Product Reviews

If you've ever used a single lens reflex (SLR) camera, you'll know that they beat compact cameras hands down when it comes to quality and versatility. Digital SLRs used to be the preserve of professional photographers, but Nikon's latest model comes in at less than £400. That's still quite a lot of money, but if you're wondering whether the D40 is really twice as good as the average £200 compact, the simple answer is yes. Not only does the through-the-lens (TTL) viewfinder and lens rings give a much more insightful, tactile user experience than an LCD screen and buttons, but it's also considerably faster and takes vastly superior photos.

The D40 is £200 cheaper than its predecessor, the D50, cost at its launch in 2005, but as we went to press both cameras were available for around the same price. This is interesting, because while some features are new and improved on the D40, others have regressed or disappeared completely. The one thing that hasn't changed is the 6-megapixel 1/1.8in CCD sensor. This may be surprising in a new digital SLR in 2007, but Nikon's decision to keep the D50fs sensor is fine by us. It exhibited remarkably low image noise and more than enough detail for anything except very big enlargements.

Screen siren

The camera is more compact than its predecessor, but still manages to accommodate a larger LCD screen. However, the small LCD that displayed settings on the top of the camera has gone, so you'll need to rely on the main screen. We're also disappointed to see the disappearance of dedicated

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buttons for white balance, ISO speed and resolution that ran down the left-hand side of the screen on the D50. Instead, there's a pair of buttons for switching views on the screen and activating a help system that offers tips to beginners.

This is a welcome feature in itself, but beginners should also be encouraged to use manual ISO and white balance settings on the D40, they (and everyone else) will have to grapple with the menu to access them.

The automatic ISO function is unusual in that it allows you to program its behaviour, defining the maximum ISO and shutter speeds that you're happy to work with. Many cameras' automatic settings get this wrong or at least, not to our liking so it's great to be able to set it manually. However, it's odd how these options are situated nowhere near the manual ISO control in the menu. As a result, it's easy to think you're adjusting the ISO speed when it's still set to Auto.

What's new?

There are plenty of improvements though, including a larger viewfinder, support for SDHC cards with capacities over 2GB and a 3200 ISO option, up from 1600 in the D50. However, automatic exposure bracketing has disappeared, and so too has the internal focus drive motor. This means that the camera only works with AF-I and AF-S lenses, which have built-in motors, thus limiting your choice of lenses somewhat.

Fortunately, performance and image quality are two areas that show distinct improvements. The 2.5fps continuous mode remains, but here it doesn't slow down after 15 shots, as the new processor means the camera is just as fast at storing pictures as it is at taking them. The processor also manages to give even sharper images than on the D50, while maintaining the same smooth, noise-free images that was the D50fs trump card. Colour accuracy remains extremely hard to fault, with natural tones in a range of conditions and excellent exposures under tricky lighting.

The D40 offers some improvements and some fairly minor regressions over its predecessor, but overall, and with nothing else coming close at this price, it's just as deserving of a Best Buy award.