Great Fiture of Canon EOS 40D

Great Fiture of Canon EOS 40D - The EOS 40D becomes the sixth Canon 'prosumer' digital SLR, a line which started back in 2000 with the EOS D30, and how far we've come. It's been eighteen months since the EOS 30D and although on the surface the 40D looks like a fairly subtle upgrade there's a lot that makes this an even better camera. Of course we expect a step up in megapixels, and so the 40D comes with a ten million pixel CMOS sensor with the same sort of dust reduction as the EOS 400D, an ultrasonic platform which shakes the low pass filter.

Other improvements bring the EOS 40D closer into line with the EOS-1D series, these include a move to the same page-by-page menu system, both RAW and sRAW (2.5 MP), 14-bit A/D converter and 14-bit RAW, cross-type AF points for F5.6 or faster lenses, a larger and brighter viewfinder, interchangeable focusing screens, a larger LCD monitor (3.0") and faster continuous shooting (6.5 fps).

Canon EOS 40D vs. EOS 30D feature and specification differences

	Canon EOS 40D	Canon EOS 30D
Weatherproof	Battery door and storage compartment	No
Sensor	• 10.1 million effective pixels • 5.7 µm pixel pitch	• 8.2 million effective pixels • 6.4 µm pixel pitch
A/D converter	14-bit	12-bit
Image sizes	• 3888 x 2592 • 2816 x 1880 • 1936 x 1288	• 3504 x 2336 • 2544 x 1696 • 1728 x 1152
RAW files	• CR2 format, 14-bit • RAW full resolution • sRAW (2.5 MP)	• CR2 format, 12-bit • RAW full resolution
Imageprocessor	DIGIC III	DIGIC II
Dust reduction	High speed vibration of filter	None
Auto focus	• 9-point TTL CMOS sensor • Points cross-type for F5.6 or faster lens • Center point additionally sensitive with lenses of F2.8 or faster	9-point TTL CMOS sensor
Metering range	0.0 to 20 EV	1.0 to 20 EV
Spot metering	Approx. 3.8% at center	Approx. 3.5% at center
Auto ISO	ISO 400 to 800 / 100 to 800 depending on exposure mode	ISO 100 to 400
Kelvin WB	2500 - 10000 K in 100 K steps	2800 - 10000 K in 100 K steps
Viewfinder	• 95% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.95x • Eyepoint: 22 mm	• 95% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.90x • Eyepoint: 20 mm
Focusing screen	• Interchangeable precision matte • Two other screens available	• Fixed precision matte
Viewfinder info	Now includes ISO sensitivity, B&W icon
LCD monitor	• 3.0 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels	• 2.5 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels
LCD Live View	Yes, including mirror-drop AF	No
Main LCD settings display	When changing settings such as AF mode or White Balance	No
Tilt correction	Yes	No
Opening CF door	Warning message shown	Power down, loses images
Mirror lock-up	Single or multiple exposures	Single exposures
Mirror mechanism	Motor up / down, quieter, faster	Spring up / motor down
Playback modes	Exposure line at top in single image view	No exposure in single image view
User modes	Three custom user modes on mode dial	No user modes
High-speed continuous	• 6.5 fps • Up to 75 JPEG Large/Fine images	• 5.0 fps • Up to 30 JPEG Large/Fine images
Portrait grip	WFT-E3/E3A, BP-E2N, BP-E2	BP-E2
Wireless connectivity	• WFT-E3/E3A • Integrates as vertical hand grip	• WFT-E1/E1A • No grip
Menu UI	Same as EOS-1D series	Same as previous xxD series
Menu languages	18	15
Custom functions	24	19
AF-ON button	Rear 'under thumb'	None
Rear buttons	• Direct print • Menu • Play • Erase • Jump • Info • Picture Style	• Direct print • Menu • Info • Jump • Play • Erase
Top right buttons	• Lamp • Metering / WB • AF / Drive • ISO / Flash comp.	• Lamp • AF / WB • Drive / ISO • Metering / Flash comp.
Dimensions	146 x 108 x 74 mm(5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 in)	144 x 106 x 74 mm (5.6 x 4.2 x 2.9 in)
Weight	• No battery: 740 g (1.6 lb) • With battery: 822 g (1.8 lb)	• No battery: 706 g (1.6 lb) • With battery: 785 g (1.7 lb

