Nikon D40X DSLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX and 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens

First let me say, this is not a 'professional' camera. This is a prosumer camera, or a camera a professional might use as a backup. At 10.2 MP, the image quality is very good and you can blow pictures up and crop them, and still end up with a good image.I researched DSLRs for 2 weeks, reading about them and playing with them at Circuit City. I chose the Nikon D40x for the following reasons...1) Heavier construction, more durable than the Canon Digital Rebel XTi1a) Also feels better in my hand, which was a personal perference.2) .1 MP higher than the Canon3) 4.1 MP higher than the Nikon D404) $350 less than the D80 (I would have preferred the D80, but I wasn't trying to spend $1500+ after getting more lenses and accessories).5) $632 for the D40x with the 18-55mm kit lens, which is much better than Canon's 28-55mm kit lens (which has horrible reviews).6) Nikkor Lenses-- cannot say enough about how important it is to have a good lens. Nikon seems to have the best lenses on the market.7) Takes an SD card-- the Canon takes a CF card. SD cards are cheaper for the same GBs8) Nikon has a better warranty situation and I heard they are very customer oriented.9) Nikon name is legendary in photography, and has the best and most easily available equipment.10) For $975 (several purchases on Amazon), I got the following: D40x with 18-55mm lens, 55-200mm VR (vibration reduction lens), Nikon ballistic bag, extra battery (2 total), Nikon guide to photography, 2GB Sandisk Extreme III SD card, Sandisk USB card reader, (2) different Nikon Lens protective padded pouches, Nikon Microfiber lens/screen rag, Nikon Pen style brush lens cleaner, Digital Recovery Software, and Digital Photo Editing Software. Also included was a free trial of Photoshop.All in all, this is a perfect camera for someone who is interested in DSLR photography but doesn't know squat about Aperture, ISO, Shutter Speed, F-stops, Manual Focusing, Bokeh, etc. This camera makes it easy to get introduced to DSLR photography without feeling overwhelmed. It additionally is great for someone who is on a budget-- such as a college or high school student who wants to pursue photography as a career. The quality of pictures is absolutely amazing for a $632 camera (and that includes a GOOD lens).

The D40 is Nikon's entry level DSLR. The D40X is an improved version with a 10 Megapixel sensor instead of the 6 MP that the D40 has. I haven't used my D40X much yet, but like what I've seen.Picture quality is great, as good as any 10 MP camera and better than most, thanks to Nikon optics. I can take 3 frames/second, which is a big help for rapid action. Most controls are easy to get to, but knowing which button does what involves a fairly steep learning curve.On the down side: One display, on the back. This means that menus can be crowded and it can take a while to find the setting you're trying to change. While bracketing is easy, it cannot be automated like the more expensive cameras can.It only uses AS lenses. This may be a temporary problem, but I think is's a minor one. I have the 18-55mm and will soon add the 55-200mm. If I want a longer lens, I have to use manual focus until longer AS lenses are produced. In my case, If I need longer than 200mm (equivalent to 300mm in 35 film cameras), I'm shooting long distances anyway, so I'll focus on the hyperfocal distance and have everything from 20-30 ft to infinity in focus (depending on focal length and f/stop).If I could afford twice the price, I'd probably spend it. As it is, this is one of best values on the market today.

I have had my Nikon D40x for two years now and love it just as much as I did the day I bought it.In the ensuing two years I've learned a few things about this camera and photography which I will share.-I did a lot of research before deciding on this camera. Most of all I am so glad that I chose a DSLR--especially this DSLR over a Point and Shoot digital. The additional weight/size is well worth the quality you get.-Of all the photo settings, I would say that 80% of my photos are taken in full auto mode. The other modes that I use regularly but less often are the aperature priority, and macro modes. Unless you're taking photos of subjects that don't move, then I recommend the auto mode because the photo will be "gone" if you're busy fiddling with the controls.-I take a lot of photos of my young nieces, and having no shutter lag lets me have "What you see is what you get" photos.-This camera will improve your photography, but the bottom line is that unless you have a good eye, no camera is going to give you great shots.-After owning my D40x for a year I invested in the Nikon sb400 flash. The increased power/range and the ability to bounce the flash improved flash photos with the D40x by 100% over the quality of the photos with just the built-in flash. Flash photos look so even and natural, and there's never red-eye.-I use the 18-55 mm lens far more than the 55-200 mm lens.-The only thing I don't like all of the time is the function of the autofocus. Sometimes it "misses," and I think that this is because there are only 3 focal points.-I take all of my photos in "fine" mode. This gives me the freedom of enlarging and or cropping later, without sacrificing quality. I use a 2 gb SDHC card, and have never "run out" of space in a day's shooting. I have not traveled much with this camera, but if I did and was "on the road," I would use a card with larger capacity.-10.2 MP is more than enough--the lens optics are far more important, and Nikon makes fantastic lenses.-Occasionally shooting at ISO 1600 isn't high enough, and I wish this camera had an ISO of 3200. Mostly, it's not an issue except in low light situations with no flash.I hope this retrospective review is helpful to your purchasing decision.

camera does work but none of the accessories, terrible

Arrived In a zip lock bag inside a box. The camera insides were very dusty but a little cleaning gave it justice.