Comparison of the Nikon D40 and the Nikon D90
Nikon D40
23 points
Nikon D90
47 points
Nikon D40
94 mm
126 mm
BODY
Nikon D90
103 mm
132 mm
2006
YEARYear of announcement
2008
Plastic
BODY MATERIAL
Aluminium alloy with plastic
Not
weather
sealed
weather
sealed
WEATHER SEALING
Notweather
sealed
Nikon F
LENS MOUNT
Nikon F
n/a
SHUTTER LIFEThe shutter durability as rated by the manufacturer.
100 000 cycles
522 g
1.15 lb
1.15 lb
126 x 94 x 64 mm
5 x 3.7 x 2.5 in.
5 x 3.7 x 2.5 in.
DIMENSIONS
& WEIGHTLength x Height x Width and the Weight incl. batteries and memory card
& WEIGHTLength x Height x Width and the Weight incl. batteries and memory card
DIMENS.
& WEIGHTLength x Height x Width and the Weight incl. batteries and memory card
& WEIGHTLength x Height x Width and the Weight incl. batteries and memory card
132 x 103 x 77 mm
5.2 x 4.1 x 3 in.
5.2 x 4.1 x 3 in.
703 g
1.55 lb
1.55 lb
Nikon D40
Nikon D90
6.1 MP
Sony ICX453 CCD APS-C Sensor
SENSOR The number of effective megapixels (MP). Sensor manufacturer (if known) and sensor type.
SENSOR Sensor manufacturer (if known) and sensor type.
12.3 MP
Sony IMX038 Exmor CMOS APS-C Sensor
6.1 MP
EFFECTIVE MEGAPIX The number of effective megapixels (MP).
12.3 MP
23.7 x 15.6 mm
SENSOR SIZE
23.6 x 15.8 mm
3008 x 2000 pixels
MAX. RESOLUTIONMaximum still image resolution
MAX. RESOLUT.Maximum still image resolution
4288 x 2848 pixels
1.5x
CROP FACTORA 50mm lens on a camera with a crop factor of 1.5x would behave like a 75mm lens on a full-frame camera with a crop factor of 1x (50mm x 1.5 = 75mm)
1.5x
Bayer array
COLOR FILTER
Bayer array
7.8 μm
PIXEL PITCHThe center-to-center distance between two pixels (photosites) on a sensor. The larger the photosites, the more light they can capture and the lower is the level of visible "noise" in captured images.
5.49 μm
Fixed
LOW-PASS FILTERA low-pass filter blurs fine details of an image to eliminate the moiré and the color artifacts of finely patterned structures. Without a low-pass filter images will appear sharper, but there is also a risk of moiré occurring in certain scenes.
Fixed
3:2
NATIVE
ASPECT RATIOThe width to height ratio of the "straight out of the camera" images. However, most modern digital cameras are capable of producing images in various aspect ratios.
ASPECT RATIOThe width to height ratio of the "straight out of the camera" images. However, most modern digital cameras are capable of producing images in various aspect ratios.
ASPECT RATIOThe width to height ratio of the "straight out of the camera" images. However, most modern digital cameras are capable of producing images in various aspect ratios.
3:2
56
OVERALL SCOREDXOMARK Sensor Overall Score shows a camera's sensor quality in terms of noise, ability to render high contrast, formation of colored noise, ability to shoot in low light.
73
11
DYNAMIC RANGEThe maximum dynamic range performance (DXOMARK Landscape Score) in exposure value (EV)
12.5
561
LOW-LIGHT ISOThe low-light sensitivity performance (DXOMARK Sports Score) in ISO sensitivity value
977
Nikon D40
Nikon D90
COVERAGE:
95 %
95 %
REAL SIZE:
0.53
0.53
VIEWFINDERThe viewfinder frame COVERAGE in percent and the real viewfinder SIZE (VF magnification corrected by the crop factor of a camera — this way cameras with different sensor sizes can be compared).
