Nikon-F Mount Lenses

Close-up of the all-metal Nikon-F lens mount. Upper left is the focus-assist illuminator lamp, also used for red-eye reduction flash mode, and on the right side is the lens release lock button.

The D40x does not have a focus mode selector switch on the body, it's on the lens of the newer AF-S or AF-I CPU type lenses. The D40x employs a 3-area TTL phase detection AF system using Nikon's Multi-CAM530 module with an AF- assist illuminator which helps ensure performance in low-light situations.

The D40x is as a body only or lens outfit, which includes the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom- Nikkor lens.

The new AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens is compatible with all Nikon D-series digital SLRs. With an equivalent coverage of 27-82.5mm in 35mm photography, it employs Nikon's Silent Wave motor (AF-S) for super fast and quiet autofocus, Extra-Low Dispersion glass (ED) for minimized chromatic aberrations, and Nikon’s proprietary Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, which affords users the ability to take pictures at shutter speeds up to three stops slower than normal. It also incorporates a reliable metal lens mount for years of durability.

The AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED is another new lens for Nikon D-series digital SLRs. With an equivalent coverage of 82-300mm in 35mm photography, it employs Nikon's enhanced Vibration Reduction (VR) technology for steady shots as well as Silent Wave motor (AF-S) for super fast and quiet autofocus, Extra- Low Dispersion glass (ED) for minimized chromatic aberrations, and Internal Focusing (IF) for convenient and balanced handling. Other features include a reliable metal lens mount for years of durability and a M/A mode for seamless switching between autofocus and manual modes.

Designed exclusively for use with Nikon digital SLR cameras, DX Nikkor lenses deliver a versatile range of angle-of-view, higher performance, and outstanding center-to-edge-to-corner image quality, while realizing smaller and lighter designs. The current lineup of DX Nikkor lenses includes:

• AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G ED-IF

• AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED

• AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

• AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II

• AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 ED-IF

• AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF

• AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF

• AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF

• AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED

• AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF

When used with a Nikon digital SLR camera and Nikon Capture NX software, images shot with the AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm lens can be transformed into ultra-wide angle rectilinear images with a choice of 100° and 130° horizontal angles of view.

i-TTL Flash

The speedlight automatically pops up and fires when natural lighting is inadequate or to add balanced Fill-Flash when there is strong backlighting (Auto and Digital Vari-Program modes only.) i-TTL technology improves the accuracy of fill-flash exposure and white balance in a picture, by seamlessly integrating color information from the speedlight's monitor pre-flash with information from the 420-pixel RGB sensor. It has been improved to provide coverage for up to 18mm wide angle lenses. You can shoot at synchronized speeds up to 1/200 second.

Guide number (ISO 200/ISO 100, m [ft.]): approx. 17 (55)/12 (39), manual full 18 (59)/13 (42):

The "hot shoe" allows the use of SB-series Speedlights (like the SB-600 we used) without a sync cable. It includes a safety lock for units with a locking pin, like the SB-600 and SB-800. When used with compatible flash units or SB-R200 wireless remote Speedlight, the D40x supports the advanced Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS), including i-TTL flash control and Flash Color Information Communication. The SU-800 wireless Speedlight commander can also be used to control remote SB-800, 600 or R200 flash units.

The D40x controls the SB-600 or SB-800's motorized zoom head and makes use of its more powerful AF-assist beam. The output of the flash is controlled precisely thanks to the i-TTL flash exposure control system. And nothing beats the natural look of bounce flash.

The D40x does not have a PC sync port so you need to use the optional Nikon AS-15 Sync Terminal Adapter to connect to external studio flash units (shown here mounted on the D100.) It slides on the flash hot shoe and gives you a standard PC sync connector. (Note that the AS-15 does not contain an isolation circuit so be careful of strobes that use high trigger voltages.)

Viewfinder

The eye-level penta-Dach Mirror type viewfinder shows approximately 95% of the captured frame. It has dioptric adjustment (-1.7 to +0.5m-1) and a comfortable 18mm (-1.0m-1) eye relief with a fairly wide viewing angle. It employs a fixed Type B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark V with superimposed focus brackets.

The D40x viewfinder display:

1 - Focus brackets (focus areas)

2 - Focus indicator
3 - Focus area display, AF-area mode
4 - Auto exposure (AE) lock
5 - Flexible program indicator
6 - Shutter speed
7 - Aperture (f/-number)
8 - Flash compensation indicator
9 - Exposure compensation indicator
10 - Number of exposures remaining, Preset white balance indicator, EV Compensation value, Flash compensation value, PC connection indicator
11 - Flash ready indicator
12 - Battery indicator
13 - Electronic analog exposure display
14 - ISO AUTO indicator
15 - "K" appears when memory remains for over 1000 exposures
16 - Warning indicator