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Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-520

Portability
71
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40
Nikon D40 front
 
Olympus E-520 front
Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-520 Key Specs

Nikon D40
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600 (Increase to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 522g - 124 x 94 x 64mm
  • Revealed December 2006
  • Refreshed by Nikon D3000
Olympus E-520
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Announced August 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Photography Glossary

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-520 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-520, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Olympus. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the D40 (6MP) and E-520 (10MP) and the D40 (APS-C) and E-520 (Four Thirds) provide totally different sensor size.

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The D40 was unveiled 20 months prior to the E-520 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the D40 scores against the E-520 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D40 over the Olympus E-520

 D40 E-520 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Nikon D40

 E-520 D40 
AnnouncedAugust 2008December 2006Fresher by 20 months
Display size2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Nikon D40 and Olympus E-520

 D40 E-520 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-520 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon D40 has exterior dimensions of 124mm x 94mm x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 522 grams (1.15 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-520 has specifications of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Examine the Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-520 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the D40 versus the E-520.

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-520 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the D40 and E-520 is 71 and 68 respectively.

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-520 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-520 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizing purely by reviewing specifications. The visual below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the D40 and E-520.

To sum up, the 2 cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The D40 with its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-520 will deliver greater detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older D40 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-520 sensor size comparison

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-520 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-520 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D40 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-520 Portrait photography info
53
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/500 seconds)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
59
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D40 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-520 Street photography highlights
58
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D40 Sports photography advice
Olympus E-520 Sports photography advice
39
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great battery life (650 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D40 Travel photography factors
Olympus E-520 Travel photography factors
47
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (6MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
52
great battery life (650 per charge)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D40 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-520 Landscape photography advice
47
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
58
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (650 per charge)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D40 Vlogging advice
Olympus E-520 Vlogging advice
9
can't shoot video
9
no video recording
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Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-520 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D40 and Olympus E-520
 Nikon D40Olympus E-520
General Information
Make Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon D40 Olympus E-520
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2006-12-21 2008-08-20
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
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
Peak resolution 3008 x 2000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest enhanced ISO 3200 -
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 309 45
Crop factor 1.5 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.46x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 17.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/500 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Mic support
Headphone support
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 gr (1.15 lbs) 552 gr (1.22 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 94 x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 55
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.0 10.4
DXO Low light rating 561 548
Other
Battery life - 650 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL9 -
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $500 $400