Canon has listened to users and testers. The camera has been improved significantly compared to the 30D. And although the first thing many people will look at the sensor, the main improvement is not there. The number of pixels has increased to 10 million, but the pixels are only one part of the camera. The EOS 40D has been equipped with the latest version of the DIGIC III processor and this is a much more important than you might think. This new processor not only improves the picture quality, but also allows the role of Live View. In addition, achieves a faster processing of the signal, the shutter speed has improved to 6.5 frames per second.
Canon 40D digital SLR – LCD Monitor
To use Live View to maximize the Canon EOS 40D has been equipped with a large 3-inch LCD monitor. Unfortunately, this monitor is not equipped with as many pixels as the Nikon D300, for example, but it’s a big improvement over its predecessor. Fortunately, the autofocus also works in Live View on the EOS 40D, while their older sisters, 1D of the series have no such option.
Canon EOS 40D – Body & Viewer
For me the main improvements can be found in an area completely different. We have been asking for a long time and finally we achieved: a body that resists rain and dust. The seal is not as advanced as that of the range EOS 1D, but we do not have to cover or hide the camera when it rains and you can shoot without problems on the beach. The next major improvement, if not the most important is the optical viewfinder. At last Canon has equipped a camera in this segment with an optical viewfinder with a decent size. At last we are rid of the small viewing angle. The Canon 40D shows the ISO in the viewfinder and remains in sight during its adjustment, which in a welcome improvement.
Testing the Canon 40D SLR SLR
Of course the size of the sensor remains the same and the Canon EOS 40D has a multiplication factor of 1.6x focal length. We can continue using the EF-S lenses, including wide angle. In front of the sensor is located a filter that vibrates to remove dust. This is the same system found on the EOS 400D and the range 1D series and it works fine. LetsGoDigital tested the Canon EOS 40D over the EOS Safari 2007 in Kenya with excellent telephoto 400mm f/2.8 and the Netherlands with the standard EF-S 17-85mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM. You can read our findings in the next test of the Canon EOS 40D.
canon eos 40D review
- canon eos 40D review
Canon 40D DSLR – control buttons
Of course the most notable difference is the wide-screen LCD on the back of the camera. Its three-inch leaves almost no room for the buttons. The buttons normally found on the side have moved on the monitor, except the menu button has been relocated to the top of the camera. Underlines the prominent position of the button of the Picture Styles. Canon obviously feels that this is an important setting. A new button is the AF-ON at the top right-hand grip for the thumb, the approach allows us to operate independently of the trigger, which is very handy when shooting photos of action.
Canon EOS 40D SLR – Viewer & Live View
Only we will find when looking through you, the viewing angle of the optical viewfinder has been improved considerably. It gets the same level as those of the EOS-1D cameras, except for the fact that the top-end models offer a field of vision of 100%, while the Canon 40D is reached at 95%. Live View, on the other hand, it offers a 100%. The standard crystal mate is right and the manual focus is easy. A new feature that Canon is novelty in this segment is the fact that the screen mate Ef-A can be changed by another 3 different on the Canon EOS 40D. I liked that the ISO is visible in the viewfinder while the tune, so we will not have to remove the camera’s eye during the operation. We also see in the display a warning if the camera is in black and white, this would not be a disaster if we shoot in RAW, but if it would be if we did in JPEG. The only thing that I find missing is an indication of the type of measurement used. Canon EOS 40D – Speedlite 580EX II Flash
We can put an external flash at the top of the excellent viewfinder, and the shoe has been designed to be sealed in the case of using the new Speedlite 580EX II. The buttons on the top LCD are familiar, ero have been displaced from their former position. We need some time to get used to if we worked with the EOS 30D. The command dial on the left has three special buttons to store our own preferences. The buttons C1, C2 and C3 allow us to schedule our own settings for ease of use when shooting.
Canon 40D – Grip & lithium ion battery
It has also been changed and improved the position and the sealing of the connectors. You can access them more easily and at the same time the seal is better. The camera uses a lithium ion battery BP-511, which is housed at the handle, as in its predecessors. Canon offers two optional handles for the EOS 40D, which are placed at the bottom of the camera and offer a second-timer and other elements. The simplest, the BG-E2n houses a second battery or a set of AA batteries. The second model is the WFT-E3 is both a WiFi adapter. A best solution is to equip the camera with greater functionality. The Canon WFT-E3 also has a USB port for connecting a GPS. In my opinion, this series should be integrated into the body, but made no request never stops.
