Nikon D40/D40x Digital Field Guide

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65 Reviews

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Last week I bought my first digital SLR - the Nikon D40x 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens. I decided to step into the world of digital SLRs after years of experience with different (and very good) compact or "point and shoot" digital cameras.

My current compact digicam is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3K 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) - which I took to Peru, and with which I took some wonderful photos. As good as they were, I wanted to try for even better pictures, and happily bought my Nikon D40x SLR.

But after I opened the boxes and got my pristine new D40x ready to use, I suddenly felt lost and overwhelmed. Yes, there's an "auto" setting, but if that's all I use, I figure I might as well not have spent all the money to get into the digital SLR world. The owner's manual is, I'm sure, complete and accurate, but I found it difficult. It tells me the name of a button and something of how to use it, but I don't have the background to know what most of that means in terms of taking a photo.

Fortunately, I ordered this book from amazon - and it's saved the day. I'm still working my way through it, but I know it's a keeper - and it's going along whenever possible, for reference on the spot when I'm taking photos.

I'm no dummy, nor a total novice at digital photography. But I'm not a professional photog, nor a "camera geek" familiar with a lot of the technical terms and concepts.

The author strikes just the right note for me with the explanations in this book. At last - I'm starting to understand histograms, and feel more assured when changing ISO settings. I'm also learning the uses of all those dials and buttons on my new D40x.

Reading this book has conquered a vague sense of dread I felt about this new gadget ("what was I thinking buying this complicated expensive camera?"). Instead, I'm looking forward to using my D40x and learning more as I go.

I don't know if it exactly replaces the owner's manual supplied by Nikon, but I encourage anyone who's feeling baffled by that manual to get their hands on this book. It's made all the difference to me between puzzlement and comprehension.

I bought both this guide and the magic lantern guide not knowing which was best. While the magic lantern guide is okay (better than the manual), this guide is far superior in organization and instructions. The color pictures add a lot. The sections on how to shoot different types of pictures is great. If you need a guide get this one!

I have a couple of Busch's earlier books on photography and really like his feel for the needs of those of us who would like to get beyond the snapshot level with our new expensive digital cameras. In this one, beyond the obvious help with using the D40, I like the all-color format which helps me find sections so much better. And I really like the sections on taking specific kinds of photos, which have charts that streamline all the variables you need to address. A small thing... the size is perfect for slipping into my camera case while having a complete guide to help me on the road.

This guide to the D40/D40x is aimed at the beginning digital SLR photographer, but has some excellent information even for advanced amateurs.

It is well-written, well-illustrated, and covers the subject in depth. If you've just purchased a D40 or D40x, or have had one for awhile, you will learn many things here that are very difficult to get from the manual.

The first third of the book explains all of the features and settings of the camera in clear, well-illustrated format. The remainder provides basic information on photographic techniques, and specific suggestions for many types of photography.

Highly recommended!

