A replacement for Canon's EOS 30D has been due for some time so the unveiling of the 10.1-megapixel EOS 40D at the end of August was no surprise. Nor was the inclusion of Canon's EOS Integrated Cleaning System, which was pioneered on the EOS 400D and is becoming a key technology for Canon's DSLR cameras. However, the Live View function that lets users compose shots with the LCD monitor as they can with a digicam, was a real surprise – and the 3.0-inch display was a genuine bonus.
Other improvements over the 30D include the new 14-bit DiG!C III image processor, a redesigned autofocusing system with nine cross-type AF points (see below), a larger, brighter viewfinder, a top continuous shooting rate of 6.5 frames/second and a dedicated AF-On button. But that's not all; user controls have also been extended with the addition of high ISO noise reduction, a highlight tone priority setting and the ability to configure a Speedlite 580EX II wireless flash set-up from within the camera's menu system.
Body and Build
Physically, the 40D is slightly larger and heavier than its predecessor and, in the hands, it is very reminiscent of the EOS 5D, with a similar moulded grip that is recessed to accommodate the middle finger. Photographers with small hands and short fingers will find the size of this camera challenging but those with large or average-sized hands and longer fingers will be delighted with its secure, comfortable feel.
Improvements have also been made to body construction. Dust- and weather-proof seals in the magnesium alloy casing have been upgraded, with emphasis on areas around the camera's connection ports, card door and battery compartment. And, if you accidentally open the card door when the camera is writing to a card, an alarm will sound but the transfer of files will continue without interruption so no files will be lost or damaged.
The new model's LCD has a resolution of 230,000 pixels (which is lower than its competitors) but its brightness has been boosted to provide easier viewing in bright conditions. It boasts a viewing angle of 140 degrees, which is adequate – but not outstanding. The 40D's viewfinder has a bigger, brighter pentaprism and larger eyepiece lens with a wider angle of view and higher eyepoint than its predecessor.
It can also accept interchangeable focusing screens, a first for a camera of its type. Three special focusing screens have been developed for the 40D: the Ef-A Standard Precision Matte, the Ef-D Precision Matte with Grid, and the Ef-S Super Precision Matte. The Ef-D screen has a superimposed grid that is handy for controlling horizontal positioning of subject elements (e.g. horizons), while the Ef-S screen makes it easier to focus precisely when shooting with lenses of f/2.8 and faster. It is also easier to focus manually with this screen in difficult lighting conditions.
The EOS 40D's autofocusing system features a new sensor with nine cross-type AF points. which provide better focus detection and accuracy. AF sensitivity has bee expanded to cover a range from EV -0.5 to EV 18. All AF points work at apertures of f/5.6 and smaller but the central cross point improves focusing with wider lens apertures. Apertures of up to f/2.8 are now supported with this system. The diagrams below, which are reproduced from a Canon White Paper on the EOS 40D, show the key features of the new AF sensor.
The arrangement of the AF points on the viewfinder screen.
The new AF sensor arrangement, which supports wider lens apertures.
The arrangement of sensors in the EOS 40D's autofocus module.
The viewfinder data display has also been extended to include ISO settings (even when Auto ISO is set). A B&W alert has been added and the maximum burst figure is displayed as two digits instead of one. Unchanged from the 30D are the viewfinder coverage (95%) and dioptric adjustment of -3 to +1 dpt.
Live Viewing
Live viewing of a scene on the camera's LCD monitor is no longer a novelty in DSLR cameras. Olympus was the first to offer this facility in the E-330 camera, which was announced in January 2006. Canon introduced it with the EOS-1D Mark III but it's a first at the 40D's price point. The Live View mode is activated by pressing the Set button on the rear panel. This raises the reflex mirror and causes an electronic first-curtain shutter function associated with the 40D's CMOS sensor to hold the mechanical shutter open while a high-speed scanning system captures the scene line-by-line from top to bottom and displays it on the LCD.
The screen displays a 100% view of the subject, which is useful when precise framing is required as no AF points are displayed in Live View mode. Photographers can magnify the image by five or 10 times by pressing the AF point/enlarge button. A grid display can be selected from the Live View function setting menu.
Live viewing is only possible when shooting in one of the Creative Zone modes (P, Tv, Av, M and A-Dep). A Custom Function (C.Fn III-6) drops the reflex mirror, allowing the AF system to work normally when you hold down the AF-ON button in Live View mode. Releasing the button resumes live viewing. Another Custom Function (C.Fn IV-7) provides an exposure simulation with Live View.
The EOS 40D's Live View system includes two new 'Silent' modes. Mode 1 supports continuous shooting at approximately 6 fps and is quieter than ordinary, non-Live View shooting. With Mode 2, shutter cocking does not occur after shutter release. Whereas the Live View Function on the EOS-1D Mark III had the shutter closing after the shutter release before the start of the exposure, with the 40D, the shutter is only cocked after the photographer's finger is lifted. Actual exposures are almost silent in this mode and release time lag is insignificant, although the camera is effectively 'frozen' while the shutter remains pressed. Continuous shooting is impossible with this setting.