- canon 40D review
What I like about the Canon EOS 40D is that it is ready to work immediately. After activating the camera vibrate the filter to remove dust, and this operation will not take even a second. Undoubtedly, much less time than lose your photos in retouch. In addition, the cleaning of the sensor stops when you press the shutter, which always has priority. Canon has understood the importance of this, and so will not lose that special moment. The cleaning of the camera also takes place off camera, in case the camera has been connected for some time. I could not detect dust in my photos through the cleaning system.
Canon EOS 40D – Focus Points
The Canon 40D has nine points of focus, which is similar to the EOS 30D, but here is where the comparison ends. The auto has been changed, improved and is now more sensitive. All areas are of the type known as sensor cross. They are sensitive both horizontally and vertically. The sensitivity is f/5.6 and the central focus point can also work with f/2.8. The auto focus works well in practice. It is very useful to be able to separate the approach of the shutter release button, it works wonderfully especially in photos of action. The only thing that is not discovered as a link to exposure and exposure to the trigger lock and the AF only to the AF-ON. You can synchronize the blockade of exposure to the trigger but I had to press further AF-ON for the measurement of light.
Canon 40D digital SLR camera – Joystick
What I liked so much the joystick to change the focus points. In my opinion, is a bit too small and I have problems to select a focus point in the corners. In addition, he played frequently joystick in the face to look through the viewfinder, which accidentally changed the focus point. The alternative would be to use the main command dial to make your selection, to be giving back any more, but I think in practice it is faster.
Canon 40D – SLR camera silently
The Canon EOS 40D is a digital SLR camera that has become very quiet. And when we use objectives USM can also shoot almost in silence. When you press the shutter release button is all that we hear a click dry. This makes the Canon 40D is extremely suitable for shooting in environments that require silence, as a church or a play. In such places, any sound mind. We should not forget to turn off the sound confirmation approach. All settings are very accessible and only the image quality required to navigate through the menu. I would have liked to have a separate button for that task, but anyway it is not a setting that is changed often. All adjustments are obvious and can be changed quickly via the LCD screen on the back of the Canon 40D. It is not as functional as with the Olympus, but the work is done is very pleasant when we use a tripod and the camera is at a height difficult. The wide viewing angle allows us to clearly see the setting that we are changing.
Canon 40D Live View – Button & AF-ON SET
The wide angle of vision is also important for the Live View system. When you press the SET button in the center of the main command dial to see what we’re catching on the LCD screen. When you press the AF-ON button to activate the AF. The picture darkens a second because the mirror must be closed in order to focus correctly. The Canon EOS 40D can not focus on the contrast with the image sensor as some compact and the Panasonic L10 can do. The menu also takes advantage of the large screen. It is easy to read and noticed the difference going to work with a camera with a screen smaller. The menu has changed considerably and now has the same structure that we find in their older sisters. Working with them is very enjoyable, as is the joystick.
Canon EOS 40D – Recording the photos on the card
Canon has finally heard our demands and has changed an annoying aspect of the previous models. The Canon EOS 40D now shows a warning message if you try to open the door to the card’s memory, instead of turning off the camera and thereby losing the photos that were in the buffer, as happened in previous models. Fortunately, this belongs to the past and after the countdown of how many pictures have been recorded in the memory card, now we’ll know when it’s safe to open the compartment, a big improvement.
The ISO sensitivity of the Canon EOS 40D range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, with an extra set of ISO 3200. In addition, the camera offers automatic ISO which enables the camera to select an ISO setting between 100 and 800 according to the program. The camera has a lot to choose ISO 400-800. It may seem high, but the Canon 40D is perfectly capable of operating with higher ISO sensitivities. Up to ISO 400 and including many have trouble finding some noise. The highest levels of ISO show some noise but less than the average for the cameras of the same segment. Even ISO 3200 is very handy even if you find some limits, since we have no chance here to correct a photo. Anyway if the photo is well exposed is not necessary correct. He worked frequently with the Canon EOS 40D in low light situations, and more often than usual I used ISO 1600. This is why the camera is perfectly capable of operating with high ISO sensitivities.
