Clicky

Canon 550D vs Nikon D40

Portability
70
Imaging
57
Features
63
Overall
59
Canon EOS 550D front
 
Nikon D40 front
Portability
71
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Canon 550D vs Nikon D40 Key Specs

Canon 550D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 530g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Introduced April 2010
  • Additionally Known as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4
  • Replaced the Canon 500D
  • Later Model is Canon 600D
Nikon D40
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 522g - 124 x 94 x 64mm
  • Announced December 2006
  • Later Model is Nikon D3000
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Canon 550D vs Nikon D40 Overview

In this article, we will be matching up the Canon 550D and Nikon D40, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by rivals Canon and Nikon. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the 550D (18MP) and D40 (6MP) but they possess the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The 550D was announced 3 years after the D40 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the 550D grades against the D40 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon 550D over the Nikon D40

 550D D40 
AnnouncedApril 2010December 2006Newer by 40 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon D40 over the Canon 550D

 D40 550D 

Common features in the Canon 550D and Nikon D40

 550D D40 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Canon 550D vs Nikon D40 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Canon 550D offers external dimensions of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") and a weight of 530 grams (1.17 lbs) whilst the Nikon D40 has sizing of 124mm x 94mm x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 522 grams (1.15 lbs).

Contrast the Canon 550D and Nikon D40 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the 550D compared to the D40.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D40 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the 550D and D40 is 70 and 71 respectively.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D40 top view buttons comparison

Canon 550D vs Nikon D40 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by seeing technical specs. The image below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the 550D and D40.

As you can tell, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You should expect the Canon 550D to show extra detail with its extra 12MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more recent 550D provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D40 sensor size comparison

Canon 550D vs Nikon D40 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 550D vs Nikon D40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 550D Portrait photography information
Nikon D40 Portrait photography information
74
has manual focus
decent megapixels (18MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
53
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/500s)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Canon 550D Street photography information
Nikon D40 Street photography information
60
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
58
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Canon 550D as a Sports photography camera
Nikon D40 as a Sports photography camera
53
decent megapixels (18MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery (470 shots)
39
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
slow fps (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Canon 550D Travel photography information
Nikon D40 Travel photography information
55
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (470 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
47
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon 550D
Landscape photography with Nikon D40
63
has manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery (470 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
47
manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
no Time Lapse mode
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 550D
Vlogging with Nikon D40
31
supports face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic jack
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
9
can't record video
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Canon 550D vs Nikon D40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 550D and Nikon D40
 Canon EOS 550DNikon D40
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 550D Nikon D40
Also Known as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4 -
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-04-01 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 dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.7 x 15.5mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 367.4mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 6 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 5184 x 3456 3008 x 2000
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max enhanced ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 -
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 Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.5 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT color liquid-crystal LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type 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 4.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 17.00 m
Flash settings 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
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format H.264 -
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 530 grams (1.17 pounds) 522 grams (1.15 pounds)
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 rating 66 56
DXO Color Depth rating 22.0 21.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 11.0
DXO Low light rating 807 561
Other
Battery life 470 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LP-E8 EN-EL9
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) Yes (2 to 20 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $599 $500