In practice, although Live View can be used when the camera is hand-held, it is more useful – and more effective – when the camera is tripod mounted. This mode of operation is best used for 'tethered' shooting, when the camera is connected to a computer via USB cable or the optional WFT-E3A wireless controller. Using Live View places a significant drain on the camera's battery. According to Canon's data, a fully-charged battery can support approximately 170 shots without flash, compared with 1100 shots when Live View is not used.
Recording Functions
As you would expect, the 40D improves on the recording functionality of its predecessor while retaining the standard JPEG compression options, RAW+JPEG recording and sRGB plus Adobe RGB colour space options. But, as well as supporting a higher bit depth, the new model also offers a new sRAW setting that records raw files at a resolution equivalent to 7.1 megapixels (1936 x 1288 pixels).
Three file size options and two compression levels are available for JPEGs and any of them can be captured simultaneously with CR2.RAW or sRAW files. JPEG compression is relatively high, particularly with the Normal setting. Typical file sizes are shown in the table below.
|
Image Size |
Size Setting |
File Size |
|
JPEG |
Large/Fine |
3.5MB |
|
Large/Normal |
1.8MB |
|
Medium/Fine |
2.1MB |
|
Medium/Normal |
1.1MB |
|
Small/Fine |
1.2MB |
|
Small/Normal |
0.7MB |
|
RAW |
12.4MB |
|
RAW+ |
Large/Fine |
12.4+3.5MB |
|
Large/Normal |
12.4+1.8MB |
|
Medium/Fine |
12.4+2.1MB |
|
Medium/Normal |
12.4+1.1MB |
|
Small/Fine |
12.4+1.2MB |
|
Small/Normal |
12.4+0.7MB |
|
sRAW |
7.1MB |
|
sRAW+ |
Large/Fine |
7.1+3.5MB |
|
Large/Normal |
7.1+1.8MB |
|
Medium/Fine |
7.1+2.1MB |
|
Medium/Normal |
7.1+1.1MB |
|
Small/Fine |
7.1+1.2MB |
|
Small/Normal |
7.1+0.7MB |
Canon claims the new DiG!C III image processor makes CF card access speeds 1.7x faster than its predecessor in the EOS 30D. As with the EOS-1D Mark III, image recording can be set to Standard, Auto switch media, Rec. separately, or Rec. to multiple. The optional settings are used when an additional USB storage device is connected to the EOS 40D via the optional Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3A. When backing-up shots to external media, the folder receiving the shots can be selected or created and images can be selected individually (with check marks) for transfer.
Auto ISO settings have been extended to cover the Creative Zone modes. The default setting in this mode is ISO 400, where it remains fixed for Manual shooting. In the other modes, a ceiling of ISO 800 applies and, if over-exposure is likely to occur, the ISO value will drop as low as 100 automatically. In the Basic Zone modes, Auto ISO covers a range from ISO 100 to ISO 800 for all settings except portrait mode, where it is fixed at 800.
New to the 40D is high-sensitivity noise reduction which, like long exposure noise reduction (which was also provided on the 30D) is accessed via a Custom Function (C.Fn II). Three settings are provided for long exposure NR – off, auto and on – but only off and on for high ISO NR. When combined with continuous shooting, this setting limits the burst length to eight shots, regardless of image size and quality.
Highlight tone priority recording is another new Custom Function in the 40D. Enabling it expands the camera's recording dynamic range in the highlight end of the tonal scale, preventing blown-out highlights. (Wedding photographers will find this setting particularly handy!) This function restricts ISO settings to between 200 and 1600. Snapshooters who use the Basic Zone shooting modes will benefit from automatic brightness and contrast correction when shooting JPEGs. This processing can seamlessly correct moderate under- or over-exposure and adjust low contrast scenes to provide a better tonal balance in shots. (No processing can be applied to CR2.RAW or sRAW image files.)
White balance settings are the same as on the EOS 30D, with the addition of a colour temperature pre-set covering a Kelvin range from 2500 to 10,000. WB correction along green/magenta and blue/amber axes is provided. Photographers can also register a single personal white balance setting with the supplied software. WB bracketing settings are the same as the 30D's but they can now be cancelled with the INFO. button.
Picture Style settings are now accessed via a dedicated button below the LCD screen. This function has the same settings (Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful and Monochrome) as the EOS 30D but Canon has provided a higher degree of control through the new Picture Style Editor software, which allows photographers to create their own Picture Styles by uploading a sample CR2.RAW image then adjusting its characteristics based on an existing Picture Style.
Bundled Software
Canon's EOS Digital Solution Disk Ver.15.1 is supplied with the EOS 40D. It contains the latest versions of the raw file converter Digital Photo Professional and EOS Utility plus Canon's standard applications: ZoomBrowser/ImageBrowser and PhotoStitch. Also provided is WFT Utility 3.1, which allows photographers to configure the camera's wireless LAN, TCP/IP and FTP server settings. The latest version of EOS Utility now allows folder monitoring with the Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3A and link-ups with Picture Style Editor.
Picture Style Editor adjustments.
