Nikon D40 vs Canon D60

The Nikon D40 and the Canon EOS-D60 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in November 2006 and February 2002. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 6 megapixels, whereas the Canon provides 6.3 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon D40		Canon D60
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Nikon F mount lenses		Canon EF mount lenses
6 MP – APS-C sensor		6.3 MP – APS-C sensor
no Video		no Video
ISO 200-1,600 (200 - 3,200)		ISO 100-1,000
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
2.5" LCD – 230k dots		1.8" LCD – 114k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
2.5 shutter flaps per second		3 shutter flaps per second
470 shots per battery charge		620 shots per battery charge
124 x 94 x 64 mm, 522 g		150 x 107 x 75 mm, 855 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D40 and the Canon EOS-D60? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Nikon D40 and the Canon D60. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon D60 is notably larger (38 percent) than the Nikon D40. Moreover, the D60 is substantially heavier (64 percent) than the D40. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the D40 nor the D60 are weather-sealed.

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. Yet, since both cameras are based around an APS-C sensor, their respective lenses will tend to have similar dimensions and heft. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Nikon Lens Catalog (D40) and the Canon EF Lens Catalog (D60).

Concerning battery life, the D40 gets 470 shots out of its Nikon EN-EL9 battery, while the D60 can take 620 images on a single charge of its Canon BP-511 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Nikon D40	124 mm	94 mm	64 mm	522 g	470	n	Nov 2006	499	ebay.com
2.		Canon D60	150 mm	107 mm	75 mm	855 g	620	n	Feb 2002	2,999	ebay.com
3.		Canon 10D	150 mm	107 mm	75 mm	850 g	500	n	Feb 2003	1,999	ebay.com
4.		Canon 40D	146 mm	108 mm	74 mm	822 g	750	n	Aug 2007	1,299	ebay.com
5.		Canon D30	150 mm	107 mm	75 mm	750 g	540	n	May 2000	2,999	ebay.com
6.		Canon Rebel	142 mm	99 mm	72 mm	649 g	400	n	Aug 2003	899	ebay.com
7.		Canon XC10	125 mm	102 mm	122 mm	1040 g	370	n	Apr 2015	2,499	ebay.com
8.		Nikon D40X	124 mm	94 mm	64 mm	522 g	520	n	Mar 2007	729	ebay.com
9.		Nikon D50	133 mm	102 mm	76 mm	620 g	400	n	Apr 2005	749	ebay.com
10.		Nikon D60	126 mm	94 mm	64 mm	522 g	500	n	Jan 2008	629	ebay.com
11.		Nikon D70	140 mm	111 mm	78 mm	679 g	400	n	Jan 2004	999	ebay.com
12.		Nikon D70s	140 mm	111 mm	78 mm	679 g	500	n	Apr 2005	899	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D80	132 mm	103 mm	77 mm	668 g	600	n	Aug 2006	999	ebay.com
14.		Nikon D3000	126 mm	97 mm	64 mm	536 g	500	n	Jul 2009	599	ebay.com
15.		Nikon D3100	124 mm	96 mm	75 mm	505 g	550	n	Aug 2010	599	ebay.com
16.		Nikon D3300	124 mm	98 mm	76 mm	430 g	700	n	Jan 2014	499	ebay.com
17.		Nikon D3400	124 mm	98 mm	76 mm	445 g	1200	n	Aug 2016	499	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The D40 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 83 percent) than the D60, 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the D60 is 7 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have format factors, respectively, of 1.5 (D40) and 1.6. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the D60 offers a slightly higher resolution of 6.3 megapixels, compared with 6 MP of the D40. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 7.38μm versus 7.85μm for the D40). Moreover, it should be noted that the D40 is much more recent (by 4 years and 8 months) than the D60, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels.

