Reviews5,047 Reviews

All Reviews > Hardware > Cameras > SLR cameras

November 30, 2007

Canon EOS 40D 10.5Mp digital SLR

The Canon EOS 40D is a digital SLR camera that strikes a terrific balance between performance and price.

We've used a wide spectrum of digital SLRs, from entry-level models up to pro cameras. Once you have a taste of the capabilities of a professional camera, you can't easily go back to a digital SLR that's less full-featured; likewise, if you want to step up from an entry-level digital SLR, you have to get something with extra oomph. The Canon EOS 40D delivers outstanding image quality at a price that's in reach for photo enthusiasts and professionals alike.

The Canon EOS 40D received a score of Superior in our image-quality tests. Images were well balanced, with good colour saturation and accuracy, under both flash and natural light.

One of the Canon EOS 40D's advantages is that it has enough high-powered features to appeal to enthusiasts as well as to professionals seeking a second camera. It has many of the same capabilities, in fact, as its higher-end cousin, Canon's 1D Mark III, which the company introduced this past spring.

The two models share a 3in, live-view, 230,000-pixel LCD; Canon's DIGIC III image processor; highlight tone priority for preserving the details in bright areas of an image; and similar menus and controls.

The Canon EOS 40D has a 10.1Mp, 1.6-focal-length-factor CMOS imaging sensor (up from 8.2Mp on the EOS 30D), which is faster and provides better colour accuracy than that of its predecessor.

The EOS 40D can shoot at up to 6.5 frames per second, up to a maximum of 75 Large/Fine JPEGs or 17 RAW images. That speed will be particularly helpful for shooting in a variety of special circumstances - such as when you're trying to capture a gymnast's back handspring on the balance beam.

The EOS 40D has a nine-point autofocus sensor, as the 30D had. But the Canon EOS 40D's version has been completely redesigned so that all nine components are cross-type sensors - an approach that makes it more likely that the sensor will lock on to your subject, since the sensors are reading both the horizontal and vertical areas.

The autofocus proved fast and accurate in our hands-on tests: we had no difficulties capturing sharp images of the US Navy's elite flight team, the Blue Angels, as the jets zoomed overhead during an air show. Even more impressive is that we could capture them rapid-shot, and didn't feel at all at a disadvantage as compared with using an 8-frames-per-second 1D Mark II. Other features such as the ability to add a transmitter to wirelessly control the Canon EOS 40D and send images from it will appeal to professionals seeking a backup or secondary-use camera.

The menus and controls on the Canon EOS 40D are similar to those of other models in Canon's digital SLR line; if you're moving up from a Digital Rebel or migrating down from models such as the EOS 5D or the 1D Mark II or Mark III, you won't take long to master this model. We particularly liked the way the jogdial worked with the four-way joystick to navigate through the clean menu system.

Another benefit the Canon EOS 40D has over its predecessor is that it integrates a multitiered dust-reduction system like the one Canon already has in place for its Digital Rebel XTi and 1D Mark III.

We find this feature the most exciting. Dust is the bane of any active digital SLR photographer's existence, and is the primary enemy you need to worry about every time you swap lenses.

You can set the sensor to self-clean whenever you start the camera; in my experience, the process was so quick that it didn't cause any tangible delay in shooting. While we have not done a scientific study of how good Canon's dust-cleaning system is, we can report that during our tests we swapped out lenses several times in less-than-pristine, open-air conditions - and the images we've taken appear to be dust-free so far.

NEXT PAGE: gripes and our expert verdict > >

Like most cameras, though, the Canon EOS 40D has a few frustrating quirks. Our biggest gripe: the image we saw through the viewfinder didn't quite match up to what the sensor captured.

Using the 28mm to 135mm lens that came with the Canon EOS 40D, we repeatedly found that we would get just a bit more around the edges of our image than what we saw through the viewfinder. That meant retaking some shots so that we could frame the image correctly without resorting to an image-editing program. We also disliked that in Program mode, you can't change the ISO setting; in this mode, the camera automatically controls the ISO.

VERDICT >
1 | 2 | NEXT >

Best Prices

	£720	Go»
Prices, delivery and availability at 1 retailer		Go»

Independent customer reviews from Reevoo.com

Canon EOS 40D scored:
9.3 out of 10

The 2 most helpful reviews based on 79 reviews:

Tim, Essex

Good Points: Fantastic feature set. Very good AF performance - much better than my 30D (which I'm keeping). Nice viewfinder - better than the 30D. The best Canon DSLR you can buy that will still take EF-S lenses, of which I have three. Great price and getting better over the weeks since launch. The only reason I gave an 8 for ease of use, rather than 10 is that it has so many features that there is a lot to get to grips with but the truth is you can't have simple use with a complex feature set. In many ways the camera deserves 10/10 across the board, for the performance it offers at this price point, but if it was perfect there would be no need to get a 1D MK III so ultimately I have to mark it down because I know Canon can do better (at 3-4 times the price). Nonetheless, this camera is a bargain and deserves 10/10 for value now that the price has dropped.
Bad Points: Image quality on out of focus areas seems grainy - certainly not as good as my 30D. I think 10MP on a 1.6X cropper was a mistake. It is a real shame that marketing takes priority over technical excellence.

Confirmed purchase on 22 Sep 2007

Diane, Aldershot

Good Points: I have always had a Canon EOS and was looking for a body to go with the lenses I already had. I have not been disappointed - this digital SLR lives up to the expectations I had and even goes beyond it with some of extra features. I love this camera!
Bad Points: It's a little on the heavy side which is a bit of a challenge when you are travelling on a flight with only hand luggage.

Confirmed purchase on 08 Jul 2008

See more Canon EOS 40D reviews on Reevoo.com