Latest – Review and Sample Photos by About.com (added 28 July’08)
Canon EOS 40D features:
- 10.0 megapixels
- 3.0 LCD
- DIGIC III image processor
- EOS Integrated Cleaning System
- 6.5 fps, burst rate up to 75 consecutive JPEGs or 17 RAW images
- AF system with 9 cross-type sensors
- DIGIC III image processor
- Advanced Live View Function
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Read More Reviews – (updated 28 July’08)
About.com has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and they write -
“The feature a lot of prosumer photographers will love is the 40D’s CMOS sensor. This is the same technology that was used in the Canon’s EOS-1D Mark III camera (read Canon’s really cool, expensive pro camera). That means the sensor is giving you a better tonal range and clarity in every shot while reducing noise.”
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Megapixel has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and they write -
“A feature of the 40D that struck my fancy was its Tommy Gun sequential shooting modes–6.5 frames per second in high gear, 3 fps in low. Unlike some DSCs with sequential shooting, you can hear the mirror flipping up with every shot. It harkens back to the days of motorized film cameras and the thrill of hearing a motor drive whirring through a roll of Tri-X in seconds.”
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TrustedReviews has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and they write -
“The Canon EOS 40D is facing a lot more competition than any of its predecessors, but still manages to set the benchmark for mid-range semi-professional DSLR cameras. Improvements to build quality, performance and image quality are a significant step up from the EOS 30D, and compare well with anything else on the market. However the live-view feature and the environmental sealing aren’t good as some of its competitors, and the control interface can be a bit fiddly too. Nonetheless, the 40D is genuinely pleasant camera to use, and the fantastic image quality more than makes up for any slight shortcomings and makes it worth the slightly steep asking price.”
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Photo.net has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and they write -
“The crop sensor combined with state-of-the-art systems makes the Canon 40D the best digital SLR body for budget-conscious wildlife photographers. Adding the 6.5 frames per second capture rate makes the 40D the best digital SLR body for sports photographers who don’t want to buy the Canon EOS 1D Mark III. Within the Canon system, the 40D makes sense for people who leave the house on a specifically photographic mission and don’t mind carrying the extra weight and bulk in exchange for the ruggedness and two-wheel user interface. People who are interested in low-light and wide-angle photography should consider a full-frame body such as the Canon EOS 5D.”
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Akihabaranews – 14 March’08 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and thinks if you can’t afford a 1D Mark III then this is your camera. Here’s a summary of their review -
“For the price the reviewer felt this camera is simply unbeatable. About the biggest complaint was the lack of auto focus in LiveView mode. One warning is that if you are intent on using the 40D’s advanced features you’re going to need to dig into the menu system because most of them are disabled by default.”
Bottom line – Lots of advanced features including LiveView for a reasonable price.
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CreativePro – 28 February’08 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and felt the feature set was a little sparse. Here’s a summary of their review -
“Canon still insists it limits 40D users to a three step auto bracket which if you’re into HDR photography just doesn’t cut it. Image quality is nothing less than exceptional. With a 14-bit capture and image-processing pipeline (the previous models had 12-bit pipelines). The resulting images are rendered with better detail in their shadows and a dynamic range that can reach almost 11 stops! With a really good Live View the 40D should be on the first time DSLR buyers must see list.”
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PCWorld – 04 February’08 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and feels the camera delivers outstanding photo quality at a reasonable price. Here’s a summary of their review -
“Biggest issue, the photo seen through the viewfinder did not match the captured one. The camera records a larger area than it displays. Another problem was the reviewer could not change the ISO settings while in program mode. However, the raw power of this camera make the few shortcoming seem insignificant.”
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Digital SLR Guide – 31 December’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and points out this camera is not for everyone. Here’s a summation of their review -
“You pay a premium for power and performance and if you tend to set your camera on “auto” you would probably be wasting your hard earned money buying it. Compared to comparable cameras it tends to be a little larger and heavier and at least at the time of this write its RAW and sRAW are not widely supported. Yet its fast auto focus, live view LCD, dust control, and above average color control make it a great camera in the right hands.”
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ComputerActive – 26 December’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and notes the camera is so easy to use you can set it on automatic and let it do all the work. Here’s an excerpt from their review -
“Image quality throughout was excellent, although in truth not far above the 30D. Sure, £900 is a lot to spend on a camera, but if you’re looking for something to replace your aging film camera or entry-level digital SLR, look here.”
