Nikon D40

The D40 is the least expensive member of nikon's entry-level digital-slr range, announced 2006-11-16. To reduce the cost, some features of the nikon D50 have been simplified to give a US$600 MRSP with the 18-55mm G-II kit lens. On 2007-03-06, the D40X was released, with a 10 megapixel maximum resolution, up from 6 megapixels of the D40.
Its market is specific, being less expensive and less specified than the Canon EOS 400D, the Pentax K110D, and the Olympus E-400 , but competitively priced against high-end bridge camera. It was launched accompanied by a new small kit lens, the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II; and a new small Speedlight, the i-TTL SB-400 featuring a 21 m guide number and a vertically tilting head.


Key features
6 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop, as D50)
Nikon Image processing engine (as D80 / D200)
3D Color Matrix Metering II, 420 pixel sensor (as D80 / D50)
New Multi-CAM530 three area AF sensor
ISO sensitivity range 200 - 1600 plus HI 1 (3200 equiv.)
Custom Auto ISO (selectable maximum ISO, minimum shutter speed)
2.5 fps continuous shooting (as D50), unlimited in JPEG
No status LCD, new LCD monitor based status / settings screens
Help suggestions on LCD monitor (eg. scene too dark, try using flash)
Large 2.5" 230,000 pixel LCD monitor
Bigger viewfinder view (x0.8 magnification, 95% coverage)
Short shutter lag and viewfinder blackout
Support for SDHC (SD cards over 2 GB in capacity)
In-camera retouching
D-Lighting (shadow / highlight enhancement)
Red-eye reduction
Trimming
Monochrome
Filter effects
Small picture
Image overlay
USB 2.0 with PTP and Mass Storage device support
Very compact, light body (smaller, lighter than D50)
Improved menu user interface (as D80 / D200)
New EN-EL9 Lithium-Ion battery (7.2V, 1000 mAh)
New 'Version II' AF-S DX 18-55 mm kit lens