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Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100

Portability
57
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48
Canon EOS 40D front
 
Nikon D5100 front
Portability
66
Imaging
55
Features
81
Overall
65

Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100 Key Specs

Canon 40D
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 3200)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 822g - 146 x 108 x 74mm
  • Launched October 2007
  • Succeeded the Canon 30D
  • Newer Model is Canon 50D
Nikon D5100
(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).

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The 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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Reasons to pick Canon 40D over the Nikon D5100

 40D D5100 

Reasons to pick Nikon D5100 over the Canon 40D

 D5100 40D 
RevealedApril 2011October 2007More recent by 42 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon 40D and Nikon D5100

 40D D5100 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen size3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 40D and D5100 is 57 and 66 respectively.

Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100 top view buttons comparison

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.

Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100 sensor size comparison

Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 40D Portrait photography highlights
Nikon D5100 Portrait photography highlights
58
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
73
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 40D Street photography features
Nikon D5100 Street photography features
56
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
67
fully articulated screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 40D as a Sports photography camera
Nikon D5100 as a Sports photography camera
52
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
terrible battery power (800 per charge)
63
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
good battery power (660 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 40D Travel photography factors
Nikon D5100 Travel photography factors
48
weather proofing
built-in flash
terrible battery power (800 CIPA)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
77
good battery power (660 per charge)
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 40D Landscape photography information
Nikon D5100 Landscape photography information
58
has manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
screen size is decent (3")
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
terrible battery power (800 per charge)
72
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (660 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 40D Vlogging information
Nikon D5100 Vlogging information
9
can't record video
69
screen is selfie friendly
provides face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone jack
lack of image stabilization
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Canon 40D vs Nikon D5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 40D and Nikon D5100
 Canon EOS 40DNikon 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