Nikon D40 SLR Review

Control on the grip include the shutter release with the main power switch mounted around it. Next are the info and exposure compensation buttons. Press the info button to call up or dismiss the Shooting Information display (described below) on the LCD. Last we have the Mode dial used for selecting the desired exposure mode.

The mode dial has the usual positions for AUTO, "P"rogram AE, "S"hutter speed priority, "A"perture priority and "M"anual exposure modes as well as the Digital Vari-Program modes for Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close-up and Night Portrait.

Digital Vari-Program modes automatically optimize white balance, sharpening, tone (contrast), color, saturation and hue for optimal results according to the type of picture you're taking. For example, select Portrait mode and the camera will automatically enhance the image with beautiful skin tones, complimentary edge sharpening and soft background focus that highlights your subject.

On the back is a 2.5-inch, 230,000-dot, low-temperature polysilicon TFT color LCD with brightness adjustment. The graphical menu system uses a larger typeface for easy navigation.

Controls on the Back

	Delete images while in review mode
	Enters review mode
	Calls up and dismisses the onscreen menu system
	Enters index view (displays 4 or 9 thumbnail images so you can quickly search through stored photos) and is the (-) zoom review function in playback mode, also acts as the Help function in both record and playback modes
	Enters Zoom review mode and brings up the Shooting Info display in record mode
	Auto Exposure / Auto Focus Lock, also acts as the image Protect/unprotect button in playback
	Command Dial, allows you to change shutter speed, aperture values, navigate the menu system, quickly scroll through stored photos in playback mode, change settings when used with function buttons, etc.
	4-way selector is used to select images and display image data in review mode and change the active focus area in capture mode (when using single AF)
	Accepts menu selections

The Shooting Information display. This acts much like the small data LCDs on many dSLRs, displaying values for focus area, AF-area mode, shutter speed, aperture, EV compensation, Flash compensation, shooting mode, ISO sensitivity, White balance, metering mode, etc. You can also see the "Shutter-speed and aperture display" (large iris on the left of the screen) that provides a visual indication of the shutter speed and aperture being used.

The Info display is activated by pressing either the Info button located by the shutter release or the Zoom review mode button located on the back (shown in the above table.) There are three display modes to choose from Graphic (shown here), Classic and Wallpaper (shown below.)

Here you can see Classic mode.

And here is Wallpaper mode.

Secure Digital Storage

The D40 is equipped with a Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot and is compatible with any capacity SD or SDHC card. Shown here with PQI's High-speed (150x) 4GB card.

Approx. Storage 512MB SD Card

I/O Interfaces

The I/O ports are on the left side, on the top is the Video-OUT port that is user-selectable (NTSC or PAL) for output to a TV monitor. Next is the USB 2.0 (high-speed) port for transferring image data to the host computer. The small rectangular hole inbetween is the Reset camera button.

The D40 does not have a dedicated DC IN port for connecting an external power supply. However, you can use the optional EP-5 AC Adapter Connector, and EH-5 AC Adapter if you needed an external power source.

Power Source

The D40 uses the Nikon EN-EL9 7.4V 1000mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery pack. It is recharged with the supplied MH-23 Quick Charger. The EN-EL9 is less powerful than the EN-EL3e (1000mAh vs 1500mAh) used by its big brother, the D80. Nikon claims the battery life is sufficient for capturing from 470 frames (using CIPA Standards) up to 2,200 frames (continuous frame mode, 1/250 sec, JPEG Basic quality, etc.) per charge.