It is basically a D40X, with a few added features. The D40 is going to stay, and they will be doing away with the D40X.

The added features of note are the VR lens that the camera comes with, a dust reduction system for the sensor, as well as a still frame movie feature. You can take a bunch of pictures, and the camera will sychronize them to make a movie. I've tried it out, and its pretty neat. You could take a series of shots of a revolving beacon light, and make a movie clip out of it.

I will not be buying one because I just bought a D300, but they are good cameras for a starter digital SLR.

Note..The D40, 40X, and 60 cannot autofocus certain lenses.

Must say, these new entry-level Nikons are GREAT for new photographers. I've referred many of my friends to get D40s, as a nice way to enter the photo world on a proper note.

That said, I'd still rather take my D50 over the D40/40x/60 trio. I've already got a telephoto (75-300 from the 90s) that won't work on that "series." And when I used a friend's to photograph the school play last week, I kept yearning for the easy-to-see top display of my D50 for the aperture/shutter/etc settings, instead of the annoying -- and bright -- rear display.

But...for the average new SLR user, none of this will matter. And for them, this series is perfect. It's just a question of how many megapixels, really.