I have a few different cameras but this is my favorite so far...

This is the perfect camera for me. I am not a photographer, I am a painter. This camera handles all my research need with absolutely no difficulty or worry on my part. What I see in the view finder is what I will see in the photo.

The Nikon D40 is my first SLR digital camera. It has plenty of options for the serious student photographer with room to grow, while also having the convenience and ease of use for the casual user with discriminating tastes. I love my NIKON. I love the way it cradles in my hand and responds to my touch.

I have this camera and use it in my shoots. The quality of the images are fantastic. I've used several other professional cameras and if you are not completely steady, the image would be blurred. You do not get this with the Nikon D40. It's a great camera for beginners as well. Changing to a better lens really increases the quality. It's about who the photographer is that makes the image, but having a great camera like this, make the image so much better.

I absolutely love this camera. Besides being able to shoot high quality pictures and being extremely reliable, it also functions as the perfect artists tool. When ever I need to document progress or take a slide of a new work, its just point, click, and upload. Not to mention its extremely affordable, has awesome battery power!

Great camera for the real amateur simple and easy to use, great files to work with...Not a Pro camera thogh

I only can compare to Canon rebels D300, XT and XTI because I have the most experience with these cameras.
This is the first generation of the lower budget end line, in Nikons arsenal of quality cameras. The ones fallow the D40x, D60. Have little improvement other than megapixel count. Nikon D40 is the better deal for the price difference.
I have used Canon Rebel which I found really hard to fit in my hand, way too small of a grip to control or even hold because of the shallow grip seems to hurt my fingers. D40 is a smaller overall camera compared to all canon rebels but what it lacks in size it compensates for way better ergonomics and its very well balanced in my opinion. The size is nice also because I can easily take it with me every ware without feeling like I’m held down. I walk and bike a lot so this really counts for me. The big thing Rebel is better in that it the battery grip which would have been a great addition if you want to use bigger lenses, but it would compromise its compact size. Even without the battery grip I hardly ever have to change and charge my batteries. It takes me four days with heavy use to wear down the battery. The buttons are sensibly placed and are big enough for my hands to use even with winter gloves on.
The controls are so easy and it is easy to start out with and is much less intimidating than other cameras. The best style of the rear display is classic mode the rest are almost useless, but the graphic interface is good for learning exposure and aperture. The help menus are really helpful for me and have learned a lot, and will keep on learning. Some say the controls are TOO simple which to a point I have to agree, but to us that are new to DSLR’s it’s a great camera to learn on. I haven’t completely out grown it yet because I have difficulty with manual controls, not the cameras fault, it’s just learning curb for me and I need to take time to learn.
The picture quality is great for the price. I only use raw nef. files, which gives me the most control and flexibility I love. JPEG is great but I rather have more control. The picture quality drops when the iso is set past 200 but the pictures are still usable.
Nikon D40 is missing a auto focus lens motor to keep down size and weight, and price, so that means you have to buy AF-S lenses which are the new generation of Nikon lenses so few people will have a problem. The lens is great for a kit lens. It is a lot better quality than canons, which is horrible so much distortion and noise, its ridicules. Nikons lens weakness in my opinion is when taking night pics.

I love my D40 and have basically no complaints towards it. The only problem I have encountered is when shooting in low-light or at night. The picture quality drops and becomes incredibly grainy.