Nikon makes four of the top-ten selling DSLR cameras sold in 2010. During Nikon's long history of manufacturing optics, the company's signature "F" mount has not changed. This mount allows lenses made more than 50 years ago to fit currently made camera bodies. In the case of the Nikon D40, Nikon made a small change in the body's design that limits the number of fully compatible lenses for use on the camera.
Nikon D40 History
Nikon introduced the 6.1 megapixel D40 camera in 2007. The camera quickly received great reviews and won a number of awards. Nikon's D40 incorporated a new in-camera focusing technology for use with Nikon lenses. The D40 does not have a focus motor in the body. This prevents the D40 from working in autofocus mode with previous Nikon autofocus lenses. Nikon developed a new line of lenses called "DX" lenses that are specifically designed for use with the D40 and other Nikon DX cameras.
Nikon DX Lenses
Nikon makes a large number of lenses that have full autofocus and metering capabilities when used on the D40. The Nikon DX lens lineup includes wide-angle lenses such as the 10.5mm f/2.8G ED fisheye lens and 35mm f/1.8G wide-angle lens. In the zoom lens category, fully compatible lenses include the 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED, the 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED and the 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II lens. Nikon also makes the 85mm f/3.5G ED VR lens that has close-up capabilities. As of March 2011, the longest focal length lens in Nikon's DX lineup is the 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens.
Other Manufacturers' Lenses
Other manufacturers produce lenses designed for use with Nikon's D40. Sigma, Tokina and Tamron all produce lenses that have full autofocus and metering capabilities on the D40. These lenses include Tokina's AT-X 116 Pro DX, the AT-X 16.5-135 DX and the AT-X 107 AF DX Fisheye. Sigma makes over 40 lenses that have full compatibility with the D40. These lenses include the 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM, the 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO lens and the 8mm f/3.5 EX DG Circular Fisheye lens. Tamron's compatible lens lineup includes the SP 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di-II, the 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di-II VC and the SP 180mm f/3.5 Di.
Non-DX Lenses
Nikon's vast lens lineup includes more non-DX lenses than DX lenses. Non-DX lenses mount on the Nikon D40, but they have limited capabilities. Non-DX lenses do not autofocus on the D40 or allow use of the camera's 3D Color Matrix Metering system. Photographers can use non-DX lenses in manual, shutter priority, aperture priority and programmed mode on the D40.
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