Nikon has always been known as a leader at the high end of the photo industry, but the words "inexpensive" and "Nikon DSLR" have never been close companions. That has all officially changed with the announcement of the new Nikon D40 DSLR. Announced at a price of just $599, bundled with an 18-55mm "kit" lens (the camera and lens will only be offered as a kit, the body and lens will not be sold separately), it's coming out of the box a full $300 cheaper than the Nikon D50, which was announced little more than a year and a half ago. If you've been sitting on the sidelines, waiting until you could afford a real Nikon DSLR, your time have come at last: While geared for the entry-level market the D40 packs enough features into its diminutive frame to keep serious enthusiasts interested as well. It's also the smallest and lightest Nikon DSLR to date, so the point & shoot photographer looking to move up to a real SLR, can do so without having to put up with the heft and bulk that the genre usually dictates.
At this point, we've only had a chance to work with a prototype model, so we can't share any sample images or performance measurements with you, but there's a lot else to talk about. We'll cover the D40's full range of features and capabilities, and think you'll agree with us that it's an impressive offering, particularly at its price point... [read more]