The Nikon D40x uses a new DX
format CCD (APS-C) that measures 23.7 x 15.6 mm
and is composed of 10.75 million pixels of which 10.2 million
are effective. Three image sizes are available:
L: 3872 x 2592 pixels
M: 2896 x 1944 pixels
S: 1936 x 1296 pixels
Three levels of JPEG compression are available at all image
sizes: Fine, Normal and Basic. In addition, Nikon's proprietary
RAW format (*.NEF) is available and can be
used in combination with JPEG, recording a Basic
JPEG image along with the RAW version.
Equipped with the Nikon
F mount with no AF cam that first appeared on the D40,
the D40x is only fully compatible with AF-S or AF-I
lenses that have their own built-in AF motors. This does not
prevent attaching AF-D and G lenses, but lenses from these
series must be focused manually.
The CCD of the D40x has a starting sensitivity of 100 ISO
and it can be set to 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 ISO or HI
1 (the equivalent of 3200 ISO). By default the digital
Vari-Programs are preset to Auto ISO, allowing the D40x to
automatically adjust the sensitivity according the strength
of the ambient light, but the preset values remain accessible.
Moreover, even the advanced modes offer the possibility of
using Auto ISO, if the option is enabled in the Custom
menu.
The smaller than
35 mm size of the DX format (APS-C) sensor causes a 1.5X increase
in the focal lengths of lenses mounted on the camera. The
D40x can be purchased in a kit with an AF-S DX Nikkor
18-135 mm f3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens that is equivalent
to a 27 to 202.5 mm. The D40x tested here, however, was also
tested with an optional AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200 mm f3.5-5.6G
IF-ED, equivalent to a 27-300 mm.
The D40x has a shutter speed range that covers from 1/4000
second to 30 seconds and the Manual mode
has the addition of a B mode that is unlimited.
A noise reduction system that can be turned
On or Off is also available for long exposures.
Playback
Shooting
Custom
Settings
Setup
Retouch
Pressing the MENU
button on the left of the monitor displays the menu which is
composed of five sections. By default the camera remembers the
last used section and returns to it when the menu is accessed
again. The following is a list of the options found in these
sections with the exception of the options contained in the
Setup section, which are covered in the Interface
and Software section of the review:
Playback:
Delete: serves to delete selected or all images.
Playback Folder: allows using the current folder
from which images will be played back, or all folders on
the card.
Rotate Tall: decides whether images captured vertically
— portrait format — are played back with the
same orientation as they were captured or not.
Slide Show serves to see all images one after the
other with a selectable on-screen time (2, 3, 5 or 10 seconds).
Print Set (DPOF): serves to select images that
will be printed either directly on a PictBridge printer,
or by a service, and the number of prints to make of each
image.
Shooting:
Optimize Image controls how images are processed
by the camera:
Normal.
Softer: softens outlines.
Vivid: increases saturation, contrast and sharpness.
More Vivid: maximizes saturation, contrast
and sharpness.
Portrait: decreases contrast.
Black and White.
Custom: allows adjusting sharpness, tone, colour
space (sRGB, Adobe RGB, or extended sRGB), saturation
and hue.
Image Quality: selects the image format (RAW, JPEG
Fine, JPEG Normal, JPEG Basic or RAW + B).
Image Size: (see above).
White Balance serves to select the white balance
setting when the camera is set to P, S, A or M: Auto, Incandescent,
Fluorescent, Direct Sunlight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade and Preset
White Balance, which makes it possible to set and memorize
a white balance setting using a white surface, or the white
balance setting used for an image already on the memory
card.
ISO Sensitivity: serves to set the CCD sensitivity
(see above).
Noise Reduction: decides whether or not photos
captured at high sensitivity or with long exposures (more
than 1 second) are processed to reduce noise.
Custom: the options of this menu are only partly shown
when the CSM/Config. option of the Setup
Menu is set to Simple.
This first group is shown when the Simple is selected:
R
Reset:
restores all Custom Settings to their default values.
1
Beep:
to control the sounds produced by the camera as it is
operated.
2
Focus
Mode selects how the auto focus operates by default:
AF-A: Auto AF
AF-S: Single AF
AF-C: Continuous AF
MF: Manual Focus
3
AF-Area Mode decided the default mode:
Closest Subject.
Dynamic Area.
Single Area.
4
Shooting
Mode decides the default mode:
Single Frame
Continuous
Self-Timer
Delayed Remote
Quick Response Remote
5
Metering
allows, only when the camera is set to P, S, A or M
modes, to choose the default metering pattern:
3D Matrix
Centre-Weighted
Spot
6
No Memory
Card?: to decide whether the shutter can be released
when there is no memory card in the camera.
