Nikon D40x - new budget DSLR from Nikon Digital SLR Review

Nikon D40x Review - With no little haste, Nikon has updated the D40 with a bigger sensor and user friendly interface. Duncan Evans checks it out.
The original D40 was Nikon's entry level DSLR, but with a paltry 6Mp resolution it was starting to look sickly in comparison to the robust Canon EOS 400D entry level model that boasted 10Mp. One quick re-engineering job later and here's the D40x.

Specifications:

• Effective Pixels: 10.2Mp
• Image Sensor: RGB CCD, 23.6 x 15.8 mm
• Image Sizes: 3872x2592, 2896x1944, 1936x1296
• ISO Sensitivity: 100 to 1600 in steps of 1EV with additional setting one step over 1600
• Storage Media: SD, SDHC compliant
• Storage System: Compressed NEF (RAW), 12-bit compression
• File System: Exif 2.21, Compliant DCF 2.0 and DPOF
• White Balance: Auto (TTL white-balance with 420-pixel RGB sensor), six manual modes with fine-tuning and preset white balance
• LCD Monitor: 2.5-in, 230k low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with brightness adjustment
• Focus Area: Selected from three focus areas
• AF Area Modes: Single Area AF, Dynamic Area AF, Dynamic Area AF with Closest Subject Priority
• Exposure Metering: 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); Color Matrix Metering II (other CPU lenses); Centre-weighted; Spot meter
• Exposure Modes: Digital Vari-program (Auto, Auto [Flash Off], Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close Up, Night Portrait), Programmed Auto (P) with flexible program; Shutter-Priority Auto (S); Aperture Priority Auto (A); Manual (M)
• Exposure Compensation: ±5 EV in increments of 1/3 EV
• Exposure Lock: Exposure locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button
• Shooting Modes: Single frame,Continuous (approx. 3fps), Self-timer, Delayed remote mode: 2sec delay, Quick-response remote mode.
• Shutter speed: 30sec to 1/4000sec in steps of 1/3 EV, bulb
• Hotshoe: flash synchronisation at up to 1/200sec.
• Flash Control: TTL flash control by 420-pixel RGB sensor, i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL fill-flash for digital SLR available when CPU lens is used with built-in flash, SB-800, SB-600, and SB-400
• Built in flash: Guide No. 12
• Further info here.

This camera is in the dogfight for entry level DLSR users, either those upgrading from film, or buying their first digital SLR. As such, competitors include ones from Olympus with the E-330 and of course, the Canon EOS 400D.

Modes and features
The action with the D40x takes place on the mode dial and the menu system. Externally, it's the mode dial that offers the usual PASM shooting modes, plus Auto, No flash (another program mode), Portrait, Landscape, Children, Sports, Macro and Night portrait. The first comment to make here then is over the inclusion of a Macro mode, which of course is lens dependent rather than being a setting in the camera. In reality this sets the aperture to f/4 or f/5, changes the ISO setting to Auto so that the shutter speed can be kept up, and isn't afraid to activate the flash. In terms of camera modes for beginners though, this is all a bit halfway house between what a compact could offer and the austerity of a regular DSLR.

Next to the On/Off switch and fire button are buttons for Info and exposure compensation. The Info button brings up all the shooting information, including a graphic of the aperture being used, though the value of this is dubious, with most beginners not appreciating what it means. A press of the i button on the bottom right of the camera activates control over all the functions being used currently, all positioned on the one screen. This is very handy considering that almost everything has to be accessed through the menu otherwise.

As the body is very compact, there's no room on the top for an information LCD plate, as with bigger cameras. All this information has to be displayed on the back of the camera. Around the back is a tiny exposure and focus lock button. This allows either, or, the focus and exposure to be read from one part of the picture, then locked, and applied to a new composition.

Next to the flashgun is the flash exposure compensation button, allowing various degrees of flash to be used from very light effects, through fill-flash to full on power. Below this is the Function button that is initially set up to work on self-timing. Aside from playback and menu navigation buttons on the back, that's it for the physical controls. Certainly if you want to use lots of features in a hurry then this camera is going to be a pain, but for beginners it hides the more complex features until you feel up to tackling them.

