Nikon D40 vs Sony A65

On this page, we are looking at the Nikon D40 vs Sony A65, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the D40 (6MP) and A65 (24MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The D40 was manufactured 5 years before the A65 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the D40 grades against the A65 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Nikon D40 & Sony SLT-A65. The entire galleries are viewable at Nikon D40 Gallery & Sony A65 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon D40 has outer dimensions of 124mm x 94mm x 64mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 522 grams (1.15 lbs) whilst the Sony A65 has proportions of 132mm x 97mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") having a weight of 622 grams (1.37 lbs).

Look at the Nikon D40 vs Sony A65 in our completely 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. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the D40 compared to the A65.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the D40 and A65 is 71 and 64 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by going over a spec sheet. The photograph here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the D40 and A65.

As you can see, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Sony A65 to offer you extra detail due to its extra 18 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older D40 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.