Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D40x
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| NikonD3500 | NikonD40x | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | September 2018 | March 2007 |
| Image and sensor | ||
| Camera type | DSLR | DSLR |
| Sensor format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
| Sensor dimensions | 23.5 × 15.6 mm | 23.6 × 15.8 mm |
| Effective resolution | 24.2 MP | 10.2 MP |
| Largest image | 6000 × 4000 | 3872 × 2592 |
| RAW recording | Yes | Yes |
| Standard ISO range | 100–25600 | 100–1600 |
| 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 10.2 million effective and 10.75 million total pixels; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent |
| 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 3872 × 2592 pixels; Image Optimisation settings and in-camera retouching |
| ISO detail | ISO 100–25600 in one-stop steps; Auto ISO | ISO 100–1600 in whole stops; Hi 1 expands to ISO 3200 equivalent |
| Lens and shooting | ||
| Lens mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon F mount |
| Stabilisation | Optical lens stabilisation | Optical lens stabilisation |
| Maximum continuous burst | 5 fps | 3 fps |
| 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 | 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 | Electronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third stops, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/200 second | 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 | Approximately 5 fps with manual focus, S/M exposure, 1/250 second or faster and other settings at defaults | Approximately 3 fps; self-timer and optional ML-L3 delayed or immediate infrared remote release |
| 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 | 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 12 m at ISO 100, 20°C, or 13 at manual full output; accessory shoe |
| 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 | 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps | – |
| 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 | 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 | Optical | Optical |
| Screen size | 3″ | 2.5″ |
| Screen dots | 921,000 | 230,000 |
| Touchscreen | – | No |
| Tilting screen | – | No |
| 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 | 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) | 1550 photographs | 520 photographs |
| Body weight | 365 g (better) | 495 g |
| Release detail | Nikon Japan records first sale on 28 September 2018; global announcement on 30 August 2018 | Nikon Japan records first sale on 29 March 2007; Nikon USA announcement dated 5 March 2007 states US availability beginning April |
| Recording media | One SD/SDHC/SDXC slot; UHS-I support for SDHC/SDXC | One SD/SDHC card slot; MMC unsupported |
| 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 | 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 | EN-EL14a rechargeable lithium-ion battery; approximately 1550 photographs per charge under CIPA testing with Bluetooth disabled | 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 | 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 | Approximately 124 × 97 × 69.5 mm | Approximately 126 × 94 × 64 mm |
| Weight detail | Approximately 365 g body only or 415 g including battery and SD card, excluding body cap | Approximately 495 g excluding battery, SD card and body cap |
| Materials | Slim monocoque body structure with a deeper grip and most operational buttons grouped on the right of the rear panel | – |
| Colours | Black | Black |
| 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, body cap, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-16 eyecup and PictureProject CD-ROM |
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