I have owned and used the Nikon D40 for just about 2 months now… prior to it i had a Canon Digital Rebel XT for about 18 mons and before that a Sony p&s and a Nikon 35mm Film Camera. Photography has been a passion and a hobby of mine since i was a small child and was take the family Polaroid and take pictures of random things… anyways i’lls top rambling and get back to my point… is the Nikon D40 a great DSLR or just a large Point and Shoot camera????
after 2 months of using i can say that this camera is AWESOME!, i think the pictures are stunning, i strongly believe they look better then the did with the Canon… the size of the camera is perfect, my hand doesn’t tire of it, its not too big, its comfortable.
Some people are saying that the D40 is just a large P&S, i do not agree, i do understand where they are coming from though. The D40 is not compatible with older lenses because it doesn’t have an internal focusing motor, it is however compatible with many lenses and i am sure many more will be out in the near future…
For the price you cannot go wrong, you can find the D40 for about $550 or less now and its worth ever nickel…
And just in case you are wondering, here are some Key features
- Nikon Image processing engine (as D80 / D200)
- 6 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop, as D50)
- 3D Color Matrix Metering II, 420 pixel sensor (as D80 / D50)
- New Multi-CAM530 three area AF sensor
- ISO sensitivity range 200 – 1600 plus HI 1 (3200 equiv.)
- Custom Auto ISO (selectable maximum ISO, minimum shutter speed)
- 2.5 fps continuous shooting (as D50), unlimited in JPEG
- No status LCD, new LCD monitor based status / settings screens
- Help suggestions on LCD monitor (eg. scene too dark, try using flash)
- Large 2.5″ 230,000 pixel LCD monitor
- Bigger viewfinder view (x0.8 magnification, 95% coverage)
- Short shutter lag and viewfinder blackout
- Support for SDHC (SD cards over 2 GB in capacity)
- In-camera retouching
- D-Lighting (shadow / highlight enhancement)
- Red-eye reduction
- Trimming
- Monochrome
- Filter effects
- Small picture
- Image overlay
- USB 2.0 with PTP and Mass Storage device support
- Very compact, light body (smaller, lighter than D50)
- Improved menu user interface (as D80 / D200)
- New EN-EL9 Lithium-Ion battery (7.2V, 1000 mAh)
- New ‘Version II’ AF-S DX 18-55 mm kit lens
If you have been thinking about this camera or any other SLR or higher end P&S get the NIKON D40 you will not regret it
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its jos 
