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Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-420

Portability
71
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40
Nikon D40 front
 
Olympus E-420 front
Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-420 Key Specs

Nikon D40
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 522g - 124 x 94 x 64mm
  • Announced December 2006
  • Renewed by Nikon D3000
Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-410
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Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-420 Overview

Here is a in depth analysis of the Nikon D40 versus Olympus E-420, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by brands Nikon and Olympus. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the D40 (6MP) and E-420 (10MP) and the D40 (APS-C) and E-420 (Four Thirds) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The D40 was manufactured 18 months prior to the E-420 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the D40 matches up versus the E-420 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D40 over the Olympus E-420

 D40 E-420 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Nikon D40

 E-420 D40 
RevealedJune 2008December 2006Fresher by 18 months
Screen size2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Nikon D40 and Olympus E-420

 D40 E-420 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-420 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon D40 provides physical measurements of 124mm x 94mm x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 522 grams (1.15 lbs) while the Olympus E-420 has proportions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon D40 versus Olympus E-420 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the D40 and the E-420.

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-420 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the D40 and E-420 is 71 and 77 respectively.

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-420 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-420 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to see the gap between sensor sizing only by checking specs. The graphic here will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the D40 and E-420.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The D40 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-420 will give you more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older D40 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-420 sensor size comparison

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-420 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-420 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D40
Portrait photography with Olympus E-420
53
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/500s)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low megapixels (6MP)
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D40 Street photography factors
Olympus E-420 Street photography factors
58
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
64
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (426g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D40 Sports photography factors
Olympus E-420 Sports photography factors
39
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps low (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
terrible battery (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D40 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
47
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
52
lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D40 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-420 Landscape photography factors
47
has manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
47
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
terrible battery (500 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D40
Vlogging with Olympus E-420
9
no video
9
can't record video
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Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-420 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D40 and Olympus E-420
 Nikon D40Olympus E-420
General Information
Make Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon D40 Olympus E-420
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2006-12-21 2008-06-23
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.5mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 367.4mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 6MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Maximum resolution 3008 x 2000 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO 3200 -
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 309 45
Crop factor 1.5 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 17.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/500 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 522 grams (1.15 lb) 426 grams (0.94 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 94 x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 56
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 21.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.0 10.4
DXO Low light rating 561 527
Other
Battery life - 500 photos
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL9 -
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $500 $999