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Nikon D40 vs Sony W550

Portability
71
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40
Nikon D40 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Nikon D40 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Nikon D40
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 1600 (Bump to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 522g - 124 x 94 x 64mm
  • Released December 2006
  • Renewed by Nikon D3000
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Nikon D40 vs Sony W550 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Nikon D40 and Sony W550, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Nikon and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the D40 (6MP) and W550 (14MP) and the D40 (APS-C) and W550 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The D40 was introduced 5 years earlier than the W550 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Nikon D40 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the D40 grades vs the W550 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D40 over the Sony W550

 D40 W550 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Nikon D40

 W550 D40 
LaunchedJuly 2011December 2006Fresher by 55 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Common features in the Nikon D40 and Sony W550

 D40 W550 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Nikon D40 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D40 provides external dimensions of 124mm x 94mm x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 522 grams (1.15 lbs) and the Sony W550 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D40 and Sony W550 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the D40 against the W550.

Nikon D40 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D40 and W550 is 71 and 96 respectively.

Nikon D40 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D40 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing merely by looking at specs. The visual underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D40 and W550.

All in all, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The D40 using its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony W550 will give you more detail using its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older D40 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon D40 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Nikon D40 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D40 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D40 Portrait photography information
Sony W550 Portrait photography information
53
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/500 seconds)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
28
MP count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon D40 Street photography features
Sony W550 Street photography features
58
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D40
Sports photography with Sony W550
39
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
35
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D40 Travel photography info
Sony W550 Travel photography info
47
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D40 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
47
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (6 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
42
relatively wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D40 Vlogging information
Sony W550 Vlogging information
9
can't record video
29
relatively wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Nikon D40 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D40 and Sony W550
 Nikon D40Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D40 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Category Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Released 2006-12-21 2011-07-24
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.5mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 367.4mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3008 x 2000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 3200 -
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 309 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 17.00 m 3.80 m
Flash options Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/500 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 522g (1.15 lb) 110g (0.24 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 94 x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 561 not tested
Other
Battery model EN-EL9 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 -
Cost at launch $500 $119