Nikon D300 vs Nikon D40x

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D300 compared with D40x

	NikonD300	NikonD40x
Overview
Released
Released	November 2007	March 2007
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor format
Sensor format	APS-C	APS-C
Sensor type
Sensor type	CMOS	CCD
Sensor dimensions
Sensor dimensions	23.6 × 15.8 mm	23.6 × 15.8 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	12.3 MP	10.2 MP
Largest image
Largest image	4288 × 2848	3872 × 2592
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	200–3200	100–1600
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	13.1 million total pixels; vibrating low-pass filter for dust removal; Image Dust Off reference data	Nikon DX primary-colour CCD with 10.2 million effective and 10.75 million total pixels; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent
Image formats
Image formats	12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, uncompressed, compressed or losslessly compressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEG	Compressed 12-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus Basic JPEG; maximum 3872 × 2592 pixels; Image Optimisation settings and in-camera retouching
ISO detail
ISO detail	Expanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISO	ISO 100–1600 in whole stops; Hi 1 expands to ISO 3200 equivalent
Image processor
Image processor	EXPEED image-processing system; Scene Recognition System	–
Lens and shooting
Lens mount
Lens mount	Nikon F mount	Nikon F mount
Stabilisation
Stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
Maximum continuous burst	6 fps	3 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	AF coupling supports compatible screw-drive lenses. Supported non-CPU AI lenses permit aperture-priority and manual exposure; entered lens data enables colour matrix metering. IX and F3AF lenses unsupported	Autofocus with AF-S and AF-I motor-equipped lenses; no body autofocus motor. Other compatible AF lenses require manual focusing; non-CPU lenses require manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
Autofocus
Autofocus	Multi-CAM 3500DX phase detection; 51 points including 15 cross-type; single-point, auto-area and dynamic 9/21/51-point modes with 3D tracking; AF fine-tuning	Multi-CAM 530 phase-detection module; three selectable autofocus areas; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100 equivalent, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A, single-area, dynamic-area and closest-subject-priority dynamic-area modes; AF-assist illuminator
Shutter
Shutter	1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; standard flash sync 1/250 second, with 1/320 available at reduced flash range; shutter tested to 150000 cycles	Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter; 1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third stops, Bulb and Time with optional ML-L3 remote; flash sync 1/200 second
Burst detail
Burst detail	Approximately 6 fps with the body's EN-EL3e. Up to 8 fps using MB-D10 with EN-EL4/EN-EL4a or eight AA cells, or EH-5/EH-5a AC power; an EN-EL3e in the grip alone does not provide 8 fps. 14-bit RAW limits speed to approximately 2.5 fps	Approximately 3 fps; self-timer and optional ML-L3 delayed or immediate infrared remote release
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation. The pictured original 18–55mm ED II kit lens has no VR
Flash
Flash	Pop-up i-TTL flash; guide number approximately 12 at ISO 100 in metres, 13 at full manual output; commander support, hot shoe and PC sync terminal	Built-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C, or 13 at manual full output; accessory shoe
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	P/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting and interval timer	P/S/A/M, Auto and scene modes; 420-pixel RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation in one-third stops
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	3″	2.5″
Screen dots
Screen dots	920,000	230,000
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	–	No
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	No	No
Display detail
Display detail	Fixed TFT with 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels; removable protective cover	Fixed 2.5-inch low-temperature-polysilicon TFT with approximately 230000 dots; Classic, Graphic and Wallpaper shooting-information displays, contextual help and playback magnification; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	Pentaprism, approximately 100% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepoint; selectable grid	Pentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.80× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 18 mm eyepoint
Connections and design
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	No	–
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	1000 photographs	520 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	825 g	495 g (better)
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon's original US announcement specifies November 2007 availability; Japan records 23 November. Main retains the month	Nikon Japan records first sale on 29 March 2007; Nikon USA announcement dated 5 March 2007 states US availability beginning April
Recording media
Recording media	CompactFlash Type I/II, including UDMA, and Microdrive; single slot	One SD/SDHC card slot; MMC unsupported
Ports
Ports	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, analogue NTSC/PAL output, full-size HDMI Type A (HDMI 1.3a), ten-pin accessory terminal and PC flash sync; optional MC-35 connects compatible external GPS receivers	Hi-Speed USB and NTSC/PAL video output; optional ML-L3 infrared remote
Wireless connections
Wireless connections	Optional WT-4 transmitter supplies network transfer; Wi-Fi is not built into the body	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	EN-EL3e; approximately 1000 shots under CIPA conditions with AF-S VR 24–120mm f/3.5–5.6G ED, flash on alternate exposures and no live view. Separate Nikon continuous test claims approximately 3000. Optional MB-D10 accepts EN-EL3e, EN-EL4/EN-EL4a or eight AA cells	EN-EL9 rechargeable lithium-ion battery; Nikon's D40x manual (printed page 121) and original brochure specify approximately 520 CIPA photographs, corroborating the launch announcement. The manual tests single frames every 30 seconds with the 18–55mm ED II lens and flash every other shot. The current US product page lists 470 shots, conflicting with these exact-model documents
Charging
Charging	External MH-18a charger; optional EH-5/EH-5a AC adapter	External MH-23 quick charger; optional EH-5 mains adapter with EP-5 power connector
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 147 × 114 × 74 mm	Approximately 126 × 94 × 64 mm
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 825 g excluding battery, card, body cap and monitor cover	Approximately 495 g excluding battery, SD card and body cap
Colours
Colours	–	Black
In the box
In the box	–	EN-EL9 battery, MH-23 charger, UC-E4 USB cable, AN-DC1 strap, body cap, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-16 eyecup and PictureProject CD-ROM
Materials
Materials	Magnesium-alloy construction with dust and moisture seals; not a waterproof rating	–
Video
Video detail
Video detail	No movie recording. Handheld live view uses phase-detection AF with mirror interruption; Tripod live view uses contrast-detection AF	No movie recording or live-view composition; NTSC/PAL output is for playback