Nikon D40 6.1 MP Digital SLR Camera - Black (Body only)

It would be an injustice to begin this review by stating any other fact than this camera has unbelievable photographic capability packed into a highly intuitive user menu environment and compact body.
Truth be told it will always be capable of doing more than I am capable of understanding.
If you are a "point and shoot" photographer then the automatic and pre-configured settings will make allowance for any and all variables which your "target" throws up, or it will do the best job it can in the given circumstances. Effectively it is acting like a digital compact camera but with significant additional capabilities. If, on the other hand, you can master the intricacies of the custom settings and less prescribed options (Program Priority, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and fully Manual) then you have a highly sophisticated tool at your disposal. And it gets better, because having taken your perfect shot you have a mini photo editing studio within the camera itself.
To someone like me, who last picked up an SLR in the early 1990's, loved the creative power it gave me, and was excited to receive back the results of my endeavors across the chemists counter in a packet of 24 or 36 post card sized glossy hardcopy pictures (plus an interior sleeve containing the 35mm negatives), the fact that I am able to witness the fruits of my labour instantaneously on a 2.5 inch LCD screen and make a decision to discard, save or enhance my shot is quite simply, mind blowing.
Maybe any DLSR would have given me this thrill. Perhaps, on reflection, I am more enamored by DLSR capabilities in general rather than by my particular brand choice or model. Maybe any DSLR would make me feel the same way, pack the same punch, embarrass me with my technical and photographic naivety. This could well be true. But I did do my research, and I did check out the competition, and I got what I was hoping for. Actually, I got more.
I suspected, rather hoped, that this might be the case and I have not been disappointed.
Reading the comments and reviews of other users which are freely available on the web I am beginning to understand why this camera has been so successful. On the one hand it is a superb entry level model for those entering the world of DSLR photography that require a reliable, easy to understand, light weight and portable "grown up" camera with which they may experiment and play as they take their first steps into serious photography.
On the other, it is the fallback camera of choice for many professionals and deeply experienced practitioners of the photographic art. They take it on holiday and use it to photograph their new born children.
Are there any downsides? If there are they are more frustrations than regrets and are born of my own ignorance of matters DLSR and failings as a photographic artist. But I shall persevere
The Nikon D40 does what it is supposed to do, and it does it very well. I can truly say that the product has delighted me and I smile when I catch a glimpse of it sitting on my desk while I pursue the weightier matters of commerce and life in general.
I am glad I bought it and I am looking forward to exploring its extensive capabilities in the weeks and months ahead. And I would gladly buy it again.

I bought this SLR for my dad. I was looking for a sub £200 kit, and decided to get D40 with 18-55mm DX kit lens (bought separately in this instance).

The camera takes VERY SHARP pictures with the kit lens; I haven't seen many problems with it at all (and it compares very well with Canon 24-70L at f/5.6)! The Canon equivalent lens from my experience was simply useless. The kit lens persuaded me to buy Nikon, since usable Canon glass may cost at least several times more. 18-55mm is OK for walk-about, but not as good for people, so it will need some fast (f/2.8 or wider) manual (or even better AF-S) longer lens.

The camera is light like a feather, and very small and simple to use. This is a good thing for travel, holidays, since I am getting reluctant lugging my 4kg Canon set up with me.

The controls are not as convenient as on Canon 30D (xxD series), but on par with Rebels, and definitely usable.

AF is somewhat slow with the kit lens, so it is not suitable for action. Only AF-S lenses will autofocus. Users will probably want to use single focus mode with only the centre point and recompose.

Dynamic range is much better than compacts, but not as good as Canon 30D. I could only recover highlights up to less than 1 stop. Shadows are more permissive, and I could recover a lot of detail in Adobe Lightroom 2.

ISO performance is good when shooting RAW. ISO1600 could still be pushed a bit and with noise reduction in Lightroom produced clean files.

6MP may be limiting for printing large size, but is clearly enough for most family uses.

On camera flash, obviously, is nearly useless like on any other SLR, and external flash unit, and / or faster lenses are recommended.

The build quality is acceptable, but it cannot take much abuse. If it is to be used in harsh conditions or professionally, one should buy a better more expensive body.

Overall the camera is great for holidays and everyday generic use, if the limitations are acceptable.

A great camera for beginners - those wanting to try something with more control than a compact but without leaving them completely baffled - you still have full auto and scene modes to revert back to if required.
Thecamera is light, nice to hold with a sensible sized grip (take note Canon), a nice bright and detailed 2.5" LCD screen - pop up flash and uses SD cards which are more user friendly than CF ones (no bent pins!!).
Camera is 6 megapixels, more than enough I think for a decent print, and the large sensor in comparison with compacts means you can take better detailed shots in low light without flash.
The battery last nearly forever, as you have no live view (thats why cameras have anti shake these days, no one can hold a camera still at an arms length, its supposed to be put up to your eye!!)
I love this camera - the only downside is you have to use the newer AFS lenses for auto focus - all the legacy lenses made by Nikon or others will be manual focus only (with a confrmation light in the viewfinder which does make the job easier). There are various types which give more or less auto exposure but some you have to guess everything. OK if you want to experiment but not good if you want a grab shot to be perfect every time!!
So there it is - a great camera for those on a tight budget - bodies can sometime be had for about £170.00 - not much more than a good compact - as for lenses the sky's the limit.
Phil