Canon 1D Mark II versus Nikon D40X

The Canon EOS-1D Mark II and the Nikon D40X are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in January 2004 and March 2007. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-H (1D Mark II) and an APS-C (D40X) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 8.2 megapixel, whereas the Nikon provides 10 MP. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their size, their sensors, their features, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Canon 1D Mark II vs Nikon D40X

The physical size and weight of the Canon 1D Mark II and the Nikon D40X are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter. You can also toggle the display to switch to a percentage comparison if you prefer that the measures are being expressed in relative terms (in this case, the camera on the left side – the 1D Mark II – represents the basis for the calculations across all the size and weight measures).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D40X is considerably smaller (53 percent) than the Canon 1D Mark II. Moreover, the D40X is substantially lighter (66 percent) than the 1D Mark II. It is worth mentioning in this context that the 1D Mark II is splash and dust resistant, while the D40X does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can find an overview of optics for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (1D Mark II) and the Nikon Lens Catalog (D40X).

Concerning battery life, the 1D Mark II gets 1200 shots out of its NP-E3 battery, while the D40X can take 520 images on a single charge of its EN-EL9 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, just select a new right or left comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Camera Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life (CIPA)	Weather Sealing (yes/no)	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon 1D Mark II»	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1535 g	1200	Y	Jan 2004	4,499	-		Canon 1D Mark II
	Nikon D40X«	124 mm	94 mm	64 mm	522 g	520	n	Mar 2007	729	-		Nikon D40X
	Canon 5DS R« »	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699			Canon 5DS R
	Canon 5DS« »	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699			Canon 5DS
	Canon 1D Mark IV« »	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1230 g	1500	Y	Oct 2009	4,999	-		Canon 1D Mark IV
	Canon 1Ds Mark III« »	150 mm	160 mm	80 mm	1385 g	1800	Y	Aug 2007	7,999	-		Canon 1Ds Mark III
	Canon 1D Mark III« »	156 mm	156.6 mm	80 mm	1155 g	2200	Y	Feb 2007	4,499	-		Canon 1D Mark III
	Canon 5D« »	152 mm	113 mm	75 mm	895 g	400	Y	Aug 2005	3,299	-		Canon 5D
	Canon 1D Mark II N« »	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1565 g	1200	Y	Aug 2005	3,999	-		Canon 1D Mark II N
	Canon 1Ds Mark II« »	156 mm	157.6 mm	80 mm	1215 g	1200	Y	Sep 2004	7,999	-		Canon 1Ds Mark II
	Canon 1Ds« »	156 mm	157.6 mm	80 mm	1265 g	600	Y	Sep 2002	8,999	-		Canon 1Ds
	Canon 1D« »	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1585 g	500	Y	Sep 2001	6,499	-		Canon 1D
	Nikon D3000« »	126 mm	97 mm	64 mm	536 g	500	n	Jul 2009	599	-		Nikon D3000
	Nikon D5000« »	127 mm	104 mm	80 mm	590 g	510	n	Apr 2009	749	-		Nikon D5000
	Nikon D60« »	126 mm	94 mm	64 mm	522 g	500	n	Jan 2008	629	-		Nikon D60
	Nikon D40« »	124 mm	94 mm	64 mm	522 g	470	n	Nov 2006	499	-		Nikon D40
	Panasonic L10« »	135 mm	96 mm	78 mm	556 g	450	n	Aug 2007	599	-		Panasonic L10
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The D40X was launched at a markedly lower price (by 84 percent) than the 1D Mark II, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison: Canon 1D Mark II vs Nikon D40X

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 1D Mark II features an APS-H sensor and the Nikon D40X an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the D40X is 32 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.3 and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the D40X offers a higher resolution of 10 megapixel, compared with 8.2 MP of the 1D Mark II. This megapixel advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 6.11μm versus 8.17μm for the 1D Mark II). However, it should be noted that the D40X is much more recent (by 3 years and 1 month) than the 1D Mark II, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar image quality. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Feature comparison: Canon 1D Mark II vs Nikon D40X

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The 1D Mark II and the D40X are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 1D Mark II, the Nikon D40X, and comparable cameras. If needed, the dpreview camera hub, for example, contains further detail on the cameras' specs.

Both the 1D Mark II and the D40X have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The 1D Mark II was replaced by the Canon 1D Mark II N, while the D40X was followed by the Nikon D60 .

Review summary: Canon 1D Mark II vs Nikon D40X

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 1D Mark II or the Nikon D40X – has the upper hand? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS-1D Mark II:

• Better low-light sensitivity: Requires less light for good images (1 stops ISO advantage).
• Easier setting verification: Has an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (8000/sec vs 4000/sec) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8.3 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (1200 versus 520) on a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2004).

Reasons to prefer the Nikon D40X:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (10 vs 8.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 11%.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (2.5" vs 2.0") for image review and settings control.
• More compact: Is smaller (124x94mm vs 156x158mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 1013g or 66 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (84 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 3 years and 1 month of technical progress since the 1D Mark II launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the match-up finishes in a tie (7 points each). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the 1D Mark II or the D40X handle or perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). You can find the full text of the reviews by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

Review Scores

	Camera Model						Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon 1D Mark II»	-	HiRec	-	rev	-	Jan 2004	4,499	-		Canon 1D Mark II
	Nikon D40X«	79/100	HiRec	4/5	rev	4/5	Mar 2007	729	-		Nikon D40X
	Canon 5DS R« »	Rec	83/100	5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699			Canon 5DS R
	Canon 5DS« »	Rec	83/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699			Canon 5DS
	Canon 1D Mark IV« »	-	89/100	-	5/5	-	Oct 2009	4,999	-		Canon 1D Mark IV
	Canon 1Ds Mark III« »	-	HiRec	4.5/5	-	-	Aug 2007	7,999	-		Canon 1Ds Mark III
	Canon 1D Mark III« »	-	-	-	rev	-	Feb 2007	4,499	-		Canon 1D Mark III
	Canon 5D« »	88/100	HiRec	rev	rev	-	Aug 2005	3,299	-		Canon 5D
	Canon 1D Mark II N« »	-	-	-	-	-	Aug 2005	3,999	-		Canon 1D Mark II N
	Canon 1Ds Mark II« »	-	HiRec	-	-	-	Sep 2004	7,999	-		Canon 1Ds Mark II
	Canon 1Ds« »	-	HiRec	-	-	-	Sep 2002	8,999	-		Canon 1Ds
	Canon 1D« »	-	HiRec	-	-	-	Sep 2001	6,499	-		Canon 1D
	Nikon D3000« »	Rec	72/100	4/5	3.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2009	599	-		Nikon D3000
	Nikon D5000« »	HiRec	75/100	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2009	749	-		Nikon D5000
	Nikon D60« »	80/100	HiRec	4/5	rev	4.5/5	Jan 2008	629	-		Nikon D60
	Nikon D40« »	81/100	HiRec	rev	5/5	4.5/5	Nov 2006	499	-		Nikon D40
	Panasonic L10« »	85/100	Rec	3.5/5	rev	4/5	Aug 2007	599	-		Panasonic L10

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

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