Reasons to choose EOS 40D
Released in 2007, EOS 40D has about 329 mm² of sensor area, 10.1 MP effective resolution, and a 822 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Canon EOS 40D
vs Canon EOS 500D
VS
Sensor area
329 mm²
EOS 40D332 mm²
EOS 500D- Area ratio
- 1.01:1
- Absolute difference
- 4 mm²
- Relative difference
- 1.1%
The EOS 500D 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 40DMetricEOS 500D
10.1 MPEffective pixels15.1 MP
22.2 × 14.8Sensor22.3 × 14.9
5.7 µmPixel pitch4.69 µm
32.53 µm²Pixel area22 µm²
3.07 MP/cm²Pixel density4.54 MP/cm²
1.62Crop factor1.61
—Maximum video—
822 gWeight520 g
Compact Flash (Type I or II)StorageSDHC, Secure Digital
Canon Lithium-Ion Li-ion batteryBatteryLithium-Ion LP-E5 rechargeable battery 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 EOS 500D has the larger sensor area. The EOS 500D has the lighter body. The EOS 500D has the higher effective resolution. The EOS 500D is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose EOS 500D
Released in 2009, EOS 500D has about 332 mm² of sensor area, 15.1 MP effective resolution, and a 520 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.