Key Features
Extraordinary Nikon image quality: The D40's high-resolution image quality is made possible by Nikon's high-performance 6.1-megapixel Nikon DX-format CCD imaging sensor and exclusive Nikon image processing engine which assures stunning sharpness and color.
Nikon's smallest digital SLR ever: At just over 16 ounces, the beautifully styled and compact D40 makes high-performance digital SLR photography easier and more convenient than ever.
Includes 3x AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II lens: Designed exclusively for use with Nikon DX-format digital SLRs, this ultra-compact 3x zoom offers Nikkor sharpness and versatility in a wide variety of shooting situations.
2.5-inch color LCD monitor with 3 colorful display options: Playback images are easy to see and function menus are easier to use with a larger and brighter color LCD monitor. The large 2.5-inch LCD monitor enables image preview at up to 19 times magnification and has large type fonts and easy-to-view menus as well as three all-new display options: classic, graphic and wallpaper.
In-camera image editing: Highly versatile in-camera editing features include: Nikon D-lighting, red-eye correction, image trimming, image overlay, monochrome black and white, sepia and cyanotype along with skylight, warm tone and custom color filter effects. These features provide greater creative freedom, without the need for a computer, for those who prefer to send pictures directly to a printer.
Fast, accurate 3-area auto focus: The D40's advanced 3-area AF system and the refined algorithms inherited from more advanced Nikon digital SLR cameras deliver fast, efficient and precise auto focus. AF refinements deliver greater precision with fast, more consistent subject acquisition and improved focus tracking for consistently sharper pictures.
Built-in Speedlight with i-TTL automatic flash control: Nikon's innovative i-TTL flash control evaluates flash exposure with incredible precision to achieve better automatic flash balance and deliver outstanding results. The built-in Speedlight is always at the ready bringing beautiful exposures to darkened conditions as well as adding a flash to outdoor situations for enhanced twilight shots or an added impact to daylight images.
Automatic exposure with 8 digital vari-program modes: Eight Digital Vari-Program modes include: auto, auto (flash-off), portrait, landscape, child, sports, close-up or night portrait, each of which adjusts automatically for optimal results under varied conditions.
Easy operation with intuitive controls: Intuitive controls make the D40 point-and-shoot simple, enabling even first-time SLR users to capture beautiful memories perfectly.
Fast startup with instant shutter response: Fast startup combined with super-fast shutter response and rapid-action shooting at up to 2.5 frames per second makes it easy to freeze special moments instantly.
Shoot at up to 2.5 frames per second: The D40 can fire continuously at a speed of up to 2.5 frames per second, capturing high-quality action sequences of children in sporting activities such as soccer, baseball and much more.
High-performance 6.1-megapixel Nikon DX format CCD imaging sensor: Nikon's DX-format CCD image sensor delivers vivid color and sharp detail, great for making beautifully detailed enlargements of 16 x 20 inches and beyond. High resolution also provides room for creative cropping.
New advanced help menu system with assist images: The D40's newly introduced "assist images" help you select the appropriate settings for many camera features by showing an example image typical of that setting as well as an advanced help menu for the current item selected. The D40's question mark icon (?) indicates that help is available for the currently selected item. Just press the help button beside the LCD monitor to see a context sensitive help page.
Image optimization options: The D40's image optimize setting lets photographers adjust color, contrast and sharpening as well as other image settings according to the type of scene or output desired. Settings include: normal, softer, vivid, more vivid, portrait, custom and black and white, each of which are automatically adjusted based on sophisticated Nikon algorithms or user-selected settings for optimum results.
Bright, accurate SLR viewfinder: A large viewfinder makes composition easier, and overall viewfinder brightness makes focusing in low-light photography possible. The bright and sharp viewfinder, with 0.8x magnification, ensures precise composition.
Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II: The D40's 3D Color Matrix Metering II evaluates each scene for brightness, color, contrast, size and position of shadows and highlights, selected focus area and camera-to-subject distance, comparing that information against an onboard database of more than 30,000 actual photographic scenes.![]()
Price (when new)
$525
Year Introduced
2006
Lens Mount
Nikon F bayonet mount
Picture Angle
Effective picture angle 1.5x (Approx.) conversion factor (Nikon DX format)
Effective Pixels
6.1 million
Total Pixels
6.24 million
Sensor Size
15.6 x 23.7mm
Sensor Type
CCD
Sensor Format
DX
Dust-Off Reference Photo
Yes
Image Area
DX-format
(L) 3008 x 2000
(M) 2256 x 1496
(S) 1504 x 1000
(L) 3008 x 2000
(M) 2256 x 1496
(S) 1504 x 1000
File Format
Uncompressed 12-bit NEF (RAW), JPEG (Baseline Compliant)
Storage Media
SD, SDHC
Card Slot
1 Secure Digital (SD)
File System
Compliant with DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, EXIF 2.21 (Exchangeable Image File Foramt for Digital Still Cameras
Viewfinder
Fixed eye-level penta-Dach mirror
Viewfinder Frame Coverage
95% Approx.
Viewfinder Magnification
0.80X Approx.
Viewfinder Eyepoint
0.80X Approx.
