The Canon EOS 40D SLR Digital Camera is a superb choice for advanced amateur photographers and entry-level professionals. It incorporates an enhanced, 10.1-megapixel CMOS imaging sensor with the proprietary and super-efficient DIGIC III image processor together with a completely redesigned auto-focus sensor.
Ideal for shooting - and actually capturing - speed-sensitive subjects such as wildlife-nature shots as well as a wide variety of action and sports scenes. The combination of Canon's latest processor, DDR SDRAM high-speed memory, four-channel-per-line sensor readout, and two separate motors for shutter and mirror operation provides a fast, 6.5 frame-per-second (fps) continuous shooting capability. It also has a top shutter speed of 1/8000 seconds, a fast 0.15-second initial start-up, and nearly instantaneous shutter response.
Even with all of this speed, the EOS 40D Digital SLR provides impressive image quality using a 10.1-megapixel CMOS APS-C size image sensor that utilizes large microlenses over each pixel to reduce noise and expand sensitivity up to ISO 3200. Furthermore, the 14-bit Analog-to-Digital (A/D) conversion process enables the camera to recognize 16,384 colors per pixel for finer and more accurate gradations of tones and colors. Canon's proprietary DIGIC III image processing engine then ensures that the fine details and natural colors of the images are optimally recorded and, as an added bonus, is also responsible for its efficient energy consumption.
The large three-inch 230,000-pixel LCD screen of the EOS 40D provides broad color gamut and a viewing angle of 140-degree perspective in all directions to increase viewing ease in conditions such as bright sunlight. An added advantage of the large display is the ability to use a larger font size for text, making it easier to read setting and menu options. More significantly, the Live View function uses the LCD display to provide an expanded and exceedingly convenient set of shooting options. By permitting the framing and capturing of subjects using the camera's LCD screen instead of the viewfinder, the shooter gains a 100 percent field view to more easily achieve the desired composition.
An added Custom Function allows auto-focus during Live View, and provides the user with the ability to magnify the image by five or ten times in order to ensure optimal focus. Live View is at its best during tripod shooting - particularly for close-up photography where precise focusing is imperative. The EOS 40D is also a boon to more traditional shooters as well with an upgraded viewfinder that has an optical magnification of 0.95x, a viewing angle of 264 degrees and an eye point of 22mm.
The enhanced durability of the EOS 40D is attributed to its magnesium alloy exterior with upgraded dust and weather resistant construction, particularly around the camera's connection ports, battery compartment and memory card door. Plus the camera incorporates an extremely durable shutter that has been rated at up to 100,000 cycles, The camera also helps to secure it's data from the most common cause of data corruption problems; should the user inadvertently open the CompactFlash card door while the camera is writing to the card, a warning will pop up on the LCD screen and an "alarm" will sound, but the image(s) will continue writing to the memory card without interruption.
The EOS Integrated Cleaning System uses ultrasonic vibrations to literally shake dust particles off of the low-pass filter in front of the sensor each time the camera is powered up or shut down. Users also have the option of engaging the "clean now" function at will or bypassing it altogether. Additionally, the manual sensor cleaning function raises the mirror and allows users to clean dust that has stuck to the low-pass filter. The second part of the cleaning system is a software solution that maps the location of any spots that may remain on the sensor. Subsequently, the offending dust information is subtracted from the final image during post processing using the supplied Digital Photo Professional software.
The EOS 40D Digital SLR is compatible with the full line-up of Canon EF lenses as well as the expanding selection of high-quality, affordable EF-S lenses created specifically for Canon Digital SLRs with APS-C size image sensors. It is also compatible with any of the EX Speedlite line of flash units and supports the E-TTL II protocol that provides reliable flash output whether shooting fill-in flash pictures in sunlight, or using flash in total darkness.
System accessories for the EOS 40D SLR include the redesigned high-capacity BG-E2N Battery Grip, which facilitates high-volume shooting, greater power options, and easier vertical shooting. The WFT-E3A Wireless File Transmitter permits wireless transfer and back-up, connection to a GPS receiver, or data transfer to a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 external storage devices as well as remote control of the camera in Live View mode. Furthermore, the EOS 40D is also the first camera in its class to offer two interchangeable focusing screens in addition to the standard precision matte screen.