Everything else now has to be accessed from the Menu system, which has the annoying habit of turning off after about 15secs. Anyway, here is where all the good stuff like image quality (JPEG or NEF RAW or NEF and JPEG basic), White Balance, ISO range (100-1600 plus a high mode), the optimising of the image, metering and focus point selection and all the setup configuration. The White Balance settings cover the usual presets such as shade, flash, tungsten and fluorescent, with the option of fine tuning these by plus or minus three. Three what is anyone's guess. It doesn't use the Kelvin system of colour temperature.

The metering modes are the usual zone, centre-weighted and spot which work well. The focussing points are a little more limited being arranged in three points on the horizontal plane.

Build and handling
Being an entry level camera also means that it has to be as small as possible, apparently. Certainly the D40x is all handgrip and LCD and nothing else. It's comfortable to hold and use and heavier than it looks. The main point is that most of the functions, instead of being on dials where they can be accessed easily, are on the menu system, which slows down the use of the camera in the field. While the body has a cheapish plastic finish, it actually feels quite solid so that it will stand up to day-to-day use without falling apart. There's only one thumbwheel, so functions that require two parameters adjusting at once need to use a button as well as the wheel.

Flash options
It's the hotshoe or the built-in flash. The hotshoe allows access to the SB-400, 600 and 800 flashguns that are the basis of the Nikon wireless i-TTL flash system. The built in flash is similar to that on the D200 and offers a guide number of 12, plus options for varying the power of the output.

Performance
Startup is pretty quick, although if you wait for the basic information screen to come up on the LCD it slows the process down. There is actually no need to wait for it because as soon as the camera is turned on it's ready to shoot. The shooting rate is a maximum of 3fps, but this is under optimal conditions, with a fast shutter speed selected. In practice it's more like 1.5fps and this is only for nine shots before the buffer fills up so the reality is some way short of the headline claim.

The autofocus is reasonable, being relatively speedy and fairly tenacious. Certainly at this price point there are no complaints. However, the focus system is fairly basic, only using three points on a horizontal line, although how these are used can be changed. It certainly isn't a sophisticated system.

The metering is generally very good, whichever system is used, and produces well balanced images in all kinds of conditions. However, it really is a bit of a pain to have to go and set the metering through the menu system.

Nikon make great claims that the camera is very beginner friendly, with a built in help system. It's there but it isn't really a helping hand as it's too inaccessible. The fact that the main display turns itself off as soon as the camera focusses on anything doesn't really help the rank beginner either. Where the help comes in, is in bringing up the info screen and then pressing the i button. Now, when each element of the settings is selected, the camera displays a thumbnail that shows the circumstances under which it should be employed. For some this is very useful, but for others it's not very clear as to what the alternatives mean - the focus point and metering for example. However, as a basic help system it's worth having, but it is rather buried within the camera's operation.

When we come to the colours, even on the standard settings, these are well saturated, more representative of what a compact would produce. The blue colours are generally brighter and so are the reds. However, mixtures of colours, aside from blue-green which is more like cyan, and yellow-green which is a weaker green, are pretty accurate.

Detail, thanks to that 10Mp resolution, tends to be quite good, though the kit lens with the D40x, the Nikkor 18-55mm is a little plastic feeling and lacks real sharpness. Certainly the results from the D40x will please anyone, from beginner to more experienced user as they are lively with plenty of impact.

The red and blue primaries are brighter than might be expected, but the green is very neutral. The colour mixes are largely accurate though the blue-green and yellow-green are a little off.

The portrait test produces a reasonable result with good skin tones, but the image is certainly soft and lacks fine detail which may be no bad thing in a portrait.

The landscape test shows a good detail in the foreground, and the grass is a lively colour despite the dismal conditions. The image lacks real sharpness though this is more due to the kit lens.

In this shot the colours really shone out of the scene with strong greens and very lively blues in the sky. There's also good detail throughout the image.

This is a tricky shot for metering as the contrast is too wide for the camera to capture. The tree should turn into a silhouette, but some detail has been lost in the sky.

With plenty of black the picture could have been overexposed, but the off-white petals could have been underexposed. However, the metering has coped well and the colours are nicely rendered.

