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 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
VS
Sensor area
329 mm²
EOS 40D365 mm²
Alpha DSLR-A550- Area ratio
- 1.11:1
- Absolute difference
- 36 mm²
- Relative difference
- 11.1%
The Alpha DSLR-A550 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 40DMetricAlpha DSLR-A550
10.1 MPEffective pixels14.2 MP
22.2 × 14.8Sensor23.4 × 15.6
5.7 µmPixel pitch5.07 µm
32.53 µm²Pixel area25.71 µm²
3.07 MP/cm²Pixel density3.89 MP/cm²
1.62Crop factor1.54
—Maximum video—
822 gWeight632 g
Compact Flash (Type I or II)StorageSD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Canon Lithium-Ion Li-ion batteryBatteryLithium-Ion NP-FM500H 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 Alpha DSLR-A550 has the larger sensor area. The Alpha DSLR-A550 has the lighter body. The Alpha DSLR-A550 has the higher effective resolution. The Alpha DSLR-A550 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose Alpha DSLR-A550
Released in 2009, Alpha DSLR-A550 has about 365 mm² of sensor area, 14.2 MP effective resolution, and a 632 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.