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Canon M3 vs Nikon D40

Portability
85
Imaging
66
Features
76
Overall
70
Canon EOS M3 front
 
Nikon D40 front
Portability
71
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Canon M3 vs Nikon D40 Key Specs

Canon M3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 366g - 111 x 68 x 44mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Successor is Canon M6
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
  • Launched December 2006
  • Refreshed by Nikon D3000
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Canon M3 vs Nikon D40 Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Canon M3 versus Nikon D40, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the M3 (24MP) and D40 (6MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The M3 was released 8 years after the D40 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Canon M3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Nikon D40 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the M3 scores vs the D40 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon M3 over the Nikon D40

 M3 D40 
LaunchedFebruary 2015December 2006More modern by 99 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Nikon D40 over the Canon M3

 D40 M3 

Common features in the Canon M3 and Nikon D40

 M3 D40 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing

Canon M3 vs Nikon D40 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Canon M3 provides outside measurements of 111mm x 68mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 366 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Nikon D40 has specifications of 124mm x 94mm x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 522 grams (1.15 lbs).

Compare the Canon M3 versus Nikon D40 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the M3 against the D40.

Canon M3 vs Nikon D40 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the M3 and D40 is 85 and 71 respectively.

Canon M3 vs Nikon D40 top view buttons comparison

Canon M3 vs Nikon D40 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by seeing technical specs. The image below should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the M3 and D40.

As you have seen, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Canon M3 to produce extra detail as a result of its extra 18 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The younger M3 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon M3 vs Nikon D40 sensor size comparison

Canon M3 vs Nikon D40 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M3 vs Nikon D40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M3 Portrait photography factors
Nikon D40 Portrait photography factors
79
manual focus
good MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
53
manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview
low resolution sensor (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Canon M3 Street photography highlights
Nikon D40 Street photography highlights
79
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
supports touch to focus
lack of image stabilization
58
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon M3 Sports photography highlights
Nikon D40 Sports photography highlights
61
good MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
supports phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (4.2 fps)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (250 shots)
39
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Canon M3 Travel photography details
Nikon D40 Travel photography details
73
supports touch to focus
good MP (24MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery (250 CIPA)
47
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon M3 Landscape photography advice
Nikon D40 Landscape photography advice
68
manual focus
switch lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
good MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (250 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
47
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inches)
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon M3
Vlogging with Nikon D40
80
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic socket
lack of image stabilization
9
lack of video recording
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Canon M3 vs Nikon D40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M3 and Nikon D40
 Canon EOS M3Nikon D40
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model Canon EOS M3 Nikon D40
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2015-02-06 2006-12-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 6 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.7 x 15.5mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 367.4mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 3008 x 2000
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Max boosted ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 49 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Canon EF-M Nikon F
Available lenses 23 309
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.2 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m (at ISO 100) 17.00 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/500 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 366g (0.81 lb) 522g (1.15 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 68 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") 124 x 94 x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 56
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 21.0
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 11.0
DXO Low light score 1169 561
Other
Battery life 250 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model LP-E17 EN-EL9
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 to 20 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $481 $500