Announced at the end of 2006, the Nikon D40 is the new entry-level replacement for the Nikon D50. Like the D50, the new D40 is a 6 megapixel camera (this is one of the ways that Nikon kept the price down). Unlike the D50, the D40 features the same 2.5" LCD screen and the updated menuing system from the D80 and D200.

One surprise was the lack of an internal focus drive motor. This means that there is no mechanical focus drive pin - there are only CPU contacts for use with AF-S and AF-I Nikon mount lenses (lenses with internal focus motors). You can attach any Nikon AF lens to the camera, but unless it is AF-S or AF-I, you can only use it in manual focus mode.

There is only one macro lens for Nikon that is an AF-S lens: the new Nikon 105mm AF-S VR macro lens. If autofocus is important to you and you are interested in the D40, this is the only way to go. The Nikon 105mm VR is a beautiful lens, but it is the heaviest macro lens in its focal range (28 oz.)

If, on the other hand, you will follow traditional clinical photography rules and manually focus the lens to a given magnification before shooting, then this issue is meaningless. You can use any other autofocus Nikon mount macro lens (the Sigma 105mm is an excellent choice) and still get all of the features of the D40 - except autofocus.

For the time being, Nikon is only offering the D40 with an 18-55mm
AF-S zoom lens. Down the road, we may see this camera offered as
a body-only, but for now, you will also receive the "kit lens" in our clinical camera system.

The Nikon D40 is extremely similar in size to the Canon Rebel XTi. Shown below are the XTi and D40 side by side (click the image for a larger view). The dimensions are almost identical with the XTi coming in 1mm wider and 1mm taller. Both camera are appromitely 1.2 lbs.