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.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon D40
vs Nikon D60
VS
Sensor area
370 mm²
D40373 mm²
D60- Area ratio
- 1.01:1
- Absolute difference
- 3 mm²
- Relative difference
- 0.9%
The D60 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
D40MetricD60
6.1 MPEffective pixels10.2 MP
23.7 × 15.6Sensor23.6 × 15.8
7.79 µmPixel pitch6.05 µm
60.61 µm²Pixel area36.56 µm²
1.65 MP/cm²Pixel density2.74 MP/cm²
1.53Crop factor1.52
—Maximum video—
522 gWeight522 g
Secure DigitalStorageSDHC, Secure Digital
Nikon EN-EL9 Lithium-Ion included Li-ion batteryBatteryLithium-Ion (EN-EL11) 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 D60 has the larger sensor area. The D40 and D60 have the same body weight. The D60 has the higher effective resolution. The D60 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose D60
Released in 2008, D60 has about 373 mm² of sensor area, 10.2 MP effective resolution, and a 522 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.