This book by David Busch gives a better insight into the use of the D40 and D40x cameras than does the guidebook that comes with the camera. The book contains many color photos to illustrate the discussion.
I was moderately familiar with the D40x camera using the Nikon guidebook before I looked at the Busch guidebook so I could skip a lot of the introductory material. I skimmed the chapters QT (Quick Tour of taking and saving the first pictures), Chapter 1 (gives detailed names and uses of the camera functions), and Chapter 2 (essentials of camera metering, adjusting exposures, adjusting ISO, noise reduction, and retouching photos). I looked more carefully at Chapter 3 (playback menu, shooting menu, custom settings, and setup menu) as there are a lot of detailed settings that are easy to forget. I did not look carefully at Chapter 4 (exposure settings)since I have done this with a number of cameras. First time users should find these chapters useful.
I looked more carefully at Chapter 5 (lenses) as it describes in detail the confusing lens-naming scheme of Nikon. Only certain lenses (AF-I or AF-S) with internal focusing motors will autofocus with the D40 and D40x since the camera has no focusing motor. I, for instance, use the kit 18mm to 55mm lens which will autofocus and also my old 70mm to 210mm lens with no autofocus motor for this camera. This is fine with me as I do not need autofocus with this latter lens. I often use the 70mm to 210mm lens with a Nikon close-up lens (5T, 6T) so I would much rather have manual focus. Nikon also has a decent, economical 55mm to 200mm vibration reduction lens with autofocus for these cameras that costs only about $250.
Chapter 6 is mostly concerned with continuous and flash lighting. The D40 and D40x has a small built in flash although I usually use the Nikon SB-600 external flash on autosettings for a brighter flash. The various flash settings such as front sync, rear sync, slow sync, red-eye reduction, and exposure compensation are often confusing so this discussion should be helpful to many.
Chapter 7 is a long chapter that suggests ways to approach taking photos under various conditions such as sunrise-sunset, infrared, action, black and white, flowers, and landscapes among many. One can pick sections they want to check. For example, the infrared section is the only place I have found some details on the use of these cameras for infrared (Nikon would not give me any information on the infrared sensitivity for these cameras but apparently they are sensitive to the near infrared). The cameras can be used with a Hoya R72 or Wratten 89b filter which will filter out the visible light and allow the infrared to pass. Also starting points to begin taking infrared photos are suggested (ISO 200, f/11, 8 seconds, use tripod etc) since exposure and focus have to be done by trial and error due to the different characteristics of infrared relative to visible light.
Chapter 8 describes downloading and editing images mostly using software from Nikon (Picture Project, Capture NX, and Control Pro). Nikon Picture Project comes with the camera and can be used to transfer images to your computer, do minor editing, and sharing your photos. Nikon Capture NX has to be purchased separately (about $150), and it can be used to modify images that in some operations make it easier to use than Photoshop Elements or Photoshop. For instance, similar colors can be changed over the entire image in one operation without changing other colors in the image. I often use Nikon NX for changing colors and then return to modifying the image in Photoshop.
Also there is an appendix and glossary. The appendix includes topics on updating the firmware of the camera (controls camera operations such as processing and links to external devices). Also the appendix suggests how battery life can be extended, fixing flash problems, reviving bad memory cards, and cleaning your sensor.
In short, this book should be a good book for the beginner to intermediate user who want to find out about the details of the camera so that the best pictures can be made under a variety of conditions. The beginner who wants to use the D40/D40x cameras more as a point and shoot camera can just set the camera in programmed exposure mode and still obtain a lot of good pictures without understanding all the functions of the camera. The advanced user who has used a number of Nikon digital cameras would not probably find much in the book of interest. Thus the star rating would vary a lot depending on your level of experience.

I got this for my wife to go with her new Nikon D40. This has been her go to book and the one that goes with her and the Nikon. The photos are well described and the camera settings for the shots are included with suggestions, that's a real help. The in depth description of the D40 settings and controls are the best we have found yet.

The Nikon D40/D40x Digital Field Guide could be a replacement for the owner's manual, and so much more. In addition to explaining the camera's features with simple language and large color photos, the author delves into the operation of Nikon's lens system and then provides countless examples and exercises to inspire the imagination and provide a solid foundation for DSLR users. I obtained this book in order to help a friend who recently purchased the D40X, but now I think I'll just turn the book over to him - he'll be in good hands.

Being new to the dSLR realm, I found this book to be GREAT! It gave great information on an array of subjects.

I've bough several books on the d40 and this one was by far the best.

Returning to photography as a hobby, after an absence of many years, and purchasing a Nikon D40 as my first digital camera I found the accompanying instructions to be very challenging. This book is easy to read,understand, and makes my entry into digital photography substantially easier. It allows me to completely understand the different functions of my camera and ultimately achieve a higher level of competence with the camera.The camera is excellent, and the book provides a great foundation for any future digital camera upgrade. I highly recommend the Nikon D40/D40X digital field guide.

Quite simply, if you have this camera, you need this book. Straightforward, easy to understand, and informative. A good dose of "why" to go with the "how"...perfect for a beginner or more advanced type.

This book on the Nikon D40 is the most informative guide on the market.
It is very easy to read and understand.

This is a great field guide! The materials that come with the camera from the factory seem to be so detailed that they lose the reader- - - confusing very often, and poorly written regardless of brand or camera quality. This guide places all essential directions in straight forward english, and tells the reader how to acomplish the desired action. It is clear, and very well written by someone that is not an engineering profesional -- -I refer to it daily !

Great book - with tips about photography basics as well as instructions for the nikon d40x features and usage.

This book very quickly gives the information necessary to begin taking good pictures with a fairly complex camera. Without becoming technical, the basic capabilties of the camera are explained.

Not only does David Busch go in depth into the workings of the Nikon D40 and D40x, he gives great tips for anyone who is taking digital photos, no matter what camera you want to use.

I learned alot about my camera reading this and I'm reading it again to make sure I absorbed it all!

This book is good. I reveals most, maybe all, of the many features of the Nikon D40X. Since I read the manual that came with the camera I was somewhat familiar with most of the camera's features, but having an organized way to go through them again with suggestions as to how to best use them was well worth the cost of the book. The color pictures are a welcome addition to the text.

