Gadgets

My new camera, Nikon D40

One month ago I bought a Nikon D40, my first SLR. Before I used compact cameras, with them I learn basic photography concepts but after some years I felt like I should go to the next level. I decided to buy the Nikon D40 because it’s incredibly cheap, the body’s price is 47.000 yens (Less than 300 euros). I don’t need anything fancy, just something that is SLR so I can learn more than with a compact one.

I got a cheap camera, but decided to buy average lenses. Bought a Nikkor VR 55-200m with image stabilization, and the pics I take using it are totally different to the ones I take with my default lenses; it seems a different camera. I’m starting to understand how important lenses are. What I would do in the future is to keep my “good” lenses while I upgrade with better cameras.

After 5.000 pictures with my new D40 what I liked is: the LCD screen is big and you can clearly see the pics you take, it’s VERY easy to use, it’s very light, the colors are really vivid (I was used to boring compact camera colors) and the battery longs forever. What I didn’t like: the camera is so cheap that it has not a focus motor (You can only use lenses with focusing motor), it has not a CCD cleaning system.

I really recommend this camera to everyone who wants to buy his first SLR. If you travel to Japan you can find it for 350 euros with a simple 18-55mm. In Europe or USA the price is double. Here are some pictures I took with my Nikon D40 so you can have your own opinion.

Nikon D40

16 replies on “My new camera, Nikon D40”

Hector- save up your yen for the 18-200 VR zoom. Literally that is the best, most versatile Nikkor lens. It’s just an amazing piece of glass.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200.htm

http://www.bythom.com/18200lens.htm

http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/nikkor-18-200/

Love your images- your skills are getting much better!

Damn the quality is really good for not being a super expensive camera. Nice find Kirai.

P r i c e

not

P r i z e

A [prize] is what you win in a contest.

[Price] is the cost of an object.

Un prize es lo que ganas en una competencia

El price es el coste de un objeto.

I am sorry for the bad Spanish I used Google for it.
Your English has gotten amazingly better.

A lot of nice pictures ! :p

Eh, Kuri you don’t have to jump on him for misspelling a word. He’s been doing great so far.

wow, nice pics, very professional looking.

great pictures!!!!!

I was thinking of buying a US$500 SLR this Christmas, you just helped me to make up my mind…..the other choices were a large monitor or a super powerful graphics card…but who needs those anyway ^_^

I wish my Canon would take such sharp pictures as y ours.

[…] Nikon D300 Is the EOS 40D Direct competitor from Nikon. It’s bundled with 12 megapixel sensor and it can shoot 8 times per second. Max ISO is 6400. This year I bought the cheapest Nikon reflex camera, the D40, and I’m REALLY happy with it’s performance, and I’m learning a lot using it. […]

Hi,

I know this is a really old post… but I’m curious about getting a D40 in Japan as well. A friend of mine will soon be there. I was wondering, if he were to bring to me one… is it possible to change the settings to English? Or is the camera locked into Japanese? Do you know of any other caveats I should be aware off before trying to take advantage of the lower Japanese price?

Thanks.

hey, you know the girl in the 6t photo? did you manage to get a body shot of her? i would love to see it, i love gothic lolita. not only that, it had an alice in wonderland theme!

Wow, cool man, big thanks! http://nghyndntxw.com

I am in Japan and was browsing in an electronic store and came across Nikon D80 for 39,000 Yen about 370$. I did not have a clue that it was a very good price when I called my friend in US who had a D80, which he bought in a sale for about 1200$. He advised me to go for D40 for starters.
I think I will try and find D40, if not then D80 should nt be a bad deal