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Nikon D40 vs Nikon D500

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

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NikonD40NikonD500
Overview
ReleasedDecember 2006April 2016
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCCDCMOS
Sensor dimensions23.7 × 15.6 mm23.5 × 15.7 mm
Effective resolution6.1 MP20.9 MP
Largest image3008 × 20005568 × 3712
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range200–1600100–51200
Sensor detailNikon DX primary-colour CCD with 6.1 million effective and 6.24 million total pixels; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent21.51 million total pixels; Japan gives 20.88 million effective pixels, rounded to 20.9 million in Nikon USA. DX and 1.3× image areas; maximum cropped image 4272 × 2848; sensor-cleaning system
Image formatsCompressed 12-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus Basic JPEG; maximum 3008 × 2000 pixels; Image Optimisation settings and in-camera retouching12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW with lossless compression, compression or no compression; TIFF RGB, JPEG and RAW plus JPEG. Medium/small RAW are 12-bit losslessly compressed
ISO detailISO 200–1600 in whole stops; Hi 1 expands to ISO 3200 equivalentExpanded equivalents ISO 50–1640000; Auto ISO
Image processor–EXPEED 5; dedicated autofocus processor; Advanced Scene Recognition System
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon F mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst2.5 fps10 fps
Lens detailAutofocus 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 unsupportedCompatible G/E/D AF NIKKOR lenses support full functions, subject to PC lens restrictions; body AF motor for compatible screw-drive lenses. Non-CPU AI lenses support aperture-priority/manual; non-AI, IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
AutofocusMulti-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 illuminatorMulti-CAM 20K; 153 points including 99 cross-type, with 55 manually selectable including 35 cross-type; 15 points support f/8, nine selectable. Centre detection to -4 EV; single-point, dynamic 25/72/153, 3D tracking, group and auto-area; automatic AF fine-tuning
ShutterCombined 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 second1/8000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/250 second; electronic front curtain in mirror-up mode; shutter tested to 200000 cycles
Burst detailApproximately 2.5 fps; self-timer and optional ML-L3 delayed or immediate infrared remote releaseUp to 10 fps with full AF/AE; up to 200 losslessly compressed 14-bit RAW images or 79 uncompressed 14-bit RAW images under Nikon's specified ISO 100 conditions with Lexar Professional 2933× XQD 2.0. Card, settings and scene affect burst depth; quiet continuous approximately 3 fps
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation. The pictured original 18–55mm ED II kit lens has no VROptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation. Electronic movie VR available at Full HD, with an additional crop
FlashBuilt-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 shoeNo built-in flash; hot shoe and PC sync terminal. Compatible Speedlights provide Nikon CLS; radio control of SB-5000 requires optional WR-R10/WR-A10
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M, Auto and scene modes; 420-pixel RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation in one-third stopsP/S/A/M; 180000-pixel RGB metering with 3D Colour Matrix Metering III, centre-weighted, spot and highlight-weighted modes; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size2.5″3.2″
Screen dots230,0002,359,000
TouchscreenNoYes
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed 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 subpixelsReinforced tilting TFT with 170° viewing angle; limited touch functions for live-view AF/shutter and playback; dots count subpixels. Original Nikon US announcement gives 2359000 dots; Japan rounds approximately2360000
Viewfinder detailPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.80× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 18 mm eyepointPentaprism; approximately 100% DX or 98% 1.3× coverage; 1.0× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 16 mm eyepoint; viewfinder shutter and grid overlays
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
Bluetooth–Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)470 photographs1240 photographs
Body weight475 g760 g
Release detailNikon Japan records first sale on 1 December 2006; Nikon USA announced it on 16 November 2006 with US availability beginning DecemberNikon's surviving Japanese product page records sale on 28 April 2016. The original US January announcement proposed March; that planned date was superseded. The same announcement explicitly calls D500 the successor to D300S
Recording mediaOne SD/SDHC card slot; MMC unsupportedOne XQD slot and one SD/SDHC/SDXC slot with UHS-II support; overflow, backup, separate RAW/JPEG and card copying. CFexpress Type B support added to the XQD slot with firmware C 1.30
PortsHi-Speed USB and NTSC/PAL video output; optional ML-L3 infrared remoteUSB 3.0 Micro-B, mini-HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets, ten-pin accessory terminal and PC sync. Optional GP-1/GP-1A or MC-35 connects GPS equipment
Wireless connections–Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 4.1 and NFC; SnapBridge smartphone transfer and location sharing. Direct SnapBridge Wi-Fi connections added with C 1.20; optional WT-7 supplies wired/wireless network transfer
Battery life detailEN-EL9 rechargeable lithium-ion battery; Nikon USA lists approximately 470 CIPA photographs per chargeEN-EL15 at launch; EN-EL15a/b subsequently supported. Approximately 1240 CIPA photographs with AF-S DX NIKKOR 16–80mm f/2.8–4E ED VR and no live view; separate Nikon continuous test approximately 2740 with AF-S NIKKOR 70–200mm f/2.8G ED VR II and VR off. Optional MB-D17 grip supports one EN-EL15-series battery, EN-EL18-series with BL-5 cover, or eight AA batteries
ChargingExternal MH-23 quick charger; optional EH-5 mains adapter with EP-5 power connectorExternal MH-25a charger; optional EH-5b adapter with EP-5B power connector
DimensionsApproximately 126 × 94 × 64 mmApproximately 147 × 115 × 81 mm
Weight detailApproximately 475 g excluding battery, SD card and body capApproximately 760 g body only; 860 g with battery and XQD card, excluding body cap
Materials–Magnesium-alloy top/rear and carbon-fibre-reinforced front monocoque; dust and moisture sealing; not a waterproof rating
ColoursBlack or silver; regional kit availability varies–
In the boxEN-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-ROMOriginal EN-EL15 battery, MH-25a charger, DK-17F eyepiece, UC-E22 USB cable, USB/HDMI cable clips, AN-DC17 strap and BF-1B body cap; later Japanese supply also lists EN-EL15b
Video
Highest video resolution–3840 × 2160 at 30 fps
Video detailNo movie recording or live-view composition; NTSC/PAL output is for playbackH.264 MOV at 4K UHD 30p/25p/24p, Full HD up to 60p and 720p up to 60p; actual NTSC rates 29.97/23.976/59.94. Maximum clip 29 minutes 59 seconds; Flat Picture Control, power aperture, time-lapse and HDMI output. 4K uses a further approximately 1.5× crop within DX (Cameralabs). Live view and movies use contrast-detection AF-S/AF-F
Audio–Built-in stereo microphone, 3.5 mm external microphone input and headphone output; adjustable microphone sensitivity; linear PCM

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