The Nikon D40 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 200-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS-D60 are ISO 100 to ISO 1000 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the D40 is build around a CCD sensor, while the D60 uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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 table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Nikon D40	APS-C	6.0	3008	2000	none	21.0	11.0	561	56
2.		Canon D60	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	20.3	9.8	301	47
3.		Canon 10D	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	21.1	10.9	571	57
4.		Canon 40D	APS-C	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.1	11.3	703	64
5.		Canon D30	APS-C	3.1	2160	1440	none	..	..	..	..
6.		Canon Rebel	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	21.0	10.8	544	55
7.		Canon XC10	1-inch	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	21.7	11.8	197	61
8.		Nikon D40X	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.4	11.4	516	63
9.		Nikon D50	APS-C	6.0	3008	2000	none	20.9	10.8	560	55
10.		Nikon D60	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.5	11.4	562	65
11.		Nikon D70	APS-C	6.0	3008	2000	none	20.4	10.3	529	50
12.		Nikon D70s	APS-C	6.0	3008	2000	none	20.4	10.3	529	50
13.		Nikon D80	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.1	11.2	524	61
14.		Nikon D3000	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.3	11.1	563	62
15.		Nikon D3100	APS-C	14.2	4608	3072	1080/24p	22.5	11.3	919	67
16.		Nikon D3300	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.3	12.8	1385	82
17.		Nikon D3400	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.8	13.9	1192	86
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The D40 and the D60 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 viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (95%), but the viewfinder of the D60 has a higher magnification than the one of the D40 (0.54x vs 0.53x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Nikon D40, the Canon D60, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Nikon D40	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	n
2.		Canon D60	optical	Y	1.8 / 114	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
3.		Canon 10D	optical	Y	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
4.		Canon 40D	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.5/s	Y	n
5.		Canon D30	optical	Y	1.8 / 114	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
6.		Canon Rebel	optical	n	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	n
7.		Canon XC10	none	n	3.0 / 1030	tilting	Y	1/2000s	3.8/s	n	Y
8.		Nikon D40X	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
9.		Nikon D50	optical	n	2.0 / 130	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5/s	Y	n
10.		Nikon D60	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
11.		Nikon D70	optical	n	1.8 / 130	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0/s	Y	n
12.		Nikon D70s	optical	n	2.0 / 130	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0/s	Y	n
13.		Nikon D80	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
14.		Nikon D3000	optical	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
15.		Nikon D3100	optical	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
16.		Nikon D3300	optical	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
17.		Nikon D3400	optical	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that is present on the D60, but is missing on the D40 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The D40 writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the D60 uses Compact Flash cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D40 and Canon EOS-D60 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Nikon D40	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Canon D60	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
3.		Canon 10D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
4.		Canon 40D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon D30	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon Rebel	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
7.		Canon XC10	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
8.		Nikon D40X	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Nikon D50	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Nikon D60	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Nikon D70	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.0	-	-	-
12.		Nikon D70s	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Nikon D80	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Nikon D3000	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Nikon D3100	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Nikon D3300	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Nikon D3400	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	Y

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Canon D60 (unlike the D40) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the D40 and the D60 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D60 was replaced by the Canon 10D, while the D40 was followed by the Nikon D40X. Further information on the features and operation of the D40 and D60 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D40 Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon D60 Manual.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon D40 and the Canon D60? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Nikon D40:

• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (2.5" vs 1.8") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (230k vs 114k dots).
• More compact: Is smaller (124x94mm vs 150x107mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 333g or 39 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (2.0 vs 1.1).
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (83 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 4 years and 8 months of technical progress since the D60 launch.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS-D60:

• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.54x vs 0.53x).
• Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3 vs 2.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (620 versus 470) out of a single battery charge.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in February 2002).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the D40 comes out slightly ahead of the D60 (7 : 6 points). 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. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D40 and the Canon D60 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the D40 or the D60. 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.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Nikon D40	..	81/100	..	+ +	o	4.5/5	Nov 2006	499	ebay.com
2.		Canon D60	..	..	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2002	2,999	ebay.com
3.		Canon 10D	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Feb 2003	1,999	ebay.com
4.		Canon 40D	..	+ +	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2007	1,299	ebay.com
5.		Canon D30	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	May 2000	2,999	ebay.com
6.		Canon Rebel	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Aug 2003	899	ebay.com
7.		Canon XC10	..	..	..	80/100	..	..	Apr 2015	2,499	ebay.com
8.		Nikon D40X	..	79/100	..	+ +	4/5	4/5	Mar 2007	729	ebay.com
9.		Nikon D50	..	78/100	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Apr 2005	749	ebay.com
10.		Nikon D60	..	80/100	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2008	629	ebay.com
11.		Nikon D70	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Jan 2004	999	ebay.com
12.		Nikon D70s	..	..	..	..	..	5/5	Apr 2005	899	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D80	..	+	..	+ +	o	4.5/5	Aug 2006	999	ebay.com
14.		Nikon D3000	..	+	..	72/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jul 2009	599	ebay.com
15.		Nikon D3100	5/5	+ +	..	72/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2010	599	ebay.com
16.		Nikon D3300	3/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2014	499	ebay.com
17.		Nikon D3400	4/5	+	4/5	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2016	499	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

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