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Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens
By: Canon Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 243
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 On: 2008-07-18
I couldnt be happier with this camera. I took it out for its first shoot on the Fourth of July and captured images impossible to retrieve with any other digital camera i have ever owned, save for the 30D. I was able to capture a moving train with multiple exposures so fast that it almost seemed as if I were shooting a video. The camera recycles amazingly fast and each exposure was spot on in terms of color, contrast, clarity and focus.
It was purchased as a replacement for the 30D which I had misplaced and couldnt find for several months. As fate would have it, the week after my 40D arrived, my wife found the 30D! I am still glad for the purchase.
SBW
 On: 2008-07-17
DISAPPOINTMENTS:
After previously owning a 20D for 3 years it seemed like there should have been some significant improvements (and there has been).
However, the 40D introduced an issue with the viewfinder (glare around the top focus point -- Note this is a known issue but Canon doesnt consider it a problem) and the selected focus point seems to be forgotten after powering down.
Finally, the picture quality (in my opinion) appears to be equal, or in some cases less than the 20D (tends to have significant noise).
IMPROVEMENTS:
The focus seems to be faster/better and the huge LCD is a blessing. ~5% extra in the viewfinder is very nice as well.
CONCLUSION:
I would recommend waiting for the 50D so that Canon will hopefully get some of these things worked out.
On: 2008-07-16
I have reviewed the canon 30D last year and I didnt think it would get any better but I am here to tell you otherwise. The 40D is an entireley new camera- not the same digic II processor as the 30D.It takes sharper pictures than the 30D. Try shooting in the landscape mode- it is the "hidden secret" of the 40D. the greens and blues are much brighter and sharper. The 40D is Canons hottest camera on their market as of now. It has auto ISO which can be helpful if your not an ISO freak and not into setting that feature. The shutter speeds range from 30 seconds to 1/8000 second on the 40D. (Very fast: the 1/8000 speeds equates to .000125 second on the digital clock).The body alone is going for around $950 as of July 2008. It is not an introductory camera nor is it a top of the line- it sits right in the middle.I will add more to this post as I start using this camera more.
On: 2008-07-16
For my useage the Canon 40D has been as close to perfect as Ive found
so far...I love this camera more with each passing day. Ive only taken a
couple of thousand shots since buying it a few weeks ago, but Im thinking that I have finally found the one camera Ive been looking
so long for...fulfills all my needs, and doesnt fuss at me when I stay out late at night either...lol.
On: 2008-07-16
Canons 40D is a great camera and J & R provided a great price and excellent service...as usual for them.
On: 2008-07-15
I purchased the EOS 40D as a replacement/upgrade to a Canon Digital Rebel from a long time ago. With unbridled joy, I shot several thousand images of the Stanley Cup Playoffs using this body and a new Canon lens that Ill review elsewhere.
The pictures created using this body were exceptional, and would be a solid option for anyone on the advanced amateur level to entry-level professional. I was enthralled with this camera, and recommended the camera to a large number of my photography friends. At the end of the Stanley Cup Playoffs I had planned to attend a couple of Calder Cup Finals games and shoot. About 100 frames into the first game, I received an "Err 99" on the display screen. I was horrified, especially since I didnt have my backup with me. First I tried powering off, then on - same problem. I changed CF Cards, and still no change. I switched batteries, only to get that ugly-looking "Err 99" error again. As a last resort, I even switched lenses, thinking that maybe I had bumped my lens or something. And when I saw the "Err 99" message yet again, I sighed, packed away my camera and resigned myself to simply enjoying the game as a regular spectator.
Needless to say, this turned out to be a hardware issue (the shutter). Canon claims that the EOS 40Ds shutter is good for 100,000 cycles. Ive only had the camera for a couple of months, so I know Im not even close to the shutters useful life. While I have it now sitting in Canons Factory Repair Center in New Jersey, I know I will get it back soon. Im just disappointed.
I did some further review and found this "Err 99" problem to be a common cause of equipment failure in the Canon EOS 40D. That having been said, I would still select this camera body for both daily and special events shoots. I believe that Canon will continue to support me on this issue. If you think that the hassle of having to walk through this process is too much for you, then you might want to consider one of the older Canon SLR Digitals - or try the new Canon XSi (fewer settings, more plastic, but great list of stock features to keep most amateurs happy).
On: 2008-07-14
The camera arrived well in advance of when I expected. Everything was packaged well.
On: 2008-07-13
Just buy it. Seriously. The camera is amazing. Get this with an L series lens, and you will never look back. The photo are simply stunning. I cant even begin to describe how beautiful this camera is.
On: 2008-07-13
I was the proud owner of my first DSLR, a Canon 400D/XTi, about two years ago. Recently, though, when Canon announced a $[...] rebate on the 40D, plus a $[...] loyalty upgrade rebate on top of that, I knew it was time to upgrade from my XTi to the 40D. WOW! Am I glad that I did!!! Although I loved my little XTi, the 40D is a COMPLETELY different animal! The move from a consumer DSLR to a prosumer DSLR is one that I was worried about, because of the perceived complexity, but the 40D is actually much easier to use because of the improved menu system and the dual LCD windows. Also, after holding the very-well-built 40D, the XTi now feels like a toy. Dont get me wrong, the XTi is one heck of a camera (I imagine the successor, the new XSi, is that much better). If youre thinking about the upgrade, dont think anymore, JUST BUY IT!!! If youre new to the world of DSLRs, though, I suggest buying an XTi or an XSi and learning its functions for at least one year, then upgrade. You cant just jump into the world of DSLRs from an all-automatic point-and-shoot. Theres too much of a difference between these types of automatic-everything cameras and the DSLRs, which is why you should first learn with a less expensive DSLR and work your way up. This way, if you find that you dont like it, find it too complicated or simply cant learn it, youre not out too much in the wallet.
 On: 2008-07-12
I was excited to get my first DSLR after years of using a 35mm SLR followed by a Canon Powershot S3 IS, a good camera but limited. When I received it, I immediately started using it and was extremely happy with the ease of use,many functions, and the resolution. I even signed up for a $200 nature photography course/workshop. Forty days after getting it and 10 days before the course, I got the dreaded error 99 message and the camera completely stopped working. I cant return it since it lasted 10 days beyond Amazons return policy and Canon tells me to send it in to be fixed and the warrany MAY cover all the cost. Even if they fix it I will then have a camera I will not completely trust and will lose the oportunity to use it in the course/workshop for which I will use S3 IS rather than completely lose the nonrefundable $200. I almost bought a Nikon, guess I should have.
On: 2008-07-10
I dont own this camera, but I had to write a review to tell people to buy the kit with the 28-135 is lens. I paid about $450 for this lens a few years back. Now it is being offered for an increase of less than $200 compared with purchasing the 40d by itself. Its the wrong lens for 1.6 magnification dslrs is you need anything approaching a "wide" angle of view, but, who cares? What a deal! This lens will be worth more than $200 on the used market. Thats a guarantee.
On: 2008-07-09
Choosing my first "real" digital camera proved to be a bewildering task! As I already had a nice selection of Canon L series lenses,I didnt consider other brands of cameras. Should I go with the budget Rebel series or opt for the (expensive) full frame cameras? A trip to the local camera store quickly ruled out the Rebel cameras as I felt they were a little small for my hands and a bit too light weight (I hesitate to say "toy-like" but I have become used to
carrying a moderately heavy camera). Given the rapid evolution of the digital SLR camera, Ill bet an affordable full frame camera will appear within a few years, so I backed off purchasing a Canon 5d for the time being. The 40d (with the current rebate) fit my budget and offered enough features to make it appear to be the best buy.
Using the 40d makes me wonder my I was so timid about jumping on the digital bandwagon. Especially appreciated is the ability to adjust the ISO as needed and the instant gratification of seeing an image immediately after making an exposure. I figure the camera will soon pay for itself by eliminating the need to process and print the exposures I would consider "failures."
I havent really used the camera enough to make a full evaluation, but I suspect the 40d will prove to be as solid as my old F1 and EOS 1n 35mm cameras. Will the 40d make me a better photographer? Probably not! But considering the camera as a tool, it is a very nice machine.
On: 2008-07-09
Great construction, solid. Feels like a pro. Xsi is great also, but once you start to get into the lens business... 40D is a clear winner. Xsi is just a bit small for most of the lens. Just did a shooting in an event for my kid. It performs great. I picked the 18-55mm kit lens for this even, it comes out great. However, I wish I had picked faster lens. I only have 4GB card currently. So, the pictures are taken in sRAW and Medium JPEG format. I posted the mJpeg on flickr. No adjustment was made. All are without flash in P. Most are with AUTO ISO. Some in 1600 or H ISO. Enjoy. [...]
 On: 2008-07-09
The camera is a good buy for the price.
My major considerations were a Canon 450/ Xsi or Nikon D300. The XSi is very similar. Image quality is about the same, but the 40d is a faster camera. The autofocusing felt a touch faster and its got faster FPS with a better buffer. The 40d is a bit heavier, but it also has a more solid feel in the hands. If youre going to lug around a dSLR anyway, the weight difference is not a big deal IMHO. The XSi has better live view capabilities (contrast-based focusing without the mirror going up), but the slow speed of that type of focusing will not make this like a point and shoot, so the advantage for taking everyday pictures is negligible. For the small price difference, the 40d seemed like the way to go for me.
The Nikon d300 is a generally better camera, but its almost twice the cost after you get a VR lens (the smaller kit lens has no image stabilization). The LCD is beautiful and sharp. Focusing was rated as slightly slower in dim lighting according to a review site, but in the stores, I coulnt tell much difference. Both focused quite quickly. Although theres more focus points on the d300, I prefer center-point focusing on my 40d anyway since I feel like Ive got more control. The higher ISO (6400) was tempting but I couldnt justify the high cost of the d300 for the relatively small advantages. For those prices, Id start considering full frame camers. Also, your lens choices are a bit better with Canon.
The 40d gets 3 stars from me. I got a few defective units (bad LCDs, broken cable release socket) and will have to send my camera to Canon. Also, the pictures are a bit soft due to the AA filter. I have heard that the Nikons are better in this respect, and one of my co-workers switched to Nikon because of this. I know I will have to do a bit of sharpening in Photoshop when I shoot RAW. Auto white balance is fair-poor, but this seems to be a universal problem with dSLRs. The LCD is adequate but its easier to see how your focus is with a LCD such as found on the Nikon d300.