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DigitalCameraInfo – 20 December’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and thought the image quality was not a lot better than the 30D. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion -
“There’s a lot of competition in this price range. Some of the 40D’s competitors offer very attractive features that Canon has not included. Features such as body-based image stabilization (Sony A700), a commander flash mode (Nikon), and rotating Live View LCDs with better resolution (Panasonic L10) may capture some of its target market.”
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LetsGoDigital – 16 December’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and comments the image quality of this camera is second none. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion-
“The Canon EOS 40D is a D-SLR camera that is about the most complete a camera can be. It is a solid camera, with excellent auto focus, a silent shutter and mirror, a beautiful viewfinder and fine operation. On top of that Live View works perfectly, you can walk in the rain with the camera and it is an excellent tool with high quality functions. The minus points are just there because I did my utmost to find them; it was like seeking for the famous needle in a haystack.”
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PhotographyReview – 13 December’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and notes the cameras image quality is far better than it’s predecessors. Here’s an excerpt from their review -
“When I got my hands on the 40D I was looking forward to the features it inherited from the Rebel XTI (EOS 400D) and the EOS-1D Mark III. Features like Live View are aimed at studio photographers; the 6.5 FPS frame rate, improved auto focus, and high ISO performance help with action sports photography and photojournalism; while the layout, usability, and ergonomics will be especially appreciated by amateur and first-time DSLR users. Many professional photographers will also appreciate the 40D’s features and performance.”
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L7Foto – 19 November’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and is really happy they upgraded from the 30D.. Here’s an excerpt from their review -
“As for complaints, I have a couple… the first being that new out of the box there was a spec of dirt in the viewfinder and I will have to send it to Canon service to get this removed. Fortunately, Canon service is about 3 miles from me. Second, the camera actually crashed on me. As I was writing this article, <1 week after purchase, 1.0.3 firmware installed, I powered the camera on and it wouldn’t shoot or display anything on the screen. I could not get a menu or view an image. I turned it off and on, and I replaced the CF card. I finally had to remove the battery and re-insert it to reset the camera. I hope not to see this issue again, especially not at a shoot."
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Shutterbug – 16 November’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and really appreciated all the main categories available on the top LCD. Here’s an excerpt from their review -
“The ease with which you can work with this camera is quite satisfying. All the controls are evident and easily accessed, although I would vote for an ISO button that is a bit easier to use, as this is something I change quite often. I would not necessarily use Auto ISO; although the ISO 400 setting results are very good, I still would opt for ISO 100 when possible. The shooting speed and response is remarkable.”
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PCAuthority – 10 November’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and notes the major diference between this camera and others in its class is its superior burst speed. Here’s an excerpt from their review -
“The 40D’s controls are excellent. The top-mounted secondary LCD, sorely missed in the 400D, displays at-a-glance shooting information. The control dial on the back in conjunction with the dial just behind the shutter release allows various changes to be made without needing to dip into the menu system. Drive mode, ISO, white balance and focus mode can all be changed without needing the main menu system, which is useful in those situations where battery life is marginal.”
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DCResource – 25 October’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and thought the camera tended to underexpose photos and also exhibited a slight red eye problem. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion -
“The EOS-40D is capable of producing excellent quality photos, especially with a high quality lens attached (read: not my 17-85 IS lens). The camera produces very smooth-looking (yet still sharp) photos, with pleasing color, and minimal purple fringing (this last one is really more of a lens issue, though). Noise isn’t really noticeable until you get near ISO 1600, and even then, it’s more than manageable. Even the ISO 3200 is usable, especially if you do some cleanup work in software. The camera does tend to underexpose a bit, most notably when the sun’s not out, so keep that in mind. Much to my surprise, the 40D has a slight redeye problem, probably due to its weak redeye reduction lamp.
It’s hard not to like the Canon EOS-40D. It’s a digital SLR that does just about everything you could possibly want — and it does them all well. While it remains to be seen how it will compare to new offerings from the competition, the 40D is still good enough to recommend without the slightest hesitation.”