This is an excellent piece of work, very thoughtfully organized and well written. Nikon should distribute a copy of this book along with the camera, instead of their user manual.
I ordered a copy as soon as I ordered my Nikon D40. The book came first so I had some time to read before I got my hands on the camera. The Nikon user manual never got a chance to open. This will be the best investment you make besides the D40 itself. When you look at the results of your shooting, you will thank yourself for buying this book.

I've been trying to get through the actual manual for almost a year now, it's so obtuse and hard to follow. This book is GREAT and I've begun to love my D40x and appreciate it's many features. What seemed so complicated before in looking at the camera and it's many features has become easy to understand. This book is organized very well and easy to read. Of all the manuals I've read, this one is the first page turner that I've encountered.

Basically, you will never look at your manual again. This book describes everything having to do with your camera, with much greater detail than just the basics of how to navigate the camera. Using color pictures and examples it also shows the effects of certain settings as well and a section just dedicated to composition. Does it cover everything? No, but realistically no one book can. This is a great addition to your camera bag when you go on the road or travel and want a more comprehensive and readible eye friendly "manual" to help you explore, understand, and tame this powerful camera.

This book has been my lifesaver!!! I wish the manual had all the detail in the words anyone could understand. It is well worth the money, you won't be sorry if you are new to SLR cameras.

This book is far more clear and reassuring than the product manual. It's also a handy resource for people new to Photography and an SLR. Bottomline, it's a great buy!!

I have owned a D40x for some time now, and have been getting lovely snapshots with the fully-automatic setting. But, as time passed, I began to get more and more curious about the things I was missing out on. Maybe it's like getting your first computer and connecting to the Internet. For weeks or months, maybe, your browser will satisfy you. But you keep hearing more and more rumors about OTHER programs, strange items like Photoshop, or Nero....

When you get to this point, the manual that comes with the camera is virtually useless. You need someone to sit down with you and explain how the thing works, and why all those funny-seeming bells & whistles are there.

I'll cite one example to try to explain: when the camera is focusing, there are THREE little red boxes which it uses to focus. Now let's say the camera seizes on the middle box, focuses, and won't let go -- while, all along, the subject of major interest is on the RIGHT. So, can't I tell the camera to work with the little red box on the RIGHT? Well, it turns out that I can. I'm sure it's in the Nikon manual somewhere, but in this book it's clearly laid out and explained, along with a lot of other useful information about autofocus.

And, perhaps most important, the author gives you excellent advice and pointers on additional items you might want to buy to make this camera even better. Almost nobody thinks the kit lens is a great Nikon lens, but what would be a good upgrade? Almost nobody thinks the built-in pop-up flash is a world-class device, but I would like more information about add-on external flash devices. Here again, the book does an excellent job. It will cut your Amazon/Internet search time by 90%, guaranteed.

Of course, if you're a professional photographer and Nikon expert, you can do without this book. But for those just getting into DSLR photography with the Nikon D40x, this book would seem to be indispensable!

Exceeded my expectations, and I had already read the manual cover to cover so I was meant to know most of the capabilities of the D40. Where this book excels is that it tells you how to use the functions of the camera to achieve results, as opposed to just telling you what they are meant to be. The practical photography section at the end is outstanding. Excellent colour example photographs throughout. Very impressive.

This is an excellent guide to the Nikon D40X, explaining all of the functions, camera operating modes, and settings. In addition section 2, is a comprehensive guide on taking great pictures with the D40X, covering all of the essentials, with many examples and tips.

Good information on how the camera works, many of it you might already know if you are familiar with DSLR but it includes some details that are good to know.

If you own either of these cameras, this is the guide for you. It is much easier to understand than the original manual that was included with the camera and explains in depth all of the camera's functions, plus examples of how to take great photographs.
It also explains which additional digital lenses can be used and how each of them functions.
If you read this guide through, you will take your camera off "auto" and will enjoy making photographs that you only saw in magazines.

If you own and/or use a Nikon D40 or D40x digital SLR, then this manual is for you. Clear, concise, well laid out with photographs of everything on and about the camera. The manual that Nikon packs with the camera has it all, but what a blasted chore to comb thru to find everything you need to be familiar with. David Busch has done a fine job putting this guide together.

This book was easy to read and understand. I learned so much more about my Nikon D40 and am using that knowledge to improve my skills. Material is presented in an easy to follow order and makes sense.

A+ Book, every easy to understand and follow! Made getting to know my D40x so much better than the user manual from Nikon. Will be kept in the camera bag for quick reference!!

