The Difference Between Two Digital Cameras From the Same Companyby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 16 Jan 2008 09:48 PM Camera shopping is no easy task, especially if you are in the market for your first digital camera. Navigating the maze of features is challenging enough without having to figure out why some companies make virtually the same camera with two different names. Add to the confusion a company like Nikon, which is guilty of the aforementioned offense then has the audacity to simply add an "x" to the end of the camera's name to differentiate it from its "x-less" counterpart. I'm referring to the Nikon D40 and D40x digital cameras. They are both decent SLRs, but they are fundamentally the same camera. The D40 is a great SLR--it's small, easy to use, takes frameworthy picture and at about $550 it's a virtual bargain for a 6.1 megapixel SLR. Meanwhile, the D40x has a 10 megapixel sensor inside and sells for about $750. If you were to take a photo class your teacher will tell you 6 megapixels are good enough unless you are buying a camera with the intention of making very large prints, or you have a habit of blowing up small sections of a picture. Like with any purchase, you need to decide what you will be using the camera for and which one best fits your needs. If you are trying to decide between these two cameras the megapixel count is about the biggest difference you're going to find. Both the D40 and D40x are compact and have 2.5-inch LCD screens on the back. But the feature that might make you seriously consider dropping between $550 and $750 on one of these cameras is that these SLRs solve the problem of shutter lag---that frustratingly long moment of time that passes between the instant you press the button and the time the camera actually takes the picture. If you have young children who don't sit still long enough to get their shoes on then you know what I am referring to. Nikon designed these cameras with you in mind. In addition, both the D40 and D40x perform well in low light and with action shots. The downside of these cameras has to do with the lenses. If you own (or have owned) a Nikon SLR before, the lenses you have to go with it may not work well with the D40 or D40x. The problem is with the auto focus. To keep the price down, Nikon removed the focusing motor from the bodies of the D40 and D40x so these cameras will only work fully with the newest AF-S and AF-I lenses. If you own an older Nikon lens, you'll have to rely on manual focus. Related Articles: Ultra-Compact Digital Cameras--The Trend Continues Hip and Stylish Digital Cameras for TEENS More Ultra-compact Digital Camera Options The World's Slimmest Digital Camera Digital Photography 101: Choosing The Perfect Ultra Compact Camera Digital Photography 101: Picking The Perfect Camera Digital Photography 101: Getting To Know Your Camera Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevantphotography tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags camera, digital camera, Nikon, photography, SLR Discuss this article
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