Canon EOS
40D
 vs
Nikon
D90

Updated (September, 2010): Compare the Canon EOS 40D vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D90

59

  
Canon EOS 40D

40

  
Winner

Nikon D90

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.63x
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 
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
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.5 fps vs 4.5 fps
Help
 More than 40% faster continuous shooting
Battery life Longer battery life 1100 shots vs 850 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3"
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS 40D Learn more about
the Canon 40D

Advantages of the Nikon D90
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 930k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4x higher resolution screen
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 73.0 vs 64.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 977 ISO vs 703 ISO
Help
 The D90 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.59x
Help
 Around 20% larger viewfinder
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Size Smaller 132x103x77 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D90's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Weight Lighter 703 g vs 822 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 40D
40 vs 59
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D90. 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
D90:169 lenses
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
40D:400 ms
D90:300 ms
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
40D:95%
D90:96%
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
40D:10.1 MP
D90:12.2 MP
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
40D:3,200 ISO
D90:6,400 ISO
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
40D:1,600 ISO
D90:3,200 ISO
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
40D:APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
D90:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Movie format One shoots movies Help
40D:None
D90:720p @ 24fps
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
40D:64.0
D90:73.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
40D:703 ISO
D90:977 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 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
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the D5100 vs the D90
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 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
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the D3100 vs the D90
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
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 D90
Canon EOS 50D

Canon EOS 50D

Pro DSLR

$1,279 body only
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the EOS 50D vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 50D vs the D90
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 40D
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D90

Canon EOS 40D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 40D.

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Overall image quality Better image quality
Viewfinder size Significantly smaller viewfinder
Shutter lag More shutter lag
Compare the D3200 vs the D90
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Overall image quality Better image quality
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Size Slightly larger
Compare the D7100 vs the D90
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Better image quality
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Viewfinder size Smaller viewfinder
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5200 vs the D90

appearance

Canon EOS 40D Nikon D90
Canon EOS 40D Nikon D90
Canon EOS 40D Nikon D90

discussion

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