Download
Share
Print this page
Nikon D40 Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Nikon Manuals
  4. Digital Camera
  5. D-40 - D40 6.1MP The Smallest Digital SLR...
  6. Manual

Nikon D40 Manual

Hide thumbs Also See for D40:

Advertisement

Quick Links

Download this manual
Exploring the
Nikon
D40/D40x
I
f you found the Quick Tour of your Nikon D40/D40x
enlightening, you're probably ready to dive into a deeper
exploration of the features of your camera, so you can master
all the functions of the various buttons, dials, wheels, switches,
and levers that dot the surface. There are a lot of them, but
having so many dedicated controls helps you work faster. You
can access the most-used functions of the D40/D40x by press-
ing a button and turning a command dial.
You can adjust other features through the D40/D40x's LCD
display and quick-access menu interface. However, this chap-
ter deals only with the physical controls on the camera body
itself. I explain how to use the basic features, such as meter-
ing and autofocus, in Chapter 2. In Chapter 3, I provide a com-
plete set-up guide with an explanation of the camera's thicket
of menus.
Once you've taken the time to learn the functions of the
D40/D40x's controls, the camera is definitely much faster to
use. Unlike the official manual that comes with the D40 and
D40x, this field guide provides individual full-color photo-
graphs of the camera from various views so you can quickly
identify a control or component you want to locate. You
should find this approach much friendlier than the original
manual's tiny black-and-white line drawings, each bristling
with numbered callouts that you must cross-reference against
a lengthy list with two or three dozen labels.
1
1
C H A P T E R
In This Chapter
Up front
Sides and bottom
On the lens
On top
On the back
Viewfinder display
LCD display
Viewing and playing
back images
Choosing metering
modes
Adjusting ISO sensitivity
Setting white balance
Programmed exposure
modes
Semiautomatic and
manual exposure
modes

Advertisement

loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the D40 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Subscribe to Our Youtube Channel

Related Manuals for Nikon D40

Summary of Contents for Nikon D40

  • Page 1 Once you’ve taken the time to learn the functions of the Adjusting ISO sensitivity D40/D40x’s controls, the camera is definitely much faster to use. Unlike the official manual that comes with the D40 and Setting white balance D40x, this field guide provides individual full-color photo-...
  • Page 2 Here you see two views of the front of the camera, from left and right angles (as seen from the photographer’s Figure 1.1 shows the Nikon D40/D40x from position). the front view. To hold your camera steady and keep all the major controls at your fin-...
  • Page 3 Shutter release Handgrip On-Off switch Infrared sensor Memory card door The right front side of the Nikon D40/D40x Shutter release. Partially depress Infrared receiver. This dark red this button to lock exposure and window receives an infrared signal focus settings. Press the button all from the optional ML-L3 remote the way down to take the picture.
  • Page 4 Function/Self-Timer button. You The right side of the D40/D40x has a com- can define the feature activated by plement of controls, as you can see in figure this button (learn how in Chapter 1.3.
  • Page 5 (see figure 1.5). Underneath the top cover is an AV plug you can use to link the D40/D40x to an external monitor for viewing pictures or menus. In the middle is a reset switch button that you can press to reset all settings in the camera (including the clock).
  • Page 6 A memory card fits into the slot on the side of the camera. Bottom On the bottom of the Nikon D40/D40x, there is a tripod socket, and a flip-open door accepts a single EN-EL9 rechargeable lithium ion battery, as shown in figure 1.8.

  • Page 7: On The Lens

    200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom- The lenses you use with your Nikon Nikkor vibration reduction lens. Not all D40/D40x each have their own set of con- lenses have all the possible controls. trols. Figure 1.9 shows two lenses: the very...
  • Page 8 Automatic/Manual focus switch. when you’re looking at the front of Changing from automatic to man- the camera) to properly mount the ual focus with the D40 or D40x is lens. done either with an Auto/Manual Vibration Reduction switches. focus switch on the lens, or by...
  • Page 9 (such as all recent Nikon film and digital cameras). Lenses that retain the aperture ring, such as the lens shown in figure 1.10, have a D suf- fix in their names.
  • Page 10 On Top LCD. Hold down this button and the Settings/Zoom In button on The top panel of the D40/D40x has a clus- the back of the camera (which has ter of controls. They include a matching green dot) to activate a reset of the camera’s settings to...
  • Page 11 Mode dial Focal plan indicator Command dial 1.11 Key components on the top panel of the D40/D40x down the Aperture button when in Shutter release. Partially depress Manual exposure mode to adjust this button to lock exposure and aperture with the command dial.

