR siblings in terms of miniaturization. Body size and weight is similar to Canon's EOS Digital Rebel XTi or Pentax's K100D, despite the fact that many features in the higher-res (and higher-priced) D80 model have made their way into the D40. A couple of changes are unique to the D40, however. Most significantly, the Nikon D40 doesn't include a focus motor in the camera body, saving some cost / weight / size while dropping compatibility for some older lenses. Instead the D40 relies on the fact that recent Nikkor lenses have tended to integrate a motor already. Photographers with a large stock of Nikon glass are unlikely to be considering an entry-level camera anyway, and new SLR users will be unlikely to notice the subtraction of some backwards compatibility. The D40's AF system spec is also reduced somewhat as compared to the camera's top-shelf siblings, with just three AF points (as compared to in the D50, and 11 in the D80).

Other features of the Nikon D40 include a 2.5" LCD display with 230,000 pixels, a new help system accessible via a dedicated "i" button on the camera body, Nikon's iTTL flash metering, and 2.5 frames-per-second burst shooting capability. The D40 also offers RAW / JPEG / RAW+JPEG file formats, shutter speeds from 30 to 1/4000 second, flash sync at 1/500 second, ISO sensitivity from 200 - 1600 with a 3200 boost, and metering courtesy of a 420-segment matrix sensor.

The Nikon D40 will ship from December, priced at $599 with an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens. (Nikon tells us that the camera will only be offered as a kit, the body and lens will not be available separately.)

Nikon D40
Nikon's D40 digital SLR. Copyright © 2006, The Imaging Resource. All rights reserved. Click for a bigger picture!
General
Camera TypeSLR
ManufacturerNikon
Model NumberD40
Dimensions5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5"
126.0 x 94.0 x 64.0mm
Weight475.0 g
16.6 oz
Planned Price$499.95
Planned AvailabilityDec 2006
Image Capture
Sensor TypeNikon DX CCD
6.24 megapixels (total)
6.10 megapixels (effective)
Focal Length Multiplier1.50
Aspect Ratio3:2
Image Dimensions3008 x 2000 (6.0 megapixels)
2256 x 1496 (3.4 megapixels)
1504 x 1000 (1.5 megapixels)
Image Quality3 levels
Image Preview / Review
ViewfinderYes, SLR type, eye-level penta-Dach-mirror
LCD2.5", 230,000 pixels
Playback Zoom19.0x max
Lens
Lens TypeInterchangeable Lens
Lens MountNikon F
Focusing SystemNikon Multi-CAM 530 3-Area Phase Detection with AF assist lamp
Manual Focus possible (0) steps
Exposure
ISO Sensitivity200 - 3200
Shutter Speed30 - 1/4000 second
Exposure ModesAperture, Shutter, Manual
Metering Modes3D color matrix metering II, color matrix metering II, center-weighted, spot
Exposure Compensation+/- 5.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White BalanceExternal - Auto, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Direct Sunlight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Preset, Manual
Internal FlashGuide Number: 12
Modes: Red-Eye Reduction, Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync, Slow Sync, Rear-Curtain Sync.
Flash Exposure Compensation+/- 3.0EV in 1/3EV increments
Creative
Scene Modesportrait, landscape, child, sports, close up, night portrait, no flash
Self TimerYes, 2 to 20 seconds
Time LapseNo
Storage
Recording MediumSD/MMC, SDHC
File SystemComplies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File FormatCCD-RAW, RAW (.NEF), JPEG
Connectivity
VideoYes, NTSC / PAL switchable
ComputerUSB 2.0 High Speed
OtherDC input
Power
Battery TypeLithium Ion rechargeable
Battery Form FactorEN-EL9
Product Bundle
SoftwarePictureProject
Battery / Charger1 x Proprietary EN-EL9 Lithium Ion rechargeable battery and charger
Flash Memory0.0MB
Other
Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliantYes
PictBridge CompliantYes
Tripod MountYes
Remote ControlYes, Optional ML-L3 wireless
Operating System CompatibilityWindows, Mac OS
More Photos
Nikon's D40 digital SLR. Copyright © 2006, The Imaging Resource. All rights reserved. Click for a bigger picture!
Nikon's D40 digital SLR. Copyright © 2006, The Imaging Resource. All rights reserved. Click for a bigger picture!
Nikon's D40 digital SLR. Copyright © 2006, The Imaging Resource. All rights reserved. Click for a bigger picture!
Nikon's D40 digital SLR. Copyright © 2006, The Imaging Resource. All rights reserved. Click for a bigger picture!
Nikon's D40 digital SLR. Copyright © 2006, The Imaging Resource. All rights reserved. Click for a bigger picture!
Nikon's D40 digital SLR. Copyright © 2006, The Imaging Resource. All rights reserved. Click for a bigger picture!
Nikon's D40 digital SLR. Copyright © 2006, The Imaging Resource. All rights reserved. Click for a bigger picture!
Nikon's D40 digital SLR. Copyright © 2006, The Imaging Resource. All rights reserved. Click for a bigger picture!
 

UPDATED 2006-11-16 15:39ET: Error in the ISO sensitivity spec corrected.

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