Reasons to choose EOS 20D
Released in 2004, EOS 20D has about 338 mm² of sensor area, 8.2 MP effective resolution, and a 770 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Canon EOS 20D
vs Nikon D40
VS
Sensor area
338 mm²
EOS 20D370 mm²
D40- Area ratio
- 1.1:1
- Absolute difference
- 32 mm²
- Relative difference
- 9.5%
The D40 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
EOS 20DMetricD40
8.2 MPEffective pixels6.1 MP
22.5 × 15Sensor23.7 × 15.6
6.42 µmPixel pitch7.79 µm
41.16 µm²Pixel area60.61 µm²
2.43 MP/cm²Pixel density1.65 MP/cm²
1.6Crop factor1.53
—Maximum video—
770 gWeight522 g
Compact Flash (Type I or II)StorageSecure Digital
Canon Lithium-Ion Li-ion batteryBatteryNikon EN-EL9 Lithium-Ion included Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The D40 has the larger sensor area. The D40 has the lighter body. The EOS 20D has the higher effective resolution. The D40 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose D40
Released in 2006, D40 has about 370 mm² of sensor area, 6.1 MP effective resolution, and a 522 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.