COVERAGE:
96 %
96 %
REAL SIZE:
0.63
0.63
Optical
(pentamirror)
(pentamirror)
VF TYPE
Optical
(pentaprism)
(pentaprism)
Fixed
230 400 dot LCD
230 400 dot LCD
REAR SCREEN
Fixed
921 600 dot LCD
921 600 dot LCD
2.5 inch
SCREEN SIZE
3 inch
LIVE VIEW & TOUCH SCREEN
No top LCD panel
TOP LCD PANELLCD panel on top of the camera which provides information about the current camera settings.
Nikon D40
Nikon D90
Phase detection
AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM
AF SYSTEM
Phase detection, Contrast detection in Live View mode
Multi-CAM 530
AUTOFOCUS MODULE
AF MODULE
Multi-CAM 1000
3
3
FOCUS POINTSAutofocus points
as shown in the figures below:
° linear sensors
° cross-type sensors
° dual cross-type sensors
contrast autofocus areas
as shown in the figures below:
° linear sensors
° cross-type sensors
° dual cross-type sensors
contrast autofocus areas
11
11
1
CROSS-TYPE FOCUS POINTS
CROSS-TYPE FP
1
-1
EV
100
The minimum exposure value of the AF working range (at 23°C and ISO 100). The smaller this value, the less light is needed for normal autofocus operation.-1
6 %
AF COVERAGEFrame coverage by AF sensors in percent.
17 %
None
IN-BODY
AF MOTORAn in-body AF motor gives the ability to auto-focus with older lenses which don't have their own motors.
AF MOTORAn in-body AF motor gives the ability to auto-focus with older lenses which don't have their own motors.
Yes
No
IN-BODY IMAGE STABILIZATION
IMAGE STABILIZ.
No
Nikon D40
Nikon D90
EXPEED EI-137
IMAGE
PROCESSOR
PROCESSOR
EXPEED EI-149
12 bit RAW, JPEG
OUTPUT FORMATS
12 bit RAW, JPEG
Auto, 200 - 1600
(can be extended to ISO 3200)
(can be extended to ISO 3200)
ISO SENSITIVITY
Auto, 200 - 3200
(can be extended to ISO 100 - 6400)
(can be extended to ISO 100 - 6400)
2.5
fps
fps
CONTINUOUS DRIVEMaximum frames per second (fps) in continuous drive mode when using the mechanical shutter.
CONT. DRIVEMaximum frames per second (fps) in continuous drive mode when using the mechanical shutter.
4.5
fps
fps
100 JPEG shots
5 RAW shots
5 RAW shots
MAX. BURSTMaximum number of shots in high-speed continuous drive mode until the buffer is full.
25 JPEG shots
9 RAW shots
9 RAW shots
No Video Mode
MAX. VIDEO RESOLUTION
VIDEO
720p @ 24 fps (HD)
-5/+5 EV (in 1/3 EV steps)
EXPOSURE COMPENSATION
EXPOSURE COMPENS.
-5/+5 EV (in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps)
Bulb,
30 sec → 1/4000 sec
30 sec → 1/4000 sec
SHUTTER SPEED Maximum and minimum possible exposure time in seconds.
Bulb,
30 sec → 1/4000 sec
30 sec → 1/4000 sec
Nikon D40
Nikon D90
X-SYNC:
1/500
GUIDE
NUMBER:
NUMBER:
GN:
12
BUILT-IN FLASH
GUIDE
NUMBER:
NUMBER:
GN:
12
X-SYNC:
1/200
Yes
HOT SHOE
Yes
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Video out
CONNECTIONS
CONNECT.
HDMI
BUILT-IN
DEVICES
DEVICES
SD, SDHC
STORAGE TYPES
SD, SDHC
1
CARD SLOTS
1
470
shots
shots
BATTERY LIFEMaximum number of images that can be shot per single battery charge (according to CIPA).
850
shots
shots
