Regarding the noise. I think the only way you can get ISO 500 on a D40 is through the Auto ISO feature. This can be handy if you're using the different scene modes, but if you're using any of the manual modes, it can lead to unusuable images if the camera decides you need ISO 1600 to properly expose the shot. If you're going to use Auto ISO make sure you have a maximum sensitivity set low enough that you can still use the images.
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