EOS Integrated Cleaning System video 

Foreword / notes

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read some of our Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / recommendation / ratings are based on the opinion of the author, we recommend that you read the entire review before making any decision. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of them, click to display a larger image in a new window.
To navigate this article simply use the next / previous page buttons or jump to a specific page by using the drop-down list in the navigation bar at the top of the page. You can support this site by ordering through the affiliate links shown at the bottom of each page (where available).

This article is protected by Copyright and may not be reproduced in part or as a whole in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.

Dpreview use calibrated monitors at the PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally also A, B and C.

Canon EOS 40D specifications

List price (body only)	• US: $ 1,299 • EU: € 1,299
Body material	Magnesium alloy
Sensor *	• 22.2 x 14.8 mm CMOS sensor • RGB Color Filter Array • Built-in fixed low-pass filter (with self-cleaning unit) • 10.5 million total pixels • 10.1 million effective pixels • 5.7 µm pixel pitch • 3:2 aspect ratio
Image processor *	DIGIC III
A/D conversion *	14 bit
Image sizes *	• 3888 x 2592 (L; 10.1 MP) • 2816 x 1880 (M; 5.3 MP) • 1936 x 1288 (S; 2.5 MP)
File formats	• RAW (.CR2; 14-bit *) • JPEG (EXIF 2.21) - Fine / Normal • RAW + JPEG (separate files) • sRAW (2.5 MP) *
File sizes (approx.) *	• JPEG L/Fine: 3.5 MB • JPEG M/Fine: 2.1 MB • JPEG S/Fine: 1.2 MB • RAW: 12.4 MB • sRAW: 7.1 MB
Lenses	• Canon EF / EF-S lens mount • 1.6x field of view crop
Dust reduction *	• "EOS Integrated Cleaning System" • Self-cleaning sensor unit (filter in front of sensor vibrates at high frequency at start-up and shutdown - can be disabled) • Dust Delete Data - Data from a test shot is used to 'map' dust spots and can be later removed using Canon DPP Software
Auto focus	• 9-point TTL CMOS sensor • All points cross-type for lenses of F5.6 or faster * • Center point additionally sensitive with lenses of F2.8 or faster * • AF working range: -0.5 - 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100)
Focus modes	• One shot AF • AI Servo AF • AI Focus AF • Manual focus
AF point selection	• Auto • Manual
AF assist	• Stroboscopic flash • 4.0 m range (at center)
Metering	• TTL 35 zone SPC • Metering range: EV 0.0 - 20 EV *
Metering modes	• Evaluative 35 zone • Partial (9% at center) • Spot metering (approx. 3.8% at center *) • Center-weighted average
AE lock	• Auto: One Shot AF with evaluative metering • Manual: AE lock button
Exposure compensation	• +/-2.0 EV • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments
Exposure bracketing	• +/- 2.0 EV • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments
Sensitivity	• Auto ISO (see below) * • ISO 100 - 1600 • 0.3 or 1.0 EV increments • ISO 3200 (Enhanced H)
Auto ISO *	• P, Av, A-Dep: ISO 400 - 800 (will drop to ISO 100 to avoid over-exposure) • Tv: ISO 400 (will use 100 - 800 if required) • M: ISO 400 • Scene modes (apart from Sport and Portrait): ISO 100 - 800 • Sport scene mode: ISO 400 - 800 • Portrait scene mode: ISO 100 • With flash (all modes): ISO 400
Shutter	• Focal-plane shutter • 100,000 exposure durability • 30 - 1/8000 sec • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments • Flash X-Sync: 1/250 sec • Bulb
Aperture values	• F1.0 - F91 • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments • Actual aperture range depends on lens used
Noise reduction	• Long exposure (1 sec or longer) • Optional for High ISO (default Off)
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Shade • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Flash • Custom • Kelvin (2500 * - 10000 K in 100 K steps)
WB bracketing	• +/-3 levels • 3 images • Blue / Amber or Magenta / Green bias
WB shift	• Blue (-9) To Amber (+9) • Magenta (-9) to Green (+9)
Picture style	• Standard • Portrait • Landscape • Neutral • Faithful • Monochrome • User def. 1 • User def. 2 • User def. 3
Custom image parameters	• Sharpness: 0 to 7 • Contrast: -4 to +4 • Saturation: -4 to +4 • Color tone: -4 to +4 • B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, G • B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G
Color space	• sRGB • Adobe RGB
Viewfinder	• Eye-level pentaprism • 95% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.95x * (-1 diopter with 50 mm lens at infinity) • Eyepoint: 22 mm * • Interchangeable focusing screen Ef-A standard (2 other types optional) * • Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 diopter
