Why is the shutter speed so long when using Flash in Aperture Priority on a Nikon D40X?

Question

I'm trying to get the background out of focus (bokeh) and using Aperature(A) mode and setting aperture to lowest value.

Update: I'm shooting in dim light and the flash goes off but the shutter speed incredibly slow (1-2 seconds), even slower than if I put it in full auto (where, presumably, the Aperture would be no wider than in Aperture mode with maximum Aperture .

I did find something in my Nikon Df0/D40X Digital Field Guid (by Busch) that said that in Aperture priority, the shutter speed is limited to 1/60s up to Syc speed. So I assume that means no slower than 1/60s

Here are the photos:

Aperture Priority with Flash (2s Shutter time)

• Exposure : 2s
• F/5.6
• Focal Length: 120mm
• ISO: 100

Full Auto

• Exposure : 1/60 s

• F/5.6

• Focal Length: 135mm (Ok, that's a little different)

• ISO: 200

Asked by Clay Nichols

Answer

This is called Slow Sync, which is a technique that allows you to combine flash with an ambient light exposure.

You probably turned this on by mistake. Generally, that's by holding the flash button (the one that pops up the flash) and turning the control wheel.

Your manual is here, see page 47 (in the PDF, technically pg 35 in the actual manual).

Answered by Instantkamera

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Is there a way to force the Nikon D40's rear LCD panel to stay off?

Question

Is there an off/disable control anywhere? I realize that the INFO button toggles it off, but it comes right back on as soon as you tap the shutter, and that it a problem in low light situations where the LCD keeps blasting me in the eye.

Asked by Chris Noe

Answer

So, the answer to this is "no", there isn't. You can disable it in some circumstances, but as you've seen, it will keep coming back on. The user interface of many entry-level DSLRs is designed around the rear LCD screen, and these cameras also generally don't offer a huge amount of customization. This is also the case on the D3100, which is roughly a successor to the D40, and the slightly-higher D5100 model.

The D7000, though, has a small LCD status display on the top of the camera as well (as do mid-range cameras from other companies). Since that provides alternate access to key information, the software isn't as over-excited about turning on the rear LCD as it is on the lower models.

Answered by mattdm

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How does the Nikon D40 decide which focus location to use?

Question

How does the D40 decide which focus location to use? It always seems to choose the wrong focus area.

Answer

There is a pretty good, in depth article about this at kenrockwell.com.

Essentially, it tries to use the closest subject it can find without extra help from the photographer.

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Can the default file name on Nikon D40 be changed?

Question

Is it possible to change the prefix of files on Nikon D40 to something different than DSC_? What about later entry-level Nikon models?

Answer

No.

No it is not possible to change the file naming scheme on the D40. Very few cameras can do that but many importing software can rename on import. Lightroom for example gives you lots of choices such as sequential numbering, date-time, etc.

PS: stackexchange software says that I should use 15 characters at least to say no :)

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Nikon non-VR 70-300 lens for entry-level bird photographer?

Question

I am an entry level photographer who'd like to start taking pictures of birds.

I have a Nikon D40 and am on a budget.

I noticed on the B&H site that the non-VR Nikon 70-300mm lenses are around $150 or so.

Is this worth considering? I have trouble with camera shake even with the kit lens, although I do have a tripod.

Is there another lens I should evaluate, or a lens/extension tube combo?

thanks.

Answer

I had the 70-300mm non-VR lens, and it was poor. A very cheap build, and very soft at 300mm. I took sample pictures on a tripod at 300mm, and compared them to my 80-200mm at 200mm, and decided it was almost better to shoot with the 200mm and crop (in other words, cropping the 200mm shot so the subject was the same size as the 300mm shot, the 200mm was about the same sharpness).

The lens autofocuses very slowly due to the minimum aperture, especially at 300mm (f/5.6).

The Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 is a good choice if you want to try a used lens, as they are built like tanks. Could add a 1.6x teleconverter. The 80-200mm is a good lens for sports (fast AF) and portraits (nice bokeh) too. There are AF-D and AF-S versions, you'll need the AF-s on your D40.

The Sigma 150-500mm is a good lens. It's also slow, but has OS (VR) and a lot of reach. You can hand hold it at 500mm in good light. It is an HSM lens so will AF on your D40.

The Nikon 70-300mm VR is a great lens. It's completely different than its non-VR brother. It's AF-S so will AF with your D40.

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What type of lens will auto-focus on Nikon bodies without a focus motor?

Question

I know my D40 doesn't have a motor in it to auto-focus lenses.

What type of lens has the motor in it? How can I know which lenses will and will not work?

Answer

• Nikon with AF-I and AF-S

• Sigma with HSM (and older ones that list as "with motor for Nikon" or the like obviously)

• Tamron with USD (and older ones that list as "with motor for Nikon" or the like obviously)

• Tokina lenses specifically listing "built-in AF motor drive" as a feature

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What can I do with a Nikon D40?

Question

I have been using my D40 with 18-55mm kit lens for four years now and love it to no end. Two and a half years ago I fell down face front in a steep beach slope while I was wearing the D40 around my neck and loads of sand got lodged in the lens. At the time I had difficulties while zooming in and out, and the auto-focusing wouldn't just work. After a while, zoom and the focus started working normally.

In the last year or so, I have noticed that the auto-focus would stop working for brief periods of time. Of late the auto-focus has stopped working altogether. Whenever I try to auto-focus, I can hear the motor try and fail. So I have started to adjust to the manual focus and am started getting the hang of it.

I am also considering buying a tripod and the wireless remote. I understand the core concepts of photography, but I have only used the camera in a hobbyist way and not to produce seriously good pictures.

How can I make the best of use of my D40? Would D40 be useful to get some great shots that I could potentially use for a portfolio?

Answer

The Nikon D40 is absolutely capable of delivering excellent portfolio worthy images. If you want to continue to use that body, I highly recommend sending it in to Nikon for a cleaning and a general checkup. If sand did enter any parts of the body, continuing to use it could just cause more issues. As another user pointed out, a great lens to start with would be the Nikkor f/1.8 lens, preferably the soon to be released version with autofocus included.

If you are looking for great portfolio worthy images, your best investment is almost always in high quality lenses rather then body upgrades. Consider this as your next step before spending big bucks on a body that might come with a lens of similar quality to what you already have. The other big advantage to purchasing lenses is that they typically hold their value for a much longer period of time, where as body's need to be replaced every few years if you want the next new features and functions.

From what I gather it sounds like you are ready to take a deeper dive into photography and get more serious shots that can be printed large and shown off. The best way to do this is to focus on composition and read books, articles, magazines, and websites like this, then get out and shoot shoot shoot! I would recommend getting a lens with a larger aperture but for a low cost (under $200 USD) to get started with as well!

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