Steves-Digicams – 25 October’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and commented that the camera is a great choice for advanced amateurs and entry level pros. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion -
“There’s a lot to like about the 40D. If you’re looking for a 10-megapixel camera that can fire long bursts, is compatible with a mature system of professional accessories, and creates superb images in almost any light, look no further. This lightweight (26.1oz) camera, with it’s comfortable molded grip, is small and tough enough to travel easily with active users. Certainly, the 40D is the best performance-cost value that Canon has ever offered.”
Imaging-Resource – 25 October’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and noted that with the increased LCD size and sensor cleaning system the battery capacity has been reduced. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion -
“As I’ve said in the past about other cameras in the line, the Canon EOS 40D is an excellent photographic tool, slightly evolved to take advantage of recent technological advances. This time there are more bells and whistles, but they don’t take away from the Canon 40D’s ability to make great pictures.”
DPExpert – 24 October’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and did not care for the lower resolution LCD (as compared to the competition). Here’s their review verdict -
“This is a fine camera with worthwhile advances on its predecessor. Canon has dominated this segment of the market for DSLRs between $2000 and $3000, but now faces stiff competition. The Sony A700, the Nikon D300 and the Olympus E-3 are coming soon, which means four superb cameras to choose from in the price range. Camera shops have already discounted the 40D to around $2600, so expect some serious price cutting.”
DPReview – 24 October’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and notes the camera delivers consistently higher dynamic range photos than the competitive cameras. Here’s an excerpt from their review conclusion -
“When I first started using the EOS 40D a simple description came to mind: that this is a ‘well sorted camera’. It feels well rounded – the result of years of evolutionary improvement, it delivers in almost every area, and it inspires confidence. From a usability point of view the viewfinder feels larger, ergonomics are good, the user interface is clear and easy to learn, there are no in-use performance issues, metering and auto-focus show good consistency and the results speak for themselves; colorful (yet accurate) detailed images with low noise even at high sensitivities.”
ProPhoto – 14 October’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and liked the overall image quality but did notice that in some situations the camera delivered images that had a slight decrease in dynamic range. Here’s an excerpt from their conclusion -
“This “prosumer” series of Canon cameras has been around for a long time now. We have owned D30’s, 10D’s, 20D’s and shot regularly with a 30D and this camera easily tops them all in terms of image quality. It goes without saying that it easily outperforms the Rebel series of cameras. Especially at high iso, where the Rebel XTI tends to fall apart fairly quickly. The real surprise is how close it is to the Canon 1D MKIII and the Canon 5D.”
ePhotographia – 08 October’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and really appreciates the new ergonomic improvements. Here’s their conclusion -
“Canon made a big step forward in just about every area – image quality, usability, ergonomics and features. The only thing that’s lacking, compared to the Canon EOS 5D, is a full frame sensor. In every other respect, the 40D is as good or better than the 5D.”
The Digital Picture – 07 October’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and suggests that with the extensive line-up of improved features it is a worthwhile upgrade from the 30D. Here is an excerpt from their closing review comments -
“The 40D is a camera that will appeal to a vast range of photographers from advanced amateurs to working photojournalists and wedding photographers. All will appreciate its exceptional image quality, ease of operation, speed, modest weight and size, compatibility with the vast Canon system and very reasonable price.” [Canon 40D White Paper] I agree. The 30D already sees a lot of professional use – The 40D offers enough improvements over the 30D to make an upgrade justifiable. Watch for them at the next wedding or other event you attend. And no less important will be the huge number of family memories preserved with the 40D. With its all-around good performance combined with the densest Canon DSLR sensor available, the 40D will have a large number of wildlife (especially bird) photographers as its owners. I’ll personally be making the 40D part of my kit (replacing my 30D)”
GoodGearGuide – 03 October’07 – has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D and writes;
“The speedy performance doesn’t end with the burst mode however. There is no shutter lag to speak of and both power up and shot to shot times are basically instant. The autofocus generally operated well, although it did struggle a little at times in low light.”