On: 2008-07-06
Hi everyone,
Before I purchased canon EOS 40D, I had done my home work. What I mean by that is checking every web site for the best camera in the market, every search engine for the best price and quality, consumer reports, consumer reviews and most of the retail store reviews online. Believe me when I tell I have been lsearching for 4 months at least! Here is the conclusion: This is the best (Budget wise $1300 - $2500) professional camera in the market in term of picture resolution, picture quality (not too red or too white, great skin tone), Image stabilization(when you use your hand not the tripod), sport pictures (moving objects, this camera takes 6 pictures/SECOND!!!), Easy to use (you have to read the manual for few hours first), The quality of the picture, the quality of the camera( not too light and not heavy), and the durability (if you take care of this camera, it will stay working with the same efficiency for 20 years at least!
Remember, Canon professional grade cameras are the most expensive ones in the market, Do you know why? Because you pay for what you get. It is an asset for every home, business, or any time you need a camera to take memorable pictures.
P.S. All parts in this Camera even the battery are made in JAPAN.
Good Luck.
On: 2008-07-06
Amazing Camera.I bought it for sport events. Make amazing pictures in low light places. Really good bargain.
The only complain is about a big screen with low resolution.
Its not always clear if pictures are sharp.
On: 2008-07-04
Pro:
- Speed: power-up, continuous shooting. The high speed mode is so fast that I have to switch to the normal speed so I dont waste disk space all the time, and I am shooting raw+JPG on a SanDisk UltraII, not exactly the top of line disk. Comparing to my XT350D its day and night. Canon seems to have solved the bottle neck of data communication between the camera and the disk once and for all! Feels like I can create an animation movie with this camera!
- ISO 800/1600 is dramatically better than 350D, ISO1600 is very useful now.
- Customizable settings, very helpful (But could use a lot more of these considering how awful the overall menu/button/switch combo are needed to get to the core functionalities! But Id rather wish for a more streamlined redesign on Canons part...)
- Works better with 580EX flash than my 350D XT, far better. 350D seems to have a hard time figuring out how much flash it needs in auto mood. Not 40D, fortunately.
- Battery life is very long. I was fiddling with the camera all night last night, figuring out the settings and features, flashing shooing, deleting, shooing, changing settings. Not one bar was lost on the battery today!
- Viewfinder is brighter and bigger, great! I can actually do some MF indoor with very little light!
Neutral:
- Build quality doesnt feel significantly better than my 350D, slightly maybe. The battery door is better, to a degree. The rubber pieces covering the USB/power/video are of questionable quality fit.
Con:
- No improvement on AWB in indoor lighting, still come out with odd looking color - awful. Flash solve the problem, but still awful.
- Menu system is convoluted, too many buttons/switches and the combination of them to get to the things I need. Why the 3 position power switch, why in that awful location? (I know, that is Canon position, but still, why? Power up is so fast, but from that location? Also, the print button is useless, so is the joystick, not much joy to use, and not much use at all. If these switches have to be there, at least give them more work to do!) This really is a software design issue. Canon should hire some consultants from Honda/Toyota. The layout and functionality on a Honda/Toyota counsel is so much straightforward comparing to a Chevy or a Lincoln. Americans use to believe that is because the Japanese cars are cheap with fewer functionalities.Might have been somewhat true 15 years ago. But the real genius in those simplified straightforwardness prove to be true winner in the end. Theres always ways to do things in a lot fewer steps. Under the current design, the customization functions are much needed, but only as a last resort, should never be a substitution for fixing the somewhat time-honored poor design from Canon. Many folks like myself are still with Canon because its line of lenses and 3rd parties support too. But that might change. When I saw Nikons new offerings, I almost jumped the ship...
- AE/over expose under bright sunlight, this is true with 350D as well. I sent my 350D for fixes back twice, and didnt fix the problem. Probably the problem lies in the hardware I am afraid rather than calibration. And too bad Canon only supports +-2 compensation. Under bright sunlight -1.2-1.7 seems to be about right for me.
- The LCD is big, but prove to smear and of very odd color. The resolution and color accuracy are simply not present. This probably was a cost cutting measure? Too bad. Bigger is not always better.
- The new software pack is faster and more useful. But raw processing is still slow. And 40D is only a 10mp camera and 1Ds doubles that, imagine that! My PC is quite up to date with 2GB RAM. But I still have to use raw to get the real picture I intended. JPG is so often ruined by the AE/AWE problems beyond rescue.
Bottom line:
A very solid and useful DSLR has very strong features in speed shooting. But the old AWB and AE problem remain unsolved. The menu system is a nightmare. What happened to user-friendliness? Ease-of-use? Straightforwardness? Making complicated things simple is genius. The other way around? Well, call it whatever you want.
40D is not the flagship, priced at $900+ is a bargain. But still, buyers of this group is not exactly in for the bargain. Just hope Canon can really solve the AWB/AE problems in the near future. Oh, a better LCD too. Bigger is not always better, so true here!
On: 2008-07-03
I bought this camera for my trip to Europe and was very impressed with the quality of the pictures it takes. For being such a high-tech camera its also very easy to use. Most of the complicated features kick in automatically on their own when they are supposed to do. The camera is also a respectable size, not the smallest, but definitey not too big.
On: 2008-07-02
Out of the box the Canon 40D works great. I am very impressed how simple it is to shoot great shots witht this camera and lens combo. It has more features than most SLRs and I am very happy with my purchase. I highly recommend this camera and escpecially at this price point!
On: 2008-07-01
Couldnt be happier with the 40D. I made my chioice after doing a lot of online research between Nikons and the Canon Rebel series. I even considered a 30D. It is my first DSLR, after many point and shoot digitals. I also purchased the Canon 75-300mm IS and 50mm lens.
What I was impressed by:
Overall it is very easy to use -controls and menues are intuitive. Especially considering its my first DSLR.
Display is big and bright even in bright sunlight.
Battery life is great. So far, I see no need to get an additional battery.
EF 28-135 IS USM lens is a great utility lens.
Coupled with the Canon 75-300mm lens it took great handheld baseball photos. Even at 300mm.
6.5 frames per second (fps) is amazingly fast for baseball photography. Ive found the option to reduce it to 3fps very helpful to keep from filling my memory card.
Now the bad:
After less than 2 months -my Canon displayed a Err 99 condition. Canon technical support was very helpful in troubleshooting it over the phone. Unfortunately, the camera needs to go in for service (likely a shutter issue). Canon even requires me to pay shipping and insurance on the return. I should have it back in a little over a week. Disapponting for an overall great camera. Based on my subsequent research on the web others have also had this issue. Hopefully after one repar the camera will have a long uninterupted life taking great pictures.
On: 2008-07-01
I have now had this camera for two weeks. This is my first Digital SLR. It was recommended to me by a Professional Photographer for my local Pro Football and Baseball team. I was originally going to get a 450D (XSi), however he talked me into getting the 40D. I am very impressed with this camera. I previously had point and shoot digital camera and a very old 35MM Film SLR. I was taking very good pictures within an hour of receiving. It took that long to charge the battery for the first time, so I read the manual. Please read the manual and search youtube for some tutorials. Controls are very well organized. The menu is very straight forward compared to my Digital Elph and Powershot S3. The 28 to 135 lens that came with my camera is a very good starter lens and I will probably use this for quite a while before investing in an upgraded lens. My only complaints so far is this camera is much larger and heavier than a Digital rebel. While this helps me since I have large hands, my wife doesnt like it at all. I may invest in the grip/battery upgrade which while increasing weight will give it a better handle. The built in flash is one of the best built-ins Ive ever used. I have no plans to get an external flash anytime soon because of this. This camera seems to be very well thought out, if that makes sense to you. I believe the controls will soon become second nature to me like my old 35 and I will just concentrate on composing the shot. I highly recommend this camera.
On: 2008-06-30
This is an amazing camera and worth every penny of its price. I have a Rebel XTi as my second body and can say that 40D feels much more mature, it feels more like a "real" camera. XTi is somehow fragile, 40D is really robust. The ergonomics are really great and the camera feels just perfect in my hands.
Picture quality is very good. It is at its best in RAW format. Colors can be little washed out when shooting JPEG (nothing that cant be fixed in Photoshop). A couple of real world advantages of this camera compared to the cheaper alternatives are, besides its fantastic build quality and robustness, cameras high ISO performance, autofocus speed, fast continous shooting and larger viewfinder. ISO 1600 images are perfectly usable for A4 prints. I find the top LCD very usable and almost never use the back LCD.
A great camera and highly recommended.
On: 2008-06-30
Great DSLR with tons of features and most importantly, the pictures are amazing. I bought the kit and also got the 24-105mm L lens and couldnt be happier.
On: 2008-06-30
Ive owned it for about nine months. I wont go into a detailed writeup since pleanty of other people have already done so. Here is a quick summary of the strong points and weak points of this camera.
Strengths:
* 6 FPS - Fast enough for photojournalism and sports on a budget.
* Build qulity and ergonomics much improved from 20d, has a more solid feel, and finger grip makes a big difference
* Good color rendition.
* Good sharpness and detail
* Good high ISO noise. Not the same as the Mark III, but very good at this price. I use 640 and 800 routinely, and the qulity is beyond whats required for the publications I shoot for, even without any noice reduction software either in camera or in post processing.
* Live view. Despite the akward procedure for focusing, having any form of live view helps a lot when taking a very high or very low angle.
* Highlight tone priority. It helps a little, a good extra.
Weaknesses:
* Weather sealing. The foam strip on the card door is a joke, it should have had d200 level protection. Inexcusible, shame on Canon. I would have paid more for a big improvement here.
* Screen. Its big, but not very accurate. Often isnt sharp enough for me to tell if I got the shot in focus or not. Color, brighness, contrast can look off too. Sometime shots look like garbage on the scree, but are fine in photoshop.
* Plastic battery door hinge. They made the rest of the camera sturdier, yet cheaped out on this part to save $0.10. WTF?
* Autofocus at 5.6 can be frustrating. When trying to get a bird through branches, it often misses even when the center dot is right on the bird.
Overall, it takes great images. Theres always things they could have done better, but remember, you are only paying $1,100 for it so you cant expect the world. The lack of sealing is my only major beef.
On: 2008-06-30
Everything is good... just that battery charger... it is not suitable with the Europe standarts :(
On: 2008-06-28
This is my second DSLR purchase. I own the original Digital Rebel camera and its been fine, although with sluggish performance (burst frame rate and sometimes slow autofocusing). I struggled with the decision between the new, less expensive EOS Rebel Xsi, or the EOS 40D. The Xsi has higher resolution but resolution wasnt the major purchasing factor. I take a lot of sport pictures for hockey, baseball, lacrosse, etc. and it was more important to shoot with 6+ frames per second speeds. The 40D was more expensive but with the $[...] for previous digital rebel owners, it was getting closer to the Xsi price. I decided to go with the 40D and Ive been delighted ever since. The performance is excellent as well as the picture quality. The magnesium-alloy, sealed body has proven to be the hidden gem. Ive been snapping pictures at kids baseball games this summer and with the dirt/dust, I have piece of mind knowing the camera is sealed. This is a great camera and worth the slightly higher cost than the digital rebel class products. And the kit lens (28-135mm IS) that comes with the 40D is a significant upgrade from the original 18-55mm that came with the digital rebel. The $400 street price 28-135mm IS lens was only $[...] when you buy it as a kit with the EOS 40D camera.
