New Stuff: Canon 40D

Man, did these guys answer!

I haven't done much shooting with this yet, but I expect image quality to be very good from anything that Canon or Nikon release, and dpreview measurebaters will be posting their tests soon enough so why bother?

Viewfinder:

Very Nice! Equal to the D200, and close enough to the 1Ds Mk II that you could go back and forth without that painful reality check when you raise the backup body to your eye.

Build Quality:

This thing is built like a tank, feeling a lot like a 5d and less like a 20d/30d. Weather seals on the cf door and battery door look ok.

Frame Rate:

The camera is really quick. I've always felt Canon cameras lagged below what they claim in terms of Continuous Shooting speeds, but I think this one is every bit of 6fps.

LCD Screen:

Incredible. Very nice for fine focus confirmation.

Live View:

If you want it, it is there. Barely discernible shutter delay, and excellent detail. Requiring MF is a bit of a pain, but I'm intrigued by trying it out. I am not a historical live view proponent, but I shoot a ton of wa w/ lenses pre focused, and I shotgun without using the viewfinder with full frame fisheye lenses and the camera held at arms length. If live view doesn't have any other negative affects, I might as well have it on in these situations.

Personally, if I owned 20d or 30d systems, they'd be on eBay right now. If I had a 5d I'd be considering it, partially to have access to this camera (higher macro magnification, faster frame rate, larger lcd, weather seals), and also to have access to the Tokina 10-17.

That's good to hear Ryan. I was really amazed by the short amount of time between announcement and release for this camera. Glad it measures up.

Cheers

James

hehehe, my same thoughts Ryan and that's why I just got back from lunch with a brand new 40D...

The larger/ brighter viewfinder is a big welcome. Now to wait til Spring 08 for a housing... Meantime, will play with it as my primary topside camera.

I am curious as to what others think. This 40D looks aweful nice. I had been waiting for the 5D replacement to get Full frame and have many of the features of this 40D. Because of the Tokina 10-17mm do people feel the relevance of the Full frame is not a crucial point of difference now?

That and something like the Aquaview from Aquatica sure make this tempting.

Todd

The larger/ brighter viewfinder is a big welcome.

Whats that old timer? Can you read my writing here?!?

Got my 40D yesterday, haven't had much time to test it yet. But, with a side by side to my 5D:

1) Viewfinder almost as big and bright as 5D

2) AF seems to be a touch "snappier" to get focus than 5D

3) Quick JPG check gives IQ still to 5D

4) Menu functions are different, but my Menu is nice

5) Live view is very cool will try it at a commercial shoot I have next week, tethered to a laptop

6) 6.5 fps is NICE! Them baldy eagle birds better be ready come winter time!

7) Rear LCD is bright, though I rarely use it except for histogram

Too bad my machinist buddy is away, I'm going to see if I can get this into my 10D Subal like I did with the 5D. But so far viewfinder, rear command line up and if I can move the front circuit board that splits the hotshoe signals to the 2 bulkheads, I may have a winner!

Stu

I am curious as to what others think. This 40D looks aweful nice. I had been waiting for the 5D replacement to get Full frame and have many of the features of this 40D. Because of the Tokina 10-17mm do people feel the relevance of the Full frame is not a crucial point of difference now?

 

That and something like the Aquaview from Aquatica sure make this tempting.

 

Todd

The 5D is significantly better at sunball shots than the old 300D. I don't know how it compares to the 20D or 40D.

The 5D is significantly better at sunball shots than the old 300D. I don't know how it compares to the 20D or 40D.

I'm curious to see if the 40D Tone Priority feature and the 14bit conversion will help on that... But it will be awhile before I get this 40D housed and u/w.

Coming from a 400D, the 6.5fps is just down right scary... Love the sound of the shutter. Can't wait to give that plus the improved AI Servo focus a good test in the Macau Grand Prix later this year.

Also big thumbs up on the customizable My Menu!

Mike V - you've never looked thru a dark, small 400D/XTi viewfinder at a black squat lobster on a black crinoid...

good news Adobe released an update Raw Converter 4.2 that now covers the Canon 40D and Sony A700. That was quick...

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=3730

For those who wonder about the benefits of a 14bit capture, check this out.

http://astrosurf.com/buil/eos40d/test.htm

while it's focus (pardon the pun) is on Astrophotography, it does show that the 40D has much more latitude in capturing faint highlights. IMHO it would work well with Sunballs as there is a greater ability to avoid posterization and sensor bloom.

Stu

this moon shot sample of the 40D coupled with a Sigma 800+ 2xTC just blows me away....

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat...0921&page=1

Live View:

If you want it, it is there. Barely discernible shutter delay, and excellent detail. Requiring MF is a bit of a pain, but I'm intrigued by trying it out. I am not a historical live view proponent, but I shoot a ton of wa w/ lenses pre focused, and I shotgun without using the viewfinder with full frame fisheye lenses and the camera held at arms length. If live view doesn't have any other negative affects, I might as well have it on in these situations.

There is a custom function that allows AF to work while live view is used. You press the AF-ON button and the mirror locks back down and temporarily disables live view while it focuses, and snaps back when you release the button after you hear the audible beep of a AF lock.

This is best used with centre AF point selected, as its easy to target when in live view, and the centre AF point is seriously fast on the AF lock. (To me, the biggest benefit of the 40D is the fast AF even in low light. )

Cant wait to bring my 40D down on a dive. I think Ikelite will have their housing out pretty shortly as I think their "one size fits all" main housing speeds up housing development a lot.

Eudon

www.pbase.com/eudon