The Nikon D40X

It looks like Nikon is going after the market leader, Canon 400D / Rebel XTi with the surprise release of the new 10 mega pixels Nikon D40X. With a recommended retail price of $799 for the kit lens, it is $100 lower than the Canon 400D/ Rebel XTi. Normally it is Canon which has the lower price.

Here's what they write in the press release.

TOKYO – Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the D40X, a new digital SLR incorporating a 10.2-megapixel CCD. The D40X is scheduled to launch worldwide at March 29, 2007 and is a sister model to the D40, which has a 6.1-megapixel CCD.

While maintaining the compact size and portability of the D40 camera body, the D40X produces even more outstanding, detailed pictures thanks to its 10.2-megapixel CCD and cutting-edge digital technologies. Its resolution power makes it easy for users to print up very large sizes or crop aggressively without losing any fine details. The D40X is loaded with everything you need for truly amazing images: a 10.2-megapixel CCD, Nikon’s exclusive 3D Color Matrix Metering II, an improved Image Processing Engine and superb Auto White Balance. Together with a world-famous Nikkor lens, these features combine to ensure perfect exposure, refined details and natural, vivid colors.

The D40X shares the D40’s ergonomic design and streamlined interface, which means the same intuitive operation that’s simple and fun – even for entry-level users. The bright and clear viewfinder ensures precise composition, while the 2.5-inch large LCD monitor utilizes an easy-to-use menu system and a wide viewing angle so that everyone can navigate their settings and view their images with ease. There is also a handy built-in Help menu: simply press a button and useful information on key features is displayed on the LCD monitor.

The D40X is fast. Its near-instant power-up (0.18 second) and fast, reliable responses help photographers act on the moment, while the continuous shooting mode lets photographers easily capture up to 100 JPEG images of action as fast as 3 frames* per second. The camera’s razor-sharp auto focus ensures crisp images for a wide variety of photographic scenes.
*The fastest frame rates can be achieved by choosing manual focus, rotating the mode dial to S or M and selecting a shutter speed of 1/250 s. or faster, using defaults for all other settings.

Flash photography is simple with the D40X because the camera employs Nikon’s market-leading i-TTL flash control, which evaluates ideal flash exposure automatically and accurately, even in difficult lighting situations.

Eight Digital Vari-Program modes offer creative shooting options that are optimized for common shooting situations. Fun, fast and simple, they are as easy to use as rotating the mode dial. For further control over aperture and shutter speed, P/S/A/M modes are available.

Exclusive in-camera image editing features are available in the Retouch menu. One of the main features is Nikon’s exceptional D-lighting, which brings out details usually lost in underexposed areas of an image while retaining the proper exposure in brighter areas. Photographers can also correct red-eye easily, or use Monochrome effects to change an image to Black-and-white, Sepia tone or Cyanotype.

Some of the D40X’s major improvements include an even longer-lasting battery that allows up to 520 images* per charge (470 images* for the D40), faster continuous shooting at 3 frames per second (2.5 fps for the D40) and a wider ISO sensitivity of 100 to 1600, plus HI 1 (200 to 1600 plus HI 1 for the D40).

* CIPA standards

While it inherits many advanced digital and optical technologies from professional models, the D40X and its sister model, the D40, are Nikon’s smallest, most compact digital SLR cameras. By offering everyone mobility, ease-of-use and incredible pictures with great resolution, the D40X welcomes everyone to the world of Nikon digital SLR photography.

Major features

Intuitive, simple and trouble-free operation
The most compact Nikon digital SLR ever, featuring intuitive controls and ergonomics designed for everyone
A large 2.5-inch LCD monitor with easy-to-view menus, large fonts and careful color schemes for easy preview and setting changes
Bright and clear viewfinder with 0.8x magnification for precise composition
Long-life rechargeable lithium-ion battery that allows up to 520 images* on a single charge (*CIPA standards)
Handy assist images that help photographers select the right camera settings
Optional Wireless Remote Control ML-L3 for easy remote shutter release

Superior image quality and resolution
10.2-effective-megapixel
Nikon DX Format CCD imaging sensor, producing 3,872 x 2,592-pixel images
High-precision digital image processing algorithms for natural-looking pictures with faithful color and tone reproduction
Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II for ideal exposures in almost any lighting condition
Variable Center-weighted metering and Spot metering centered on the active focus area
Auto White Balance for natural colors, plus six different manual white balance settings and user-defined preset white balance

Fast and precise responses
Quick 0.18 second power-up to respond to every photographic opportunity
Fast continuous shooting mode enables up to 100 JPEG images (FINE L-size or smaller) at 3 frames* per second
*The fastest frame rates can be achieved by choosing manual focus, rotating the mode dial to S or M and selecting a shutter speed of 1/250 s. or faster, using defaults for all other settings.
Advanced three-area AF system and refined algorithms for fast, efficient and precise auto focus
Versatile shutter speed control ranging from 30 to 1/4000 s., plus bulb

Accurate automated and manual control for predictable results
Eight Digital Vari-Programs that adjust camera settings automatically for incredible scene-specific pictures. Selections include Auto, Auto (Flash Off), Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close Up, and Night Portrait
Manual controls over shutter and aperture: P (Programmed Auto), S (Shutter-priority Auto), A (Aperture-priority Auto) and M (Manual)
Automatic and manual control over ISO sensitivity from ISO 100 to 1600, as well as HI 1 (manual only)
Simultaneous recording of NEF (RAW) and JPEG basic data for the same image
Built-in Flash with Nikon’s dependable i-TTL flash control, supporting Auto flash, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync, Rear curtain sync and Flash exposure compensation

Retouch Menu for creative in-camera image edits and effects
Selections include D-lighting, Red-eye correction, Trim, Monochrome (Black-and-white, Sepia, and Cyanotype), Filter effects (Skylight, Warm filter, and Color balance), Small picture and Image overlay

Seamless integration with Nikon Total Digital Imaging System
Fully compatible (auto focus is supported) with AF-S and AF-I Nikkor lenses, which are equipped with an auto focus motor (Also compatible with most of the world-famous F-mount Nikkor lenses when in manual focus mode)
Supports the Nikon Creative Lighting System when using the SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-R200 or the R1C1 Wireless Close-Up Speed light system for accurate exposures via i-TTL flash and versatile wireless operation
Nikon’s Picture Project software to share, organize and edit pictures with ease.
Capture NX software (available separately) for creative photo editing with NEF (RAW), JPEG and TIFF images. Thanks to U Point™ technology, by Nik Software Inc., radical and subtle image enhancements are as easy as a few clicks

For detailed specifications click here