Focusing screens (optional)	• Ef-A (Standard Precision Matte - included) • Ef-D (Precision Matte with grid) • Ef-S (Super Precision Matte for easier manual focus)
Mirror	• Quick-return half mirror (transmission:reflection ratio 40:60) • Mirror lock-up (once or multiple exposures)
Viewfinder info	• AF points • Focus confirmation light • ISO sensitivity * • Shutter speed • Aperture • Manual exposure • AE Lock • Exposure compensation amount • AEB level • Spot metering area • Flash ready • Red-eye reduction lamp on • High-speed sync • FE Lock • Flash compensation amount • ISO speed (while changing) • WB correction (while changing) • B&W mode icon * • Warnings • Maximum burst for continuous shooting • Buffer space
LCD monitor *	• 3.0 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels • 7 brightness levels
LCD Live view *	• Live TTL display of scene from CMOS image sensor • 100% frame coverage • Real-time evaluative metering using CMOS image sensor • Best view or exposure simulation • Grid optional (thirds) • Magnify optional (5x or 10x at AF point) • Optional Auto-focus with mirror-down / mirror-up sequence • Two modes; normal and quieter • Remote live view using EOS Utility 2.0 (via USB or WiFi/Ethernet using WFT) • Manual focus only
Record review	• Off • On (histogram via INFO button) • Display mode same as last used Play mode • 2 / 4 / 8 sec / Hold
Playback modes *	1. Single image with exposure, file number, storage slot 2. As 1 but also image count and quality 3. Detailed exposure information, thumbnail and luminance histogram 4. Less detailed exposure info., thumbnail, luminance and RGB histograms
Playback features	• Optional blinking highlight alert * • Optional AF point display * • Magnified view (up to 10x) • 2x2 * or 3x3 thumbnail index • Jump (by 1, 10, 100 images / by screen or date) • Delete / Protect
Flash	• Auto pop-up E-TTL II auto flash • FOV coverage up to 17 mm (27 mm equiv.) • Guide number approx 13 m / 43 ft (ISO 100) • Cycle time approx. 3 sec • Flash compensation +/-2.0 EV in 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments • X-Sync: 1/250 sec
External flash	• E-TTL II auto flash with EX-series Speedlites • In-camera flash configuration (currently only 580 EX II) * • Wireless multi-flash support • PC Sync
Shooting modes	• Auto • Program AE (P) • Shutter priority AE (Tv) • Aperture priority AE (Av) • Manual (M) • Auto depth-of-field • Portrait • Landscape • Close-up • Sports • Night portrait • Flash off • Camera user settings 1 * • Camera user settings 2 * • Camera user settings 3 *
Drive modes	• Single • High-speed continuous: 6.5 fps * • Low-speed continuous: 3 fps • Self-timer: 2 or 10 sec (3 sec with mirror lock-up)
Burst buffer *	• Large/Fine JPEG: 75 frames • RAW: 17 frames • RAW+JPEG: 14 frames
Orientation sensor	Yes
Auto rotation *	• On (recorded and LCD display) • On (recorded only) • Off
Custom functions *	24 custom functions in 4 groups
Menu languages *	• English • German • French • Dutch • Danish • Portuguese • Finnish • Italian • Norwegian • Swedish • Spanish • Greek • Russian • Polish • Simplified Chinese • Traditional Chinese • Korean • Japanese
Firmware	User upgradable
Portrait grip	• Optional WFT-E3/E3A * • Optional BP-E2N battery grip * • Optional BP-E2 battery grip
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • Video out • N3 type wired remote control • PC Sync flash terminal • Communication terminal on base for WFT-E3/E3A *
Storage	• Compact Flash Type I or II (inc. FAT32) • Canon Original Data Security Kit supported ("Original Image Data") • No CF card supplied
Power	• Lithium-Ion BP-511A rechargeable battery (supplied & charger) • Supports BP-511 / BP-511A / BP-512 / BP-514 • CR2016 Lithium battery (date/time backup) • Optional AC adapter
Wireless connectivity * (optional WFT-E3/E3A)	• Mounts on base of camera and also acts as vertical grip • Has its own BP-511A battery • Wireless 802.11b / 802.11g • Wireless security: WEP, TKIP/AES, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK • Wireless methods: Infrastructure or Ad Hoc • Wired ethernet (100 Base-TX) • Transfer: FTP, PTP (remote control by computer), HTTP (view / remote fire) • USB host capable: External hard drives, flash drives • USB comms: GPS devices (records coordinates and altitude in image header)
Dimensions *	146 x 108 x 74 mm (5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 in)
Weight *	• No battery: 740 g (1.6 lb) • With battery: 822 g (1.8 lb)

