The 40D Camera

Canon EOS 40D Review, Phil Askey, October 2007

Review based on a production Canon EOS 40D

The EOS 40D becomes the sixth Canon 'prosumer' digital SLR, a line which started back in 2000 with the EOS D30, and how far we've come. It's been eighteen months since the EOS 30D and although on the surface the 40D looks like a fairly subtle upgrade there's a lot that makes this an even better camera. Of course we expect a step up in megapixels, and so the 40D comes with a ten million pixel CMOS sensor with the same sort of dust reduction as the EOS 400D, an ultrasonic platform which shakes the low pass filter. Other improvements bring the EOS 40D closer into line with the EOS-1D series, these include a move to the same page-by-page menu system, both RAW and sRAW (2.5 MP), 14-bit A/D converter and 14-bit RAW, cross-type AF points for F5.6 or faster lenses, a larger and brighter viewfinder, interchangeable focusing screens, a larger LCD monitor (3.0") and faster continuous shooting (6.5 fps).

Model line history

Model	Announced	Effective pixels	Auto focus	Continuous (JPEG)	LCD monitor
EOS D30	Apr 2000	3.1 mp	3 point	3.0 fps, 3 frames	1.8"
EOS D60	Feb 2002	6.3 mp	3 point	3.3 fps, 8 frames	1.8"
EOS 10D	Feb 2003	6.3 mp	7 point	3.3 fps, 9 frames	1.8"
EOS 20D	Aug 2004	8.2 mp	9 point	5.0 fps, 23 frames	1.8"
EOS 30D	Feb 2006	8.2 mp	9 point	5.0 / 3.0 fps, 30 frames	2.5"
EOS 40D	Aug 2007	10.1 mp	9 point	6.5 / 3.0 fps, 75 frames	3.0" (Live view)

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

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

Foreword / notes

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

Conclusion / recommendation / ratings are based on the opinion of the author, we recommend that you read the entire review before making any decision. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of them, click to display a larger image in a new window.

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

Top of camera controls (left) - Exposure Mode Dial

Situated on the top of the camera on the left hand side is the exposure mode dial. This controls exposure operation be it fully automatic, a preprogrammed scene composition, flexible program, a range of manual and semi-automatic options as well as three 'camera user' positions. In the user manual Canon breaks these exposure modes into two groups; Basic Zone and Creative Zone.

Basic zone exposure modes

Full Auto and the six scene exposure modes are collectively referred to as the 'Basic Zone', in this 'Zone' certain settings are either fixed, limited or unavailable, as shown in this table. Variable settings are detailed in the second table. In the basic zone the camera will indicate that blur may occur because of slow shutter speeds, it does so by blinking the shutter speed on the LCD and viewfinder status bar.

Fixed settings	Fixed or limited settings	Unavailable settings
Metering mode (Evaluative)	AF mode	Custom functions
Color space (sRGB)	Drive mode	AE lock
Flash compensation (0 EV)	Flash mode	Bracketing
Exposure compensation (0 EV)	Picture Style	RAW image format
ISO sensitivity (Auto)
White balance (Auto)
Focus point selection (Auto)

In the basic zone the camera will indicate that blur may occur because of slow shutter speeds, it does so by blinking the shutter speed on the LCD panel and viewfinder status bar.

Limited variable settings in Basic zone

Basic zone mode	AF mode	Drive mode	Flash mode	Picture Style
Fully Automatic Exposure Camera has complete control over exposure, point-and-shoot operation.	AI Focus	• Single • Self-Timer	• Auto • Red-eye	Standard
Portrait Apertures are kept as large as possible (small F number) to produce a shallow Depth of Field (blurred background).	One Shot	• Continuous • Self-Timer	• Auto • Red-eye	Portrait
Landscape Apertures as small as possible (large F numbers) for the largest depth of field.	One Shot	• Single • Self-Timer	• Off	Landscape
Close-up (Macro) Aperture is kept to a medium setting to ensure the subject DOF is deep enough but the background is blurred.	One Shot	• Single • Self-Timer	• Auto • Red-eye	Standard
Sports Shutter speed is kept as high as possible to ensure capture of fast moving objects.	AI Servo	• Continuous • Self-Timer	• Off	Standard
Night Scene Allows for slow shutter speeds combined with flash to illuminate foreground and background.	One Shot	• Single • Self-Timer	• Auto • Red-eye	Standard
Flash off Disables internal and external flash for taking automatic slow exposures.	AI Focus	• Single • Self-Timer	• Off	Standard

Creative zone exposure modes

The five exposure modes will be more familiar (and preferred) by most prosumer / professionals. All menu functions and camera settings are available in these modes and can be used in any combination. In manual exposure modes (Tv, Av, M) you control the shutter speed with the mail dial (top) and aperture with the quick control dial (rear), you can reverse the operational direction of these dials with C.Fn IV-4.