On: 2008-06-28
First, I LOVE this camera when its working. I bought one from amazon, and within 6 days, it gave me an ERR 99 message. Nothing I tried fixed the camera, so I exchanged it. Amazon was great about getting me a replacement pronto. Ive had the replacement for 2.5 months, and tonight I got an ERR 99 message...its completely useless. Come on Canon...fix this problem already!!!
If you get a good copy its great, but it seems like there are alot of these cameras doing this!
On: 2008-06-28
For months I researched dSLRs and, after considering the Nikon D40, D60, and D80, had just about settled on the Rebel XSi. Then Canon announced their rebates, bringing the 40D within reach. I jumped on the bargain, ordered the kit with the 28-135 lens, and was delighted when it arrived. After a week of shooting, though, my excitement faded for one main reason: inconsistent metering. Before I go into detail, let me tell you what I really liked, even loved, about the camera.
1. Ergonomics. The bigger grip (compared to the XSi) felt great in my medium-sized hands. I especially liked the rubber texture up high on the back, where my thumb rested naturally. At first I thought the heavier size of the 40D would bother me, but it seemed a good match for the lens--very well balanced. The shutter button was positioned perfectly, angled slightly forward toward the front of the camera rather than directly on top. I also liked that (unlike on Nikons), the 40D had no other buttons immediately adjacent to the shutter. The shutter button is segregated from the others by the top control wheel.
Many experts will tell you that you should base your camera choice in large part on what feels best in your hands. That way youll be inclined to use it more often. To me, the 40D felt absolutely perfect.
2. Controls/Displays. One thing you buy with a semi-pro dSLR is direct, one-button access to most of the cameras critical settings and adjustments. The three buttons on top of the 40D control six key functions, depending on whether you spin the top wheel or the quick-control dial on the camera back. This can be daunting at first, but I caught on quickly and found this infinitely preferable to navigating through multi-layered menus. Having used Canon point-and-shoots, I was familiar with their menu scheme and found the 40Ds easy and intuitive to use. As for the top LCD display, I could take it or leave it. Some folks love it, but my 40+ year-old eyes found the type a bit small, and I just as often turned on the main LCD to view various settings as I changed them.
3. Speed. I might have actually ranked this number one. I like to shoot kids sports, and the 6.5 fps burst rate was a huge factor in my decision to go for the 40D. I found the autofocus to be fast, too, more so than its Nikon competition (but not noticeably faster to me than the Rebel). The autofocus wasnt, in my experience, 100% accurate, though this may be more the fault of the lens than the camera.
It all sounds pretty good, right? So what happened? Based on everything I had read, I expected the pictures to be amazing. In large part, they were good - excellent color, resolution, and contrast, though a little soft without some sharpening in post-processing - but they werent "amazing." My biggest complaint was that I experienced a higher-than-expected percentage of underexposed shots. Oddly, pictures I took on an mildly overcast day with what should have been non-challenging lighting and background - kids on the sidewalk with a gray road, green grass, and neutral-colored houses across the street - were way underexposed, probably a whole stop or more. I tried this on two different days, with a variety of ISO, shutter speeds, and aperture settings - even tried using the "Basic Modes" - and all the images were underexposed (both to my eye and by virtue of examining the histogram, which was sharply skewed to the left). Still, if it were just a matter of the exposures being a bit darker than I preferred, I would have been content to just dial the exposure compensation up a third or two-thirds and shoot away. But it was more complicated than that. The evaluative metering seemed to do better with high-contrast scenes, with sunlit objects and shadows behind the people in the center of the frame. But even there, when I took two or three shots with the same settings and roughly the same composition, two might be perfect and one might be underexposed by two-thirds or a whole stop.
I fully expect to get some flaming comments about how I just needed to get to know the camera, learn more about the various metering modes, become a better photographer, etc., etc. Maybe so, but I guess I wanted my $[...] camera to produce more consistent results without a lot of tinkering, especially in photos of what were truly uncomplicated scenes.
Some might also say the camera was defective and I should have just exchanged it instead of returning it for a refund. Again, maybe so. However, there are a lot of user comments on various internet forums complaining of underexposure with the 40D. One prominent review site (dcresource.com) recounts the reviewers experience in two weeks of shooting: "My only photo quality complaint is that the 40D has the tendency to underexpose. I took hundreds of photos on my vacation, and the majority of them were underexposed by 1/3 or 2/3-stop." Unfortunately, I missed all this during my initial research.
I may have had a bad copy of the camera; perhaps the lens contributed to the issues as well--who knows? Nonetheless, the way I see it, this is a mature product, having been on the market for almost a year now. Any quality control issues should have already been ironed out, and I just wasnt willing to take a chance on spending the money to send it back only to get another lemon.
Based on the many glowing reviews here and elsewhere, my experience is apparently not typical. Its a funny thing about reliability/satisfaction and repair ratings. Even Consumer Reports ranks Canon among the best. But to those customers in the minority who end up with defective, or simply unsatisfying, products, the odds dont mean a thing.
Im going to try a Nikon.
On: 2008-06-26
I upgraded to this camera from a rebel xti and I have to say its better in every single way. Its better in ways that cant necessarily be expressed in specs. Yes, the xsi has higher resolution, but thats such an insignificant feature compared to what the 40D is capable of doing. Just the bigger viewfinder, second wheel, and really short shutter lag is enough for me to be extremely happy. Noise characteristics are a lot better than xti, period. So much more detail is retained at high iso even though both cameras have the same sensor specs. It seems like people who dont like the camera either got a dud, or dont really know how to take a picture and post process it properly. I have almost 800 pics on my first battery charge including a TON of reviewing and live view usage.
On: 2008-06-26
I have been a Canon user for many years with 4 EOS bodies and lots of "L" glass in the camera cabinet. However, I needed an inexpensive digital SLR quickly for a magazine assignment so I bought a Nikon D70S because I had a lot of Nikon lenses and I didnt really like the viewfinder and feel of the Canon 20D. The Nikon has served me well for a couple of years but now, all of my magazines are 100% digital so before I jumped on the Nikon D300 (a killer camera) I decided to take a second look at Canons offerings.
First impression, with the optional grip, the 40D felt much better in my fat hands than the older models. The viewfinder also seemed improved over the 20D even with my terminal myopia. But what really sold me was the price. The 40D with a grip, spare battery and a flash was still less expensive than the Nikon D300 body alone. If I added their grip and a spare battery, I would be way over the Canon. (But the D300 is a wonderful machine and I wish I had one.)
I have been using the Canon since Memorial Day where I shot 2 days of racing at Lime Rock. The images were sharp, had good color and the files showed no noise up to ISO 800 (as high as I have ever had to go). The motor drive is fast too - you can really fill up a 2 gig card fast with Raw files or even large/fine jpegs.
I like the 1.6X factor for long lenses but, like any non-full-frame digital, it hurts a bit on the wide end.
The screen isnt as clear as I would like but its big enough - much bigger than the D70S. The menus are simple and I have not had to really crack the manual very often to resolve questions. I especially like the way you can change the file sizes - picking your resolution is easy enough for rank novices.
Battery life is excellent. The viewfinder is quite good - even with glasses I can see edge to edge without mashing my face against the camera back. However, the Nikon D3 with its High EyePoint finder is still the gold standard for eye glasses wearers (Canon please take note).
Its a pretty heavy camera with the grip, 2 batteries and a 70-200 f:2.8 hanging around your neck but no more so than my EOS 1V.
Autofocus is quick and accurate - it follows fast moving race cars delivering lots of sharply focused images provided your long-lens technique is good. The first time I used the 40D with a 100-400 IS lens, racked out to an effective 640 MM, I got a bunch of soft images. These were my own fault - I am still learning how to shoot and pan with a lens that long. a mono-pod helped a bit and I boosted the shutter speed too. After several hundred images, I think I am close to knowing what I need to do.
I think this camera represents an outstanding value, it is, in fact, a bargain when compared to the Nikon D300. The image quality (for what I do - i.e., large/fine jpegs for magazine reproduction) is fantastic. While the Nikon D300 and the D3 would make larger files, their price makes them less appealing and the end results (i.e., the way the pictures look in the magazine) would be identical.
The only problem I am having is psychological! When I shot film, I always used the top pro cameras - Leica Ms, Nikon Fs and Canon EOS 1s. Now, I am using a semi-pro camera and it bothers me. The problem is, of course, mine and not Canons.
Buy the 40D with confidence - it is a very good digital camera.
On: 2008-06-26
This is an unbelievable camera. It shoots fast and takes great pictures. I thought it may be difficult to use but its as easy as those cheap digital cameras from Wal Mart.
On: 2008-06-24
I concur with J. Austins review. The product itself seemed fine, but the packaging was very subpar. The box the camera came it was probably 8 times bigger than the camera itself. Lots of room to protect or move around. Mine had 18 airpaks inside. Of the 18, only 8 remained inflated, while the other 10 had "popped" by the time it arrived at my house. If youre going to use air paks, at least use enough to fill the airspace between the product and the box. Mine looks like it could have accepted at least 18 more air paks. Or, how about using something that wont/cant pop, like packing peanuts or scrap newspapers or something? As it stands, the camera and all the other gear inside seem to be in perfect condition. I even used Amazons call back line and logged complaints with that department. They just said "it wont happen again". This was before I even explained just how poorly it was packaged, and they didnt even ask me to explain. I subsequently ordered a camera bag from Amazon. That box arrived crushed as well. Most likely the fault of UPS. But, knowing that UPS doesnt give a rats behind about boxes and if they get crushed, Amazon should take that into consideration when choosing their packing method. $2 worth of peanuts is nothing compared to having to deal with a $1,000 returned camera. I will carefully consider where my next expensive purchase is going to come from.
The camera and lens work wonderfully and I can recommend it to anyone who wants an entry level dSLR, but cant grip the smallish XSi.
On: 2008-06-23
The canon 40d is the best camera I have ever owned, more than I expected. I would recommend this camera to any upgrading from the entry level DSLR. I had the canon rebel,and the rebel xt wonderful camera, which I still own and using it for backup to the 40d. Thanks AMAZON and Canon for the rebate which put it in my price range.