 

Noise tests
There's some noise evident in the plain, grey area at ISO100 which isn't too good. Moving up to ISO200 the colour distinctly deepens, with the noise becoming more evident in the plain areas. At ISO400 it's more noticeable again, but also, the detail in the petals is softer - though the colour stays the same as the ISO200 shot. At ISO800 the detail is slightly more soft, the noise in the plain areas has become coloured and thus intrusive. At ISO1600 the noise is now quite sharp, making the image very bitty and only really suitable in colour for very low light situations where grainy images are expected. The high ISO mode suffers significant image degradation, becomes more contrasty and the colour darkens appreciably.

ISO100 test.

ISO200 test.

ISO400 test.

ISO800 test.

ISO1600 test.

High ISO test.

 

Verdict
While the D40x lacks some of the more sophisticated options of bigger cameras, it's certainly well specified in the budget market and readily capable of taking on the Canon EOS 400D. The body is light and compact, but this means that all the functions that would otherwise be on dials etc, are hidden away on menus. The lack of a top-mounted LCD is a drawback because the information that is displayed on the rear LCD never stays there for very long. The help system for the beginner is rather packed away and not immediately accessible. While the shooting speed of the camera is a long way off the marketing claims, with just modest performance, it's the ease of use of the camera and the results that count the most in this marketplace. On that score, the D40x is easy to pick up and start shooting with because the more advanced functions are kept out of the way initially, and the results, while lacking a great deal of sharpness thanks to the kit lens, are generally pleasing.

Plus points:
10Mp resolution
Help system
Small and compact
Good quality images
Well saturated colours
Good built-in flash

Minus points:
Shooting speed isn't great
Pictures not super-sharp
Some noise at ISO100
Help system is buried
Only sRGB

FEATURES

HANDLING

PERFORMANCE

OVERALL

The Nikon D40x kit comes with a Nikkor DX 18-55mm f/3.5 lens and has a street price of around £498.

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Sigma SD14 Digital SLR Review

Sigma SD14 reviewed - After more than three years of rumours and promises, Sigma's latest digital SLR camera, the SD14, sporting an improved Foveon X3 sensor, became available in April. Ian Andrews has had his hands on one for a trial.

Specifications

• Image Sensor: Foveon X3® (CMOS). Three layers of 4.66Mp each, total 14Mp.
• Image size: RAW - 2640x1760 (4.6Mp), JPEG - 4608x3072 (14Mp), 2640x1760 (4Mp), 1776x1184, 1296x864 pixels.
• Mount: Sigma SA bayonet mount
• Angle of view: 1.7x focal length of lens in 35mm format
• Storage Media: Compact Flash (Type 1/11), Microdrive, (FAT32 compatible)
• Shooting speed: 3fps
• Shutter speed: 30-1/4000sec plus bulb
• Focus mode: Single AF, Continuous AF (with motion prediction), Manual
• Metering: Eight segment evaluative, centre, centre-weighted.
• ISO range: ISO100-1600
• Program modes: P, A, S, M
• Exposure compensation: +/-3EV
• Built-in flash: Guide Number 11
• External flash: PC-sync or hotshoe, contact at 1/180sec or less.
• LCD monitor: 2.5in TFT (150k pixels).
• Dimensions: 14.4x10.73x8.05cm
• Weight: 700g without batteries

This camera is unique in that it is the only one on the market today that does not use Bayer pattern sensor technology with a colour matrix over the photosites. The Foveon sensor packs its punch by stacking its pixels in piles of three, one layer for each red, green and blue colour, hence the X3 name. However, with an SRP of £1099 it is in competition with the Nikon D200, the Fuji S5 Pro and the Pentax K10D.

Modes and Features
Sigma are best known for their lenses, but they have been producing cameras since 1976 so they have some 30 years experience. Their philosophy has always been to keep the controls as simple as possible and, even in this sophisticated digital age they have managed to keep this tradition. Modes are restricted to the standard PASM with no pretension to scene modes. These are selected via the mode dial on the right of the prism. On the left of the prism housing is the second control dial that turns the camera on and selects, in sequence, single frame, continuous, self timed 10s and 2s, mirror up and an auto bracketing drive. The shutter release is surrounded by an adjustment dial and there is a small button to illuminate the LCD screen that shows the shooting parameters which finishes off the top of a clean camera.

