Canon EOS 40D

More Differences between 40D and 30D

There are some differences between the EOS 40D and its predecessor, the 30D. For one thing, the ISO is now displayed constantly on the top LCD and viewfinder which is unlike the past when you had to press a button to view it. We did not like the black-painted hotshoe in the 30D which is susceptible to visible paint chipping. In the 40D, it's no longer finished.

The 40D now has an auto ISO function (up to ISO 800) which is previously unavailable on the 30D.

And while it is uncommon for a user to open up the CF compartment while the camera is recording images, Canon's stubborn insistence on powering down the CF card when that happens, had resulted in lost images. Now, the 40D displays a warning message and an audile alarm instead and continue to write images onto the card whenever the compartment is opened, by intention or accident.

For potential buyers who intend to purchase the 30D, here's food for thought. The last recommended retail pricing for the 30D body before it was discontinued is S$2,129. And that's still more than the retail price tag of the 40D (S$2,099).

But not everything is rosy. While the 40D has an admittedly larger screen (3- vs 2.5-inch), the pixel resolution remains the same, so theoretically there should be a slight degradation. However, in the real world, it may be too slight to be detected.

Buying Considerations

The EOS 40D's body-only price is S$920 more than the next-in-line Canon model, the highly rated EOS 400D. For this difference, you do not get a sensor size or resolution increase, but you do get a larger LCD with Live View, a better control interface (with the additional quick control dial), a newer and faster image processor, and a continuous shooting capability that is over twice as fast (6.5fps compared with 3fps). So you have to ask yourself if those differences can compel you to fork out the additional money for the significantly larger and heavier EOS 40D.

For users of prosumer cameras who want to upgrade to a higher hardware level, the EOS 40D has the edge over the 400D if budget is not a concern.

However, current 30D users would probably not see the need as the two cameras are still rather close in features. A full-frame SLR like the EOS 5D might be a better upgrade though it would mean that the users of EF-S lenses from the 30D will not be able to use them on the 5D body.

On the other hand, comparing the EOS 40D to its larger, more expensive and significantly older sibling, the EOS 5D, is not really fair. The latter is sold on the virtues of its full-frame sensor and lacks many of the consumer-focused features that the EOS 40D has. While the EOS 5D is somewhat of a professional rig, the EOS 40D is the most fully featured and flexible system that an enthusiast can get for a reasonable amount of money.

At press time, the Nikon D200 is probably the closest market-available competitor (another one would be Fujifilm's FinePix S5 Pro) to the 40D. Still, it's of a slightly higher class. Yet, because of the small price difference (S$189) for the camera body and relative similarity in terms of technical specifications, the Canon makes for a tempting buy if you are not a huge fan of the Nikon system, or haven't already invested your family heirloom in Nikon lens.

Lastly, comparing the EOS 40D to its very latest competitor, the Nikon D300, they match up almost toe-to-toe on features, though the latter has a higher resolution sensor and a bigger price tag. That said, we prefer the control system on the Nikon and the out-of-the box image quality of the EOS 40D.

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.

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