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Nikon D40 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
71
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40
Nikon D40 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Nikon D40 vs Pentax K-r Key Specs

Nikon D40
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 522g - 124 x 94 x 64mm
  • Announced December 2006
  • Replacement is Nikon D3000
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Revealed March 2011
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Nikon D40 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Let's look more closely at the Nikon D40 vs Pentax K-r, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by companies Nikon and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the D40 (6MP) and K-r (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D40 was announced 5 years earlier than the K-r and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the D40 grades vs the K-r for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D40 over the Pentax K-r

 D40 K-r 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Nikon D40

 K-r D40 
RevealedMarch 2011December 2006More recent by 51 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D40 and Pentax K-r

 D40 K-r 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Nikon D40 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon D40 has external dimensions of 124mm x 94mm x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 522 grams (1.15 lbs) while the Pentax K-r has specifications of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Compare the Nikon D40 vs Pentax K-r in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the D40 compared to the K-r.

Nikon D40 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the D40 and K-r is 71 and 67 respectively.

Nikon D40 vs Pentax K-r top view buttons comparison

Nikon D40 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading through specifications. The photograph underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the D40 and K-r.

To sum up, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Pentax K-r to give more detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older D40 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon D40 vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

Nikon D40 vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D40 vs Pentax K-r Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D40 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Portrait photography camera
53
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/500 seconds)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low MP (6 megapixels)
63
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D40 Street photography advice
Pentax K-r Street photography advice
58
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D40 Sports photography info
Pentax K-r Sports photography info
39
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
55
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (470 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D40 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-r Travel photography factors
47
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
low MP (6 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
47
built-in flash
not so great battery pack (470 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D40
Landscape photography with Pentax K-r
47
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
missing Time Lapse function
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery pack (470 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D40
Vlogging with Pentax K-r
9
no video recording
26
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
does not posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
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Nikon D40 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D40 and Pentax K-r
 Nikon D40Pentax K-r
General Information
Company Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon D40 Pentax K-r
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2006-12-21 2011-03-11
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.5mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 367.4mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 3008 x 2000 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW format
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
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
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 309 151
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 17.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/500 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
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 Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 522 grams (1.15 lb) 598 grams (1.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 94 x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 72
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 11.0 12.4
DXO Low light score 561 755
Other
Battery life - 470 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL9 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $500 $1,100