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Nikon D40 vs Sony A33

Portability
71
Imaging
45
Features
33
Overall
40
Nikon D40 front
 
Sony SLT-A33 front
Portability
67
Imaging
54
Features
80
Overall
64

Nikon D40 vs Sony A33 Key Specs

Nikon D40
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 522g - 124 x 94 x 64mm
  • Released December 2006
  • Replacement is Nikon D3000
Sony A33
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • New Model is Sony A35
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Nikon D40 vs Sony A33 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Nikon D40 versus Sony A33, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the D40 (6MP) and A33 (14MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The D40 was launched 4 years before the A33 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the D40 scores against the A33 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D40 over the Sony A33

 D40 A33 

Reasons to pick Sony A33 over the Nikon D40

 A33 D40 
LaunchedAugust 2010December 2006More modern by 44 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Nikon D40 and Sony A33

 D40 A33 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Nikon D40 vs Sony A33 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D40 has outside 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 A33 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D40 versus Sony A33 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the D40 versus the A33.

Nikon D40 vs Sony A33 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the D40 and A33 is 71 and 67 respectively.

Nikon D40 vs Sony A33 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D40 vs Sony A33 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to see the difference in sensor sizes simply by seeing technical specs. The image below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the D40 and A33.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Sony A33 to show extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged D40 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Nikon D40 vs Sony A33 sensor size comparison

Nikon D40 vs Sony A33 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D40 vs Sony A33 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D40 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A33 as a Portrait photography camera
53
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/500s)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D40
Street photography with Sony A33
58
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
76
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D40 Sports photography features
Sony A33 Sports photography features
39
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (340 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D40 Travel photography information
Sony A33 Travel photography information
47
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
61
good resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (340 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D40 Landscape photography details
Sony A33 Landscape photography details
47
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
67
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
terrible battery life (340 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D40 Vlogging advice
Sony A33 Vlogging advice
9
can't shoot video
77
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone support
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Nikon D40 vs Sony A33 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D40 and Sony A33
 Nikon D40Sony SLT-A33
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D40 Sony SLT-A33
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2006-12-21 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.5mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 367.4mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 6MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3008 x 2000 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 17.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/500 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 522 gr (1.15 lb) 500 gr (1.10 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 94 x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 70
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.0 12.6
DXO Low light rating 561 591
Other
Battery life - 340 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL9 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $500 $230