Canon EOS 40D Preview

Phil Askey, August 2007

The EOS 40D becomes the sixth Canon 'prosumer' digital SLR, a line which started back in 2000 with the EOS D30, and how far we've come. It's been eighteen months since the EOS 30D and although on the surface the 40D looks like a fairly subtle upgrade there's a lot that makes this an even better camera. Of course we expect a step up in megapixels, and so the 40D comes with a ten million pixel CMOS sensor with the same sort of dust reduction as the EOS 400D, an ultrasonic platform which shakes the low pass filter. Other improvements bring the EOS 40D closer into line with the EOS-1D series, these include a move to the same page-by-page menu system, both RAW and sRAW (2.5 MP), 14-bit A/D converter and 14-bit RAW, cross-type AF points for F5.6 or faster lenses, a larger and brighter viewfinder, interchangeable focusing screens, a larger LCD monitor (3.0") and faster continuous shooting (6.5 fps).

UPDATE 25/Aug/07: We have just added a gallery of sample images from a pre-production EOS 40D.

Model line history

Model	Announced	Effective pixels	Auto focus	Continuous (JPEG)	LCD monitor
EOS D30	Apr 2000	3.1 mp	3 point	3.0 fps, 3 frames	1.8"
EOS D60	Feb 2002	6.3 mp	3 point	3.3 fps, 8 frames	1.8"
EOS 10D	Feb 2003	6.3 mp	7 point	3.3 fps, 9 frames	1.8"
EOS 20D	Aug 2004	8.2 mp	9 point	5.0 fps, 23 frames	1.8"
EOS 30D	Feb 2006	8.2 mp	9 point	5.0 / 3.0 fps, 30 frames	2.5"
EOS 40D	Aug 2007	10.1 mp	9 point	6.5 / 3.0 fps, 85 frames	3.0" (Live view)

Canon EOS 40D vs. EOS 30D feature and specification differences

	Canon EOS 40D	Canon EOS 30D
Weatherproof	Battery door and storage compartment	No
Sensor	• 10.1 million effective pixels • 5.7 µm pixel pitch	• 8.2 million effective pixels • 6.4 µm pixel pitch
A/D converter	14-bit	12-bit
Image sizes	• 3888 x 2592 • 2816 x 1880 • 1936 x 1288	• 3504 x 2336 • 2544 x 1696 • 1728 x 1152
RAW files	• CR2 format, 14-bit • RAW full resolution • sRAW (2.5 MP)	• CR2 format, 12-bit • RAW full resolution
Image processor	DIGIC III	DIGIC II
Dust reduction	High speed vibration of filter	None
Auto focus	• 9-point TTL CMOS sensor • Points cross-type for F5.6 or faster lens • Center point additionally sensitive with lenses of F2.8 or faster	9-point TTL CMOS sensor
Metering range	0.0 to 20 EV	1.0 to 20 EV
Spot metering	Approx. 3.8% at center	Approx. 3.5% at center
Auto ISO	ISO 400 to 800 / 100 to 800 depending on exposure mode	ISO 100 to 400
Kelvin WB	2500 - 10000 K in 100 K steps	2800 - 10000 K in 100 K steps
Viewfinder	• 95% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.95x • Eyepoint: 22 mm	• 95% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.90x • Eyepoint: 20 mm
Focusing screen	• Interchangable precision matte • Two other screens available	• Fixed precision matte
Viewfinder info	Now includes ISO sensitivity, B&W icon
LCD monitor	• 3.0 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels	• 2.5 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels
LCD Live View	Yes, including mirror-drop AF	No
Main LCD settings display	When changing settings such as AF mode or White Balance	No
Tilt correction	Yes	No
Opening CF door	Warning message shown	Power down, loses images
Mirror lock-up	Single or multiple exposures	Single exposures
Mirror mechanism	Motor up / down, quieter, faster	Spring up / motor down
Playback modes	Exposure line at top in single image view	No exposure in single image view
User modes	Three custom user modes on mode dial	No user modes
High-speed continuous	• 6.5 fps • Up to 75 JPEG Large/Fine images	• 5.0 fps • Up to 30 JPEG Large/Fine images
Portrait grip	WFT-E3/E3A, BP-E2N, BP-E2	BP-E2
Wireless connectivity	• WFT-E3/E3A • Integrates as vertical hand grip	• WFT-E1/E1A • No grip
Menu UI	Same as EOS-1D series	Sames previous xxD series
Menu languages	18	15
Custom functions	24	19
AF-ON button	Rear 'under thumb'	None
Rear buttons	• Direct print • Menu • Play • Erase • Jump • Info • Picture Style	• Direct print • Menu • Info • Jump • Play • Erase
Top right buttons	• Lamp • Metering / WB • AF / Drive • ISO / Flash comp.	• Lamp • AF / WB • Drive / ISO • Metering / Flash comp.
Dimensions	146 x 108 x 74 mm(5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 in)	144 x 106 x 74 mm (5.6 x 4.2 x 2.9 in)
Weight	• No battery: 740 g (1.6 lb) • With battery: 822 g (1.8 lb)	• No battery: 706 g (1.6 lb) • With battery: 785 g (1.7 lb

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