Some notes on the Nikon D40

I said in an earlier blog entry that someone buyin g a DSLR for the first time should avoid the Nikon D40. There are still a lot of uninformed people who don't really understand the reason why this camera body (and the new, higher resolution D40x) should be avoided.

There's really a simple reason.

With the Nikon D40, you cannot use autofocus with a common, inexpensive, fantastic quality 50mm prime lens. It's impossible. The camera deosn't support it.

From DPR's review of the D40:

Auto Focus only for AF-S or AF-I lenses Perhaps the biggest negative on the D40 is that it doesn't have an internal focus drive motor and hence no mechanical focus drive pin, instead it only has CPU contacts which means it can only Auto Focus with AF-S and AF-I lenses (those with built-in focus motors). Indeed our 'standard' lens the Nikkor 50 mm F1.8D (and the F1.4D) are manual focus only on the D40. The images below show the difference between the mount on the D40 and D80, the D80 has a mechanical focus drive pin at about the 7 o'clock position.

Many people new to photography don't know the importance of the lens to image quality, as well as the advantages of a fast (aperture value of less than 2.0) lens, both in terms of low-light shooting and depth of field.

Because of the way 35mm photography works, the general rule is that the faster the lens, the larger the lens elements and the larger the components of the diaphragm. This means higher cost.

But also, because of the way 35mm photography works, the cheapest focal length to manufacture at high quality is 50mm. This is why a fast 50mm lens that produces absolutely pro-quality images, is extremely affordable.

This is why anyone new to photography should run out and buy their manufacturer's 50mm/1.8 or 50mm/1.7 lens, as their first addition to their lens lineup. If they want to spend a little more, they should go for the faster 50mm/1.4.

Unfortunately for D40 users, Nikon's 50mm/1.8 and 50mm/1.4 lenses do not have an internal drive motor. That means that these lenses only work in manual focus on the D40/D40x.

That should be a deal breaker for anyone serious about photography. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't do their homework and make the wrong choice, simply because someone who is not familiar with either photography or with this issue recommends Nikon to them, and they simply go out and buy the cheapest Nikon.

In addition to this, the D40 doesn't even have exposure bracketing! This, too, is a crucial feature for anyone serious about photography.

For the same price as the D40, a D40 buyer should have gotten a Sony Alpha or Pentax K100D, both of which have the following advantages over the Nikon and the Canon:

* In-body Image Stabilization (VERY USEFUL!)
* CCD dust removal system
* Improved lens quality for entry level and included kit lenses
* Exposure bracketing (Canon has it but the Nikon D40 doesn't)
* Autofocus drive motor (Canon has it but the Nikon D40 doesn't)

Hope it's not too late for you.