Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera 18-55mm Lens Kit

The Nikon D40 was a landmark camera when it launched, designed from the ground up to make DSLR photography accessible to everyday users without dumbing down the image quality. Its 6.1-megapixel Nikon DX format CCD sensor paired with the EXPEED image processor produces clean, natural-looking images with Nikon's characteristic color science. The included 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens covers the most commonly used focal lengths — from wide-angle group shots to moderate telephoto portraits — and its built-in autofocus motor ensures reliable focusing on the motorless D40 body. The 3-area autofocus system is basic but accurate, and Nikon's 3D Color Matrix Metering II evaluates scenes intelligently to deliver well-exposed photographs in a wide range of lighting conditions.

Where the D40 truly stands out is in its handling and user experience. Weighing well under a pound body-only, it's one of the lightest Nikon DSLRs ever produced, and its controls are thoughtfully arranged for new photographers. Eight Digital Vari-Program scene modes handle common situations like portraits, landscapes, and close-ups automatically, while the built-in Speedlight with i-TTL flash metering takes the guesswork out of indoor photography. The 2.5-inch LCD monitor provides three display modes for reviewing shots, and in-camera editing features let you crop, adjust, and apply effects without a computer. For anyone looking to learn the fundamentals of interchangeable-lens photography on a budget, the D40 kit remains a surprisingly capable and enjoyable tool — just keep in mind that lens compatibility is limited to AF-S and AF-I autofocus lenses due to the lack of a body-mounted focus motor.