Nikon D40 vs Sony A290

Below, we will be looking at the Nikon D40 vs Sony A290, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the D40 (6MP) and A290 (14MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D40 was introduced 4 years prior to the A290 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the D40 grades versus the A290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon D40 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A290. The whole galleries are provided at Nikon D40 Gallery & Sony A290 Gallery.

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon D40 has external measurements of 124mm x 94mm x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 522 grams (1.15 lbs) whilst the Sony A290 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon D40 vs Sony A290 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the D40 vs the A290.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D40 and A290 is 71 and 66 respectively.

Normally, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements only by seeing specifications. The photograph underneath will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the D40 and A290.

To sum up, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Sony A290 to produce more detail using its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older D40 will be behind in sensor technology.