  • Page 12: On The Back

    Command dial. Spin this dial to change settings, such as shutter speed, according to what control The back panel of the Nikon D40 and D40x button you’re pressed at the same contains an array of controls, many of which time.
  • Page 13 Chapter 1 Exploring the Nikon D40/D40x 1.12 The back panel of the D40/D40x Diopter adjustment control Command dial Viewfinder eyecup Viewfinder eyepiece Autoexposure/ Autofocus lock/Protect image 1.13 Key components on the upper half of the back panel of the D40/D40x...
  • Page 14 Reset (#2) Zoom Out/ Help 1.14 Key components on the lower half of the back panel of the D40/D40x From time to time the Question In the center and right side of the lower half Mark icon on the shooting informa- of the Nikon D40/D40x are the LCD monitor tion screen will flash.

  • Page 15: Viewfinder Display

    Appears when you dial in Viewfinder Display exposure compensation. Flash compensation indicator. The D40/D40x offers a great deal of infor- Appears when flash exposure com- mation in the viewfinder. Not all of these pensation has been specified. indicators are visible at once. Here’s a list of ISO Auto indicator.

  • Page 16: Lcd Display

    The formats for the shooting information chrome LCD on the top panel of other display are Classic, a text and icon-based Nikon digital single lens reflex (dSLR)
  • Page 17 Chapter 1 Exploring the Nikon D40/D40x format; Graphics, which uses a mixture of displays, I show you how to do that in text, graphics, and icons; and Wallpaper, Chapter 3. which uses a photograph you select as a I have divided the screen into two figures.
  • Page 18 Part I Using the Nikon D40/D40x ISO sensitivity White balance Image quality Image size Flash mode Focus mode Help indicator AF area mode Change settings Metering mode Exposure compensation Flash compensation Shooting mode 1.17 LCD readouts, continued Shutter speed. Displays current Focus area display.
  • Page 19 (S), for the D40x; or 6.0 megapixels (L), 3.3 megapixels (M), or 1.5 megapixels (S) for the The D40 and D40x’s Playback mode lets you D40. review your images, delete the ones you don’t want to keep, or jump to the Retouch White balance.
  • Page 20 Part I Using the Nikon D40/D40x border if they are overexposed Use the Thumbnail/Zoom Out so you can easily see any por- button to cycle among single- tions that might lack detail picture displays, or tiled views because of excessive exposure.
  • Page 21 flash options are available in every shooting You can set the built-in electronic flash to mode. pop up automatically when the D40/D40x detects low light levels while you’re using You can find a detailed expla- Auto, Portrait, Child, Close-Up, or Night nation of which options are Portrait modes.
  • Page 22 Front Curtain Sync (default/no Curtain + Slow Sync. This option indicator). The flash fires as soon delays flash when using longer as the shutter opens. The Nikon shutter speeds until just before the D40 sets the shutter speed shutter closes, to add background between 1/60 and 1/500 second illumination to the flash exposure.
  • Page 23 Choosing Metering Adjusting ISO Modes Sensitivity The D40 or D40x can use any of three dif- ferent exposure metering methods when it The D40/D40x can choose the sensitivity is set to Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture setting (ISO) for you automatically, or you Priority, or Manual mode.

  • Page 24: Setting White Balance

    For example, the camera knows available settings (200, 400, 800, 1600, and how far away the subject is and H1) on the D40; the D40x also has ISO 100. the color of the light, and it can make some pretty good guesses...
  • Page 25 20 feet Modes from the camera. At the same time, this mode increases sharpness and The Nikon D40 and D40x have three semi- enriches colors to improve the automatic modes that enable you to specify appearance of foliage. Don’t use this shutter speed, aperture, or combinations of mode if you need to use flash as a...
  • Page 26 D40/D40x chooses the correct shutter speed for the right exposure. Shutter Priority. Turn the com- mand dial to choose the shutter speed. The D40/ D40x selects an appropriate aperture to provide the correct exposure. Programmed Auto. The D40/D40x selects a shutter speed Programmed Auto and aperture for you.

This manual is also suitable for:

D40x