PopPhoto – 02 October’07 – has published a “hands on” review of the Canon EOS 40D and writes;
“Multiple-source image high dynamic range (HDR) photographers will be disappointed with the limited Auto Exposure Bracketing settings of the Canon EOS 40D. It’s limited to just 3 shots at up to +/- 2, unlike the 7-shot sequence on the EOS Mark III, or the 5-shot sequence of the lower-priced Pentax K10D. HDR photography is gaining in popularity, and these limited bracketing settings are an unfortunate oversight. If Canon had a bigger autobracketing sequence combined with the blazing burst rate of the 40D, they’d have a great feature set for the HDR photographer.”
ePhotozine – 26 September’07 – reviews the Canon EOS 40D and offers the following verdict;
“The 40D offers a distinct step up from the 30D in terms of image quality and speed of handling and shooting. It has a very good build quality with plenty of buttons for often-used features, but there are some handling issues, and it’s annoying to have to go into the menu system to turn certain features – like ISO3200 and Live View – on instead of them being ready to use straight away. The use of a rotating wheel and a thumbstick control on the back of the camera rather pointlessly adds an extra control method when there’s already a wheel on the front of the camera. However the shooting speed is tremendous, the responsiveness excellent, the camera really feels lively in the hand. The provision of beginner modes on the control dial keeps a foot in both the novice and the more accomplished camps and while Live View may not be for everyone, at least it works well on the 40D. Images aren’t pin-sharp, but they’re certainly high quality and the flipside of this is that noise is very well controlled through the ISO range, with only the top end, ISO3200 mode suffering greatly.”
PhotographyBlog – 22 September’07 – reviews the Canon EOS 40D and writes;
“The high points are the tough, durable body, the control layout and that amazing 6.5fps shooting mode. Yes, it does soundly like a badly-muffled machine-gun, but it lets you grab action sequences that lesser cameras would miss. The speed of the AF system keeps moving subjects sharp, too. But perhaps the most striking thing about the Canon EOS 40D is its value. It’s true that it costs more than other 10-megapixel cameras, but it’s also much more professionally-orientated. Its nearest rival in the semi-pro market would be the newly-announced Nikon D300, but the list price is £1300 for the body only, and for that money you could get an EOS 40D and Canon’s 17-85mm image-stabilized lens and have change to spare. The Canon EOS 40D’s strength doesn’t lie in any great technological breakthrough but in its professional appeal and its sheer value for money.”
PhotoReview – 21 September’07 – reviews the Canon EOS 40D and writes;
“Resolution-wise, the EOS 40D is not a huge upgrade on the EOS 30D but in many other ways the differences between the two cameras represent significant value for some photographers. The huge LCD screen and improved control layout are prime examples. Whether you would actually use the Live View function much is debatable, although it will come in handy for studio photographers.
However, it’s slow to use and consumes a fair amount of battery power so we feel most photographers will stick with the viewfinder for most shots. And the bigger, brighter viewfinder – and interchangeable focusing screens – will be genuinely appreciated.”
CNET Asia – 20 September’07 – reviews the Canon EOS 40D and writes;
“Should you choose the EOS 40D, we recommend you splash out S$800 more and get it with its 17-85mm EF-S lens kit. On top of having a highly flexible focal range, this lens features an integrated image stabilizer and Canon’s “ultrasonic” focus motor that’s super-fast and precise.
The bottom line: The Canon EOS 40D is a leap forward in improvement over its predecessors and its new features make it a great enthusiast’s dSLR or a credible professional backup system.”
Pocket-lint – 17 September’07 – reviews the Canon EOS 40D and writes;
“Overall, the Canon EOS 40D is a more than able update of the 30D and since the introduction of the first Canon prosumer DSLR, the 3.1-megapixel EOS D30 back in 2000, it is light years ahead on that base line.
In a nutshell, this is a cracking camera and one marred only by the odd metering performance, otherwise it is quite simply excellent and worth a close inspection for anyone either trading up or for those pros that need a back up body that is not a compromise to far.”
CameraLabs reviews the Canon EOS 40D and writes;
“Canon had to come back fighting with the EOS 40D, and it’s certainly delivered the goods. The new DSLR may resemble its predecessor from the outside, but features worthy upgrades in almost every department. The key specifications of resolution, continuous shooting, autofocus, weatherproofing, screen and viewfinder have all been improved, and there’s now also the addition of Live View, anti-dust features and full remote control using your PC. In short the EOS 40D handles like a dream, feeling tough, very responsive, and confident to handle just about any situation.”