This is a nice companion book to the d40 manual, but it's not a replacement for it. I bought it with my camera because I'm brand new to the slr world, and figured it would give me some extra info, since I like to research and learn all I can with whatever hobby I'm into.

It provides some good detail on the camera, and covers not only setup and use, but photo composition as well. It's easier to read then the manual, and it's good to get a different "take" on things from a different perspective.

I gave it three stars because I realized that the manual is actually very extensive and isn't lacking at all in information. It's easier to read than I thought it would be, and is packed with all the information you could want on the camera (as it should, of course). The manual actually has more specific information on the camera and it's settings, but it's in black and white, doesn't have fancy photos, and a bit harder to read. I have a fairly small camera bag, and the manual fits in it so I carry that with me instead of this book - just because of the size difference, but I don't feel at all like I'm losing anything.

If you could only buy one book with your d40, I'd get a book that goes into more detail about photography in general, and stick with the manual for instruction on how to use the d40. I DO like the book, but I don't think it's quite as necessary as some of the reviews indicate.

Easy to follow guide taylored to my particular camera. It comes with lesson files that correspond to the lessons in the book. If you are new to digital SLRs (like me) this series is a good one. There is a particularly helpful list of websites in the back.

This book is a "must have" for the D40/D40X owner. It is extremely easy to use and Nikon would do well to supply it with the camera instead of their present manual. I have found settings that I was not aware existed and as a result have increased my pleasure in using the camera. I was not aware that infrared photography was possible with digital cameras but this book includes directions and I am in the process of experimenting with it. I am an engineer and frankly I had problems using the included manual but this book has solved that condition.

This is the perfect Nikon D40/D40x guide for anyone unfamiliar with DSLRs. I had a somewhat basic understanding of my D40's controls before I bought this book and reading it has made such a difference in my pictures. Highly reccommended!

If you miss a good manual for your new D 40/D40X, this is the right purchase. It is simple and systematic, and takes you through your camera step by step in a way that is very easy to understand. The last half of the book cover Digital Photografing in general, and it might be practical for a complete beginner. It is not a book about the art of digital photografing though !

This book is great. It gives you a lot of information on the camera, but not just that, it also provides tips and how to apply photographic techniques.
It's a great book.

Amazon got great value on this book. For a beginner, this book sure is useful. I have gotten some amazing shoots following the tips with my D40 using kit lens 18-55mm and 55-200mm. Highly recommended if you just got into DSLR with D40/D40X.

I bought this book as well as the Magic Lantern book. I preferred the Magic Lantern book because it dealt strictly with the D40X camera that I had just purchased. The Digital Field Guide is a good book, but has several chapters on basic photography. As such, it is a good reference.

This book is definitely a "field guide". Take it with you when you are trying to learn to use your Nikon D40. The manual that comes with the camera i difficult to use and has very tiny print. This book takes you through how to se the camera for very basic, point-and-shoot applications and then moves into using the more advanced features. I highly recommend this book for beginners or those new to the D40.

This book is perfect for someone who is just starting out on the Nikon D40 and wants to understand all the camera jargon!

This is WAY better than the 'manual' that comes with the D40. In my humble opinion, this should be included in the box!!

If you purchase a Nikon D40/D40X you will want to be certain to purchase this book too...especially if is the first time you have used a SLR camera and are totally green to the photography lingo!!

This book explains it without making you feel like you are being talked down to!!

This book arrived in great condition and is a useful supplement to the instruction manual. I had a Fuji FinepixS5000 before the Nikon D40, so some of the controls were intuitive/similar-- but this guide has been helpful by enlightening me to the extra special features of the D40.

This book is great for what it is, an expanded manual for the camera. There aren't really any shooting tips (there are a few in the back of the book), but for learning the camera, it's awesome. Highly recommended.

Needed a manual with color pictures and concise detail related to the operation of the Nikon D40 SLR. Great book. Read it several times and still learning something new each time. Excellent photos of each of the camera's screens. Photos related to the text were usually on the same page, so you did not need to hunt. Small enough to keep in a back pack.

Great book when getting to get a good start with a new camera. It is not a basic book on digital photography, but it shows how to use the D40 and its capabilities to do the functions of digital photography. The author has a good easy reading style and covers items to produce great quality pictures from the first time you charge the battery and load the SD card. I liked this book so much I got his book on the D70 for my ohter camera.

If you own this camera, well you should own this book! Its just that simple.
I read the whole book, when I bought my Nikon D-40.
1000's of pictures taken, and I still pull this book out for quick referencing.
Each time I pick it up, to look something up about my camera, or for a solution..there it is.
The book is always around for quick referencing.

