Nikon P510 vs Nikon D40
66 Imaging
39 Features
55 Overall
45


71 Imaging
45 Features
33 Overall
40
Nikon P510 vs Nikon D40 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
- 555g - 120 x 83 x 102mm
- Announced July 2012
- Old Model is Nikon P500
- Updated by Nikon P520
(Full Review)
- 6MP - APS-C Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Display
- ISO 200 - 1600 (Bump to 3200)
- No Video
- Nikon F Mount
- 522g - 124 x 94 x 64mm
- Launched December 2006
- Renewed by Nikon D3000

Nikon P510 vs Nikon D40 Overview
Below, we are evaluating the Nikon P510 versus Nikon D40, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are offered by Nikon. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the P510 (16MP) and D40 (6MP) and the P510 (1/2.3") and D40 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

The P510 was launched 5 years after the D40 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Nikon P510 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Nikon D40 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the P510 scores against the D40 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Nikon P510 vs Nikon D40 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon Coolpix P510 & Nikon D40. The complete galleries are viewable at Nikon P510 Gallery & Nikon D40 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon P510 over the Nikon D40
P510 | D40 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | July 2012 | ![]() | December 2006 | More modern by 68 months |
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.5") |
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper display (+691k dot) |
Reasons to pick Nikon D40 over the Nikon P510
D40 | P510 |
---|
Common features in the Nikon P510 and Nikon D40
P510 | D40 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither includes selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Neither includes Touch friendly display |
Nikon P510 vs Nikon D40 Physical Comparison
If you're going to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Nikon P510 features exterior dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 102mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 4.0") and a weight of 555 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Nikon D40 has dimensions of 124mm x 94mm x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 522 grams (1.15 lbs).
Compare the Nikon P510 versus Nikon D40 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the P510 versus the D40.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the P510 and D40 is 66 and 71 respectively.

Nikon P510 vs Nikon D40 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it can be hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes merely by going over specs. The picture below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the P510 and D40.
As you can plainly see, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The P510 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Nikon P510 will offer you more detail utilizing its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more recent P510 is going to have an edge in sensor technology.

Nikon P510 vs Nikon D40 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon P510 vs Nikon D40 Specifications
Nikon Coolpix P510 | Nikon D40 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Nikon | Nikon |
Model | Nikon Coolpix P510 | Nikon D40 |
Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Entry-Level DSLR |
Announced | 2012-07-05 | 2006-12-21 |
Body design | SLR-like (bridge) | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Expeed C2 | - |
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.7 x 15.5mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 367.4mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16MP | 6MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 3008 x 2000 |
Maximum native ISO | 3200 | 1600 |
Maximum enhanced ISO | - | 3200 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 200 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Cross focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | Nikon F |
Lens focal range | 24-1000mm (41.7x) | - |
Largest aperture | f/3.0-5.9 | - |
Macro focus distance | 2cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 309 |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Screen sizing | 3 inches | 2.5 inches |
Resolution of screen | 921 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Screen technology | TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 95% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.53x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 30 secs | 30 secs |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/8000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shutter speed | 7.0fps | 3.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | - | 17.00 m |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync | Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | - | 1/500 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (15, 30fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (120, 30fps) | - |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | None |
Video data format | MPEG-4, H.264 | - |
Mic jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | BuiltIn | None |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 555g (1.22 lbs) | 522g (1.15 lbs) |
Dimensions | 120 x 83 x 102mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 4.0") | 124 x 94 x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | not tested | 56 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 21.0 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 11.0 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 561 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 200 pictures | - |
Battery form | Battery Pack | - |
Battery model | EN-EL5 | EN-EL9 |
Self timer | Yes | Yes (2 to 20 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC card |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Pricing at release | $600 | $500 |