$40 Camera Review: The Legendary Nikon D40 (Cheap DSLR Challenge!)

Many have fond memories of the Nikon D40/D40X -- I picked one up to see how it holds up in 2020. Spoiler alert: surprisingly well!

This camera is available for $40-60 on the used market. A perfect DSLR for beginners, photography students, or just those looking for a backup/"beater" camera for walk-around purposes.

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[dilus]

Just been gifted a Nikon D40x with two kit lenses 18mm - 55mm and 55mm - 200mm and you are correct with the fantastic colour it produces. This is my first foray into DSLR photography as a complete beginner, my first photos with it were macro shots of flowers in the garden and the colours were superb and the “bokeh” effect amazing. I have even got some excellent images of the full moon using the telephoto lens. For someone who doesn’t want to get into post production and simply wants to improve their skills “in camera” it is a very affordable entry level camera that produces surprising results 👍

[robiniapseudoacacia]

My first DSLR and I used it for 6 months around India. Some of my favourite ever pictures were taken with it. Thanks for sharing

[leighbowden]

I still use my D40x on about 15k shutter actuations and it's my favourite. Lack of the internal focus motor is my major gripe. I use mine with a third party battery grip with 2x1800mah batteries and took over 1000 pictures whilst in South Africa. The battery meter didn't even move off full.

[KarySchump]

This was my first “real” camera, bought new in 2008. I’ll always keep it and use it because I’ve had it forever. I have others, but I still think it’s a decent all around camera for beginners. :)

[thesufi]

Good review. The d40 really shines as an all-manual camera paired with Nikon film-era lenses - my favourites include the inexpensive series E range, particularly the 100E/2.8 which makes a super compact street/ portrait camera. The quality I get at ISO 200 with this combo regularly blows people's minds for a 6MP body.

[outfield]

Beautiful little gem. Easy to use and colors are amazing.

[mjak]

Still have one in my parents' attic... awesome camera for its time, and still fun to use every now and then. Very good picture quality if you have the light and don't need to crop. (6MP can look perfectly acceptable even on 4K screens).

Also awesome with the 50/1.8D - yes, you lose AF, but the plastic fantastic has a very generous focus ring throw which is a boon for manualing it, and it can be tucked away unter a light winter coat much easier than the 35/1.8G. Superb combo for candid street photos once you get the hang of focusing manually.

Lack of AF points can be an issue for some, but I mainly use just the center one with back button focusing and recomposing anyways even on newer bodies, so it never really bothered me.

The dial is a big downfall, though. Not because it's just a single one (I shoot in aperture priority almost exclusively, and with the mentioned ISO-to-Fn button setting it's a non-issue), but because it's not rubberized at all. It's a hard plastic one, and after extended shooting sessions, your thumb will not thank you for it.

All in all - I can absolutely recommend it as a cheap beginner or a secondary "I just want to screw around a bit" camera. Its limitations can actually teach you things that a modern entry level DSLR or MILC just can't, without going super nerdy and into the whole "just develope your own film at home, man!" bullshittery.

[marcp.]

I paid 650 EUR for this Bad Boy into Winter 2006, it was my 2nd Nikon after the D100 (also 6 MP). Image Quality is still great, with the January 2009 released DX 35/1.8 AF-S Lens, it felt like a 10 MP DSLR, literally, after the 18-55 ED II Kitzoom. Very small, simple DSLR.

[kristersjoblom]

Thank you for a great review and beautiful photos. The D40 was my first DSLR and although I have more recent models in my camera bag I am not going to sell it. It is easy and fun to shoot with and the picture quality is good with nice colors.

[makingwonderland]

For shooting somthing in the street, D40 is light weight and small and easy to use. This is also the reasons that people like to use phone camera every day. The simplest DSLR can make better feeling than a lot of phone cameras. D40+35mm/F1.8 is supper light and small， and would make
comfortable photos.

[renepawlitzek]

Nice video about a wonderful camera. I bought mine in November 2023 with the 18-55 VR II for very little money ($30). The results speak for themselves. The camera was on my radar back in 2006 when it came on the market. At the time, I didn't buy it because of the lack of an autofocus motor and because I was looking for a digital SLR to use my Contax Carl Zeiss and X-Fujinon lenses. It took many years before I was able to reuse these lenses with the Sony A7II.

[christophercarvell]

Great review of the D40, considering buying one, though I’m a Canon shooter! I’ve seen a D40 on eBay with the 18 to 55 zoom for less than £100 Sterling. Thanks to this review I’m heading over to eBay, many thanks.

[neilpiper]

I use mine with a 18 70 F3 5 f4.5 afs DX lens. Perfect.

[waynescheffe]

I have one I use it all the time I enjoy it

[CO_]

I took my d40 to safari, and Angkor Wat, some of the best pictures I have ever taken. Now I know why this was such a great camera. After they stole it from me in Africa, I bought a d3100 and it was never the same, and I dropped photography as a hobby.

[tikibarme]

Enjoyed your video! Thanks for posting...

[averymcdaniel]

I just scored a D40 with a kit lens, and a camera bag for $40. This is my 2nd.

[Koji-]

Do you mean the 50mm 1.8g Works beautifully as well as the 35mm DX 1.8.g
The d lenses work well too if that’s what you got. Hard to use with that focus screen.
Do you Zone focus. Or chimp. Or.. I believe this has the focus confirm light in the VF. 💁🏻‍♀️

[michelduhamel]

Good day to you a still use mine averyday, in 2010 i was shooting for special olympics fund raising in mtl with the mtl police and one of my pictures was picte for 3 editions of police mag . And that picture won 1 first prise with world police cheff associaton, with a d40 there was a hole lot of pro photografer on site .yes D40 !!

[kevc.]

used nikon for over a decade d40 d5000 d5200 with 35dx lens, and finally got fed up with back focusing and moved to canon m50