Picture Style Editor viewing modes.
Picture Style Editor Ver.1.0 a new program that allows users to create their own Picture Style files. Adjustments are provided for Colour Tone, Colour saturation, Contrast and Sharpness. Photographers can also fine-tune specific colours by adjusting hue, saturation and luminosity, as well as changing the tone curve. Up to 100 colour adjustment points can be specified and tweaked via three display modes: RGB, LAB and HSL. Sets of adjustments can be saved as Picture Style files with the *.PF2 extension for registration and use in any Canon camera with the Picture Style function. Currently, this software only supports raw images shot with the EOS 40D but future versions will support future models – although no reverse compatibility to older EOS models is planned.
Performance
Our test camera was subjected to a wide range of exposure challenges, covering early morning, bright daylight, indoor lighting and night shots in well- and poorly-lit conditions. We also assessed how well the camera handled backlit and flash exposures and measured its performance with our standard Imatest evaluations.
Subjective assessment of test shots showed the camera's exposure metering system to be accurate under a wide range of lighting conditions. Autofocusing was also fast and accurate, even in dim lighting. Colours were generally spot-on and we found no evidence of coloured fringing in shots taken with the supplied EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens.
Imatest confirmed the test camera's colour accuracy and showed lateral chromatic aberrations to be low for the test lens. It also indicated the test camera was capable of high resolution. Analysis showed little difference in MTF50 figures between the centre and edges of the field and between horizontal and vertical directions.
Low-light performance was outstanding, with no visible noise right up to ISO 800 and very little noise thereafter. Shots taken at ISO 1600 were sharp and colour-accurate and ISO 3200 shots were almost as good. Although noise was seldom an issue with the test camera, we found the high ISO noise reduction eliminated traces of colour noise at high ISO settings. Long exposure noise reduction produced little in the way of image softening but wasn't really necessary in most situations.
We found the usual auto white balance problems in test shots under incandescent lighting but shots taken under fluorescent lighting had close to natural colours and both the pre-sets and manual measurement removed both colour casts. Flash performance was good and the flash could illuminate an average-sized room at ISO 200. However we found slight over-exposure (about 1/3 EV) when the flash was used at ISO settings of 800 and 1600.
Autofocusing was generally fast and accurate, with little 'hunting' in dim lighting. The test camera powered-up immediately and capture lag was negligible, both with and without pre-focusing. With RAW+JPEG recording, our continuous shooting tests with a 4GB SanDisk Extreme IV card showed the camera could record seven frames in 1.1 seconds, which equates to a burst rate of just over six frames/second. We recorded 14 coupled image files before the buffer memory filled. The capture speed for Large/Fine JPEGs was slightly faster and close to the maximum 6.5 fps claimed for this camera.
Image file processing times were slightly faster than the EOS 5D and significantly faster than the EOS 400D. The table below shows the times we recorded in our tests with a range of CompactFlash cards.
|
Card Brand & Capacity |
Type |
Write Speed JPEG (high-resolution) |
Write Speed Raw files |
Write Speed RAW+JPEG (High resolution) |
|
SanDisk Extreme IV 4GB |
CF |
12.86MB/sec |
16.85MB/sec |
14.52MB/sec |
|
SanDisk Extreme III 8GB |
CF |
8.46MB/sec |
11.37MB/sec |
9.29MB/sec |
|
ATP ProMax II 4GB |
CF |
9.80MB/sec |
13.74MB/sec |
10.47MB/sec |
|
Sony 4GB |
CF |
10.47MB/sec |
11.93MB/sec |
10.57MB/sec |
Conclusion
Resolution-wise, the EOS 40D is not a huge upgrade on the EOS 30D but in many other ways the differences between the two cameras represent significant value for some photographers. The huge LCD screen and improved control layout are prime examples. Whether you would actually use the Live View function much is debatable, although it will come in handy for studio photographers. However, it's slow to use and consumes a fair amount of battery power so we feel most photographers will stick with the viewfinder for most shots. And the bigger, brighter viewfinder – and interchangeable focusing screens – will be genuinely appreciated.
Attractively priced (and significantly cheaper than its marginally higher-resolution rivals), the EOS 40D would be a great buy for enthusiast photographers who want a higher-featured, more ruggedly build camera then the entry-level models or for professional wedding and event photographers looking for a second camera body.
As well as being compatible with more than 60 Canon EF and EF-S lenses, the EOS 40D can be fitted with the new BG-E2N high-capacity battery grip, which can accommodate both the BP-511A rechargeable lithium-ion battery and AA-size cells. Offering similar functions to the BG-E2 grip for the EOS 20D and 30D, the new grip has better dust- and water-resistant sealing. It can also be used with the new dedicated WFT-E3A wireless file transmitter.
The new camera will be offered with the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS standard zoom lens, which has been developed in response to demands for a zoom lens with Image Stabilizer technology at a reasonable price. Photographers with sets of Nikon and Minolta lenses may wish to check out the table comparing key features of the EOS 40D, Sony A700 and Nikon D300 cameras on the Photo Review website.