With the Setup menu option CSM/Config.
set to Full, the remaining options are shown:
7
Image
Review: to decide whether or not images are displayed
on the monitor immediately post-capture. The length
of time the image remains on the monitor is determined
by option 15.
8
Flash
Level serves, when using P, S, A or M modes only,
to set the intensity of the flash over a range of -3.0
to +1.0 EV in 0.3 EV increments.
9
AF-Assist:
to decide whether or not the AF-Assist lamp turns on automatically
when the ambient light is insufficient for the auto focus
to operate reliably.
10
ISO
Auto: decides whether an Auto ISO option is available
when the camera is set to P, S, A or M modes, its upper
limit, or the shutter speed threshold at which the camera
will increase sensitivity automatically.
11
Self-Timer/Fn
Button: allows assigning a different function to the
Fn button: Self-Timer, Shooting Mode,
Size or Image Quality, ISO Sensitivity, White Balance.
12
AE-L/AF-L
controls the behaviour of the button:
AE/AF Lock.
AE Lock Only.
AF Lock Only.
AE Lock Hold: pressing the button once locks
the exposure, pressing it again releases it.
Auto focus On: activates the auto focus.
13
AE Lock:
On or Off. Controls whether or not the shutter release
locks the exposure when pressed and held halfway.
14
Built-in
Flash serves to choose, when the D40x is set to
P, S, A or M modes only, the way the built-in flash
operates:
TTL: controls the flash output according
to the ambient photographic conditions.
Manual fires the flash at a selected level:
Maximum, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 or 1/32 power.
15
Auto
Off Timers serves to select the length of time the
D40x's monitor and Exposure meter remain on when no
operations are performed:
Short: 4 seconds for monitor and metering.
Normal: 8 seconds for monitor and metering,
4 seconds for an image under review.
Long: 20 seconds for the monitor, 1 minute
for the metering and 20 seconds for an image under
review.
Custom: allows selecting a duration for the
monitor and an image under review (4, 8, 20 seconds
or 1 or 10 minutes) and for the metering (4, 8, 20
seconds or 1 or 30 minutes).
16
Self-Timer:
serves to set the self-timer delay (2, 5, 10 or 20 seconds).
17
Remote
On Duration: selects how long the camera waits for
a signal from the optional remote control before cancelling
(1, 5, 10 or 15 minutes).
Retouch: options that have an asterisk (*) are not
available when images are black and white. Retouched images
are saved as copies, leaving the original intact.
D-lighting*: serves
to lighten dark areas without affecting light areas.
Red-eye Correction*:
serves to correct the red-eye effect caused by the flash.
Trim: allows saving the zoomed-in portion of an
image under review as a new image. The camera saves the
new image at the image size closest to the actual size of
the trimmed section.
Monochrome*: allows
changing a colour image to black and white, sepia, or Cyanotype
(blue and white monochrome).
Filter Effects* provides
3 optional filters that can be applied to an already captured
image:
Sky light: acts as a sky light filter, reducing
blue tones.
Warm Filter: warms up the image by boosting
reds.
Colour Balance: provides control over the red,
blue, cyan and green content of an image while observing
the change on a thumbnail of the image.
Small Picture: serves to create a small size copy
of an image under review (640 x 480, 320 x 240 or 160 x
120 pixels).
Image Overlay: serves to combine two RAW images
to create one. The exposure of the overlay image can be
optimized up or down by selecting the gain from image one
from between 0.1 and 2 EV in increments of 0.1 EV while
the effect can be seen in a preview. The final image is
saved at the size and quality currently set on the camera.
The memory card compartment
of the D40x is located in the right side of the camera, covered
by a solid and discreet door that has to be slid back to be
opened. The D40x is compatible with both SD (Secure
Digital) and SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) memory
cards.
While the D40x does not come with a memory card, the chart
below provides approximate numbers of photos that can be stored
on a 2 GB SD card:
Format
RAW
RAW +
Basic
JPEG
Image Size
Fine
Normal
Basic
L: 3872 x 2592
165
145
268
523
>1000
M: 2896 x 1944
—
—
468
896
>1800
S: 1936 x 1296
—
—
>1000
>1700
>3100
The Nikon D40x has two external connections located on its
left flank and covered by flexible plastic doors.
At the top the connection is the Video Out the output
signal of which can be set to NTSC or PAL in
the Setup menu. As it is with the D40, the D40x kit
does not include the video cable but it can be had as an option.
The Lower connection is the USB 2.0 High Speed port,
which serves to connect the camera to a computer or to a PictBridge
compatible printer.
Between these two connections is a small opening that is
the access to the master Reset switch of the camera.
The D40x runs off of Lithium Ion battery (EN-EL9)
which slides into the grip of the camera, and held in place
by a locking door. A battery charger (MH-23)
is included in the kit, and requires approximately 90 minutes
to recharge a fully depleted battery.
Characteristics