Its my owner's manual to my nikon

Very detailed guide for how to use you D40x camera. It gives you information easy to follow for beginners as well as pros. It has helped me to know some short cuts that are excellent for when you are in hurry to take that great pic.

This book is easy to understand. It is a excellent book for new user of NIKON D40.

I bought this camera a year ago and am thrilled with it! I am not thrilled with the manual that came with it though. I was so happy to find this book! If you want a complete manual that will teach you everything you need to know about your Nikon D40/D40X, this book is the one! Very easy to follow.

I find this book very informative. I started reading D40 manual and stumbled upon this book. This book is much easier read and with color photographs. I highly recommend purchasing it.

Fully filled with usefull information and full color pages, as indicated in the product description. Can't wait to try some of the tricks that are included in the manual for interesting tech.

This book is a very useful tool to help those of us that are new to photography. It's written in a way that even the newest of noobs can understand. Just the help with what settings to use in different situations is reason enough to buy this book.

It's definetly something I keep with me whenever I go out to shoot.

I have had my D40X for a while now but just decided as I was about to retire that I would really learn how to use it correctly. This book is really in depth and written so that an amateur photographer could easily understand it. I'm reading it for the second time to absorb some of the more technical things again. Then it will become an intregal part of my camera bag for future reference.

I wish I knew this field guide existed when I 1st bought my camera. I found it about 8 months after and still learned so much from it. Very useful...I still refer back to it occasionally.

This book is filled with great pictures and details. Easy to find what you are working on at the moment.

I bought this with my D40 and it is much easier to read (and more user-friendly) than the manual that comes with the camera. It has great diagrams and examples, and the section on shooting in different situations is helpful.

This book has been useful.
Ironically the pictures in it are kind of corny and not always impressive, but I surmise that it is because they serve as examples of very specific techniques.

I have been using this book with my camera for months now. Very helpful, well written even for the novice.

This is a great supplement to the printed manual Nikon provides with the D40 kit. There are generous amounts of photos and descriptions that explain features in very easy-to-understand terms. While not exactly an "advanced photography" manual by any means, this book will get you very familiar with the D40/40x. The only complaint I might have is that this "field guide" is rather large and heavy to be carried in the field, but with so much information, I'm willing to overlook that.

I'm a SLR newbie, just "graduated" from a point-and shoot. I wasn't getting very far trying to learn about my D40 just by experimenting and reading the camera's manual, so decided to get this book since it had good reviews. I was looking for something to teach me all about the camera, PLUS give me actual examples to try. The author really explains things well. I did have to keep cross-referencing some topics, but that only re-inforced my understanding. To give you an idea what I'm talking about, the book starts out with basics, to get you taking pictures right away, then gets into more details in subsequent chapters. So certain features were necessarily discussed at different depths accordingly, so if you looked in the index you would have more than one page on which a topic was discussed. Overall a great book that I will turn to again and again. The only complaint I have is that, while the scope of the book was to introduce the camera to users (otherwise why buy the book), in the try-it section the author used different filters and flashes in some of the example pictures, which I felt was a jump from the level at which the book was intended.

I studied photography in high school. Then I got a little automatic camera and eventually forgot how to use f-stop and shutter speed. When I got the Nikon D40, I knew I wasn't using it to its full potenial. The owners manual is not so helpful. This great book got me back up to speed and now I'm taking great pictures with my D40!

The book does a MUCH better job of describing the settings then the manual. And that's why I bought it. It IS a bit of a technical read, which is VERY difficult for me to stay focused on, but this book was able to give me a little bit more info on my new camera as well as even offer up some photography basics. I especially recommend this book to folks who are fairly new to the digital photography scene.

Great book for using your D40. The Dummies book for D40 is better, but this book is worth it as second book.

This Nikon D40 field guide is what every owners manual should be. Well written with lots of illustrations. I especially like the practice exercises to really make the text come alive. This book is helping get so much more out of my Nikon D40 than the owners manual.Nikon D40 Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Lens and Nikon AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED DX VR Zoom-Nikkor Lens + 4GB (SD) Card

This book is worth the money. It gives more details than the book that comes with the camera but it could be a little better. I'd like to see a book with more examples. The book does give you instances when you would used the features which is very helpful for a novice to photography.

This book is ok, but there are better ones out there. It's a quality publication and advances where the owners manual stops. For someone already familiar with basic photography (use ASM always) then this book probably won't offer you very much. If you're lost when you use manual settings on the D40 this book helps a little, but you may walk away still not getting it. Gets 4 stars because he could have been more conceptual when discussing the art of manually using a camera.