The rear is just as uncluttered with 11 buttons, four directions on a basic joypad layout with a central selector and a +/- rocker pair. Between them, they control virtually all the functions of the camera and the one marked menu, when pressed, reveals a simple menu that is not multi-layered and impossible to find things in.

Around the mount on the front of the camera are just three buttons. One is the mount release, one to set flash exposure compensation and the last is a depth-of-field preview button. The bottom of the camera simply sports the tripod socket and battery door.

On the right side of the camera is a slide and lift cover for the Compact Flash slot, capable of using Type I and II cards and Microdrives the system supports FAT32 used by larger cards. The left side carries a flash-sync socket, release socket and a rubber door hiding connectors for USB2 AC power in and video out. It is one of the easier ones to open and close whilst retaining good weatherproofing.

Gone is the sports finder of the earlier SD9/10, replaced by a full viewfinder that is bright and has good dioptre adjustment on a slider over the top of the finder.

Criticised for their RAW only approach in earlier cameras, Sigma have introduced in-camera JPEG recording for the first time with four sizes up to 14Mp and three quality options. There are also three size options for RAW capture, but only up to 4.6Mp, although there is no option to record the two file types at the same time. Selecting them is a simple matter of pressing a button on the rear of the camera allowing the buttons on the four-way controller to scroll through the options. The same method is used to select ISO and white balance.

Another first for Sigma's digital cameras is the inclusion of a pop-up flash unit with a useful guide number of 11, fine for those little fill jobs.

One of the biggest improvements over the SD9/10 is in the Auto-focus department, where the new system has jumped from the single point of the older model to a very usable five point system that is much quicker and very accurate. The AF points can be selected by pressing the button at the top-right corner of the rear of the camera and turning the front selector wheel, something that quickly becomes natural. Single points, or all five points can be selected, though other cameras in this price range offer more comprehensive facilities.

Another criticism that Sigma have addressed is the battery system of the older models which was a tad 'Heath-Robinson' to say the least. This has been replaced with a conventional type of rechargeable unit that has a good life span, already topping the 300 image mark on a number of occasions on the test camera.

Build and Handling
Gone are the brick-like qualities of the old models, replaced by a body that has good ergonomics and much more pleasant looks that put it somewhere between the D70 and D80. It does lack a rear control wheel and the front one is rather chunky and noisy though. Those with big hands will find that, with the addition of the optional PG-21 power grip, it is one of the most comfortable rigs available. Those of you who have used, or even just heard, the shutter of earlier models will be amazed how quiet this model is. The sound of the camera firing is little more than a whisper. All of the controls fall easily to hand and there are none of the secondary collars that proved so fiddly in previous incarnations. The positioning of the controls is not so far from the older ones as to cause any confusion to up-graders whilst being well placed for newcomers to the system.

Flash Options
Built-in, hot-shoe or sync socket are the options with the hot-shoe allowing use of the 500 DG, 500 DG Super and 140DG Ringflash units from Sigma that are dedicated to the camera. Flash compensation is set via a button on the side of the camera mount and sync speeds up to 1/180^th second can be set. The built in flash needs to be manually lifted, so doesn't pop up unless you want it and has a useful guide number of 11.

Performance
The camera takes a moment to start up which is slower than the SD9/10 which were near instantaneous. Once the camera is powered up, most functions are fairly instant and none gave cause for concern. Even the write speeds have improved, although so has the pixel count so perhaps they could have been improved further. Frame rate, billed as three frames a second, is achieved at decent shutter speeds but the buffer capacity is still a little shy with just six frames achievable at the fine JPEG or RAW setting. This doubles for the medium JPEG setting and doubles again for the lowest one. As soon as each shot is saved the camera is ready to shoot the next image, so you don't have to wait until they are all saved. However, depending on the speed of the memory card, it can be a fair wait until all images are cleared out.

