Canon EOS 40D

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By Andrew Chan and CNET Asia staff, CNET Asia
Sep 21, 2007

The new Canon EOS 40D represents the pinnacle of Canon's midrange dSLR cameras and has a proud pedigree that stretches back seven years and through six generations of impressive models. Comparing based on body units alone--at less than half the price of the prohibitively expensive EOS 5D (S$4,999) and slightly more than the Canon EOS 400D (S$920)--the Canon EOS 40D (S$2,099) is an ideal choice for the demanding enthusiast photographer and a great backup system for professionals.

While its predecessors featured minor improvements from model to model, the EOS 40D justifies its asking price with a barrage of useful and powerful new features. The EOS 40D has an increase in resolution--the first since the EOS 20D three years ago--from 8.2megapixels to 10.1megapixels. And to keep up with its competitors like the Nikon D300, it has a dust removal system and a Live View feature to enable framing with its 3-inch LCD monitor.

Design

In terms of size, the EOS 40D is almost identical to its older sibling, the EOS 30D, except that it's a tad heavier. The grip is comfortable and the build quality is high. Photographers who are accustomed to earlier EOS models will find themselves taking to the EOS 40D's handling like a duck to water. The camera has retained its predecessors' familiar top-mounted main dial and rear jog dial (which Canon terms as a quick control dial) combination, as well as the large, top-facing status LCD. As with all high-end Canon dSLR cameras, the EOS 40D's main dial (top) controls the aperture and shutter settings.

For more details on the 40D's design, click on the image.

In manual mode, the main dial controls the shutter speed, while the quick control dial (rear) varies the aperture. Though Canon has stubbornly stuck to this control system for many years, we still find Nikon’s dSLR dual-control dial system for manual mode shooting more ergonomic. However, we also know of many Canon dSLR users who beg to differ.

The EOS 40D has kept the same row of three buttons lining the top edge of the status LCD that is manifest in the 20D and 30D. Each button has a dual role, allowing users to adjust 1) metering mode or white balance, 2) focus or drive mode, and 3) ISO or exposure compensation (EV) using either the top main dial or rear quick control dial.

The rightmost ISO/EV button is particularly useful as it allows the photographer to keep his eye on the viewfinder in dynamic situations (like sports shooting) while changing ISO or EV on-the-fly.

A new feature that the EOS 40D borrowed from its higher-end compatriots is the AF-On button that's positioned just under the status LCD. This button allows the photographer to maintain focus on a moving subject by pressing it with his thumb, and triggering the shutter release as and when he wants.

The EOS 40D's menu layout features a page-by-page format similar to high-end EOS dSLRs. The navigation interface also remains the same; you can deploy either the "multi-controller" joystick at the rear or the jog dial… The joystick can also be used to select from nine autofocus points as well as fine-tuning white balance on the camera's white balance grid interface.

The most obvious physical difference between the EOS 40D and the EOS 30D is the 3.0-inch LCD (23-pixel resolution) on the former. In addition, the column of control buttons that used to be positioned on the left edge of the LCD have been shifted to form a row below the LCD.

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