Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D40

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

D3500 compared with D40

	NikonD3500	NikonD40
Overview
Released
Released	September 2018	December 2006
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	23.5 × 15.6 mm	23.7 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	24.2 MP	6.1 MP
Largest image
Largest image	6000 × 4000	3008 × 2000
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	100–25600	200–1600
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	Nikon DX CMOS with 24.16 million effective and 24.78 million total pixels; no optical low-pass filter; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent. Image Dust Off reference data uses Capture NX-D; no automatic vibrating sensor-cleaning system	Nikon DX primary-colour CCD with 6.1 million effective and 6.24 million total pixels; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent
Image formats
Image formats	12-bit compressed NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; maximum 6000 × 4000 pixels; Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape and Flat Picture Controls	Compressed 12-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus Basic JPEG; maximum 3008 × 2000 pixels; Image Optimisation settings and in-camera retouching
ISO detail
ISO detail	ISO 100–25600 in one-stop steps; Auto ISO	ISO 200–1600 in whole stops; Hi 1 expands to ISO 3200 equivalent
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	5 fps	2.5 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	Autofocus supported with AF-P lenses and type E/G AF-S lenses; no body autofocus motor for screw-drive lenses	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 1000; 11 phase-detection points including one cross-type; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A, single-point, dynamic, auto-area and 11-point 3D tracking. Contrast-detection live view supports face, wide, normal and subject-tracking areas	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	Electronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third stops, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/200 second	Combined CCD electronic and mechanical shutter; 1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third stops, Bulb and Time with optional ML-L3 remote; flash sync 1/500 second
Burst detail
Burst detail	Approximately 5 fps with manual focus, S/M exposure, 1/250 second or faster and other settings at defaults	Approximately 2.5 fps; self-timer and optional ML-L3 delayed or immediate infrared remote release
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Optical VR depends on the 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	Built-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 7 m at ISO 100, 20°C, or 8 at manual full output; accessory shoe	Built-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 17 m at ISO 200, 20°C, or 18 at manual full output; equivalent guide numbers 12 or 13 at ISO 100; accessory shoe
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	P/S/A/M, Auto, flash-off Auto, scene and special-effects modes; beginner Guide mode; 420-pixel RGB metering with matrix, centre-weighted and spot modes; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting on/off	P/S/A/M, Auto and scene modes; 420-pixel RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation in one-third stops
Video
Highest video resolution
Highest video resolution	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	–
Video detail
Video detail	H.264 MOV at Full HD 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p or 720p 60p/50p; actual NTSC rates 59.94/29.97/23.976. Maximum 29 minutes 59 seconds, reduced to 20 or ten minutes depending on frame-rate/quality settings, or three minutes with Miniature Effect	No movie recording or live-view composition; NTSC/PAL output is for playback
Audio
Audio	Built-in mono microphone with adjustable sensitivity and linear PCM recording; no external microphone input. Photography Blog describes stereo sound, differing from Nikon’s technical specification	–
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	3″	2.5″
Screen dots
Screen dots	921,000	230,000
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	–	No
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	–	No
Display detail
Display detail	Fixed 3-inch TFT; approximately 921000 dots in the US, rounded to 920000 in Japan; 170° viewing angle and approximately 100% coverage; dots count subpixels	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	Pentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.85× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 18 mm eyepoint	Pentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.80× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 18 mm eyepoint
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	1550 photographs	470 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	365 g (better)	475 g
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon Japan records first sale on 28 September 2018; global announcement on 30 August 2018	Nikon Japan records first sale on 1 December 2006; Nikon USA announced it on 16 November 2006 with US availability beginning December
Recording media
Recording media	One SD/SDHC/SDXC slot; UHS-I support for SDHC/SDXC	One SD/SDHC card slot; MMC unsupported
Ports
Ports	Hi-Speed Micro-USB and HDMI Type C; no wired accessory terminal, external microphone socket or infrared remote receiver	Hi-Speed USB and NTSC/PAL video output; optional ML-L3 infrared remote
Wireless connections
Wireless connections	Bluetooth 4.1 with SnapBridge; automatic transfer of two-megapixel JPEGs and smartphone time/location synchronisation. Nikon’s updated announcement supports Bluetooth remote still capture using SnapBridge 2.5, manual original-JPEG transfer, and excludes RAW/movie transfer; no Wi-Fi	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	EN-EL14a rechargeable lithium-ion battery; approximately 1550 photographs per charge under CIPA testing with Bluetooth disabled	EN-EL9 rechargeable lithium-ion battery; Nikon USA lists approximately 470 CIPA photographs per charge
Charging
Charging	External MH-24 charger; optional EH-5c/EH-5b AC adapter with EP-5A power connector	External MH-23 quick charger; optional EH-5 mains adapter with EP-5 power connector
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 124 × 97 × 69.5 mm	Approximately 126 × 94 × 64 mm
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 365 g body only or 415 g including battery and SD card, excluding body cap	Approximately 475 g excluding battery, SD card and body cap
Materials
Materials	Slim monocoque body structure with a deeper grip and most operational buttons grouped on the right of the rear panel	–
Colours
Colours	Black	Black or silver; regional kit availability varies
In the box
In the box	EN-EL14a battery, MH-24 charger, AN-DC3 strap, BF-1B body cap and DK-25 eyecup	EN-EL9 battery, MH-23 charger, UC-E4 USB cable, AN-DC1 strap for black or AN-DC2 for silver, body cap, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-16 eyecup and PictureProject CD-ROM