Sony a850 vs Nikon D40

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a850 and Nikon D40. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Sony a850 is manufacturered by Sony but Nikon D40 is from Nikon. Both Sony 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. Sony a850 has a "Sony Full Frame"-sensor while Nikon D40 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 (Sony)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Nikon)

Resolution

Sony a850 has a 25 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Nikon D40 has 6 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Sony a850 has a 305 % larger resolution than Nikon D40. 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

Both of these cameras offer the exact same ISO range. They both have 200 to 3200.

Autofocus and lens compatibility

There is a big difference between these two cameras. Sony a850 has a built-in autofocus motor but Nikon D40 does not. If you want to be able to use autofocus on Nikon D40 there is a need for having an autofocus motor inside the lens. We really encourage you to look closely at our lens compatibility charts at the links below.

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a850
Lens compatibility chart for Nikon D40

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony a850 can shoot up to 3 pictures per seconds and Nikon D40 can shoot up to 2,5 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

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

Though, neither Sony a850 or Nikon D40 can shoot movies so if that is a functionality that you are really looking for you should look elsewhere.

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.

Sony a850 weighs 895 gr (equal to 1.97 lb) which is 71% heavier than Nikon D40 and its 522 gr (or 1.15 lb).

Sony a850 vs Nikon D40 Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a850 and Nikon D40, 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	Sony a850	Nikon D40
Name	Sony a850	Nikon D40
Manufacturer	Sony	Nikon
Release Date and Price	Sony a850	Nikon D40
Release Year	2009	2006
Release Date	2009-08-27	2006-11-16
MSRP	1999 USD	729 USD
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Camera Type	Sony a850	Nikon D40
Camera Type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor	Sony a850	Nikon D40
Sensor Size	Full Frame (approx 36 x 24 mm)	APS-C (approx 23.7 x 15.5 mm) Also known as "DX"
Sensor Type	CMOS	CCD
Resolution	6048 x 4032 pixels	3008 x 2000 pixels
Megapixels	25 MP	6 MP
Image Processor	Bionz	EXPEED
Image	Sony a850	Nikon D40
ISO Range	200 - 3200	200 - 3200
White Balance Presets	7	6
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	Yes (Sensor-Shift)	No
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW
Optics & Focus	Sony a850	Nikon D40
Autofocus Motor	Yes	No
Autofocus	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous
Focus Points	9	3
Lens Mount	Sony A See Compatible Lenses	Nikon F See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier	Full frame No multiplier Example: 24 mm remains 24 mm 50 mm remains 50 mm 100 mm remains 100 mm 200 mm remains 200 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	Sony a850	Nikon D40
Articulated LCD	Fixed	Fixed
Screen size	3”	2,5”
Screen dots	921600	230000
Touch screen	No	No
Screen type	TFT Xtra Fine color LCD	N/A
Live view	No	No
Viewfinder Type	Optical (pentaprism)	Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder Coverage	98%	95%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.74×	0.8× (0.53× 35mm equiv.)
Viewfinder Resolution	N/A	N/A
Photography features	Sony a850	Nikon D40
Frames per second	3 fps	2,5 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/8000 seconds	1/4000 seconds
Built-in Flash	No	Yes
Built-in Flash Range	N/A	17 meters
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	No	Yes
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Spot	Multi Center Weighted Spot
Exposure Compensation	+/- 3 (at 1/3 EV steps)	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV steps)
Videography features	Sony a850	Nikon D40
Video recording	No	No
Video format	N/A	N/A
Video resolution	N/A	N/A
Built-in Microphone	No	No
Built-in Speakers	No	No
Storage	Sony a850	Nikon D40
Memory Card	Compact Flash Memory Stick Pro Duo	SD/SDHC
Connectivity	Sony a850	Nikon D40
HDMI Output	Yes	No
Microphone Port	No	No
Headphone Port	No	No
Wireless	No	No
Remote Control	Yes (Wired or Wireless (Optional))	Yes (Optional (ML-L3))
GPS	No	No
Body & Dimensions	Sony a850	Nikon D40
Enviromentally sealed	No	No
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	Lithium-Ion NP-FM500H rechargeable battery & charger	Nikon EN-EL9 Lithium-Ion & charger included
Battery Life (CIPA)	880 shots	470 shots
Width	156 mm	124 mm
Height	117 mm	94 mm
Depth	82 mm	64 mm
Weight	895 gram	522 gram