Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100
57 Imaging
48 Features
50 Overall
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66 Imaging
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Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100 Key Specs
(Full Review)
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 25600)
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Nikon F Mount
- 560g - 128 x 97 x 79mm
- Revealed April 2011
- Succeeded the Nikon D5000
- Newer Model is Nikon D5200
Photography Glossary Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100 Overview
Below is a comprehensive comparison of the Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Canon and Nikon. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the 40D (10MP) and D5100 (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor dimensions (APS-C).
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneThe 40D was unveiled 4 years before the D5100 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Canon 40D being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Nikon D5100 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before getting into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the 40D matches up against the D5100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
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The following is a preview of the gallery images for Canon EOS 40D & Nikon D5100. The full galleries are available at Canon 40D Gallery & Nikon D5100 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon 40D over the Nikon D5100
| 40D | D5100 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Canon 40D
| D5100 | 40D | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | April 2011 | October 2007 | More recent by 42 months | |
| Screen type | Fully Articulated | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen | |
| Screen resolution | 921k | 230k | Sharper screen (+691k dot) | |
| Selfie screen | Take selfies |
Common features in the Canon 40D and Nikon D5100
| 40D | D5100 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually | Dial precise focus | |||
| Screen size | 3" | 3" | Same screen sizing | |
| Touch screen | Missing Touch screen |
Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon 40D features outer dimensions of 146mm x 108mm x 74mm (5.7" x 4.3" x 2.9") along with a weight of 822 grams (1.81 lbs) whilst the Nikon D5100 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).
Look at the Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the 40D versus the D5100.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 40D and D5100 is 57 and 66 respectively.
Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it is hard to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements just by checking out technical specs. The photograph below will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the 40D and D5100.
As you can tell, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Nikon D5100 to provide more detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The older 40D will be behind in sensor technology.
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Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100 Specifications
| Canon EOS 40D | Nikon D5100 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Manufacturer | Canon | Nikon |
| Model type | Canon EOS 40D | Nikon D5100 |
| Category | Advanced DSLR | Entry-Level DSLR |
| Launched | 2007-10-24 | 2011-04-26 |
| Body design | Mid-size SLR | Compact SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor Chip | - | Expeed 2 |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | APS-C | APS-C |
| Sensor measurements | 22.2 x 14.8mm | 23.6 x 15.7mm |
| Sensor surface area | 328.6mm² | 370.5mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 10 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 3:2 |
| Maximum resolution | 3888 x 2592 | 4928 x 3264 |
| Maximum native ISO | 1600 | 6400 |
| Maximum boosted ISO | 3200 | 25600 |
| Lowest native ISO | 100 | 100 |
| RAW files | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| Touch to focus | ||
| Continuous AF | ||
| Single AF | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| AF selectice | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| AF multi area | ||
| Live view AF | ||
| Face detect AF | ||
| Contract detect AF | ||
| Phase detect AF | ||
| Total focus points | 9 | 11 |
| Cross type focus points | - | 1 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | Canon EF/EF-S | Nikon F |
| Total lenses | 326 | 309 |
| Crop factor | 1.6 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Display type | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
| Display diagonal | 3 inch | 3 inch |
| Resolution of display | 230k dot | 921k dot |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch function | ||
| Display tech | - | TFT LCD monitor |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) | Optical (pentamirror) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 95 percent | 95 percent |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.6x | 0.52x |
| Features | ||
| Lowest shutter speed | 30 secs | 30 secs |
| Highest shutter speed | 1/8000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
| Continuous shooting speed | 6.5 frames per sec | 4.0 frames per sec |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manually set exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Set WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Built-in flash | ||
| Flash distance | 12.00 m (ISO 100) | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) |
| Flash modes | Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain |
| External flash | ||
| AE bracketing | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Highest flash sync | 1/250 secs | 1/200 secs |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment | ||
| Average | ||
| Spot | ||
| Partial | ||
| AF area | ||
| Center weighted | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) |
| Maximum video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
| Video file format | - | MPEG-4 |
| Microphone input | ||
| Headphone input | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | Eye-Fi Connected |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | Optional |
| Physical | ||
| Environment seal | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 822 grams (1.81 lb) | 560 grams (1.23 lb) |
| Physical dimensions | 146 x 108 x 74mm (5.7" x 4.3" x 2.9") | 128 x 97 x 79mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.1") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around rating | 64 | 80 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 22.1 | 23.5 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 11.3 | 13.6 |
| DXO Low light rating | 703 | 1183 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 800 photos | 660 photos |
| Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | - | EN-EL14 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) |
| Time lapse shooting | ||
| Storage media | Compact Flash (Type I or II) | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Storage slots | One | One |
| Price at launch | $1,099 | $0 |