Canon EOS
40D
 vs
Nikon
D5100

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS 40D vs Nikon D5200

Nikon D5100

57

  
Canon EOS 40D

39

  
Winner

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
 
Runner-up

Canon EOS 40D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 40D

Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
6.5 fps
Battery life
 Great battery life
1100 shots
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 40D
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.51x
Help
 More than 30% larger viewfinder
Battery life Longer battery life 1100 shots vs 660 shots
Help
 Around 70% more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 More than 60% faster continuous shooting
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 400 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 20% less delay when turning on
Canon EOS 40D Learn more about
the Canon 40D

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 80.0 vs 64.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 1.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 703 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 10.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 60% more detail in your photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Size Smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 560 g vs 822 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D5100's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 40D
39 vs 57
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
40D:162 lenses
D5100:169 lenses
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
40D:10.1 MP
D5100:16.1 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
40D:1,600 ISO
D5100:6,400 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
40D:None
D5100:Contrast detection
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
40D:APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
D5100:APS-C 23.6x15.6mm
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 40D
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Canon Rebel T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$669 - $800 body only

$699 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the EOS 40D
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D5100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Focus points Has significantly more focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100

Canon EOS 40D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 50D

Canon EOS 50D

Pro DSLR
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Color depth Worse color depth
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the EOS 50D vs the EOS 40D
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Entry-level DSLR

$728 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Size Smaller
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XSi vs the EOS 40D

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the D5200 vs the D5100

appearance

Canon EOS 40D Nikon D5100
Canon EOS 40D Nikon D5100
Canon EOS 40D Nikon D5100

discussion

Showing 0 comments