Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-P1

Here, we will be matching up the Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-P1, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Nikon and Olympus. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the D40 (6MP) and E-P1 (12MP) and the D40 (APS-C) and E-P1 (Four Thirds) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The D40 was unveiled 3 years prior to the E-P1 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Nikon D40 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a simple summary of how the D40 grades vs the E-P1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon D40 and Olympus PEN E-P1. The full galleries are viewable at Nikon D40 Gallery and Olympus E-P1 Gallery.

If you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Nikon D40 enjoys outer measurements of 124mm x 94mm x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 522 grams (1.15 lbs) while the Olympus E-P1 has sizing of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-P1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the D40 vs the E-P1.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D40 and E-P1 is 71 and 86 respectively.

More often than not, it's difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements only by going through specifications. The photograph underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the D40 and E-P1.

To sum up, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The D40 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-P1 will provide more detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older D40 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.