Design

From the front at least there are very few changes from the EOS 30D, a little chiseling of the viewfinder chamber and a new finger tuck on the hand grip but overall no real surprises. The rear however has undergone more of a re-design, mostly thanks to the now three inch LCD monitor. Several buttons which ran down the left side of the EOS 30D's monitor have now shifted to below the EOS 40D's monitor also there's now a dedicated AF-ON button 'under your thumb'. We should be thankful that Canon hasn't removed the most useless button of all; Direct Print.

The same materials, build and construction as the EOS 30D, a two piece magnesium shell which makes up much of the front and rear of the camera which is well put together with no rattles or creaks, as with previous EOS x0D cameras the 40D feels just as solid and reliable.

Side by side

Despite a $500 price difference it's clear that many people will compare these two cameras as the current state-of-the-art serious-amateur (stroke semi-professional) digital SLRs from Canon and Nikon. The D300 is the larger and heavier of the two, by 80g, although in use it's unlikely you'd really notice this. One more difference is a two megapixel advantage to the D300.

In your hand

In your hand the EOS 40D feels almost exactly the same as the EOS 30D, except for the subtle new finger hook moulded into the front of the hand grip which I'm sure will be noticed by some but didn't really have a significant effect for me (it is however more in-keeping with the EOS-1D design). One thing you can't take away from the EOS 40D is that it does feel solid, reliable and 'well sorted' from an ergonomics point of view.

Design changes compared to the EOS 30D

Place your mouse cursor over either image below to compare the design of the EOS 40D to the EOS 30D.

LCD Monitor

	The EOS 30D saw a step up to a 2.5" LCD monitor, the EOS 40D gets a 3.0" LCD although maintains the same 230,400 dot count (320 x 240 x RGB) which although good has now been overtaken by the amazing 921,600 dot 3.0" LCD's seen on the new Nikon D3, D300 and Sony DSLR-A700. As you can see from this shot the lack of an anti-reflective coating means that the screen does tend to pick up reflections.

LCD control panel

On top of the camera is a large LCD control panel which provides a wide range of information about camera settings and exposure. The main numeric section of the panel doubles up to provide other types of information such as the 'Busy' warning, AF point selection etc. The EOS 40D panel now features a dedicated readout of ISO sensitivity. The panel has an orange backlight which is illuminated by pressing the backlight button to the top left of the panel, the backlight stays on for approximately six seconds.


A breakdown of information displayed on the LCD panel can be found on the diagrams below.

Share this post