Nikon D40 vs Nikon D50

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D40 compared with D50

	NikonD40	NikonD50
Overview
Released
Released	December 2006	2005
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor format
Sensor format	APS-C	APS-C
Sensor type
Sensor type	CCD	CCD
Sensor dimensions
Sensor dimensions	23.7 × 15.6 mm	23.7 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	6.1 MP	6.1 MP
Largest image
Largest image	3008 × 2000	3008 × 2000
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	200–1600	200–1600
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	Nikon DX primary-colour CCD with 6.1 million effective and 6.24 million total pixels; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent	Nikon DX CCD with 6.1 million effective and 6.24 million total pixels; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; Image Dust Off reference data for optional Nikon Capture correction
Image formats
Image formats	Compressed 12-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus Basic JPEG; maximum 3008 × 2000 pixels; Image Optimisation settings and in-camera retouching	Compressed 12-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus Basic JPEG; maximum 3008 × 2000 pixels; Image Optimisation settings
ISO detail
ISO detail	ISO 200–1600 in whole stops; Hi 1 expands to ISO 3200 equivalent	ISO 200–1600 in whole stops
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	2.5 fps	2.5 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	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	Body autofocus motor supports compatible AF NIKKOR lenses, including type G and D; AF-S lenses also supported. Other AF NIKKOR lenses lose 3D matrix metering; non-CPU lenses require manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported; E-type lenses incompatible according to current Nikon USA specification
Autofocus
Autofocus	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	Multi-CAM 900 phase-detection module; five selectable focus areas; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100 equivalent, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A and manual focus, single-area, dynamic-area and closest-subject-priority modes; AF-assist illuminator. Current US page lists Face-Priority AF, absent from the original manual specification; no face-detection capability inferred
Shutter
Shutter	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	Combined mechanical and CCD electronic shutter; 1/4000 to 30 seconds in half or one-third stops, Bulb and remote long exposures; flash synchronisation up to 1/500 second
Burst detail
Burst detail	Approximately 2.5 fps; self-timer and optional ML-L3 delayed or immediate infrared remote release	Approximately 2.5 fps; US launch specifies up to 137 Normal Large JPEG frames on SanDisk UltraII 256 MB SD card. Original manual buffer table separately lists four RAW or nine Fine Large JPEG frames with long-exposure noise reduction off; card-dependent sustained shooting differs from buffer capacity
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation. The pictured original 18–55mm ED II kit lens has no VR	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation. Pictured original AF-S DX 18–55 mm ED kit lens has no VR
Flash
Flash	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	Built-in pop-up i-TTL flash; original manual guide number approximately 15 m at ISO 200 (17 manual) or 11 m at ISO 100 (12 manual); accessory shoe
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	P/S/A/M, Auto and scene modes; 420-pixel RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation in one-third stops	P/S/A/M, Auto and six scene modes; 420-segment RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation in half or one-third stops; exposure/flash and white-balance bracketing
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	2.5″	2″
Screen dots
Screen dots	230,000	130,000
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	No	No
Display detail
Display detail	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	Fixed 2-inch low-temperature-polysilicon TFT with 130000 dots; top status LCD; contextual help and playback magnification; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	Pentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.80× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 18 mm eyepoint	Pentamirror; approximately 95% coverage and 0.75× magnification; original manual specifies 18 mm eyepoint, conflicting with 8 mm on current US page
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	470 photographs	400 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	475 g (better)	540 g
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon Japan records first sale on 1 December 2006; Nikon USA announced it on 16 November 2006 with US availability beginning December	Nikon USA original announcement dated 20 April 2005 states June US availability as a prospective schedule; actual first-sale month is unconfirmed, so year precision is retained
Recording media
Recording media	One SD/SDHC card slot; MMC unsupported	One Secure Digital card slot; no SDHC compatibility inferred
Ports
Ports	Hi-Speed USB and NTSC/PAL video output; optional ML-L3 infrared remote	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, NTSC/PAL video output and DC input; optional ML-L3 infrared remote
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	EN-EL9 rechargeable lithium-ion battery; Nikon USA lists approximately 470 CIPA photographs per charge	EN-EL3 lithium-ion battery; main 400 shots is original manual single-frame test with 18–55 mm ED lens, Normal Large JPEG and flash every other exposure, not labelled CIPA. Separate 2000-shot continuous test uses Basic Medium JPEG and limited monitor use; the launch announcement promotes that continuous figure
Charging
Charging	External MH-23 quick charger; optional EH-5 mains adapter with EP-5 power connector	External MH-18a quick charger; optional EH-5 mains adapter
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 126 × 94 × 64 mm	Approximately 133 × 102 × 76 mm
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 475 g excluding battery, SD card and body cap	Approximately 540 g excluding battery, memory card and body cap
Colours
Colours	Black or silver; regional kit availability varies	Black or silver
In the box
In the box	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	–
Video
Video detail
Video detail	No movie recording or live-view composition; NTSC/PAL output is for playback	No movie recording or live-view composition; NTSC/PAL output is for playback, despite the current US page labelling it Movie File Format