Nikon D3000 vs Nikon D40 Comparison

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Nikon D3000

10 MP | APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) CCD Sensor

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Nikon D40

6 MP | APS-C (23.7 x 15.5 mm) CCD Sensor

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Nikon D3000 vs Nikon D40 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the Nikon D3000 with the camera that it replaced, the Nikon D40, list out what is new, its advantages over its predecessor and finally try to conclude if the D3000 is a worthy upgrade to the D40. Nikon D3000 was introduced to market in December 2009 and Nikon D40 was launched in December 2006 so it will be interesting to see how much difference this 36 months between the two cameras make.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D3000 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2009-12-11

10MP - APS-C CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 1600 ( expands to 3200)

Nikon F Mount

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder

3.0fps continuous shooting

No Video Mode

536g. 126 x 97 x 64 mm

Replaced Nikon D40 Compare

Nikon D40 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2006-12-21

6MP - APS-C CCD Sensor

ISO 200 - 1600 ( expands to 3200)

Nikon F Mount

2.50" Fixed Type Screen

Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder

3.0fps continuous shooting

No Video Mode

522g. 124 x 94 x 64 mm

Nikon D3000 was replaced by Nikon D3100. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D3000
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D40

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

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Reasons to choose Nikon D3000 over Nikon D40

Sensor Resolution	10 MP vs 6 MP	66% more pixels
LCD Screen Size	3 vs 2.5"	0.5 inches larger display
Color Depth	22.3 vs 21.0	higher color depth
Dynamic Range	11.1 vs 11.0	higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO	563 vs 561	better High ISO performance

CHECK D3000 PRICE

Reasons to choose Nikon D40 over Nikon D3000

Weight	522 g vs 536 g	14 g lighter
Flash Coverage	17.0m vs 12.0m	5m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area	61.02µm2 vs 37.14µm2	64% larger pixel area

CHECK D40 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40

Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe	Yes vs Yes	Better for flash photography
Viewfinder	Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Optical)	Better framing and control
RAW Support	Yes vs Yes	Better image quality

Common Weaknesses of Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40

In-body Image Stabilization	No vs No	No Built-in stabilization
Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
Max Resolution	10 MP vs 6 MP	Less details and smaller prints
LCD Screen Size	2.50" vs 2.50"	Small display
LCD Screen Resolution	230k dots vs 230k dots	Low resolution screens
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
AE Bracketing	No vs No	Not good for multi-exposure HDR
Optical Viewfinder Type	Pentamirror vs Pentamirror	not as bright as Pentaprism Viewfinders

Nikon D3000 vs Nikon D40: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon D3000 has external dimensions of 126 x 97 x 64 mm (4.96 x 3.82 x 2.52″) and weighs 536 g (1.18 lb / 18.91 oz) (including batteries). Nikon D40 has external dimensions of 124 x 94 x 64 mm (4.88 x 3.7 x 2.52″) and weighs 522 g (1.15 lb / 18.41 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40. Nikon D40 is 2mm narrower and 3mm shorter than Nikon D3000 but they have the same thickness of 64mm.

Comparison image of Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40.

Top View Comparison image of Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon D40 is 14g lighter than the Nikon D3000 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40 have the same Nikon F lens mount and APS-C sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D3000

D40

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D3000

D40

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon D3000 nor Nikon D40 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top DSLR Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon D3000's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon D40's 2.5" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Nikon D3000 vs Nikon D40: Sensor Comparison

Nikon D3000 has a 10.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Expeed processor. On the other hand, Nikon D40 has a 6.0MP APS-C (23.7 x 15.5 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Below you can see the D3000 and D40 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40 Cameras

Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, D3000 has scored 62, 6 points higher than D40.

Model	Overall	Color Depth	Dynamic Range	Low-light ISO
Nikon D3000	62	22.3 bits	11.1 Evs	563 ISO
Nikon D40	56	21.0 bits	11.0 Evs	561 ISO

Nikon D3000 vs Nikon D40 Comparison of Available Lenses

Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40 have the same Nikon F lens mount and currently there are 316 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 107 lenses with Image stabilization for Nikon F mount.

Lens Type	# of Nikon D3000 Lenses	# of Nikon D40 Lenses
Standard Zoom	32	32
Standard Prime	22	22
Wideangle Zoom	33	33
Wideangle Prime	50	50
Telephoto Zoom	55	55
Telephoto Prime	46	46
SuperZoom	30	30
Wideangle Fisheye Prime	8	8
Macro Prime	26	26
Perspective Control Prime	11	11
Telephoto Mirror Prime	1	1
TOTAL	316	316

Here are some of the most popular Nikon F Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Nikon F Mount Lenses for D3000 and D40

	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G	35mm FF	425gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR	35mm FF	1340gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR	35mm FF	745gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD	35mm FF	1951gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR	35mm FF	2300gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR	35mm FF	720gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM	35mm FF	5880gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G	APS-C / DX	200gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo

What types of Photography are Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon D3000 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D40 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Large APS-C (23.7 x 15.5 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 6.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D3000 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D40 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
No Live-view
Large Body
Read the details

Large APS-C (23.7 x 15.5 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
No Live-view
Large Body
Read the details

Nikon D3000 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Nikon D40 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
11 Focus Points
No Image Stabilization
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
No Image Stabilization
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Read the details

Nikon D3000 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D40 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Large Body
536g
Body Thickness 64mm
Read the details

Large APS-C (23.7 x 15.5 mm) sensor
Large Body
522g
Body Thickness 64mm
Read the details

Nikon D3000 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon D40 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
No Live-view
Read the details

Large APS-C (23.7 x 15.5 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 6.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
No Live-view
Read the details

Nikon D3000 vs Nikon D40: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon D3000 and Nikon D40 scores compare:

Nikon D3000

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #68 out of 80 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #586 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Nikon D40

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #75 out of 80 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #675 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Nikon D3000 has a higher Overall Score thanks to its better image quality and more features compared to Nikon D40. On the other hand the Nikon D40 beats Nikon D3000 in two significant areas: Value for Money and Compactness.

If you are a price conscious buyer and looking for a small and relatively low priced camera where you can take everywhere with you, Nikon D40 is the right choice for you.
If you are after the better photographic performance with all the advanced features, definitely get the Nikon D3000

Nikon D40 vs Nikon D3000 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon D3000	Nikon D40
Brand	Nikon	Nikon
Announced	2009-12-11	2006-12-21
Body Type	Compact SLR	Compact SLR
Sensor
Type	CCD	CCD
Size	APS-C	APS-C
Dimensions	23.6 x 15.8 mm	23.7 x 15.5 mm
Area	372.88mm²	367.35mm²
Megapixels	10 megapixels	6 megapixels
Max Resolution	3872 x 2592	3008 x 2000
Max Native Light sensitivity	1,600 ISO	1,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	3200 ISO	3200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	100 ISO	200 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	11	n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Nikon F	Nikon F
Number of Available Lenses	316	316
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3.00"	2.50"
Resolution	230k dots	230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical (pentamirror)	Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder Coverage	95%	95%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.53x	0.53x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/4000s	1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization	No	No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	12.00 m (at ISO 100)	17.00 m
Max Flash Sync	1/200s	1/500s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	3.0 fps	3.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	None	None
Video Formats	n/a	n/a
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Eye-Fi Connected	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	536g	522g
Dimensions	126 x 97 x 64mm	124 x 94 x 64mm
Battery Life	500 shots	n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	62	56
DxO Color Depth	22.3	21.0
DxO Dynamic Range	11.1	11.0
DxO Low Light ISO	563	561
	Report a correction	Report a correction