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Canon 500D vs Nikon D40

Portability
70
Imaging
54
Features
59
Overall
56
Canon EOS 500D front
 
Nikon D40 front
Portability
71
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Canon 500D vs Nikon D40 Key Specs

Canon 500D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Raise to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 520g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Announced June 2009
  • Additionally referred to as EOS Rebel T1i / EOS Kiss X3
  • Replaced the Canon 450D
  • Refreshed by Canon 550D
Nikon D40
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600 (Bump to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 522g - 124 x 94 x 64mm
  • Introduced December 2006
  • Successor is Nikon D3000
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Canon 500D vs Nikon D40 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Canon 500D versus Nikon D40, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by rivals Canon and Nikon. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the 500D (15MP) and D40 (6MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The 500D was revealed 2 years after the D40 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the 500D scores against the D40 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon 500D over the Nikon D40

 500D D40 
IntroducedJune 2009December 2006More modern by 30 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon D40 over the Canon 500D

 D40 500D 

Common features in the Canon 500D and Nikon D40

 500D D40 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Canon 500D vs Nikon D40 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Canon 500D offers physical dimensions of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") and a weight of 520 grams (1.15 lbs) whilst the Nikon D40 has sizing of 124mm x 94mm x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 522 grams (1.15 lbs).

Look at the Canon 500D versus Nikon D40 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the 500D vs the D40.

Canon 500D vs Nikon D40 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the 500D and D40 is 70 and 71 respectively.

Canon 500D vs Nikon D40 top view buttons comparison

Canon 500D vs Nikon D40 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by looking at technical specs. The pic underneath may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the 500D and D40.

As you can tell, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can count on the Canon 500D to resolve extra detail because of its extra 9MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The fresher 500D provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon 500D vs Nikon D40 sensor size comparison

Canon 500D vs Nikon D40 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 500D vs Nikon D40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 500D Portrait photography information
Nikon D40 Portrait photography information
72
has manual focus
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
53
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/500s)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
low megapixels (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Canon 500D Street photography advice
Nikon D40 Street photography advice
59
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
58
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon 500D
Sports photography with Nikon D40
52
MP count decent (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low battery life (440 per charge)
39
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 500D Travel photography features
Nikon D40 Travel photography features
54
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
low battery life (440 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
47
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (6MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 500D as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon D40 as a Landscape photography camera
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
MP count decent (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low battery life (440 shots)
missing Timelapse function
47
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 500D
Vlogging with Nikon D40
27
supports face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone socket
9
lack of video recording
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Canon 500D vs Nikon D40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 500D and Nikon D40
 Canon EOS 500DNikon D40
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model Canon EOS 500D Nikon D40
Also called as EOS Rebel T1i / EOS Kiss X3 -
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-06-08 2006-12-21
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.7 x 15.5mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 367.4mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 4752 x 3168 3008 x 2000
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Total lenses 326 309
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.5 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 17.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/500 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (20 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format H.264 -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 520g (1.15 lbs) 522g (1.15 lbs)
Physical dimensions 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") 124 x 94 x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 63 56
DXO Color Depth score 21.7 21.0
DXO Dynamic range score 11.5 11.0
DXO Low light score 663 561
Other
Battery life 440 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LP-E5 EN-EL9
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) Yes (2 to 20 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC card
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $650 $500