On: 2008-06-23
Purchased my 40D from Amazon to replace my 30D. Nice upgrade, they have refined many of the features and the body seems to be better made (doors dont creak) than the 20D and 30D. Huge LCD but resolution is the same as the 30D and 5D so the image quality isnt great on it. Wish the buttons were on the side, like the 5D and 10/20/30D instead of the bottom. My only complaint was Amazons shipping. I have Amazon Prime yet it still took 5 days to get to me and it was in a box w/ almost no packing material and the box wasnt sealed very well. Am really surprised it didnt arrive damaged. It seems fine but will be sending it back if I find any problems with it. Ive been a customer of Amazon for many years but after getting this poorly packed, as well as my last 2 lenses also poorly packed, Ill be buying my camera gear from another vendor from now on.
On: 2008-06-22
I bought this just over 3 weeks ago. Its been great so far but still too early to say. It arrived well packaged, and as far as I could tell was not a returned item that was recycled. As I use it more, will see how it performs.
On: 2008-06-22
first of all this is very cheap product comparing the others
And it has best functions on it
Build is perfect
Ergonomics is the best
pictuer quality is perfect
speed is excellent
14 bit converting is really good
exposure is always correct
you can buy this product without any hesitating
do not thing to buy other brands or canons other bodies
it is just enough for photograph lovers
use tamron 17-50 f 2.8 lens with this
and live view is just perfect
it is usefull despite others sayings.one day every d-slr will have live view
On: 2008-06-19
As someone else wrote before - I really wanted to like this camera.
When ive got it shipped the box was wet of some kinda of oil, or shampoo, or something else; so I had to throw it. Luckily all the items inside the box were dry.
I have owned a Canon XT before for 1 year, and that was my first DSLR.
Im not a proffessional photographer so the easiest way for me to get good pictures was to shoot RAW and then adjust everything in the computer. That worked pretty well. The average weight of RAW file is 7,5MB and a JPEG was 3-4 MB.
I was pretty much happy with it, but im the type of guy which would not be satisfied with the lowest model in a range, and there were also some things i did not like in that camera too. Those things are - noisy shutter, it was small for my big hands, the autofocus was not precise everytime. So I decided that it is time to lay up some money and upgrade my camera. That would have fortunately bring me the following improvements - better ergonomics, faster and more accurate AF, quiter shutter, better ISO performance, some more megapixels, etc. I mostly shoot portraits with my wife and my 4 months old daughter, specially when she sleeps. So a quitter shutter was pretty important to me.
So, I got it from the box and made the first shot. I was expecting to see a WOW, bu when I saw the picture on the display my first thought was "lets look all the settings over again, maybe I messed something up". Made some changes in the settings and then shot few pictures again, then watched them on the computer. And then i got really confused. Although some shots were looking good, some of them were inexplicably strange - what I mean is that in some cases the ISO gain was very pronounced although the ISO was set to 400 for all the pictures, and the whole images were looking strange (colors, contrast, etc) I cant say what actually is wrong but is just doesnt look good.
I tried then shooting raws and convert. That helped me improve the situation, but still it didnt deliver the results I expected. About the same quality I could get with my old XT. Moreover - soon Ive noticed a dead pixel near the center of the each picture. It is not noticeable at full picture zoom, but it really annoys me everytime I zoom to 100%.
I had a look through all the comments positive and negative before purchasing it, and now I found that some of the old comments would come very closely to my situation. But negative comments are fewer and everytime you purchase something you dont expect yourself to get into the group of those few who write these comments, especially when you buy such a piece of electronics that is called to be a semi-pro.
Very disspointing
Im now trying to return it to the vendor, but I live in Europe so it could cost me a lot. If I dont manage to get through with this, Ill try to sell it, and then buy some better optics for my XT
On: 2008-06-19
I love my 40d! It feels so solid in my hands and the features are perfect.
On: 2008-06-19
A couple notches above entry level digital SLRs and a notch below the best Canon Pro cameras and excellent for novice users as well as pros who can utilize all the camera features. The auto shots are amazing. The build quality is solid. I struggled with buying the kit lens versus an "L" series Canon lens for quadruple the kit lens price and Im glad I went forward with the kit lens. Sharp pictures and brilliant true to life colors. Im not a pro and no way could I justify the price difference when comparing photos.
I just went from film to digital with this purchase and am sold on the digital. With digital you see the shots immediately and can delete or keep. With digital you can learn so much faster because of this instant view benefit. Digital cards are reasonably inexpensive now and can be re-used over and over again. Thousands of shots to develop your photography skills is easy to do with digital.
The Canon 40D with the current kit lens is a purchase I doubt you will regret. Im so glad that I purchased mine before my recent trip to Disney World. Initially I was contemplating to wait 6 months for Christmas. Whew! Glad that thought was short lived.
On: 2008-06-18
As a long-time 30D user with 5 Canon lenses, I bought my 40D to accompany my existing 30D in dusty African safari locations where it becomes rather difficult to change lenses in areas with blowing dust and to accommodate the need to quickly switch between wider-angle shots and telephoto zoom lens shots. Not to repeat all of the previous accolades from other users and product reviews out on the Web, I will just say that nearly every aspect of the 30D has been improved in the 40D. The various ease-of-access layouts of buttons, options, and menus is much improved over the 30D, as is the ability to customize the various camera settings more to the way each user may want to use their camera, along with nice little touches like displaying the ISO in the viewfinder (yes!). Taking shots also feels nicer because the 40D has a noticeably quieter mechanism. And with the Internet-retailer price of the 40D at the time of this writing being more than $700 cheaper than the Nikon D300, this is a camera packed with value.
The one minor quibble that I do have with the 40Ds ergonomics is that I really would have preferred the row of buttons on the back to go along the left side, the way they were positioned on the 30D, instead of being lined up along the bottom back edge of the camera. Every so often when I have the camera slung from the strap, the (Playback) or (Info) button gets accidentally pushed and I look down to see the LCD screen displaying an image or the Info information. I never had the buttons bumped when they were aligned on the left edge on the 30D.
My favorite add-on accessory for my 40D is Canons Canon EF-D Focusing Screen for Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR Camera While there are third-party focusing screens for the EOS 30D, I really love this gridded focusing screen, and its usefulness has grown on me as I have used it over time.
One additional note... While I have purchased various electronics from Amazon before (including camera lenses), I chose to purchase my 40D from, ahem, another Internet site. It seems that Amazon has gotten more and more sloppy and careless with how they package goods in the past one or two years, with the bubble wrap and air pillows not sufficiently being filled to hold products firmly inside their external shipping boxes. While having books sliding loosely in the cardboard shipping container is not an issue, I have received numerous CDs from Amazon where the CD case was heavily damaged, and I did not want to risk having such an investment like this camera being thumped and tumbled around in the process of shipping.
On: 2008-06-18
[Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)]]
Well, I would had given this camera five stars, but I still think there is too much digital noise at a higher ISO despite what Canons says. The camera is fast in the sports mode. I love this feature. Also, the 3 in. screen is nice. You can navigate through all the different functions easily. The functions are similar to my rebel, so it was not hard to get moving with this model. Canon has still not mastered an easy to follow manual yet. I purchased a book and a DVD off of Amazon to help me better understands the different things you can set this camera up for. Im still going through that. Im sure Ill be able to come back later and update this review, once I have more experience with my new toy. I do look forward to many year of picture taking with it.
On: 2008-06-18
I usually spend a lot of time researching electronic before I purchase it. And it was the same with the Canon 40D. I was debating between the 40D and the 5D. The 5D was substantially more expensive, but I really wanted the a full-framed camera. The 5D has been around for a couple of years and the new refresher model will be out around Q3 08with better features and functions. I just couldnt wait that long per I had a few travel plans this summer that needed the camera. So the decision was made to go with the 40D.
This camera is amazingly fast with the DigicIII processor and 6.5 frames per second. The live view function helps a lot for those moments when you cant view the shot through the view finder. With a 3" screen it makes viewing on the live view mode simple to see the details. The autofocus in live view mode is also accurate and clear (you need to push the autofocus button near the right thumb for it autofocus; pushing down halfway on the shutter button to autofocus does not work for live view). For the price, this camera is a bargain with all the high-end function it has.
The grip, weight distribution and overall feel of the camera is very solid and gives you a great balance for any shot.
I would highly recommend this camera for people that are upgrading from a XTi or considering to go into photography. Not to make light of its "mid range" dslr modeling, but this camera is used as a second camera or backup for many professional photographers and wedding photographers.
On: 2008-06-16
I really wanted to like this item. I had a Canon point and shoot from 2005, and got the Rebel XTi (5 stars after 10,000+ snaps of flawless performance) in December 2006. Over the next year and a half, I got several Canon lenses including 2 L lenses. When the 40D came out, it got on my radar, since I wanted something more professional, I was worried about my XTi shutter giving out, and frankly my lenses were supposedly better than my camera.
I finally made the plunge and ordered the 40D body in May. The first one was DOA and would not power up. I returned it to Amazon and got a replacement body which functioned fine for 3 weeks. Now it has developed a "stuck pixel" (a red dot in the same place on the frame...see various forums).
One solution is to clone it out, but since I occasionally do a shoot of several hundred pics and have sold some prints this is not really practical on a large scale. And it does show up on enlargements if it is in the shadows. It looks like someone is using one of those laser pointers on your pic.
I have a message in to Canon support on this. I suspect they will want me to ship the body to Irvine and have them deal with it.
I suppose I can live without it for a couple of weeks since my XTi is, as I said, working flawlessly, but I really hate shipping precision equipment like this. It is expensive (my shipment back to Amazon on the first one was over $50 with insurance) and the camera takes needless knocks.
I hope Canon reads this. My XTi and the Canon lenses have been flawless, and every picture I took that was less than great was my error. But the 40D is now down two strikes.
June 21 update: Canon recommended shipping to their service center (and they would provide prepaid shipping labels). Searching on the net I found a procedure for a do it yourself remap. Basically, you run the manual sensor clean procedure for 30 sec or so with a lens on and a cap on the lens. It seems to have worked. So the symptom is a stuck pixel from images about 600 to 900, then it went away, possibly as a result of this procedure. I will not send it back to Canon unless the problem reappears.
When it is working, the camera is 4+ stars, not ready to give it 5 yet.
On: 2008-06-16
I really wanted to like this item. I had a Canon point and shoot from 2005, and got the Rebel XTi (5 stars after 10,000+ snaps of flawless performance) in December 2006. Over the next year and a half, I got several Canon lenses including 2 L lenses. When the 40D came out, it got on my radar, since I wanted something more professional, I was worried about my XTi shutter giving out, and frankly my lenses were supposedly better than my camera.
I finally made the plunge and ordered the 40D body in May. The first one was DOA and would not power up. I returned it to Amazon and got a replacement body which functioned fine for 3 weeks. Now it has developed a "stuck pixel" (a red dot in the same place on the frame...see various forums).
