Canon EOS 40D vs Nikon D300s

This is a full comparison between the cameras Canon EOS 40D and Nikon D300s. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Canon EOS 40D is manufacturered by Canon but Nikon D300s is from Nikon. Both Canon and Nikon are well known brands though.

Type of camera

Both these cameras are DSLR cameras. No difference there.

Sensors / crop factor

These cameras have different sensors. Canon EOS 40D has a "Canon APS-C"-sensor while Nikon D300s has a "Nikon DX"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"

Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Canon)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Nikon)

Resolution

Canon EOS 40D has a 10,1 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Nikon D300s has 12,3 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Nikon D300s has a 21 % larger resolution than Canon EOS 40D. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.

ISO range

Nikon D300s has a larger ISO-range than Canon EOS 40D. Nikon D300s has an ISO range that stretches from 200 to 6400 while Canon EOS 40D has 100 to 3200.

Autofocus and lens compatibility

Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Canon EOS 40D
Lens compatibility chart for Nikon D300s

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Canon EOS 40D can shoot up to 6,5 pictures per seconds and Nikon D300s can shoot up to 7 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

It is only one of these two cameras that support recording movies and movie clips and that is Nikon D300s. Sadly, the Canon EOS 40D does not support this.

Weight

The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.

Nikon D300s weighs 938 gr (equal to 2.07 lb) which is 14% heavier than Canon EOS 40D and its 822 gr (or 1.81 lb).

Canon EOS 40D vs Nikon D300s Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Canon EOS 40D and Nikon D300s, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.

Product	Canon EOS 40D	Nikon D300s
Name	Canon EOS 40D	Nikon D300s
Manufacturer	Canon	Nikon
Release Date and Price	Canon EOS 40D	Nikon D300s
Release Year	2007	2009
Release Date	2007-08-20	2009-07-30
MSRP	1299 USD	1799 USD
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Camera Type	Canon EOS 40D	Nikon D300s
Camera Type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor	Canon EOS 40D	Nikon D300s
Sensor Size	APS-C (approx 22.3 x 14.9 mm)	APS-C (approx 23.7 x 15.5 mm) Also known as "DX"
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Resolution	3888 x 2592 pixels	4288 x 2848 pixels
Megapixels	10,1 MP	12,3 MP
Image Processor	DIGIC 3	EXPEED
Image	Canon EOS 40D	Nikon D300s
ISO Range	100 - 3200	200 - 6400
White Balance Presets	6	12
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	No	No
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW + TIFF
Optics & Focus	Canon EOS 40D	Nikon D300s
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous	Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous Face Detection LiveView
Focus Points	9	51
Lens Mount	Canon EF Canon EF-S See Compatible Lenses	Nikon F See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier	APS-C Sensor 1.6x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 38 mm 50 mm becomes 80 mm 100 mm becomes 160 mm 200 mm becomes 320 mm	DX / APS-C (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm
Screen & Viewfinder	Canon EOS 40D	Nikon D300s
Articulated LCD	Fixed	Fixed
Screen size	3”	3”
Screen dots	230000	920000
Touch screen	No	No
Screen type	N/A	Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Live view	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder Type	Optical (pentaprism)	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage	95%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.95× (0.59× 35mm equiv.)	0.94× (0.63× 35mm equiv.)
Viewfinder Resolution	N/A	N/A
Photography features	Canon EOS 40D	Nikon D300s
Frames per second	6,5 fps	7 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/8000 seconds	1/8000 seconds
Built-in Flash	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash Range	12 meters	12 meters
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	Yes	Yes
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Spot Partial	Multi Center Weighted Spot
Exposure Compensation	+/- 2 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Videography features	Canon EOS 40D	Nikon D300s
Video recording	No	Yes
Video format	N/A	Motion JPEG
Video resolution	N/A	1280 x 720
Built-in Microphone	No	Yes
Built-in Speakers	No	No
Storage	Canon EOS 40D	Nikon D300s
Memory Card	Compact Flash	Compact Flash
Connectivity	Canon EOS 40D	Nikon D300s
HDMI Output	No	Yes
Microphone Port	No	No
Headphone Port	No	No
Wireless	No	Yes Eye-Fi Connected
Remote Control	Yes (N3 connector)	Yes (Optional, wired or wireless)
GPS	No	Yes Optional with GP-1
Body & Dimensions	Canon EOS 40D	Nikon D300s
Enviromentally sealed	No	Yes
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	Litium-Ion (Li-Ion) BP-511	Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	800 shots	950 shots
Width	146 mm	147 mm
Height	108 mm	114 mm
Depth	74 mm	74 mm
Weight	822 gram	938 gram