As mentioned earlier, the AF system is a good improvement, now sporting five AF points that are selectable, as is the power management but the thing we have all wondered about is the image quality from the unique sensor. And the second question is concerned with the noise in the images.

There is a fuller explanation of the Foveon sensor used in the SD14 here. Billed as a 14Mp sensor (three sensor layers of 4.6Mp each), the image quality that the camera achieves is certainly outstanding. One of the major criticisms of the older models was the poor performance as the ISO increased as far as noise was concerned. This has not only been improved in this camera, but the handling of it has also improved in the new SPP3 software that is supplied with it. This has had a double-edged effect in that owners of the older models can re-process files for a much better effect. The software is available as a download to existing owners.

To get the best from this camera does require shooting in the RAW X3F format and self-processing with this software. The results from the built in JPEG options are very good but with very little control over the output, the menu adjustments restricted to Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation and Colour Space. The camera comes as a body only, so as a lens we used the highly rated 18-50mm EX DC f/2.8 standard zoom from Sigma, who, incidentally, are the only manufacturer to make lenses in the SA mount that the camera uses. With a crop factor of 1.7x the lens equates to a 30.5-85mm lens on a 35mm film camera.

The images here have been taken with the JPEG option set to Fine Hi, which produces an image of 2640x1760 pixels (4.64Mp), although there is a Super Hi setting that will produce images of 4608x3072 in-camera, using interpolation from the 36-bits of data, through the three layers, for each pixel location.

The colour chart shows that the recorded colours, even in the JPEG option, are very close to true with just a slight shift towards the blue channel.

The skin tones here are near enough spot on with no detectable casts. Every hair is visible though, giving a clue to the resolution recorded.

The landscape test shows good detail even deep into the shadow areas and again, colours being accurately represented.

This image of a Grecian town market day, this time shot with the versatile 18-200mm lens, again shows true colour recording.

Sigma's range of lenses provide the most comprehensive coverage of any system, from 8mm to 800mm. This shot, on a windy day, was taken with a 105mm Macro.

Noise Test
Here is the anomaly. While the JPEG option is included in the camera, the handling of the noise that spoiled earlier incarnations is not much better when shooting JPEG images. At ISO100 the noise is negligible and at ISO200 it is acceptable for most purposes. By the ISO400 mark though, it is starting to become a problem that is quite serious and by the ISO800 mark it is so evident that, to all intents and purposes the images are not worth the disc space they occupy. But, and this is a big but, shoot in the camera's RAW X3F format and process them in the new SPP3 software, which is much more powerful than the in-camera version, and there is a world of difference. In fact, there is little more visible noise in the X3F ISO800 image than there is in the JPEG ISO100 image and less than the JPEG ISO200 image.

ISO100 test.

ISO200 test.

ISO400 test.

ISO800 test.

ISO1600 test.

 

This is an ISO800 test card shot with JPEG and not processed for noise. Colour blotches and gritty noise can be clearly seen.

This is ISO800 shot in RAW and processed. The colour blotches are gone but the image detail is softer, the colour is different and the grey card area is still noisy.

 

Verdict
Designed for the experienced photographer, the SD14 is, thankfully, free of preset scene modes but does have designated settings for things like Mirror-up, 2sec self timer with auto mirror up and a 10sec self timer, which are all useful. Sigma are well known for their lenses but are a very small camera manufacturer and to apply the advances in the SD14 over their previous models without going to a major manufacturer for the hardware speaks volumes for their ingenuity. It is not the fastest camera out there but for many forms of photography speed is not essential. What the SD14 does have, apart from the advances in handling over its predecessors, is superb image quality and colour fidelity when used in its intended RAW format.

 

Plus points:
Simple operation
Uncluttered menu
Superb image quality
JPEG option now included
Useful on-board flash
Sensible battery system
Improved software is backwards compatible

Minus points:
Buffer fills up after six shots
Write speeds a little slow (restricting frame-rate)
No RAW plus JPEG option
Start-up time slower than previously
Focus system fairly basic
JPEG images noisy at ISO100

FEATURES:

HANDLING:

PERFORMANCE:

OVERALL:

The Sigma SD14 has a street price of around £1000

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