The Nikon D40 Interchangeable-lens Digital SLR camera unites the brilliant performance of world-famous Nikkor lenses and the practicality of a remarkably small and light camera body. Its handling and performance will make you forget the problems often associated with compact digital cameras. This makes it ideal for anyone who wants to capture spectacular digital pictures without fuss or complication.

It features a high-resolution 6.1-effective-megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor and a highly advanced Nikon Image Processing Engine.

Nikon's exclusive 3D Color Matrix Metering II assures accurate exposure control even in difficult lighting conditions, and an AUTO ISO feature makes the most of available light by automatically setting the camera's light sensitivity from the available ISO range of 200 to 1600.

The camera's design also incorporates fewer potentially confusing controls and other distractions, allowing anyone to take breathtaking pictures while eliminating the need to "learn" photography first.

• Extraordinary Image Quality

The Nikon D40's high-resolution image quality is made possible by Nikon's high-performance 6.1 megapixel Nikon DX format CCD imaging sensor and exclusive Nikon image processing engine which assures stunning sharpness and color. This camera's resolution of 6.1 megapixels is great for making beautifully detailed enlargements of 16 x 20 inches and beyond. High resolution also provides room for creative cropping.

• Compact and Lightweight

At just over sixteen ounces, the beautifully styled and compact D40 makes high-performance digital SLR photography easier and more convenient than ever. The camera body fits your hand perfectly, with a well-balanced design and grip to ensure easy access to the camera controls.

• Eight Easy-to-use Digital Vari-Program Modes

Get better shots in almost any situation with the Digital Vari-Program modes. Each of the eight modes is designed to calculate the best settings for your scene automatically. Simply choose one of the modes (Auto, Auto Flash-OFF, Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close Up or Night Portrait), and the camera will adjust itself automatically for optimal results

• Compatible with Nikkor Lenses

All Nikon AF-S/AF-I Nikkor lenses work seamlessly with the D40, and all Nikon lenses feature the finest optics and precision mechanisms to provides optimized performance for sharp, consistent results (Autofocus is supported only with AF-S and AF-I CPU lenses, which are equipped with an autofocus motor). The camera includes the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens which was designed exclusively for use with Nikon DX-format digital SLRs. This ultra-compact 3x zoom offers Nikkor sharpness and versatility in a wide variety of shooting situations.

• Built-in Speedlight with i-TTL Automatic Flash Control

The auto pop-up Flash gives just the right light to make the scene look both beautiful and natural. Nikon's innovative i-TTL flash control evaluates flash exposure with incredible precision to achieve better automatic flash balance and deliver outstanding results. The built-in Speedlight brings beautiful exposures in darkened conditions as well as adding sparkle for fill flash in outdoor situations, enhanced twilight shots or an added impact to daylight images. To extend your flash shooting range and creativity, just add an optional Nikon Speedlight such as the Nikon SB-400.

• Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II

The D40's 3D Color Matrix Metering II evaluates each scene for brightness, color, contrast, size and position of shadows and highlights, selected focus area and camera-to-subject distance, comparing that information against an onboard database of more than 30,000 actual photographic scenes.

• Fast and Accurate 3-Area Autofocus

The D40's advanced 3-area AF system and the refined algorithms inherited from more advanced Nikon digital SLR cameras deliver fast, efficient and precise autofocus. AF refinements deliver greater precision with fast, more consistent subject acquisition and improved focus tracking for consistently sharper pictures.

• Broad ISO Sensitivity Range and Metering System Options

The ISO sensitivity of the Nikon D40 can be set from 200 all the way to 1600, enabling beautiful images in many challenging low-light situations without using a flash. Furthermore, Nikon's exclusive 3D Color Matrix Metering II instantly evaluates the brightness, contrast and colors of any shooting scenario for optimum results. In addition, Center-weighted and Spot metering are also available to meet specialized applications.

• Superb Performance

Fast startup combined with super-fast shutter response and rapid-action shooting at up to 2.5 frames per second makes it easy to freeze special moments instantly, and capture high-quality action sequences of children at play, sporting activities such as soccer or baseball, and much more.

• 2.5" Color LCD Monitor

Playback images are easy to see, and function menus are easier to use with a large and bright color LCD monitor. The 2.5-inch LCD monitor enables image preview at up to 19 times magnification and has large-type fonts and easy-to-view menus as well as three display options: Classic, Graphic and Wallpaper. Furthermore, the large LCD color monitor is perfect for viewing image details and for showing recently captured pictures to friends and family.

• Bright and Accurate SLR Viewfinder

The large and clear viewfinder of the Nikon D40 provides 0.8x magnification, and helps to ensure precise composition, while the overall viewfinder brightness makes focusing in low-light conditions easier.

• Optional Infrared Remote

Use the optional Wireless Remote Control ML-L3 as a remote shutter release for self-portraits or to prevent camera shake caused when releasing the shutter.

• Advanced HELP menu system with Assist Images

The D40's "assist images" help you select the appropriate settings for many camera features by showing an example image typical of that setting as well as an advanced HELP Menu for the current item selected. The D40's Question Mark icon (?) indicates that help is available for the currently selected item; just press the help button beside the LCD monitor to see a context sensitive help page.

• In-Camera Image Editing

Highly versatile in-camera editing features include Nikon D-Lighting, Red-Eye Correction, Image Trimming, Image Overlay, Monochrome (Black and White, Sepia and Cyanotype) along with Skylight, Warm Tone and Color Balance filter effects. These features provide greater creative freedom without the need for a computer, for those who prefer to send pictures directly to a printer.

• Long-lasting Battery

The EN-EL9 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery lets you take up to 470 shots in single-frame shooting mode (CIPA standards), while the optional EH-5 AC Adapter can be used to power the camera for even longer periods (an AC Adapter Connector EP-5 is required, available separately).

• Includes PictureProject Software

Supplied with the D40 and designed as a simple, intuitive and seamless experience, PictureProject is for digital photographers of any skill level. Its powerful tools let you truly explore digital imaging without having to study for it. It greatly simplifies image transfer and sharing, while giving you basic post-production enhancements on a personal computer. Data in your memory card can easily be uploaded to your computer, and images can be quickly printed, e-mailed or uploaded to an online photo community.

• Process your images like a Pro with Capture NX Software (optional)

Nikon's revolutionary Capture NX software gives you an unprecedented degree of control over your images. Thanks to exclusive U Point Technology, by Nik Software, Capture NX does all the calculations for you, making it the first truly usable editing imaging software for all levels of photographers.

• Photo Printing Made Simple with Direct Printing

The Nikon D40 supports PictBridge direct Printing. Simply connect the camera to a Pictbridge compatible printer using the included USB cable, and print pictures directly from your camera.

• Includes Nikon 18-55mm & 55-200mm Lens

The Nikon D40 comes packaged with the 3x zoom 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens, and the powerful 3.6x zoom 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens. Both lenses incorporate Nikon's acclaimed ED lens elements to assure superb picture sharpness and optimum contrast. The 18-55mm lens is well suited to capture everything from candid portraits to wide-angle landscapes, while the 55-200mm lens is great for capturing sports and wildlife shots.