BobAtkins reviews the Canon EOS 40D and writes;
“The EOS 40D is more than a minor upgrade of the EOS 30D. It’s basically a new camera with a new sensor, a new 14-bit processing engine, a new AF system and new features such as Live View, Highlight Priority and High ISO noise reduction as well as improved ergonomics with the enhanced 3″ LCD. Though it looks much like the 20D/30D it seems to have a more “pro” feel – though I’m not sure why. Perhaps it’s the quieter and faster shutter operation that simply makes it sound better!”
DPReview previews the Canon EOS 40D and writes;
“Other improvements bring the EOS 40D closer into line with the EOS-1D series, these include a move to the same page-by-page menu system, both RAW and sRAW (2.5 MP), 14-bit A/D converter and 14-bit RAW, cross-type AF points for F5.6 or faster lenses, a larger and brighter viewfinder, interchangeable focusing screens, a larger LCD monitor (3.0″) and faster continuous shooting (6.5 fps).”
Luminous Landscapes has published a “hands-on” of the Canon EOS 40D and writes;
“My time with the 40D was short, but I found that shooting about a thousand frames over a long weekend was all I needed to be able to draw some preliminary conclusions. These are, in brief, that the image quality of the 40D is excellent, continuing the industry-leading results that Canon has offered for the past 5-6 years. I didn’t see any breakthrough in low noise at the highest ISOs, but as with the EOS 5D ISO 400 is essentially noiseless and can be used as an everyday speed. Noise doesn’t really become an issue until ISO 1600 and even then isn’t that objectionable.
The bottom line is that the Canon 40D is the most DSLR for the money that Canon has ever offered. Certainly in its price range there doesn’t seem to be anything that can touch it. Move up a notch in price though and the forthcoming Nikon D300 may well put the squeeze on Canon’s hegemony in the DSLR marketplace. Time will tell, and no matter what happens we’ll all benefit from the renewed competition.”
ePhotozine has first look reviews the Canon EOS 40D and thought it felt a little on the heavy side. Standard image captures were bright and colorful and the 9 point focusing system picked up subjects nearest the camera without being in the center of focusing screen. The reviewer really like how Canon arranged a clutter free camera back with the essential buttons readily available.
Bottom Line: Easy to hold, well built, and with the inclusion of Canon’s latest image processing engine DIGIC III it produces great images.
Sample Photos
[Sample Air Show Photos at ProPhoto]
[Sample High ISO Photos of California Wildfire]
[Sample Test Photos at Megapixel]
[Sample Test Photos at TrustedReviews]
[Sample Test Photos at Akihabaranews]
[Sample Test Photos at DigitalCameraInfo]
[Sample Test Photos at http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/camera/review/152/page_7.html]
[Sample Test Photos at PhotographyReview]
[Sample Photos at Shutterbug]
[Sample Test Photos at DCResource]
[Sample Test Photos at Steves-Digicams]
[Sample Test Photos at DPExpert]
[Sample Test Photos at DPReview]
[Sample Test Photos at ProPhoto]
[Sample Test Photos at ePhotographia]
[Sample Test Photos at PopPhoto]
[Sample Test Photos at PhotographyBlog]
[Sample Test Photos at CNET Asia]
[Sample Test Photos at CameraLabs]
[Sample Test Photos at BobAtkins]
[Sample Portrait taken at ISO 800]
[Sample Photos at DPReview]
[Sample Photos at Fotopolis]
[Sample Photos at Canon Japan]
Video Tours
Specifications
[Official Canon Specifications]
Owners Manual
Press Release
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., August 20, 2007 Following months of intense anticipation by Digital SLR enthusiasts worldwide, the EOS 40D DIGITAL SLR Camera from Canon U.S.A., Inc. is scheduled to begin sailing into stores in early September. Building on the success of Canon’s perennially popular prosumer EOS 20D and 30D models, the EOS 40D advances the state-of-the-art for mid-range Digital SLR cameras, making it a natural first choice for advanced amateur photographers and entry-level professionals, and an ideal second body for more established photo pros. Indeed, given the level of feature upgrades and improvements, technological wizardry and user-requested creative controls, the Canon EOS 40D SLR’s prosumer appellation may refer more to its accessible price point than to the exceptional quality, clarity and resolution of the images it creates.
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Just visiting through BlogRush … Well, I am checking your site for camera reviews anyway.