Canon 40D SLR camera – Dynamic Range
The dynamic range is something very special in the Canon EOS 40D. The 40D offers 14-bit files, while the EOS 30D worked with 12-bit files. And these extra 2 bits showed up despite the fact that the pixels are made smaller. Although development is not far along with the two separate pixels Fujifilm, is still impressive. Of course everything has its limits, so we have to monitor the contrast. If we want to get more from our archive, you can set ‘light tone priority’ – focus on light shades – in the custom setting II-3. Need some extra calculation and reduces the speed of continuous shooting, but it’s worth with subjects with high contrast.
Canon 40D digital SLR – Picture Styles
Canon’s Picture Styles are already familiar. Canon has added a few more on the Canon EOS 40D. Picture Styles allow us to adjust sharpness, contrast, saturation and color tone. In neutral and so we get good photos. The adjustment of sharpness may be somewhat stronger in my opinion, but Photoshop will do a good job here. If we do not want to edit our pictures, just need to increase the sharpness. The saturation and color tone are mainly personal preferences. Only we have to try and find that we like best. Unless, of course, that we work in RAW, which gives us the option to edit our photos afterwards. DPP also allows us to work with Picture Styles but Adobe’s software is not compatible. Personally I’m delighted with the neutral setting. Everything looks neutral and is a perfect base for a finish later. Canon 40D – Automatic white balance
If I have to make any comment regarding the image quality would be in terms of white balance in incandescent light, too warm. A small detail that only bother us if we work in JPEG. But in my opinion, those who purchase a camera like this, should work with RAW to achieve the maximum from the camera. Naturally JPEG can be handy if we can save in both formats at once. In any case, the white balance works well in other situations and we can create a custom or correct ourselves. Do not rely too much on what the LCD displays, since the image is too saturated in my opinion and we will give a wrong idea.
Canon EOS 40D – Recording settings
We have at our disposal many adjustments on the Canon EOS 40D. And before you know it, forget that what you did with them. Therefore you can link to more frequent adjustments to the buttons C1, C2 and C3. Not only can store the programs of exposure, sensitivity and white balance, been all the settings menu, for example; opening. It allows us to store different settings for different circumstances. We have to watch out anyway if we have temporarily altered anything in any of the modes C, as the camera will return to the default mode when it is in suspension. For example, adjust the shutter speed of 1 / 250. While photographing, with the button in C1, I changed the speed to 1/125s with the intention of shooting at that speed for a while. When the chamber was revived after being in suspension mode (we can not have the camera all the time in the eye), the shutter speed was changed again to 1/250s. The adjustments in the ways C can be totally different from the others are not linked in any way. If we change from C1 with a sensitivity of ISO 100, Tv in the sensitivity can even be ISO 400, so we must monitor the settings.
Objective Canon EF-S 17-85 IS USM
The Canon EOS 40D kit can come in with affordable EF-S 18-55 or the more expensive EF-S 17-85 IS USM. I recommend the latter. The aim largely decides the quality of the picture, so we should not save in this aspect. The EF-S 17-85mm we have used is a good combination with the EOS 40D. We see almost no color edges, even at wide angle, just a bit of distortion and a nice contrast. They are also good to work with the 40D lenses L, which will have a perfect combination. Both the quality and management are at a high level.
The Canon 40D generates a considerably large files, especially in RAW. This is not only because of the ten Megapixels, but also because of the 14 bits. A photo RAW generates a file of 12.4 MB, so we need memory cards of good size. Even more if we shoot in JPEG and RAW at the same time. If we need the pictures captured just for the Web, we may choose to use sRAW. The file size is 7.1 MB. In practice it is clear that we will need at least a 2GB card, when we work in RAW. If we make a trip for an interview, we will have to make a card with 4 or 8GB. And for a holiday need multiple cards, unless you empty the trash on a laptop computer or a portable hard drive. The following table shows how many photos we can fit on a memory card of 1GB.