Viewfinder Diopter Adjustment
-1.7 to +0.5m⁻¹
Focusing Screen
BriteView Clear Matte Mark V screen - Type-B
Interchangeable Focusing Screens
No
Reflex Mirror
Quick-return type
Depth-of-field Control
No
Compatible Lenses
Other AF Nikkor (Excluding lenses for F3AF) /AI-P Nikkor: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II
AF-S, AF-I: All functions supported
Other Type G or D AF Nikkor: All functions supported except autofocus
PC Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D: Can only be used in mode M; all other functions supported except autofocus
Non-CPU: Can be used in mode M, but exposure meter does not function; electronic range finder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster
IX Nikkor lenses cannot be used
AF-S, AF-I: All functions supported
Other Type G or D AF Nikkor: All functions supported except autofocus
PC Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D: Can only be used in mode M; all other functions supported except autofocus
Non-CPU: Can be used in mode M, but exposure meter does not function; electronic range finder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster
IX Nikkor lenses cannot be used
Shutter Type
Electromagnetic and mechanically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane
Fastest Shutter Speed
1/4000 sec. in steps of 1/3 EV
Slowest Shutter Speed
30 sec. in steps of 1/3 EV
Flash Sync Speed
Up to 1/500 sec.
Bulb Shutter Setting
Yes
Shutter Release (Shooting) Modes
Single-frame [S] mode, Delayed remote, Quick response remote mode, Single frame advance, Continuous frame advance to 2.5 fps
Top Continuous Shooting Speed (FPS)
3
Self-timer
2, 5, 10, 20 sec. Timer duration electronically controlled
Exposure Metering System
420 pixel RGB sensor 3D Color Matrix Metering II
Center-weighted
Spot
Center-weighted
Spot
Metering Range
0 to 20 EV
Exposure Meter Coupling
CPU
Exposure Modes
Programmed Auto with flexible Program (P), Shutter-Priority Auto (S), Aperture-Priority Auto (A), Manual (M), Digital Vari-Program
Exposure Compensation
±5 EV in increments of 1/3
Exposure Lock
Yes
Mirror Lock Up
No
Lowest Standard ISO Sensitivity
200 in steps of 1 EV
Highest Standard ISO Sensitivity
1600 in steps of 1 EV
Highest Expanded ISO Sensitivity
Hi-1 (ISO 3200 equivalent)
Long Exposure Noise Reduction
Yes
High ISO Noise Reduction
High
Single-point AF Mode
Yes
Dynamic AF Mode
Yes
Auto-area AF Mode
Yes
Autofocus System
TTL phase detection
Nikon Multi-CAM530 autofocus module
Nikon Multi-CAM530 autofocus module
Focus Lock
AE-L/AF-L button
Half press of shutter-release button (single-point AF in AF-S)
Half press of shutter-release button (single-point AF in AF-S)
Focus Modes
Single-servo AF (S)
Continuous-servo (C)
Manual
Auto
Continuous-servo (C)
Manual
Auto
Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points
3
Autofocus Fine Tune
No
Built-in Flash
Yes
X-Sync Speed
1/500
Flash Control
i-TTL for digital SLR using 420 pixel RGB sensor.
i-TTL balanced fill flash and standard TTL flash for digital SLR.
Non-TTL Auto with SB-900 and SB-800
Auto aperture with SB-900 and SB-800
Range priority manual with SB-900 and SB-800
i-TTL balanced fill flash and standard TTL flash for digital SLR.
Non-TTL Auto with SB-900 and SB-800
Auto aperture with SB-900 and SB-800
Range priority manual with SB-900 and SB-800
Flash Sync Modes
Front-curtain sync (normal)
Slow sync
Rear-curtain sync
Red-eye reduction
Red-eye reduction with slow sync
Flash cancel/ flash off
Fill-flash
Slow sync
Rear-curtain sync
Red-eye reduction
Red-eye reduction with slow sync
Flash cancel/ flash off
Fill-flash
Flash Compensation
-3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3 EV
Accessory Shoe
Yes
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)
Yes
Flash Sync Terminal
No
White Balance
Auto
Monitor Size (inch diagonal)
2.5
Monitor Resolution (dots)
230,000
Monitor Type
TFT-LCD
Playback Functions
Full frame, Thumbnail (4, 9 or 16 segments), Histogram display, Auto image rotation, Shooting data, Highlight point display
In-Camera Image Editing
Trim, D-Lighting, Color Balance, Image Overlay, Filter Effects, Small Pic, Monochrome
Image Comment
Yes
Interface
Hi-speed USB, NTSC, PAL
Save/Load Camera settings
No
Total custom Settings
17
My Menu
Yes
Recent Settings
No
Daylight Savings Time Settings
Yes
World Time Setting
Yes
Battery Type
Rechargeable
Batteries
EN-EL9 Lithium-ion Battery
Battery Life (shots per charge)
470 shots (CIPA)
Battery Charger
MH-23 Quick Charger
AC Adapter
EH-5a AC & EP-5
Tripod Socket
¼ inch 20
Dimensions (mm)
(126mm)
Dimensions (inch)
5 in.
Weight (grams)
(475g)
Weight (lbs)
17 oz
Supplied Accessories
* EN-EL9 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
* MH-23 Quick Charger
* UC-E4 USB Cable
* Software Suite CD-ROM
* DK-16 Rubber Eyecup
* AN-DC1 Camera Strap
* BF-1A Body Cap
* DK-5 Eyepiece Cap
* BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cap
* MH-23 Quick Charger
* UC-E4 USB Cable
* Software Suite CD-ROM
* DK-16 Rubber Eyecup
* AN-DC1 Camera Strap
* BF-1A Body Cap
* DK-5 Eyepiece Cap
* BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cap