One solution is to clone it out, but since I occasionally do a shoot of several hundred pics and have sold some prints this is not really practical on a large scale. And it does show up on enlargements if it is in the shadows. It looks like someone is using one of those laser pointers on your pic.
I have a message in to Canon support on this. I suspect they will want me to ship the body to Irvine and have them deal with it.
I suppose I can live without it for a couple of weeks since my XTi is, as I said, working flawlessly, but I really hate shipping precision equipment like this. It is expensive (my shipment back to Amazon on the first one was over $50 with insurance) and the camera takes needless knocks.
I hope Canon reads this. My XTi and the Canon lenses have been flawless, and every picture I took that was less than great was my error. But the 40D is now down two strikes.
On: 2008-06-16
This is my 1st DSLR and its awesome. I had it for about 2 weeks and use a 2GB CF card and already filled it up twice. The pictures are amazing just using the all auto setting and the canon lens that came w/ the camera. Ill admit the flash is not as adequate as I would like it, so thats my next thing to buy (either the 430 or the 580). Recommend this camera even over the XSi as a beginner camera. Better to buy something that would last a few years longer than buying a cheaper one now and upgrading later.
On: 2008-06-15
This review will be based on the differences and noticeable features when upgrading from a 400D / Digital Rebel XTi.
The 40D is an amazing camera, well built, fits nicely into my hand when equipped with the hand grip. Its heavier than the 400D so that makes it really balanced for heavier lenses.
Shutter speed is a main feature on this camera, with the 400D I had to work with 3fps (frames per-second) to capture any movement or action. Now I have 6.5fps to work with, which is double the speed, and gives you some pretty cool action sequences.
LCD is bigger, which I guess says it all in the features section.
Focusing is lightning fast when compared to the 400D, but again it is to be expected with this mid-range D-SLR.
The image quality is just awesome, the 40D has plenty of features and Im still learning about it as I go.
You get the ISO in the viewfinder, in the 400D you didnt. Its a great way to remind you if you still have your ISO at 800 when shooting in bright sunlight.
If youre a 300D/350D/400D owner and youre thinking about an upgrade, this is it.
On: 2008-06-11
I cant think of anything I dont like about this camera. I love it! It blows away everything else Ive every used. My father owns a 20D and hes very jealous. The view screen size is wonderful and much bigger than the 20D. It also takes much better pictures as far as peoples skin tone and such. The IS 28-135mm lens is great and Im glad I purchased the kit instead of just the body as I saved about $300.
On: 2008-06-10
Ok, I have not read all the previous reviews so sorry in advance if this has already been covered. My Rebel XT that Ive owned for 18 months recently decided to take pictures that are all black (mes thinking the shutter curtain is broken) so I quickly ordered a 40D since my daughters softball season is coming to a close. After spending a weekend with the 40D taking sports/action photos and general playing around, here are my primary comparisons between the 40D and Rebel XT, in no particular order:
1) I was concerned that the heavier/larger 40D would be a negative in terms of weight/size and fit in my camera bag. To my relief, it fits in my bag, weight really isnt an issue, and the larger size only takes about a day to get used to. In fact, after spending the weekend with the 40D, the Rebel seems too small.
2) 6 frames a second is a *huge* difference from 3 frames a second. I was able to capture action with the 40D that I often missed with the Rebel at my daughters fastpitch softball games.
3) Focus is much improved over the Rebel. Out of 500+ shots, I only had a handful where the focus did not hit. Compare that to about 10-20% on the Rebel.
4) I use the 70-200 F/4 L IS for Softball. During twighlight games, I was able to actually use ISO 800 to keep the shutter speed up. ISO 800 was just too noisy IMO on the Rebel. Im not sure if IQ on the 40D is better than the Rebel or not in other aspects - it certainly isnt worse, maybe just a tad better..??
5) I love the thumbwheel - I can very quickly review and delete pics between pitches (say, if I was shooting a batter and she didnt swing), which was more cumbersome to do on the Rebel.
6) Im hoping the automatic sensor cleaning keeps dust off the 40D sensor better than the Rebel
7) Havent setup the custom C1/C2/C3 settings yet - but I can see they are going to be very valuable
8) So what dont I like? Really, its only one minor item - I like the On/Off switch and location better on the Rebel. Oh, and since the screen on the back is so big, I cant see how anybody can shoot without getting nose/cheek prints on it.
So there you have it. Would I recommend upgrading if you have a good XT/XTi? Hmmmm...tough question. Its kinda like getting a newer, nicer, better car with more features when your existing car is, in most respects, just fine. I wrestled with fixing my XT, buying another XT/XTi, or getting the 40D - but after 2 weeks (havent paid the credit card bill yet though...) Im solidly satisfied I chose the 40D.
On: 2008-06-09
I had the 30d for about a year and a half. I thought that was a wonderful piece of equipment. I like the 40d even better. You would have to actually shoot both of them to know the difference though. It is a worthwhile upgrade because it has so many things that are better than the 30d. Too many to list here. As wonderful as the 30d was, this is a much finer piece of equipment. The pictures are even better on top of all the other upgrades. I was planning on the 1ds mark III for the large sized sensor and +21 MP, but too much money at present. I bought an old Crown Graphic 4x5 for the big landscape studies instead. Expensive to shoot, but cheap to buy. For the medium sized pictures there is the Mamiya RB67 which shoots 120 or 220 sized film if you have the respective backs. I scan the film on an Epson V750. This one is excellent up to 12x18 and even pretty good at 20x30 if you are not too picky. It is very fast and easy to use and produces excellent results. It also feels good in your hands. I sell my pictures on a regular basis. No complaints here.
On: 2008-06-09
Adds a little bit of weight and size on the 400D (Rebel XTi) but it also adds a lot of wonderful features and some increased quality. Most notably for me was the noise level seems much lower on the 40D. Personally I like the size increase, I have large hands and the XTi always was so small in my hands. The kit lens is also quite nice, no, its not an L lens but its much much better than the 18-55mm that comes with the Rebel series.
Added features are great, custom shooting modes, dual wheel control, custom menus, spot metering, just to list a few. Absolutely great camera.
On: 2008-06-07
I purchased this for a friend but the build quality is excellent and is far better than my "begginer" Pentax 100d
On: 2008-06-05
Always wanted one and with our first born on his way and after carefull review and comparing went for the EOS 40D with the 28-135mm lens and until so far (4 months) no regrets whatsover!
If you want to, be the professional that decides on all the settings, and if not, all is done for you making beautiful pictures too. Sports picture mode works like a dream when I used it for a rafting day out with friends as did my wife with a blowcart event.
I took the Speedlite 430 external flash and can recommend getting one because the only downside I have found with the camera so far is the built in flash. It works only for close shots but makes the pictures very bland (white). But that is about all I have found so far.
On: 2008-06-04
The rest of the reviews say it all in tech words mostly. Ill just say that if you are an SLR fan, this is the DSLR you should jump in with. It adds features that previous DSLRs lacked. Although its not the end-all camera, it is pretty much future proof. If you need better image quality, then you need to spend the 6k on a 5d or something else higher end. For people who are just coming into DSLR from point and shoot or from 35mm, this camera provides all you need in auto features at great quality. I recommend the Magic Lantern Guide (DVD and/or book), it helped me get to know the camera much quicker. also [...] has loads of info on the camera.
On: 2008-06-04
Weve had this camera now for 7 full months and its been a real joy to have. I have not had an SLR camera since the late 70s, and my wife has never had one. Now she cant live without this thing!
This camera just feels good in your hands and it responds well taking portraits, sport or landscape shots all with equal enjoyment. Only negative, in my book, is the 1.6 crop factor. I wish it was a full frame, but then the price would be about another $1,000.
Did have an issue starting in the 5th month. The display was starting to jump around. I would be reviewing a shot and the darned thing would start jumping into INFO on its own. It got progressively worse so I had to drop it off at the New Jersey repair center. In 3 days I had it back, good as new. They said something about a board coming lose. No matter, they fixed it quickly and its been fine ever since.
I have bought additional lenses and I recommend only buying the Canon. I had to send a Sigma telephoto back, it was just not useable and for nearly $600 I was not going to tolerate that performance. Save a little longer and use that extra money to buy the Canons. As my wife always says, "The cheap pay twice."
On: 2008-06-03
I just went through the debate between the 40D and XSi. I finally chose the 40D since it is supposed to be built to last, and the recent $200 rebate from Canon placed the cost ($950 body only) on par with the XSi ($800 body only) at the time of this review. Up until now, I have been using an XT and in only 2 years (and about 6000 photos) the auto focus (AF) LEDs began burning out. One is completely gone and the others have dimmed considerable. I have not found anyone else with this problem so it could be that I had a bad XT. Never the less, the XSi has similar dot type AF LEDs and I was worried that an investment in the XSi would lead to another camera with a limited lifetime (I depend on these LEDs a lot).
Although I liked the compactness and lightweight of the XT, little did I realize how convenient the 40D is for fast switching of settings. I love this! I wont go into all the positives/negatives of the 40D as it has been beaten to death by now. However, I will mention a few minor pros and cons that are either seldom mentioned, or not mentioned at all.
Pros:
1. Much better AF LEDs - more visible squares instead of little dots, hopefully longer lasting.
2. More multi-controls and generally setup more user friendly.
Cons:
1. Auto WB is a little off - especially with incandescent lighting and AUTO setting (seemed more accurate on my XT)
2. Thin male pins for the remote connector. Male means that there are pins instead of sockets. The sockets are on the switch itself (RS-80N3 or equivalent). This means if the thin pins bend, the camera gets hurt instead of the cheaper switch. I wish Canon had stuck to the 1/8" stereo jack as that solution was much more rugged and allowed the wire to rotate (the wire on the RS-80N3/equivalent point out in the direction of the lens only).
Hope this helps!
On: 2008-06-01
Having used a 10D for about five years, and having passed up on buying the 20D and 30D, I finally decided it was time to update. This camera is just as easy to use, with several improvements, including a much bigger LCD screen. Since it is a direct descendant of my older camera, it felt very familiar immediately, with no "learning curve." I highly recommend this for the "part-time pro," that is somebody who must rely on the performance and reliability of a camera to get the job done and get paid, but who doesnt have the day-in-day-out volume of business to justify the price of a $7K+ "real" pro camera. It is an exceptionally good deal.
On: 2008-06-01
The 40D is a significant improvement over my old 20D. With more dynamic range, a brighter viewfinder ( which is important because in bright light, when my glasses darkened, I could not read the exposure values in the viewfinder. Now they are more visable.
I also like the fact that you can replace the focusing screen. The vertical and horizontal lines help you keep the camera lined up with the opjects or horizon.
