Nikon D40 LCD screen.

The D40 works as SLRs have worked for half a century, showing the view only through the viewfinder. The LCD is for menus, setup, and reviewing pictures you've already taken. The LiveView capability that allows you to use the LCD for composing your pictures is a relatively new feature. Nikon introduced it into their cameras with the D3 and D300, released well after the D40.

Sorry if that wasn't the answer you wanted to see, but that's the way this camera works.

hi there, Nikon D-40x hasn`t supported Live View mode while taking a picture... LCD functions are just for review purpose and setting the camera only

hope this reply will help

Because it's not supposed to. The LCD on the D40 is for menus, shooting info, and image review. It takes pictures the same way SLRs have done for half a century, allowing you to view and frame through the viewfinder. Only more recent dSLRs (and not all of them) have the Live View feature allowing you to use the LCD instead of the viewfinder.

The D40 works the same way SLRs have worked for the past half century. Only recently have dSLRs acquired a "Live-View" capability, where you see the image on the LCD monitor instead of through the viewfinder.

I realize this probably wasn't the answer you wanted to see, but that's the way it is.

Sounds like you're looking for a feature called "live view". I don't believe the D40 has that feature.

The D40 doesn't have a Live View capability. You have to use the viewfinder.

If you are talking about viewing the shot you just took, press the "info" button on the top of the camera (next to the shutter button), that will turn the LCD on and off.

According to Nikon, that was not possible. The D40 doesn't have 'Liveview' like the smaller compact cameras. You would always have to use the viewfinder for taking pictures. Even in the TV ads, everyone used the viewfinder as they took turns using the camera.

Here is a link to Nikon's web site: NikonUSA

The camera has a mirror lock up feature for cleaning the CCD sensor. You may have engaged it. Check your manual about this function

NatD, The D50 and indeed most SLR digital cameras [ I have a D40 ] does not allow you to take pictures using the LCD display ... this is by design, you are meant to use the viewfinder and the image you see through it is straight through the lens via a mirror block [ called a reflex pentamirror or prism ]. When the mirror is down such that you can see the image in the viewfinder it is obscuring the sensor [ the bit that takes the picture ] and when you take a shot the mirror lifts and the picture is recorded. Its this reason that DSLR's dont use the LCD to shoot, however there are a few now available that do let you do this, such as olympus, new panasonic one and higher end Nikon and Canon cameras. Hope this explains it without getting too detailed!