Considering a storage capacity of 1GB:
RAW – 3888×2592 pixels – 76 photos
sRAW – 1936×1288 pixels – 135 photos
RAW JPEG Large Fine – 3888×2592 pixels – 59 pictures
RAW JPEG Normal Grande – 3888×2592 pixels – 66 photos
RAW JPEG Middle Fina – 65 photos
RAW JPEG Normal Medium – 70 photos
RAW JPEG Small Fina – 69 photos
RAW JPEG photos Small Normal -72
sRAW JPEG Large Fine – 90 photos
sRAW JPEG Normal Grande – 107 photos
sRAW JPEG Middle Fina – 103 photos
sRAW JPEG Normal Medium – 116 photos
sRAW JPEG Small Fina – 1936×1288 pixels – 115 photos
Small sRAW JPEG Normal – 1936×1288 pixels – 124 photos
Large Fine JPEG – 3888×2592 pixels – 274 photos
JPEG Normal Grande – 3888×2592 pixels – 523 photos
JPEG Middle Fina – 2816×1880 pixels – 454 photos
JPEG Normal Medium – 2816×1880 pixels – 854 photos
Small JPEG Fine – 19,361,288 pixels – 779 photos
Small JPEG Normal – 1936×1288 pixels – 1451 photographs Canon EOS 40D – Buffer considerable
The photos were not necessarily recorded on the card immediately, because Canon EOS 40D has a considerable buffer. While not shoot at full speed, fit in the buffer to 20 images at maximum quality RAW or 205 JPEG. This is great for a camera in its class. By using the shutter speed faster, the number of pictures down a bit but is still excellent.
Canon 40D – 6.5 frames per second
The Canon EOS 40D is capable of capturing 6.5 frames per second or less, according to the specifications. Well, it depends a lot on the shutter speed and other factors. In practice I could not reach that speed, leaving between 6 and 6.5 fps, which anyway is an impressive achievement and 9 out of 10 is even too fast. Do not think too much about it.
Canon 40D – USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
One advantage of a memory card is the largest high-speed data transfer rate assuming that your computer and device that reads the card is equipped with a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed. If we do not have, we must look for a card reader. This is a handy device that connects to the USB port and can read and write in a card quickly. This device will be recognized by the computer as an external hard drive. In addition it will serve to save energy.
Canon EOS 40D – Lithium Ion Battery
The lithium ion battery lasts a long time, in regard both in terms of years in the market as the quantity of photos you can take a load. Canon claims that can be taken between 800 and 1,000 photos at standard room temperature. Do not get get to that amount, but the temperature in the Netherlands during the test was certainly under and I was working much on Live View, a function that consumes a lot of energy. Nevertheless, it is a good achievement, even buy a spare battery to have no surprises.
CONCLUSION
Digital SLR camera Canon EOS 40D
The seven models, from the EOS D30 to the 40D, have changed dramatically. The image sensor and processor have given few strides and the camera itself is much improved. No one can imagine now be happy with a 1.8-inch screen at the rear of the camera. The difference with the cameras of today is evident and the EOS 40D is a true example of where it has come to a technology that has not stopped advancing. If you still have people who are not convinced that modern digital SLR cameras outstrip 35mm film cameras, I suggest working with the Canon EOS 40D for a while.
Canon EOS 40D – Good image quality
The image quality of the Canon EOS 40D leaves little to be desired. We can use the photos without problems with high ISO, such as ISO 800 or 1600. There is some noise but not annoying, even less if convert the pictures with Adobe. If we use DPP, noise is visible, which gives us a film of the old days.
Canon 40D – White balance and sharpness
The color of the Canon 40D has convinced me and should tirarme their hair out to find something negative. If I have to mention something should be the automatic white balance, which is too red under incandescent light. But the shooting in RAW or if we create a custom white balance will solve the problem. We could complain about the low setting sharpness, but we can use Picture Styles to improve it or change it retrospectively through software. Anyway, all these are small details, and I wonder what more can we want in this field.
Canon 40D – Joystick for the focus points
If we express any criticism would be some details of the camera itself, the fact of not being able to disconnect the auto exposure and in the way I wanted, but this is something very personal, as you must have thought. The joystick is a bit more general. I am not used to it, his answer is not good enough. It might also have preferred to work in the auto sensor (Live View). Also on display could have been improved with better color and more pixels. No, not at the wheel, the sensor is perfect. My personal list has more things: one could see the measurement system in the display and we should be able to use a GPS connection without buying expensive WiFi module. All of these problems are still marginal, and has very little to do with the excellent quality of the EOS 40D.
Canon 40D – Impressive digital SLR camera
Let’s be honest: the Canon EOS 40D digital SLR camera is a really complete. It’s a solid camera, with an excellent autofocus, a silent shutter, an excellent optical viewfinder and a good handling. Additionally, the Live View works perfectly, we can walk in the rain with the camera and is an excellent tool with high quality functions. The negative points are there because we made an effort to find them, it was like finding the famous needle in a haystack. It is always possible to improve a product, but with the EOS 40D is difficult. After seven models must admit that it has been very high in the SLR EOS half of the segment.
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