The canon high end lenses are absolutely fantastic. I took a hand held photo of a woodpecker at 20 or 25 feet away and could acually see an insects wings in the woodpeckers mouth.
On: 2008-05-31
I have only had this camera for about two weeks, and I can honestly say this will make you feel like a pro. Everything about it is top notch, I couldnt decide between this camera or the nikon d80. But after going out shooting with this Ive had a lot of people asking me about it. The interesting thing even nikon owners. Buy this camera you wont regret the purchase. It is quality all the way around and the pictures are outstanding.Im finally getting a hang of the manual mode and it wont be long before I never shoot automatic again.
On: 2008-05-30
Ive been slowly moving up in the camera world. The 40D was an upgrade from my Digital Rebel XT. I almost cant believe how happy I am with this camera and wish I would have gone straight from film to a "prosumer" camera.
First of all, this camera feels great in my hands. Everything about it is set up well. This is actually what made me choose Canon over Nikon when I decided to switch from Minolta film cameras to digital. For me, the Canon cameras were easier to navigate, and I like the placement of the buttons on the 40D, as well as the dial to manuever throught the menu. It was very easy to move from my Rebel to the 40D.
The only thing I miss that the 40D does not have, is an "erase all" option when deleting pictures. I liked that and used it often with my Rebel, but really, its not that significant in the grand scheme of things.
This camera has some very nice functions, and I have been very pleased with the quality of my photos so far. So far, Ive just been shooting on manual mode, and I agree with some reviews that I read that having the ISO, aperture, and shutter speed visable in the view finder is really nice. I cannot wait for this summer to really put this camera to good use as I spend time with loved ones and go on trips. Thanks Canon for a great product!
On: 2008-05-29
Upgrading from the Canon Rebel Xti has been the smartest move ever. The Xti was my first dslr and only had it for 7 months then sold it so I could up grade. At the time I was trying to chose between the 40D and the 5D. So glad I got the 40D because it just blows me away. I like the fast shutter speed specially in sports mode. My daughter plays soccer and keeping up with her is a must! Still learning all there is about this camera each day I am learning something new. At first I was uncertain about the Live View feature but it has come in handy for when I do still life shots. Still trying to figure out the auto focus in this mode.
The EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens really help make this camera. I was so happy when I found out that it came with it instead of the standard kit lens canon puts on their cameras. Dont really like the macro feature of the lens but I like how I am able to get close to a person while taking pictures. This lens is great for weddings and portraiture photography. I also purchased the 50 f/1.8 II lens. With the 50mm and the 40D together wow does it take amazing shots!!
If you are stuck between a Rebel and the 40D or even the 5D you dont need to go any further. THIS is the camera to get and you wont be sorry at all. Yes the 5D is a full frame camera and is 2 mega pixels more but thats basically it! You cant get any better then the 40D and the price!
To see some of my work you can go to [...]
On: 2008-05-28
Esta es una camara magnifica. He sido dueño de varias Canon, por lo que a la hora de irme a una dSRL, me decidà por la EOS 40D ya que la Rebel XTi no llenaba mis expectativas de velocidad y calidad fotografica. Y no me equivoque, la camara es excelente, rápida con el lente EF 28-135mm del kit inicial de compra. Si le sumamos toda la gama de lentes Canon que hay disponible. Esta es la mejor camara Precio Valor para los entusiastas Prosumer. Altamente recomendada.
On: 2008-05-28
I really like it. I like the weight, the feel, and overall a lot more then the XTi. I hated having the screen always be displayed on the XTi where it is now auto turned off on the 40D.
Thanks, Canon
On: 2008-05-26
Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
UPDATE: I figured out how to get the best image performance from my 40d. I had been shooting in Landscape mode, which kicks the "Sharpness" level up a couple of notchs that was causing the high noise level. After decreasing the sharpness level to "2", the ISO noise was greatly diminished! The reddish images were a result of the WB being set to Auto by default. After changing the WB to Daylight, my shots look more natural.
ORIGINAL POST:
I bought this camera because I wanted to upgrade from my RebelXT thinking there would be a major improvement in image quality; and after reading the stellar reviews here. The first thing I noticed after the first couple of shot was that images shot with the 40d were redder than the XT. I then noticed very high ISO noise levels on settings above ISO 200! I could not believe this, so I took some test shots with my XT and compared them to the 40D. To my surprise, the images shot with the XT at ISO-1600 looked better than the 40d images shot at ISO-200! In the 40d menu, I verified that Long Exposure Noise Reduction, and High ISO speed Noise Reduction were enabled. I really like the feel of the 40d, but to me, I need a camera thats going to produce virtually noise free images up to ISO-800. The 40d is a huge disappointment.
On: 2008-05-26
Now being sub $1000 in price you can not beat this value. Most people will never need more than 10MP. If you want the durability of a pro camera, this is the one you want.
On: 2008-05-17
I use to have a Nikon D70... the Canon 40D is 1,000xs better.
I use to have a Canon 20D... the Canon 40D is an excellent replacement.
The live view is great. The self cleaning sensor is a nice feature, although not sure how well it really works. I still find myself cleaning the sensor every few hundred actuations. The 3" LCD is great for reviewing pictures, altho, some of the newer cameras have much higher resolution than the 40Ds LCD, but Im not bothered by that. The size, weight and feel of the camera is top notch. Menus are easy to navigate and I love the available custom settings that you can just dial in. Every one has already offered their .02c about this camera, I just thought Id share my experience through a short short short summary compared to some of the other great reviews already present.
On: 2008-05-14
I love it. I own Canons Rebel XT & G5 cameras. This 40D has not dissappointed me and only reconfirms my faith in Canon. I love both of my older cameras but this feels like driving an Acura versus a Honda. The familiarity of the old with a tremendous boost of confidence to produce even better photographs for years to come. Great price as well through [...] as well! You wont regret buying this camera, esp with the 28-135 MM lens.
On: 2008-05-14
I just got my 40D. I have an XT. I did a couple of comparison shots - good Lord, what a camera compared to the XT (and from what I have heard the XSi is not that great of a leap up but in megapixels, build quality even down some say). I knew itd be good but my goodness, I havent even played with some of the settings yet and out of the box - out of the box - I put it on Manual and played around. Contrasted shots with the XT. CONTRAST - no comparison at all. So this is how all those guys take such great pics, hum...? : )
Get it. Youll love it. You won;t be sorry.
On: 2008-05-14
I am having so much fun. I have no idea what all you tech people talk about in your reviews. I do know, I bought a camera above my ability and I never will use all its capabilities - But, I dont care, the beauty of these pictures and the 6 frames per second are incredible. The shots Ive gotten at softball games, I just start laughing. They are so good, it has made me a pro. just kidding. I am loving life, the camera is so worth the price, cannot wait until snowboard season with the kids.
Stan
On: 2008-05-11
No doubt this is a great camera. I bought body only along with 50mm f1.4 lens and images are extremely sharp. Live view is great although I prefer looking thru the viewfinder and the camera body feels very solid and professional.
I was very impressed with Amazons fast free shipping and great price. I looked everywhere (online & retail) to find lower prices but no one could beat Amazon. Free shipping is extremely fast, it arrived 6 days faster than the expected delivery date. I was glad I didnt pay for faster shipping. I highly recommend this camera.
On: 2008-05-06
After several bad expreiences with canon 350d, i finaly decided give canon 40d a try. i bought one from a local store and brought it to a european trip. my wife brought her own camera too, a small samsung NV3. The only reason she carrys her camera is she feels her NV3 is cute. When we came back from the trip, we found out that her pictures are much better than mine! The picture taken from this canon are very noisy. I speak to the store and I was told I need a better lens.
On: 2008-05-03
We originally had the Canon XTi and decided to upgrade to the 40D. As soon as we picked it up it was love at first shot. Its slightly bigger in the grip but definitely pleasantly noticeable. The large dial on the back also was a welcome change because on the XTi, F-Stop change required you to press a button and then roll the mini dial. There are so many different "upgrades" to list. My recommendation is that pass on the XTi and get this kit. You get a huge break in price when you get the the lens together in this kit. Have fun with it.
On: 2008-05-02
I went to my local camera shop without a budget in mind determined to get a really good DSLR. I admit this was maybe a little crazy but this is an approach I sometimes will take to shop for features, fit and function and then roll the price into the analysis on the last step. I had no existing buy in to an existing brand or any inventory that I needed to be compatible with. This left me free to look at Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Canon and a couple of others that escape me now. I actually think that almost any of these brands have fine products. I am convinced they all have marketing departments that are professionals at price pointing and feature trade offs. Plus my local camera shop buyer knows how to buy and make sure he covers all of the price points.
So after going through abut 8 models all lined up on the counter I ended up selecting the Canon 40D. Here was my rationale at the time. Most of the models in this price area have remarkable similar features and prices with the end result being there are pretty simliar. So with the feature, function, price trade offs being relatively equal I decided on the Canon 40D. This camera fits my hand better than any other model regardless of maker. It also at 6+ frames per second was faster than any other camera without REALLY ignoring price.
Now that I have had the camera for a while there are more reasons to own it then the sales rep was able to pass on at the time of sale. The build quality is just awesome and there are more options for controlling the 40D than I had a clue about. Another thing I discovered are the Canon L series lenses. I now have two of the F2.8 zooms each of which cost more than the camera. So in the future I am bought into Canon camera bodies but the 40D and the L lenses produce stunning results. So for me the fit and function were just right and the future is bright (F2.8 at 200MM). So if you think you will add lenses to your bag I would put that into any camera body decision. The 40D and the 70-200L F2.8 with the 24-70L F2.8 zooms will be around for a long time.
On: 2008-04-29
This camera has a very professional feel and good ergonomics.
As far as physical build quality, its very nice; much better than the lower end SLRs that Canon produces. The shooting speed is wonderful when trying to capture fast action. The autofocus works very quickly and accurately.
While not cons, I should point out two details: 1) The cameras live preview is only designed to operate in the advanced modes (not in the point & shoot modes) 2) The cameras heavy duty build comes at the cost of a little more weight. If you are simply looking for a camera to casually carry around, this isnt it... but then again, you probably wouldnt be looking at an SLR. :)
I would highly recommend this camera to anybody wanting durability and quality without the $2000+ price tag!
On: 2008-04-28
Moved up from the 20D. Excellent upgrade for anyone considering a move from the 20D, XT, XTI, etc. My level of experience is an advanced amateur photographer. I primarily take sports photos (soccer) The HUGE buffer and the 6.5 frames per second make the 40D a welcome addition to my equipment list. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!
