Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-420

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.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon D40 and Olympus E-420. The entire galleries are available at Nikon D40 Gallery and Olympus E-420 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.