DSLRUsers.com

Thought I might share some pics, and feedback on my use of the new D40.

When I opened the box, my first thought was, "this is a perfect gift for a new SLR user." Its light, very light, simple, less dials and buttons to scare away newbies, it has a big friendly screen (2.5"), the screen has a friendly looking interface, and "online help".

On the touch a feel side, it feels plastic, because it is. Its not a heavy composite, it feel nice and light, balanced by the very light 18-55 lens. It feels very light too, with plastic rear mounts, its the kind of thing you wouldnt want to take on and off too often.

In my hands, refer pics (I have a 25cm handspan), its far too small. And I was cramped up around the shutter release button. I also missed the front dial, to adjust aperture. On this camera, its shutter or aperture on rear dial, then second function button to adjust the other. Which annoyed me, but I think this would be great for someone who needs less dials to complicate the learning process.

Battery door was weak, flimsy, and not somehting I would like to open and shut while balancing my kit, and in a hurry. Same goes for SD card door. However, I think for its target market, they are fine.

WHat I like the most, is the large bright screen, as a user, appears similar to my D200. If I ignore the small size, as I know my hands are large, the negative side for me may be that I understand it can only run new lenses, not old ones like the beast I have pictured.

In conclusion, I think its nice, and perfect for a beginner pack. Or as a partners camera, or a point and shoot carry with you lightweight camera.

I hope some find this useful. Please note, this was only a 30 minute review, so I know its brief, but thought it might be a starting point, to introduce the D40 from our point of view...

Back of D70s vs D40


Front of D200 vs D40


In the hand, note my little finger slips off, compared to the D70s

D40


D70s

The SD card door


It is dwarfed by the 28-70 "Beast"


And the user interface

More pics at my pbase...
http://www.pbase.com/oz_beachside/d40_review

Holy shit that thing really is tiny compared to the d200 and the 28-70

Kyle wrote:Holy shit that thing really is tiny compared to the d200 and the 28-70

I just had to put that one in, and the beast is sooo big with the hood on...

I want to see it hanging off the back of a 70-200 vr... better yet, a 200-400vr (poon ) or even a 300 2.8

Kyle wrote:I want to see it hanging off the back of a 70-200 vr... better yet, a 200-400vr (poon ) or even a 300 2.8

My VR is in transit, but here is one with my 80-200 AF ED...

whoops, you can see me in the shutter release button...

That is one tiny DSLR!

Kyle wrote:I want to see it hanging off the back of a 70-200 vr... better yet, a 200-400vr (poon ) or even a 300 2.8

The 200-400 is BIGGER than the 300 f/2.8


But yeah, as it shows here, you can't mount pro lenses on top, looks so ridiculous, and probably they will rip the lens mount apart from the weight...

Thanks for the review Oz,

Very useful,

cheers,

André

This is really what the CP5700/8700 should have been.

I presume that the response times are similar to the D70?

Compined with Yip's comments in the other thread, it's easy to understand just how small this camera seems to be: the screen on the back seems to be a major component here, and there is virtually nothing at all to the left of the screen, which is very different from most DSLRs thus far.


Holy Olympus!

Holy hell - when I pick up my D70s now, it feels too small after getting used to the D200 + grip!!

But this thing is in a whole other size level altogether.. It would be interesting to pick one up and compare with the 350D/400D - I can't get used to the grip on those.

my 10.5 fisheye just arrived, I think its a better size for the D40