Nikon D40 SLR Review
Features & Controls
Nikon-F Mount Lenses 
Closeup 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 D40 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 D40
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 D40 is only offered as a body and lens outfit, it includes the new 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens.
The AF-S DX Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens is compatible with all Nikon D-series
digital SLRs. With an equivalent coverage of 27-202.5mm 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 Internal Focusing (IF) for convenient and
balanced handling. It also incorporates a reliable metal lens mount for years of durability.
The AF-S VR Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF is another new lens for Nikon D-series digital
SLRs. With an equivalent coverage of 105-450mm in 35mm photography, it employs Nikon's
enhanced Vibration Reduction (VRII) 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 distance information guide window, a reliable metal lens mount for years of
durability, and a M/A mode for seamless switching between autofocus and manual modes
(on bodies other than the D40.)
 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:
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 1/500 second for great fill effects under bright light conditions.
Guide number (ISO 200): approx. 17/55 (manual full 18/59)
 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 D40 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 D40 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
new i-TTL flash exposure control system. And nothing beats the natural look of
bounce flash.
The D40 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 eyelevel 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 D40 viewfinder display: 1 - Focus brackets (focus areas) 
2 - Focus indicator
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