Canon unveils its latest offering to the DSLR market

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Chris Zammit02 March 2008, 9:47 PM

The Canon EOS 40D is a vast improvement over its predecessor, the EOS 30D.


The fiddly menu system and odd-looking body have been overhauled, and this new model has a larger LCD (3in), better positioned controls and a superior grip. Despite the 40D body being the same size (14.5 x 10.8 x 7.3 WDH) and weight (740g without batteries) as the 30D, the updated model feels far more comfortable to hold.
The camera’s external ports, slots and connection points are fitted with dust- and weather-proofing plugs so you can safely use it in most conditions without fear of damage. The 40D also includes Canon’s standard Integrated Cleaning System to keep the camera’s body and CMOS sensor free from dust.

Another improvement is the addition of Live View Mode, which allows users to autofocus through the LCD rather than the viewfinder — a handy feature for beginners.

Internally the 40D enhancements include: three nine-point autofocus modes (Single-shot, AI Servo tracking autofocus and AI Focus), four metering modes (evaluative, partial metering, 3.8 per cent spot and centre-weighted average metering), and Auto ISO. The camera’s range of white balance settings includes bracketing and custom corrections along all four colour axes; colour temperature; and manual mode. With a top shutter speed of 1/8,000 and a flash sync speed of 1/250, the 40D should cover all your needs.

Canon fans will find the 40D a great upgrade from the 30D, but it still doesn’t offer the value of the far cheaper Nikon D80.



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mentalman1369 (New user):

wow, this is only $940USD on Amazon (body only, it's $1299 with kit lens), which is $990AUD (at current rate of USD:AUD = 1:0.95). That's scary. REALLY scary. I somehow don't think that GST for this is $1411AUD......

mentalman1369 (New user):

sorry, it's $1129USD not $1299USD for the body with kit lens

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Conclusion

Upsides

  • Good image quality
  • Easy to use

Downsides

  • Slow focusing
  • Slightly overpriced
APC rating

7/10

Price: 7/10
Usability: 7/10
Performance: 7/10
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Full specifications

For Canon EOS 40D


Effective Pixels
Megapixels: 10.1 megapixels
Sensor Type
Image Sensor: CMOS
Image Size
Maximum image resolution (width): 3888 px
Maximum Image Resolution (height): 2592 px
Sensitivity
ISO Maximum: 1600 ISO
Shutter Speed
Maximum Shutter Speed: 30 sec
Minimum Shutter Speed: 1/8000 sec
File Formats
Image File Formats Supported: RAW + JPEG
LCD
Screen Size: 3 in
Built-in Flash: Yes
Viewfinder: No
Live Image Preview on Screen: Yes
Dust Reduction: Yes
Battery
Battery Type: Lithium Ion rechargeable
Dimensions
Height: 73.5 mm
Depth: 106 mm
Width: 145.5 mm
Weight: 0.74 kg
Price (this configuration, at time of review): $2599
Type
Body Type: Digital SLR

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