Icon	Description
	Program Auto Exposure (Flexible) Very similar to AUTO exposure but you have access to all the normal manual controls, can set the ISO, exposure compensation, use AE lock, bracketing etc. Program AE is flexible which means that you can select one of a variety of equal exposures (in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps depending on C.Fn I-1) by turning the main dial. Example: • 1/30 F2.8 (metered) • 1/20 F3.2 (turn left one click) • 1/15 F4.0 (turn left two clicks) etc.
	Shutter Priority Auto Exposure In this mode you select the shutter speed and the camera will calculate the correct aperture for the exposure (depending on metered value; metering mode, ISO). Shutter speed is displayed on the viewfinder status bar and on the top LCD, turn the main dial to select different shutter speeds. A half-press of the shutter release causes the camera's exposure system to calculate the aperture, if it's outside of the camera's exposure range the aperture will blink. You can select shutter speeds from 30 to 1/8000 sec in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps depending on C.Fn I-1.
	Aperture Priority Auto Exposure In this mode you select the aperture and the camera will calculate the correct shutter speed for the exposure (depending on metered value; metering mode, ISO). Aperture is displayed on the viewfinder status bar and on the top LCD, turn the main dial to select different apertures. A half-press of the shutter release causes the camera's exposure system to calculate the shutter speed, if it's outside of the camera's exposure range the shutter speed will blink. The range of apertures available will depend on the lens used but 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps can be selected via C.Fn I-1.
	Full Manual Exposure In this mode you select the aperture and the shutter speed from any combination of the above (plus BULB for shutter speed, apertures limited by the lens used). Top dial selects shutter speed, rear dial selects aperture. Half-press the shutter release and the meter on the viewfinder status bar and top LCD will reflect the exposure level compared to the calculated ideal exposure, if it's outside of +/- 2EV the indicator bar will blink either + or -.
	Automatic Depth-Of-Field AE In this mode the camera automatically controls the depth of field (via aperture) to ensure that all the subjects covered by the focusing points, from those close to the camera to those far away from the camera remain sharply defined.

Top of camera controls (right)

Top of the camera on the right side is the status panel LCD, directly above this are four buttons; LCD backlight and three control buttons (see below). In front of these is the main dial and shutter release button. Along the rear 'under your thumb' you can see the AF-ON, AE-Lock and focus point selection buttons. Settings buttons are press once, turn a dial to change setting value and then half-press the shutter release to return to shooting mode (or press another button).

With the EOS 40D Canon has altered the function of the three top control buttons which if you're used to an EOS 30D can take a little while to get used to, especially for ISO sensitivity which has both changed button and dial.

	Canon EOS 30D		Canon EOS 40D
Button	Main dial (top)	Quick control dial (rear)	Main dial (top)	Quick control dial (rear)
1	AF mode	White balance	Metering mode	White balance
2	Drive mode	ISO sensitivity	AF mode	Drive mode
3	Metering mode	Flash compensation	ISO sensitivity	Flash compensation

Top panel buttons

The table below shows the relationship between each of the top panel settings buttons and the parameters changed by either turning the main dial (top) or quick control dial (rear).

Button	Main dial	Quick control dial
	Metering mode • Evaluative (35 zone) • Partial (9% of screen) • Spot (3.5% of screen) • Center Weighted Average	White balance • Auto • Daylight • Shade • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Flash • Custom • Kelvin temperature (2800 - 10000 K)
	Auto focus mode • One Shot (focus lock on half-press) • AI Focus (locks but monitors movement) • AI Servo (continuous predictive focus) AI Focus mode initially locks just like One Shot mode but monitors the focused subject, if the subject moves it will automatically switch to an AI Servo operation.	Drive mode • Single shot • Continuous L (3 fps) • Continuous H (6.5 fps) • Self-Timer 10 sec • Self-Timer 2 sec You can optionally combine self-timer with mirror lockup (to reduce mirror induced vibration) via C.Fn III-7.
	ISO sensitivity * • Auto • 100 • 200 • 400 • 800 • 1600 • H (3200) (enabled via C.Fn I-3)	Flash compensation • +/-2 EV • 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps (C.Fn I-1)

* Shown in 1-stop steps, 1/3-stop ISO steps can be selected via C.Fn I-2.

Under your thumb buttons (Shooting mode)

Button	Operation
	Auto focus start The AF-ON button allows you to trigger auto focus independently of the shutter release 'half-press'. The EOS 40D is the first EOS x0D series to get the AF-ON button and indeed it's a fairly recent new feature to even Canon's professional EOS-1D series. Note that you can re-program the exact function of the AF-ON button via C.Fn IV-1 or you can switch the AF-ON button and AE/AF lock button via C.Fn IV-2 (all custom functions detailed in the menus section of this review).
	AE / FE Lock Press to trigger automatic exposure and lock the exposure for the next shot. Hold the button to lock the exposure for more than one shot.
	AF point selection button Press to choose a single AF point, turn the main dial or the quick control dial to scroll around the available AF points. Alternatively you can also use the new multi-controller to select a point directly (press the selector for the center point). The exact function of this button can be programmed via C.Fn III-3.

Under your thumb buttons (Play mode)

Button	Operation
	Thumbnail index / reduce If in single view play mode, pressing this button will switch to a 2x2 thumbnail index, press again for a 3x3 index. If already magnified pressing this button reduces magnification level.
	Enlarge Press to magnify the current image, there are fifteen steps up to a maximum magnification of 10x. Once magnified you can use the multi-controller to move around the image.

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