Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 40D vs Nikon D5100

Nikon D5000

43

"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout
"The image quality is undeniably impressive."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Color depth
Great color depth
22.7 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Canon EOS 40D

41

"Good nine point auto focus system, works well even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the 40D's auto-focus
"With each step up the evolutionary ladder to the EOS 40D Canon has demonstrated improvements in image quality."
dpreview.com | talking about the 40D's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 40D

Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
6.5 fps
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

Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.51x
Help
More than 30% larger viewfinder
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
More than 60% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3.1"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS 40D Learn more about
the Canon 40D

Advantages of the Nikon D5000

Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Overall image quality Better image quality 72.0 vs 64.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
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 22.7 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 868 ISO vs 703 ISO
Help
The D5000 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
Almost the same
Weight Lighter 590 g vs 822 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The D5000's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Size Slightly smaller 127x104x80 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
Around 10% smaller
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 40D
41 vs 43
Explain scores
Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation. 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.

advice

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by Neeraj-Jain 6 days ago
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I am beginner and I want to become an expert in portrait photography, especially baby shots. Ple...

0
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similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
40D:162 lenses
D5000:169 lenses
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
40D:3,200 ISO
D5000:6,400 ISO
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
40D:10.1 MP
D5000:12.2 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
40D:1,600 ISO
D5000:3,200 ISO
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Movie format One shoots movies Help
40D:None
D5000:720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$830 - $897 body only

$1,199 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens

Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

Canon EOS 40D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 50D

Canon EOS 50D

Pro DSLR

$1,282 - $1,330 body only

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D5000.

appearance

Canon EOS 40D Nikon D5000
Canon EOS 40D Nikon D5000
Canon EOS 40D Nikon D5000

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Johnky61 (4:37 PM, March 17, 2012)
I am new to the DSLR world. I am looking for good quality photos and speed. My budget is around $600. Can anyone help in my choice.