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Nikon D40 vs Sony A330

Portability
71
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40
Nikon D40 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 front
Portability
67
Imaging
50
Features
50
Overall
50

Nikon D40 vs Sony A330 Key Specs

Nikon D40
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 522g - 124 x 94 x 64mm
  • Launched December 2006
  • Updated by Nikon D3000
Sony A330
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 529g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A300
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Nikon D40 vs Sony A330 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Nikon D40 and Sony A330, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the D40 (6MP) and A330 (10MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D40 was revealed 3 years before the A330 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the D40 scores versus the A330 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D40 over the Sony A330

 D40 A330 

Reasons to pick Sony A330 over the Nikon D40

 A330 D40 
IntroducedMay 2009December 2006Fresher by 29 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Nikon D40 and Sony A330

 D40 A330 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Nikon D40 vs Sony A330 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Nikon D40 has got outer measurements of 124mm x 94mm x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 522 grams (1.15 lbs) and the Sony A330 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 529 grams (1.17 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon D40 and Sony A330 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the D40 versus the A330.

Nikon D40 vs Sony A330 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the D40 and A330 is 71 and 67 respectively.

Nikon D40 vs Sony A330 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D40 vs Sony A330 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through technical specs. The visual underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the D40 and A330.

As you can tell, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Sony A330 to show more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older D40 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon D40 vs Sony A330 sensor size comparison

Nikon D40 vs Sony A330 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D40 vs Sony A330 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D40 Portrait photography info
Sony A330 Portrait photography info
53
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/500 seconds)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
low resolution (6 megapixels)
62
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D40 Street photography details
Sony A330 Street photography details
58
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
75
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D40
Sports photography with Sony A330
39
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (6MP)
50
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D40 Travel photography features
Sony A330 Travel photography features
47
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
low resolution (6MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
44
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (230 shots)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D40
Landscape photography with Sony A330
47
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (6 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
54
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (230 shots)
no Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D40 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A330 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
9
no video shooting
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Nikon D40 vs Sony A330 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D40 and Sony A330
 Nikon D40Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D40 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2006-12-21 2009-05-18
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.5mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 367.4mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3008 x 2000 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Max boosted ISO 3200 -
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 309 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
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 0.49x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 17.00 m 10.00 m
Flash options Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/500 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 522 grams (1.15 pounds) 529 grams (1.17 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 94 x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 64
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 22.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.0 11.5
DXO Low light rating 561 535
Other
Battery life - 230 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL9 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $500 $545