On: 2008-04-27
I love my EOS 40D. (I ordered from Amazon and had it in three days). Its easy to use and the buttons and dials one needs are right at your fingertips. The menus are easy to navigate too. It has impressive response time, and the photos are great. It I get a bad one, its usually something I did and not the camera. Id recommend this camera to anyone looking for an SLR thats probably a step-up from the Rebels, but not full-blown pro. Price was nice too.
On: 2008-04-25
Im totally bias (love canon)
but out of the Canon cameras Ive used this one is my fave
Its not huge, its not too small (like the rebel) the 40D fits perfectly in my hand, big screen is great. its super fast, high quality images,
the functionality of this camera is what stands out, simple yet powerful. easy and fast to make ajustments to your shutterspeed and aperture.
great camera. if your not taking photos for giant building sides go with this camera.
On: 2008-04-25
I just got my 40D 2 days ago so I havent worked with it much yet, but it does seem at first glance to be all that people say it is. The only information Id pass along for you to consider is that the packaging done by Amazon was really poor. Fortunately, the box the camera itself was packed in provided enough protection that nothing was damaged. However, Amazon put the camera box inside a larger box with minimal packing material so the smaller box was sliding around freely inside the bigger box.
The other thing I would point out is that with the flash unit in the down position there is a bit of an annoying rattle sound from the flash mount area when you rotate the camera from side to side. With the flash up the rattle disappears. Per the manual, this is normal (page 175 of the manual). Would these things have changed my purchase decision? Maybe not, but still I would have rather known than not. I still give it a 5 star rating just because from what I can tell so far it is an awesome camera.
On: 2008-04-23
Ive long been a serious photographer for years. Ive owned a Canon AL-1 35mm for years and then owned Sony digital Mavica. I decided to move up into the DSLR cameras. I looked at the Nikon 40D and many others. I spent many months examining specifications of many cameras before deciding to purchase the canon EOS40D with the EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens and a 4GB memory card.
Its an excellent camera and Im excited to get to know it. First, let me say whatever your background is, you cant go wrong with this camera. If you want professional high quality images, this camera is capable of producing them for you. If you want, you can stay with the automatic settings and point & shoot, it will take excellent pictures for you. If you want to get more involved and "roll your own", you can! The knobs and controls are very easy to understand and remember. You can control as little or as much as you want. The LCD screen is large and the menus use large fonts, colorfully which makes it easy to read. The camera comes with all the software you require for most work. Professions will still want to use Adobe Photoshop and/or Adobe Lightroom.
I did purchase a spare battery. I wanted the 8GB memory card but couldnt justify the cost. After taking pictures for awhile, I feel that was a good choice. The 4GB card is large enough for most photographers and most work. Im picky! I want to take and produce the highest quality photos that I can. I use Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Adobe Lightroom. I purchased X-rite Eye-one to calibrate my LCD monitor. I also purchased the X-rite ColorChecker Macbeth color chart and along with the snap-n AcrCalibrator version 1.2 for adobe Photoshop CS3 to calibrate my camera and create presets for my camera when I use the RAW mode.I import my 40D RAW files (.cr2) into adobe bridge and into Photoshop CS3 without problems. I use adobe RBG(1998) as my color manager.
This is by far the best camera I have ever used. It is a reliable true friend. I have added the Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM lens to my collection. You wont go wrong with the this Camera.
On: 2008-04-21
I absolutely love my new camera... I am still learning about it but I already know its great... It takes very high quality pictures and is just what I was looking for....
Bonnie
On: 2008-04-20
Superb....this Canon 40D lives up to all my expectations. All the added features above the 30D are well implemented.
On: 2008-04-19
They just keep making this camera better. I love my 30D. It works great and has a nice price. When I got the 40D, I was very happy. They didnt change the things already like. What they did is improve on the annoyances I had with the 30D.
The larger screen is amazing. Its like viewing a big screen TV. Now you can view ISO on the top LCD screen. The rubber cap that covers the flash, remote trigger, and A/V plugs has been greatly improved on. The on-screen menu is much easier to read.
The 40D also has Live view. I dont know if Ill ever use this feature, but its nice to know the camera has it.
On: 2008-04-19
I love this camera, the live mode is the best for almost any kind of shooting, you can active it and zoom your object, allowing you to manually focus exactly what you want, I recommend to buy a Canon RS-80N3 with this camera, so you can take completely advantage of this live mode.
Great camera, fits perfect on my hand. Access to all the functions is easy and fast, it takes about a day to get use to the controls.
On: 2008-04-15
This is fabulous camera. Ive been shooting for about 5 years and made the jump to the 40D from the Rebel XT. There are so many great DSLRs out there from Nikon, Sony, and others these days but I really love the 40D. It is a solidly built camera and the photo quality is superb. Ive been shooting on the 40D about 3 months and have no regrets. Wonderful camera.
On: 2008-04-13
I have used the 40D a lot in the 3 weeks Ive had it. I had a D60 before and several other digital cameras. This one has all of the features I wanted, has a great feel and good balance. I will be using it a great deal in the future even though it is somewhat heavy for field work.
On: 2008-04-13
This is my first digital SLR and I am very happy with it. Easy intuitive interface and it takes great photos.
On: 2008-04-11
The camera takes brilliant photos, but I have had several problems with the camera "locking up". After taking a few pictures (with flash) the camera just dies. Nothing works, even though the battery is full.
 On: 2008-04-11
Im sure overall this is a great camera, but I got a lemon I guess. 35 days after I received it, which is 5 days too late to return it, I got the "busy" sign of death. Locked up, couldnt shoot, LCD is blank. I had to mail it to Canon Factory for repair. Hope they fix it like new!
On: 2008-04-10
This is a great camera. I am new to DSLR and have been using Canon for many years and this is why i chose 40D, through the buying process i have looked at Canon Digital Rebel XTI, Nikon D300, Olympus E510. D300 is a great camera but it is out of my price range.
Since the purchase, i have acquired External Flash 400EX and the combo produced amazing looking flash pictures which are far better than the built-in Canon Flash.
The camera is not hard to use but I have to admit that there is a learning curve for DSLR at least for me.
Overall, Im very satisfied with this purchase.
On: 2008-04-09
I have the 20D that I use for wedding photography, and was looking for a 2nd body for a backup. I chose the 40D for 10.1MP and the larger viewfinder. I also was unimpressed with the 5D reviews. I have to say that I really like the 40D. It is quick, the buffer is large, and the addition of creative zones are a big improvement. The price couldnt be better for a 2nd unit, and now my 20D is getting some much needed rest :-)
I have shot over 2000 shots with no issues. I normally shoot in Aperture Priority or Time Priority settings for the most versatility.
On: 2008-04-07
We all know how great the camera is. The lens in this kit is one of the worst made lenses I have ever seen. When fully extended the front of the lens actually wobbles! Looking through the viewfinder while the autofocus changes, you can see the image jump up and down as it shifts around. Cheaply made. Youre better off buying the body only and opting for a better lens. Because of the conversion factor, the 28mm is closer to a 45mm - pretty useless. You have to be around 10 feet away to fit a couple of people fully in frame!
On: 2008-04-07
First off - this review is from an entry-level photographer, I have only had point & shoots prior to this. This is my first DSLR so I dont have a ton of experience...I just want to take great pictures, mostly of the family, pets, vacation, occasional sporting events, etc. This camera is great. I just got it over the weekend and I am so amazed by the awesome pictures that I am already seeing. Anyone thinking of getting this camera - dont worry, you will not be disappointed.
Also, the IS lens that is included in kit is pretty nice too. You can definitely notice the IS at work. I tried out an older zoom lens that my dad had (w/o IS) and there was a noticeable improvement with the IS lens.
On: 2008-04-07
As a fan of the Canon family of DSLR cameras, when Amazone offered a Gold Box Special on this exciting new model that had come out, I jumped on it. As a former owner of the Rebel Xti camera, I was already familiar with a lot of the camera menus and software that Canon includes with its product. But I didnt expect the quality build that this new model has.
Its metal body, although adding considerable weight to the camera over my Rebel series camera, also adds a very comfortable feel in your hand. It truly feels like a Pro-sumer product that it professes to be.
For the advanced enthusiast this camera is a must have either as your primary body or as a backup for your professional model.
On: 2008-04-05
Even though I havent taken the time to really read the manual on how to use this camera, just playing around with it, trying different settings, I have gotten some awesome shots. I would highly recommend it for people who want to get great shots of their children.
We did a lot of comparison shopping. This camera is a really good price for the quality of the product.
On: 2008-04-05
Love the larger LCD and the self clean sensor. Major improvement over my 20D. Very pleased!
On: 2008-04-04
I have had a 20D for about three years now and have been using that for my fine art photography. The 40D is a great step up from the larger LCD screen, additional image controls, the new raw file format, and the larger photo buffer to name just a few of the improvements. I still have more to learn on using (and abusing) the 40D, but so far I am liking it alot.
On: 2008-04-03
Recently wanting to upgrade my Canon 350D, I was undecided between the Canon 40D and 5D. Given I photograph a lot of birds and wildlife, the features the 40D provided in this regard completely outweighed the 5D.
Since using the camera for a few months I will have to say what a great camera this is for the price. The few things of note that I have noticed greatly improve over my previous camera body: fast shutter, image quality, low image/iso noise, sensor cleaning, custom settings, and solid construction (this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the incredible features available on this camera).
So far my only real complaint is that darn red light on the back of the camera that illuminates during exposures (not a great feature for long exposures).
On: 2008-04-03
Have had this Camera for about 2 months now, and all I can say is WOW. Previously had a Canon 20D that I had for years without one single problem, and decided it was time for an upgrade. I can not believe the difference, and how far Canons technology has come. Have always been a Canon user, so can not offer any comparisons to any of the Nikons, but I can say you will not be unhappy with this camera. I use this camera to mostly take photos at sporting events, and so far, have taken well over 20,000 photos with this camera in the short time that I have owned it, and I cant think of one complaint so far. I mostly shoot with "L" series lenses, and have not had any lenses or compatibility issues at all.
I can not think of any reason not to buy this camera, and can not offer one compliant, this thing is great.
On: 2008-04-02
There are enough tech reviews out there.
Simply I had no regrets of getting this as an upgrade from my EOS400D. Practical features that I use, better built then the 400D, & I just love the fast shutter.
I dont see myself upgrading for the next couple of years.
On: 2008-04-02
I would like to share my experience about the advantage of using 40D with LEICA R lens. I compare the viewfinder of 40D, 400D and 5D at CANON showroom. The brightness, contrast and magnification factor are better than that of CANON 400D camera. I am surprised at the fact that contrast of 40D viewfinder is higher than 5D, which is very important for focusing manually. Using the standard viewfinder screen of 40D, I am able to focus successfully with a LEICA 90mm f2 lens. I focus with aperture setting at f5.6 without openning up f2.
