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| Photo by Michael J. McNamara |
| The EOS 40D's Excellent (tested) image quality, wide dynamic range, and high-performance AF system is obvious in this photo. Shot in RAW with the 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM AF lens set to 85mm. Exposure was f/11, 1/500 sec, at ISO 200. Click photo for more field-test images. |
The fastest in its class, the 40D outguns the Nikon D200's 5 fps, and edges out the 6 fps of the new Nikon D300 ($1,800, street, body only) in its standard configuration. Using a 266X Kingston 2GB card, we captured 160 high-quality JPEGs at 6.5 fps, and continued to capture 1.5 frames every second until the card was filled. Shooting RAW? The buffer holds 17 shots, and you can set the camera to an sRAW mode for up to 20 RAW images (albeit at 2MP resolution) as well as sRAW + high-res JPEGs.
The AF and burst speed come thanks to the faster DIGIC III processor, which requires less energy than the DIGIC II, and even helps increase the CIPA battery life rating to 800 shots versus the 30D's 500 (using the same battery in both cameras, with 50 percent use of LCD image review).
The 40D's new live preview mode is a hot feature, giving you through-the-lens viewing on the 3-inch LCD, with a full data display under the image.
Unlike the 1D Mark III, the 40D's AF works in live preview. It's similar to the live preview AF on several Olympus and Panasonic DSLRs, and causes a short screen blackout while the mirror flips down and the camera focuses. Not the ideal AF method, but useful in some situations.
Manual focus is more useful in live preview, and you can maneuver a zone box over any part of the image, then zoom in to 5X or 10X magnification to fine-tune focus. Manual focus also gives you nearly instantaneous capture when you press the shutter, since the mirror doesn't have to swing out of the way. Live preview cuts battery life, though -- Canon estimates up to 170 shots with it on. (Also because it drains the battery, avoid using a Microdrive CF card in live preview).
While live preview has its advantages (especially for macro photography or in an underwater housing), we expect that you'll use the LCD mostly to show off images, adjust menu items, and confirm focus and exposure. Though the screen is large and bright, its 230,000-dot (77,000-pixel) resolution is noticeably below that of the Sony Alpha 700's 3-inch, 307,000-pixel monitor.
For most shooting, the 40D's eye-level pentaprism viewfinder is a better choice. With slightly higher magnification than the 30D's viewfinder (0.95X, an Excellent rating), its data display now shows ISO speed and a b&w shooting mode. There are also three user-changeable focusing screens available for the 40D-rare in this class.
To accommodate the 3-inch LCD monitor, Canon had to reposition the control buttons that were to the left of screen on the 30D. We're not too keen on having these buttons (especially Erase) placed along the camera's bottom edge, where they'll get accidental pokes on rough surfaces and in tight camera bags. But we do like the addition of a dedicated Picture Style button (and software for customizing Picture Styles), as well as one for the camera's Silent Shooting mode.
Other differences from the 30D? A few ounces more weight and better weather and dust seals, including one on the card door. There's also a new electronic connector on the bottom for communicating with the new wireless file transmitter WFT-E3 ($800, estimated street). Like the optional battery grip BG-E2n ($220, street), the transmitter is weather- and dust-sealed, with a vertical shutter release-but not backward-compatibile with the 30D and 20D.
The built-in pop-up flash is similar to the EOS 30D's, with the addition of three custom exposure modes. Now, you can adjust the flash settings of a Canon Speedlite 580EX II directly from the camera, including those for wireless flash sync and control. However, Canon failed (once again!) to add wireless control to the pop-up flash, a feature found in most DSLRs of this caliber.
Some competitors (notably Olympus, Pentax, and Sony) also provide built-in image stabilization. Like Nikon and other Canon DSLRs, the 40D doesn't. To steady your shots, you need a higher priced IS lens, or the 28-135mm kit lens.
But if you can come to terms with those issues, the 40D is hard to fault. Especially when you consider its stellar image quality, speedy and sensitive AF performance, blazing burst rate, and useful live preview. In other words, it's a $1,300 knockout.
Competitive Set
• Nikon D200 ($1,500, street, body only) -- The 10.2MP D200 remains in the Nikon line to directly compete with the 40D. And, to its credit, the Nikon offers similar resolution, Excellent tested image quality, and slightly better noise suppression at ISO 1600. Its shutter life and battery life are also competitive, plus it has an equally rugged, sealed body and an AF system that also works down to the same ridiculously dim -2 EV. However, the EOS 40D has a faster burst rate, more cross-type sensors in its AF system, user-changeable focusing screens, a larger 3-inch LCD, and the real kicker -- live preview.
• Pentax K10D ($700, street, body only) -- Priced well below the 40D, the 10.2MP Pentax K10D competes on many fronts, including Excellent tested image quality, rugged body with dust and moisture seals, user-changeable focusing screens, metering and exposure controls, and system flexibility. The 40D outguns the K10D in AF speed, low-light sensitivity, burst speed, and resolution (about 10% higher), though the K10D delivers slightly less noise at ISO 1600. The 40D's 3-inch LCD and live preview are features it lords over the K10D (with its smaller 2.5-inch LCD), while the K10D fires back with sensor-based image stabilization that works with all Pentax-compatible lenses.
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