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All in all, the experience of using the D40x is very pleasant. The camera is light and easy to hold, with a sensibly laid out control system that quickly becomes intuitive. Despite its relatively low cost and plastic body it feels very solid and well made, and every inch a Nikon. It’s easy to see the resemblance to the more professional models such as the D80 or D200. It performs quickly and quietly, and even a first-time user should have no trouble producing first-class results.

The D40x in this regard reflects the increasingly schizoid personality of all the so-called entry-level DSLRs: Designed to be non-threatening to the SLR newcomer, they have as few external control switches as possible. At the same time, cameras in this class have added more and more sophisticated functions, which end up hidden under layers of menus. The D40x has nearly the capability of the Nikon D80, but throws some tricky curves when you want to get beyond all-auto shooting.

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Nikon Inc. (www.nikondigital.com) today introduced the new 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor lens – a new compact telephoto zoom Nikkor lens that offers Nikon’s exclusive Vibration Reduction technology in a high-powered 3.6x zoom lens. Engineered exclusively for use with Nikon’s DX format digital SLR cameras, including the D80, D40 and recently announced D40x, this new lens approximates the picture angle characteristics of an 82.5-300mm lens on a 35mm film SLR camera. It incorporates many of Nikon’s most advanced lens design attributes such as Extra Low Dispersion (ED) glass, Silent Wave Motor technology (SWM) and Vibration Reduction (VR), delivering outstanding optical performance at a remarkably affordable price. This new lens is ideal for sports, action, wildlife, travel, and portrait photography, among many other telephoto applications.

Nikon today introduced the new D40x digital SLR camera that is designed to allow users take spectacular photographs with very high-resolution at the touch of a button. The D40x maintains the same compact size, portability and ease-of-use as its already successful sister camera, the D40, and adds features like higher 10.2 megapixel resolution, faster continuous shooting capability and wider ISO sensitivity. Digital SLR cameras are the tool of choice among the majority of professional photographers but some people have found them to be complex or bulky. 

The bottom line - Nikon’s Coolpix L5 is an appealing entry-level model. While suffering from poor shooting performance, like we have seen with all of the “L” series models, it does offer great image quality along with various high-end features. With a street price of US$249 or less, it offers an Ok value for a 7-megapixel digicam. If you liked the L5, but want a more compact model, be sure to check out our review of the 6-megapixel Coolpix L6, which can be had for about $50 less.