On: 2008-03-31
LOVE this camera. Its my first DSLR and I love it. Great for indoor and outdoor shots. The separate controls for f-stop and shutter speed make manual shots very easy. The automatic controls make this as easy to use as a point and shoot. The size is big enough for for large hands but easy to handle for small hands. The grip is very comfortable and the weight is well balanced for all day use. 10.1 MP is a great size for large prints or heavy cropping. The manual sucks for first time DSLR users. Get David Buschs book.
On: 2008-03-31
Ive been into photography for over 20 years and have used film cameras from Nikon, Canon, Mamiya, Pentax and Hasselblad. Im not going to get into this brand is better than that brand because in truth they are all good. A lot of it boils down to personal preference. I have used a Sony digital camera for the past few years and I just recently got the 40d as my first DSLR. This camera is superb! I already own a Canon A2 film camera with EF lenses so I knew I was going to get a Canon and this was a great choice. Others have gone thru the features and highlights so I wont bother. All I can say is if you have your eyes on this camera, just get it. You wont regret it.
[..]
On: 2008-03-30
Ive been using this camera since its release and: I have to say it feels good in my hand, perfect size for small hands. The sensor cleaning isnt at all the greatest! The viewing screen is amazing and the noise reduction feature it has is VERY amazing! I use ISOs higher than I ever have at times because the image doesnt suffer as much! Functions are easy to access and utilize while shooting! Excellent camera for the price.
On: 2008-03-27
This is a camera with a lot of features for the price. Quite ergonmically designed, it holds and handles well, and has a very good set of features, including some very useful customization options. Its probably the best camera at this price level if you are coming to digital SLR photography fresh (i.e., if you do not already have a lens collection, etc.).
Having said that, if you are willing to spend more money, the Nikon D300 beats this one in many areas, such as the Auto ISO functions, the WB functions, and so forth -- but, as I say, it is significantly more expensive than the 40D, and also geared much more toward the more advanced prosumer market (the 40D, for example, has picture styles, which are preset shooting modes for different settings similar to what a point and shoot often has, but the D300 omits this kind of functionality in light of its intended core user of more advanced photographers).
On the lens -- I was very disappointed in the lens. The end of the lens was wobbly, it shook around easily and noisily when I moved the camera around, as did the distance meter. When I extended the zoom, that went away (at least with respect to the lens body, but the old plastic-y feel is still there). Beware that this lens also has a reputation for sucking dust into the camera. It didnt take terrible pictures, but for a camera/lens kit of this price level, I didnt expect a lens that just felt cheaply put together.
In all, if you are a Canon user and/or have a good stock of Canon lenses to use with this, its a good camera body at the price. If youre a Nikon user, you wont find much of a reason to switch in this model.
On: 2008-03-25
Ive had the camera a few months now and LOVE it. I upgraded from a digital rebel and at first was unsure of what I thought---but then after using it a few times it became my new best friend!!
On: 2008-03-25
Ill start by saying I bought the kit lens (28-135 IS) to go with my 20D that got handed down to my niece. I shot fifty or so exposures with it just to make sure it was in working order and, for what it is, its a fine lens. I wouldnt pay the $400+ retail price for it, but for a $200 kit lens, its a fair deal. Build qualitys on the cheap side and its soft wide open on either end, but it sharpens up considerably at f5 on the wide end and f6 zoomed and is solid at f8 and above throughout the range. The IS works well. The zoom range is excellent for a goof off or vacation lens. Beyond that, its merits are questionable.
As for the camera, I honestly thought my next upgrade, having gone from Canon film bodies to the original Digital Rebel, and then the 20D, would be to the 5D. I love the idea of a full frame sensor but cant justify spending the cash on a 1DS Mark II, much less III. The 5D had come down in price enough, and I was ready to pull the trigger. A friend of mine talked me into looking at the 40D, and it does have some drool-inducing features. And, without the kit lens, it was about 40% less than the 5D. So I ended up with this, and I have not been disappointed.
The features I love:
Interchangable focus screens- I apparently have balance issues, because every landscape photo Ive ever taken has undergone a Photoshop free transform before presentation. The grid screen has solved that little problem. I think its also improved my overall composition.
Improved viewfinder- Its almost shocking when you first put your eye up to the viewfinder. Everythings so crystal clear and so well presented.
The build- Quality, quality, quality. Still getting used to the button placement, but I like it. Very quiet.
The custom presets- Brilliant, particularly if you shoot often in the same lighting environment with the same lens (indoor sports, theater).
Live view- Yes, its a pain in the rear to use, but its less pain than trying to compose night shots through the viwfinder, particularly if your tripod is set lower or higher than eye-level.
Digic III processor- Its fast and, after shooting a few hundred RAW+jpegs, I have to say that Im very impressed with the color and tonal accuracy. Its a vast improvement over the previous processors.
The rest of the updates I could take or leave. The autofocus may be faster, but I dont see a huge improvement in accuracy. The self-cleaning sensor is probably nice to have, but I never had a problem with dust on the senor in my other two cameras. The screen size is nice, but I was never unhappy about the screen on the 20D, and the resolution didnt make a leap. And my only complaint is the crop factor, but the selection of ultra-wide angle lenses is improving.
I noticed in some reviews people mention needing high pixel counts to get good enlargements. This is not true. The 6.1MP Digital Rebel writing in large jpegs had enough muscle to provide razor sharp 16x20s so long as you werent crop-happy. Pixel count is just one small measure of overall image quality. Your ability to capture a good image will have an impact on how big you can print long before the pixels come into play. There isnt a DSLR on the market today that isnt capable of creating images that can be "enlarged" to full poster-size prints, if not larger. You just need to focus on making every pixel count.
On: 2008-03-25
Since the announcement of Canon 40D, it is probably the most versatile DSLR camera I can find in terms of both of its design and ease of use.
On: 2008-03-25
Highly recommend this camera (body only). Too bad they dont allow built in flash to be pull back for bounce flash effect.
On: 2008-03-24
I have had this camera for about a month and I really like it. I took pictures of my son skateboarding and there was no delay in the shots and each one turned out great. The quality of each picture is outstanding. The only drawback is that it is a pretty heavy camera and I may not use it on all day trips. Otherwise, I am very satisfied with my purchase.
On: 2008-03-23
Ive had a number of 35MM SLRs in the past and more recently a number of point and shot digital cameras. So I decided it was time to step up and get a Digital SLR. Id been waiting for the Rebel XSi to come out thinking Id get one of those since it was less expensive. But for a few dollars more I was able to get the 40D with a great Image Stabalized 28-135mm lens (which you need to multiply the zoom level by ~1.6 to compare to a 35mm equivelent lens since the 40Ds CCD is smaller than a 35mm frame). You get a faster shutter speed, better ISO rating, more frames per second in burst mode, and its more weatherproof. Yes a few less pixels but in reality unless you are printing something larger that 8"x12" that is not really a factor. So the 40D, at its price point, is one of the most capable cameras on the market in my opinion. And Id buy it again anyday. Ive been very impressed so far and, while I hate to admit it, my ability is now the limiting factor with my photos not the camera!!
On: 2008-03-20
This camera does everything that you could ask. It has great low light image quality. For example, it is fantastic for capturing indoor basketball action shots in a poorly lit gym at ISO 3200. This allows you to get the high shutter speeds you need. The focus is fast and accurate. The controls are well designed. I especially like the three user definable custom settings.
The only other camera to consider is a Nikon D300 but that costs about $500 more.
On: 2008-03-18
I have owned a Canon 20D ever since they were released, I was madly in love with it, however since getting the 40D it has sat on the shelf and is for sale.
I took the 40D to Death Valley for the wild flower bloom, it did great. Then to a local area for more wild flowers, again it did great.
I also took it to a Cutting Horse contest that is an annual event in my area. I used my 20D last year and it struggled, very difficult lighting conditions, covered outdoor arena with very low light levels. The 40D out preformed the 20D completely. Shooting at high ISO with a fast shutter speed I got better pictures then last year.
A side by side comparison showed a vast improvement by the 40D over the 20D.
If you are thinking about getting this camera stop thinking and do it.
On: 2008-03-15
I wanted to purchase a digital SLR. Many years ago I had purchased a Canon film SLR which was the A-1. I was very satisfied with it and now it is obsolete and you cant even find lenses that will fit. Long discontinued. I decided to stick with Canon. At first I was looking at the Digital Rebel XTi. Then Canon released the update to the 30d. I saw numerous raves about the 40d. Amazon had the camera with a kit lens, the 28-135 3.5-5.6 IS USM lens. I decided to upgrade my choice and bought this camera. I havent regretted my choice.
I am a rank novice and know little about digital photography but this camera will help you immensely with its many program modes. The wonderful thing about digital photography which has been mentioned many times, you take a bad picture you erase it. And its so true. Study your manual and experiment and you will be taking wonderful photos before long.
The 40d is bigger than the Rebel and much studier. Its body is magnesium alloy which makes it heavier but its not objectionable. This is a "crop camera" with a focal factor of 1.6. This helps with telephoto but wide angle hurts as it magnifies your focal length by 1.6. It accepts both EF and EF-S lenses.
I will give you an example. I bought the camera in November 2007. This February a co-worker and friend asked me to come to their daughters wedding just to take snapshots. They had hired a wedding photographer. I said I will but I didnt know how the pictures will turn out as I was still learning how to use the thing. No matter they said, we have a photographer hired anyway. I took the camera, the 28-135 kit kens and a 580EX II Speedlite. I let the camera and the flash make most of the decisions concerning settings and using techniques I had remembered from my film SLR days I made about 175 various shots. Never done a wedding in my life. To my amazement the majority of the shots were great. So much so the parents of the bride told me that my snapshots were on par with the professional they had hired. No not all were good. There were lighting miscues. The reception was under florescent lighting and I overlooked that fact with camera settings. Post processing helped a lot.
All in all I am very pleased with this camera and would recommend it to anyone who is in the market for a digital SLR camera that is not a full frame camera. One other point, if you have a Nikon or a Canon camera look into DxO post processing software. It matches the particular camera body and particular lens to process the image. It is a great program especially if you shoot with the RAW format.
Bob James
On: 2008-03-11
I did a year of research before I settled on this camera. Id been using 35mm forever and needed the right motivation to switch to digital. THIS IS IT! Very easy to use. Battery life is great. Huge screen. (I still get nose and cheek smudges on it but Im learning not to squish my face against it) The inherant ability to review shots instantly and adjust has made me an instantly better photographer. I love it. You will too.
On: 2008-03-10
These are my personal thoughts and feelings from the first days with my new Canon 40D after having had a Canon Rebel XTi for about a year and a half after having taken about 30,000 pho | | |
