Customer Rating: 
Summary: Excellent image quality, features, build, value for money
Comment: Nikon have done a fabulous job with the D40. Almost everything about it is right. It is a small camera, so will suit the smaller hands, or if you want to carry less weight. For the prosumer or professional, it is too light, esp. with a larger, heavier lens on the front.
Image quality: 5/5
Features: 4/5
Handling: 4/5
Build: 5/5
Size, weight: 4/5
Lens: 4/5
the only things i would recommend you check out is the lack of a lens motor on the lens mount if you have existing lenses. otherwise, you can use the newer AF-S lenses - they're clearly marked.
also a lack of dedicated hard buttons means that a more serious user of digital SLRs may want to look to the D70s or D80 and other serious amateur cameras to fulfil this need.
the D40 is aimed at the entry level photographer, but if you can cope with delving into the nice menu system to get the control you need, the D40 will deliver excellent, accurate, noise free images even up to ISO 1600.
the sensor is the same as that used in the D50 and D70s, but has been improved for low noise and even better image quality.
the kit lens (18-55mm II), while slow to focus and not as well built as the body, is still optically good and a good compliment to the D40. the macro mode gets quite close to the subject, more so than the Nikon 18-70mm.
however, the body is good enough that, as budget allows, you can still reap the benefits of using better lenses. remember, auto focus only works with AF-S lenses. but you can always use manual lenses if you prefer, the mount will still allow this (but do check to make sure the older lenses will not damage the body).
Highly recommended. Nice one Nikon.
Customer Rating:
Summary: On the fence!
Comment: I'm after a bit more of a "professional" upgrade from my little sony camera and this looks like it will be perfect. However, I just wondered if when you take a photo you get to see a preview of it on the screen (without having to turn off the camera or even change to somesort of "play" mode?) I currently have a nice little camera and I can take a photo and a still of it will appear for me to check before I take my next photo. I love that feature and would be a bit disappointed if a new camera I bought didn't do the same. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated from you guys who have one of these babies...
Thanks!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Probably the best value DSLR available
Comment: I am not a photographic expert, but a novice who has been eager to upgrade from compact cams to a DSLR for a long time. Consequently I did a lot of research prior to investing in my D40 recently, and I am very happy with my decision.
Sure, if you are willing to spend considerably more money you will get a better camera, but it is foolish to think that you would also automatically get better pictures! If you can do without certain 'bells & whistles', like liveview or bracketing for instance, then this camera gives you all you need to take great photos.
Also don't assume that an 8 or 10 megapixel camera is 'better' - 6 is more than enough unless you want to enlarge your photos to poster size, or you want to crop your pictures heavily without losing too much resolution. Having just 6 megapixels is actually better in some ways, as it means this camera performs very well at higher ISOs, giving you better quality flashless and night photos with less noise.
This camera is also great for the fact that it takes excellent shots in AUTO mode, so you can hand it over to to a friend or family member and know that they won't have any problems with it (any more than a 'point & shoot' compact anyway).
Lastly, I have been very impressed by the kit lens that comes with the D40. It is very sharp and might be the only lens you'll ever need, going from a reasonable 18mm wide anlgle to 55mm. The only drawback to the D40 is the fact that it does not have in-body image stabilization, and instead relies on this being built into the 'VR' lenses that are available for it. Also some Nikon lenses do not autofocus with the D40. This may put off people who are moving from a film SLR and who already have older Nikon lenses that they want to use, otherwise I can't see that it's much of an issue.
All in all, this is an excellent camera for this price, and one I recommend unreservedly to those who are unsure which budget DSLR they should opt for.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A D40 for £220.86? It must be Christmas!
Comment: I'm not going to add to the volumes already written about this camera, there is little point. When I moved up from a digital compact I couldn't quite afford a DSLR (starting around the £450 mark) so I bought a quality bridge camera (Panasonic FZ20, which is a truly remarkable and very capable camera). I always missed my previous SLR though (Nikon FM - the very epitome of manual photography). The D40 feels like coming home, it just feels right. There are reviews aplenty if you want the technical stuff (Google searching will provide) and I too regret the disappearance of depth of field scales, but that's my contribution, it just feels right. Oh, and it takes rather good pictures if you point it in the right direction with the right instructions (or leave the tricky decisions to the D40, up to you). For £220.86 there are compact cameras that cost more and do significantly less. I love it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: At this price ?
Comment: Amazing, just amazing, get a G10 get a s100fs blah blah this little beast will wipe the floor with all of the current bridge cams etc etc.
Good focus speed, only 3 point AF but seems fine, quick to focus, IQ great, ISO superb, With a hint of neat image its up there with the D90.
Dont be fooled by mega pixels, More mega pixels = more noise ! dont do it.
The D40 is a cult classic in the making.
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