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Nikon D40X vs Nikon D50 Comparison

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Nikon D40X

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

Nikon D40X
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Nikon D50

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

Nikon D50
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Nikon D40X vs Nikon D50 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing D40X and D50, two DSLR cameras by Nikon. Nikon D40X is a Entry-Level DSLR class camera and Nikon D50 is a Advanced DSLR class camera.

Nikon D40X was introduced to market in May 2007 and Nikon D50 was launched in July 2005. There is 22 months difference between D40X and D50 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger D40X, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of 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 the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon D40X and Nikon D50 compares 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 Magnification
0.53x vs 0.5x Larger Viewfinder
Max Sensor Resolution
10 MP vs 6 MP 66% more pixels
LCD Screen Size
2.5" vs 2" 0.5 inches larger display
LCD Screen 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 No flexible viewing angles
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 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 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 Nikon D40X and 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.

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

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

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

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D40X and Nikon D50.
Nikon D40X vs Nikon D50 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon D40X and 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 have to also 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 Nikon D40X nor Nikon D50 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 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.

Nikon D40X vs Nikon 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 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 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?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while 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 33 33
Standard Prime 22 22
Wideangle Zoom 33 33
Wideangle Prime 50 50
Telephoto Zoom 54 54
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 D40X and D50
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM Lens Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM
35mm FF 5880gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G Lens 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 Lens 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 Lens 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 Lens 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 Lens 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 Lens Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR
35mm FF 720gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G Lens 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
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
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
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
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 #70 out of 79 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #590 out of 1240 in all Cameras
Nikon D50
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #79 out of 95 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #681 out of 1240 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 D40X
Nikon D40X
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Nikon D50
Nikon D50
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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
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