DPreview Nikon D40 preview

DPreview has a new Nikon D40 production model. A preview is on their site with a full review in the making.

Bart

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If this model can only use AF-S lenses am I right in thinking that this is a particularly undesirable camera to put in a housing?

To not be able to use a 60mm Micro and 10.5 Fisheye Nikkor to mention a couple of favourites would be poor indeed!

Would any indepenent lenses such as Sigma macro or wide angles be usable?

Perhaps when Nikkor lenses are updated they become AF-S and so will then work with the D40

I'd speculate that Nikon's not going to make exotic lenses like theh 10.5 or the old 16 AF-S anytime soon -- not to mention classics like the 35mm f2, 50mm f1.4 or 1.8, etc. I think they reckon that D40 buyers aren't looking for lenses like that. So by leaving out the motor they save size, weight, and a bit of cost; differentiate it from higher-level cameras -- and make it useless for people with a large, diverse lens bag or (I reckon) UW.

I found it surprising, but it really does make decent commercial sense. After all, the D80 ain't that much more (not if you already have non-AF-S lenses) or bigger.

I think any even modestly ambitious photographer would benefit from the wider features and better focus in the D80; I wouldn't consider the D40 a good investment for UW use (or land, for me). In my opinion, get a top-notch digicam, or a D80 or better. My 2 cents.

What would it have cost to put in the motor? $15? Even the cheapo lenses have them built-in internally. Remember the original DRebel had a downgraded feature set. This is worse.

Looks like a great starter DSLR, but not for most here.

I was a bit surprised by this decision because it really limits your lens selection at the low end. I think their thinking is that users who buy this camera are only going to ever purchase the 18-55mm and 55-200mm. This makes it price competitive with the prosumer cams and even with this lens selection a lot more attractive.

The problem is that if you want to push beyond these two lenses you are talking about some very pricey glass. All of the AFS lenses that are not redundant with the two kit lenses cost more than the body. A tough sell to users in this price category.

I would not recommend this camera to anyone putting it in a housing. The housing alone will cost twice what this camera + lens costs. For a few dollars more the D80 is a better buy.

Nonetheless I expect many will be tempted and Ikelite and 10bar/Fantasea will sell a boatload of housings for this camera with the 18-55mm port.

At the moment in the UK the price of the D40 and 18-55 is £449 and a D50 with 18-55 is available at £379. When they start discounting the D40 it might make some sense but IMHO the D50 is a better buy at the moment just for the lens compatibility.

Full review is now up:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/

Also at imaging resources, with good AF timing data:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/ND40/ND40A.HTM

So, is the viewfinder too small for UW?

I gather the d80 viewfinder is not that much smaller than the d200..??

Thank!

Don