Nikon D40X vs Nikon D50 Comparison

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Nikon D40X

10 MP | APS-C (23.7 x 15.6 mm) CCD Sensor

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Nikon D50

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

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Nikon D40X vs Nikon D50 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the Nikon D40X with its predecessor, the Nikon D50, list out what is new, its advantages over its older sibling and finally try to conclude if the D40X is a worthy upgrade to the D50. Nikon D40X was introduced to the market in May 2007 and Nikon D50 was launched in July 2005 so it will be interesting to see how much difference this 22 months between the two cameras make.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Nikon D40X and Nikon D50 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D40X Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2007-05-27

10MP - APS-C CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 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

Replaced Nikon D50 Compare

Nikon D50 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2005-07-23

6MP - APS-C CCD Sensor

ISO 200 - 1600

Nikon F Mount

2.00" Fixed Type Screen

Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder

3.0fps continuous shooting

No Video Mode

620g. 133 x 102 x 76 mm

Nikon D40X was replaced by Nikon D60. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon D60 vs Nikon D40X
Nikon D60 vs Nikon D50

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon D40X and Nikon D50 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

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Reasons to choose Nikon D40X over Nikon D50

Viewfinder Magnif.	0.53x vs 0.5x	Larger Viewfinder
Sensor Resolution	10 MP vs 6 MP	66% more pixels
LCD Screen Size	2.5 vs 2	0.5 inches larger display
LCD Resolution	230k dots vs 130k dots	76% higher resolution screen
Weight	522 g vs 620 g	98 g lighter
Flash Coverage	17.0m vs 11.0m	6m longer range
Color Depth	22.4 vs 20.9	higher color depth
Dynamic Range	11.4 vs 10.8	higher dynamic range

CHECK D40X PRICE

Reasons to choose Nikon D50 over Nikon D40X

Low Light ISO	560 vs 516	better High ISO performance
Sensor Pixel Area	61.02µm2 vs 36.82µm2	65% larger pixel area
Top LCD	Yes vs No	Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing	Yes vs No	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
AF Motor in body	Yes vs No	Auto focus with all Nikon Lenses

CHECK D50 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon D40X and Nikon D50

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 D40X and Nikon D50

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	2.00" vs 2.00"	Small display
LCD Screen Resolution	230k dots vs 130k dots	Low resolution screens
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
Optical Viewfinder Type	Pentamirror vs Pentamirror	not as bright as Pentaprism Viewfinders

Nikon D40X vs Nikon D50: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Nikon D40X and Nikon D50 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon D40X 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). Nikon D50 has external dimensions of 133 x 102 x 76 mm (5.24 x 4.02 x 2.99″) and weighs 620 g (1.37 lb / 21.87 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon D40X and the Nikon D50. Nikon D40X is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 9mm narrower, 8mm shorter and 12mm thinner than Nikon D50.

Comparison image of the Nikon D40X and the Nikon D50 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Nikon D40X and Nikon D50.

Comparison image of the Nikon D40X and the Nikon D50 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D40X and Nikon D50.

Top View Comparison image of the Nikon D40X and the the Nikon D50 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon D40X is significantly lighter (98g ) than the Nikon D50 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Nikon D40X and Nikon D50 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

D40X

D50

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D40X

D50

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Nikon D40X nor Nikon D50 provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, 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 D40X's 2.50" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon D50's 2 screen.

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

Nikon D40X vs Nikon D50: Sensor Comparison

Nikon D40X has a 10.0MP APS-C (23.7 x 15.6 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Expeed processor. On the other hand, Nikon D50 has a 6.0MP APS-C (23.7 x 15.5 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Below you can see the D40X and D50 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D40X and Nikon D50 Cameras

Nikon D40X and Nikon D50 have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Nikon D40X and Nikon D50 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, D40X has scored 63, 8 points higher than D50.

Model	Overall	Color Depth	Dynamic Range	Low-light ISO
Nikon D40X	63	22.4 bits	11.4 Evs	516 ISO
Nikon D50	55	20.9 bits	10.8 Evs	560 ISO

Nikon D40X vs Nikon D50 Comparison of Available Lenses

Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Nikon D40X and Nikon D50 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 D40X Lenses	# of Nikon D50 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 the D40X and the D50

	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 D40X and Nikon D50 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D40X and Nikon D50 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 D40X for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D50 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (23.7 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon F Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography

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 D40X for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D50 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (23.7 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
No Live-view
Large Body
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon F Mount Lenses for Street Photography

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 D40X for Sports Photography

GOOD

Nikon D50 for Sports Photography

GOOD

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

Check the Best Nikon F Mount Lenses for Sports Photography

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 D40X for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D50 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (23.7 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Large Body
522g
Body Thickness 64mm
Read the details

Large APS-C (23.7 x 15.5 mm) sensor
Large Body
620g
Body Thickness 76mm
Read the details

Nikon D40X for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon D50 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Large APS-C (23.7 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
No Live-view
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon F Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography

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 D40X vs Nikon D50: 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 D40X and Nikon D50, 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 D40X and Nikon D50 scores compare:

Nikon D40X

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #71 out of 80 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #634 out of 1268 in all Cameras

Nikon D50

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #81 out of 96 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #714 out of 1268 in all Cameras

Nikon D40X has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon D50 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon D50 vs Nikon D40X Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon D40X	Nikon D50
Brand	Nikon	Nikon
Announced	2007-05-27	2005-07-23
Body Type	Compact SLR	Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Type	CCD	CCD
Size	APS-C	APS-C
Dimensions	23.7 x 15.6 mm	23.7 x 15.5 mm
Area	369.72mm²	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	-
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	3	n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Nikon F	Nikon F
Number of Available Lenses	316	316
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	2.50"	2.00"
Resolution	230k dots	130k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical (pentamirror)	Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder Coverage	95%	95%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.53x	0.5x
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	17.00 m	11.00 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	None	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	522g	620g
Dimensions	124 x 94 x 64mm	133 x 102 x 76mm
Battery Life	n/a	n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	63	55
DxO Color Depth	22.4	20.9
DxO Dynamic Range	11.4	10.8
DxO Low Light ISO	516	560
	Report a correction	Report a correction