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Nikon D40 vs Nikon D5500

Portability
71
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40
Nikon D40 front
 
Nikon D5500 front
Portability
71
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73

Nikon D40 vs Nikon D5500 Key Specs

Nikon D40
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600 (Raise to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 522g - 124 x 94 x 64mm
  • Introduced December 2006
  • Refreshed by Nikon D3000
Nikon D5500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 420g - 124 x 97 x 70mm
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Old Model is Nikon D5300
  • Successor is Nikon D5600
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Nikon D40 vs Nikon D5500 Overview

Following is a complete assessment of the Nikon D40 vs Nikon D5500, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras and both are produced by Nikon. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the D40 (6MP) and D5500 (24MP) but they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The D40 was launched 9 years before the D5500 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise view of how the D40 scores against the D5500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D40 over the Nikon D5500

 D40 D5500 

Reasons to pick Nikon D5500 over the Nikon D40

 D5500 D40 
RevealedJanuary 2015December 2006More modern by 97 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon D40 and Nikon D5500

 D40 D5500 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing

Nikon D40 vs Nikon D5500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Nikon D40 features outer measurements of 124mm x 94mm x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 522 grams (1.15 lbs) and the Nikon D5500 has proportions of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon D40 vs Nikon D5500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the D40 versus the D5500.

Nikon D40 vs Nikon D5500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D40 and D5500 is 71 and 71 respectively.

Nikon D40 vs Nikon D5500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D40 vs Nikon D5500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes merely by looking at specs. The picture below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the D40 and D5500.

All in all, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You should count on the Nikon D5500 to give extra detail utilizing its extra 18MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged D40 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon D40 vs Nikon D5500 sensor size comparison

Nikon D40 vs Nikon D5500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D40 vs Nikon D5500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D40 as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon D5500 as a Portrait photography camera
53
manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/500s)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
MP count low (6 megapixels)
79
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon D40 Street photography features
Nikon D5500 Street photography features
58
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
75
screen articulates
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
provides touch focus
lighter than others in class (420g)
good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D40 Sports photography advice
Nikon D5500 Sports photography advice
39
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
MP count low (6 megapixels)
68
decent megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
great battery pack (820 CIPA)
comes with phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D40
Travel photography with Nikon D5500
47
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (6MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
81
great battery pack (820 shots)
lighter than others in class (420 grams)
provides touch focus
decent megapixels (24MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D40 Landscape photography highlights
Nikon D5500 Landscape photography highlights
47
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
MP count low (6 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
78
you can focus manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
decent megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (820 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D40 Vlogging details
Nikon D5500 Vlogging details
9
no video
75
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone jack
lighter than others in class (420 grams)
lack of image stabilization
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Nikon D40 vs Nikon D5500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D40 and Nikon D5500
 Nikon D40Nikon D5500
General Information
Brand Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon D40 Nikon D5500
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2006-12-21 2015-01-06
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Expeed 4
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.5mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 367.4mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 6MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 3008 x 2000 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Highest enhanced ISO 3200 -
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 39
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon F Nikon F
Available lenses 309 309
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 3.2 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 17.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/500 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 522g (1.15 lbs) 420g (0.93 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 94 x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 84
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score 11.0 14.0
DXO Low light score 561 1438
Other
Battery life - 820 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL9 EN-EL14,EN-EL14a
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $500 $700