New high end vs old low end Nikon Consumer DSLR (D40 vs D7000)

I ended up running out of time with my D40 and had to leave it behind with my mother, so I won't be able to get an more comparison shots till next time I see her >.< so for now we're going to call this complete.


I've owned my D40 for about 3 years or so, and I've owned my d7000 for about 6 hours :B


Nikon D40
retired
US Price with 18-55mm kit lens: ~$400-450*
US Price for Body only: ~$300*
*refurbished [d40 is no longer produced]

Nikon D7000
US Price with 18-105mm VR(vibration reduction) kit lens: ~$1500 new
US Price for Body only: ~$1100 refurbished or $1200 new
(was on sale at Wolf/Ritz Camera for $999+fee shipping <- what I bought)

NOTE: Prices are from Late December 2011, prices are always due to go down over time.

Nikon D40 Specs
Nikon D7000 Specs

Sample specs:
[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]D40[/TD]
[TD]d7000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Megapixels[/TD]
[TD]6.1mp[/TD]
[TD]16.2mp[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Auto-Focus points[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]39[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Body weight[/TD]
[TD]

17 oz. (475g)​

[/TD]
[TD]

24.3 oz. (690g)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SD card slots[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Video[/TD]
[TD]No video[/TD]
[TD]Yes (incl. HD)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Auto Focus Motor on Camera [/TD]
[TD]No*[/TD]
[TD]Yes[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


*lenses must be AF-S, (in other words, have the focus motor in them) to auto focus with this camera, these are often a bit more expensive. If you buy lenses that are not AF-S, then you must use manual focus at all times.


Accessing adjustments for...
[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]d40[/TD]
[TD]d7000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Shutter Speed[/TD]
[TD]dial on back[/TD]
[TD]dial on back[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Aperture[/TD]
[TD]button next to shutter + dial on back[/TD]
[TD]dial on front[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]ISO[/TD]
[TD]under menus[/TD]
[TD]button + dial on back[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]White Balance[/TD]
[TD]under menus[/TD]
[TD]button + dial on back[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]




Comparison Shots
(I'll continue to add to these as I shoot, these honestly aren't the best lighting situation)

Shot in Manual on both cameras
Focus was auto focus, focusing as close to the eyes as possible
White balance was set to auto on both cameras.
Same memory card was used.

no editing was done to these photos
Quality: JPEG Fine (Large)
Lens: Nikkor 50mm F/1.8 AF-S (same lens moved from camera to camera for the shots)


My final thoughts on the D40 to D7000 upgrade:
1. It shoots much larger photos which allows for greater detail, but something I don't really need.
2. Auto white balance performance is MUCH better on the D7000 which is very nice to have
3. high ISO performance is way better, and it also feels like it has better over all control in low light (finding focus points)
4. over all, what I believe I paid for is all the extra buttons, no longer having to go into the menus to change up settings makes shooting so much less painless. As far as quality, for my purposes of personal enjoyment and sharing online, they both perform equally well, the D7000 is just smarter (which I believe is because it's newer, not because it's more expensive)