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Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D40

Portability
72
Imaging
69
Features
70
Overall
69
Nikon D3500 front
 
Nikon D40 front
Portability
71
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40

Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D40 Key Specs

Nikon D3500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 365g - 124 x 97 x 70mm
  • Launched August 2018
  • Succeeded the Nikon D3400
Nikon D40
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 522g - 124 x 94 x 64mm
  • Introduced December 2006
  • Later Model is Nikon D3000
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Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D40 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Nikon D3500 versus Nikon D40, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras and both are created by Nikon. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the D3500 (24MP) and D40 (6MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D3500 was brought out 11 years later than the D40 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the D3500 grades vs the D40 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3500 over the Nikon D40

 D3500 D40 
IntroducedAugust 2018December 2006Fresher by 143 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon D40 over the Nikon D3500

 D40 D3500 

Common features in the Nikon D3500 and Nikon D40

 D3500 D40 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D40 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Nikon D3500 has outer dimensions of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 365 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Nikon D40 has specifications of 124mm x 94mm x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 522 grams (1.15 lbs).

See the Nikon D3500 versus Nikon D40 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the D3500 versus the D40.

Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D40 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D3500 and D40 is 72 and 71 respectively.

Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D40 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D40 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through a spec sheet. The graphic here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the D3500 and D40.

As you can see, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Nikon D3500 to produce greater detail having its extra 18 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The fresher D3500 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D40 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D40 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3500 Portrait photography information
Nikon D40 Portrait photography information
81
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
53
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/500s)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D3500 Street photography details
Nikon D40 Street photography details
69
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (365 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
58
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3500 Sports photography info
Nikon D40 Sports photography info
70
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery life (1,550 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
39
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3500 Travel photography factors
Nikon D40 Travel photography factors
71
better than average battery life (1,550 CIPA)
lighter than competition (365g)
has bluetooth
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
47
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (6MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D3500
Landscape photography with Nikon D40
75
has manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (1,550 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
47
focusing manually
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (6MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3500 as a Vlogging camera
Nikon D40 as a Vlogging camera
31
offers face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (365 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic jack
9
no video
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Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3500 and Nikon D40
 Nikon D3500Nikon D40
General Information
Company Nikon Nikon
Model type Nikon D3500 Nikon D40
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2018-08-29 2006-12-21
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 4 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.7 x 15.5mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 367.4mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 6 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 6000 x 4000 3008 x 2000
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 3200
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Nikon F
Total lenses 309 309
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 17.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Off, Rear-curtain sync, Rear-curtain with slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/500s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 365g (0.80 lbs) 522g (1.15 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") 124 x 94 x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 56
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 561
Other
Battery life 1550 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL14a EN-EL9
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs (1-9 exposures)) Yes (2 to 20 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $397 $500