| Camera Type | Interchangeable Lens SLR (Single Lens Reflex) Digital Camera |
| Image Quality | |
|---|---|
| Image Sensor | APS-C size (22.2 x 14.8mm) 10.5 Megapixel Single-plate, CMOS sensor |
| Effective Resolution | 10.1 million pixels |
| Color Depth |
24-Bit RGB (JPEG) 42-Bit RGB (RAW) |
| Color Modes | Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces selectable |
| Image File Formats |
RAW (.CR2) sRAW (.CR2) JPEG (Fine, Normal) RAW+JPEG (simultaneous recording) |
| Recorded Resolution |
Large (3888 x 2592) Medium (2816 x 1880) Small (1936 x 1288) |
| Video Recording | No |
| Audio Recording | No |
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Lens Mount | Canon EF mount (compatible with EF, EF-S, TS-E, and MP-E lenses) |
| Focal Length Multiplier | 1.6x |
| Optical Image Stabilization | Supports Canon IS and equivalent lenses |
| Focus Control | |
|---|---|
| Focus Type |
TTL-CT-SIR AF-dedicated CMOS sensor with 9 AF points (Automatic or Manual selection) and AF-assist using built-in flash AF Working Range: EV -0.5 - +18 (ISO 100 at 73°F/23°C) |
| Focus Modes | One-Shot AF, Predictive AI Servo AF, AI Focus AF, Manual Focus (MF), AF Point Selection (Automatic, Manual AF) |
| Exposure Control | |
|---|---|
| Sensitivity |
Auto ISO (100 to 400) Selectable ISO (100 - 1600) plus Enhanced H (ISO 3200) |
| Shutter Type | Vertical-travel, mechanical, focal-plane shutter with all speeds electronically controlled |
| Shutter Speed | 30 - 1/8000 second (1/3-stop increments) |
| Mirror Lock-Up | Yes |
| Exposure Metering | 35-zone TTL full aperture metering (Evaluative, Partial, Spot, Center-weighted average) |
| Exposure Modes | Program AE (shiftable), Shutter-priority AE, Aperture-priority AE, Auto Depth-of-field AE (non-shiftable), Full auto (non-shiftable), Programmed image control modes, Manual exposure, E-TTL II autoflash program AE, Exposure Compensation (±3 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-half increments), AE Lock |
| White Balance Modes | Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent Light, Flash, Custom WB setting, user-set Color Temperature (2,500~10,000K), White balance bracketing (±3 levels in 1-step increments for 3 images), White balance shift (blue/amber bias and/or magenta/green bias ±9 levels) |
| Scene Modes | Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Flash | Yes |
| Effective Flash Range | Up to 43' (13m) at ISO 100 |
| External Flash Connection | Dedicated Hot Shoe & PC Terminal |
| External Flash Control | E-TTL II autoflash with Flash Exposure Compensation |
| Maximum Flash Synchronization Speed | 1/250 second |
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Start-Up Time | 0.15 seconds |
| Shutter Lag | 0.059 seconds |
| Time Between Shots | Less than 0.5 seconds |
| Burst Capability | 6.5 fps up to 75 JPEG/17 RAW images |
| Self Timer | 10 seconds or 2 seconds delay |
| Interval Recording | No (Possible with optional TC-80N3 Timer Remote Controller) |
| Date & Time Stamp | Yes |
| Memory & Power | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in Memory | No | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Compatible Memory Cards | CompactFlash (type I & II) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| File Size |
|
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| Battery Type | BP-511A Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Power Adapter | ACK-E2 AC Adapter Kit (optional) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Input/Output | |
|---|---|
| Computer Interface | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (mini-B port) |
| Direct Print Capable | Yes (PictBridge) |
| Remote Control | N3-type remote control (RS-80N3, TC-80N3 Timer, LC-4 Wireless, computer control when tethered) |
| Video Output | Yes (NTSC & PAL) |
| System & Software Requirements |
Windows 98SE, 2000, ME, XP, Vista Mac OS 8.6-9.x, OS X (10.1 or later) |
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Viewfinder | Eye-level SLR with solid glass pentaprism with Dioptric Adjustment (-3.0 to +1.0 diopter) and Quick-return half mirror |
| Viewfinder Info | AF (AF points, focus confirmation light), Exposure (shutter speed, aperture, ISO speed, AE lock, exposure level, spot metering circle, exposure warning), Flash (flash ready, flash exposure compensation, high-speed sync, FE lock, red-eye reduction light), Image (monochrome shooting, maximum burst, white balance correction, CF card information) |
| Depth-of-Field Preview | Yes |
| LCD Display | 3.0" TFT Color LCD (230,000 pixels) with Brightness Adjust (7-steps) |
| Information Display | Uses 3" Color LCD (Exposure Settings, Warnings, Maximum burst for continuous shooting, Shots remaining, Power Status) |
| Language Options | English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Polish, Simplified/Traditional Chinese, Korean, Japanese |
| Playback Options | Single image, 4-image index, 9-image index, Jump, Magnified zoom (approx. 1.5x to 10x), Histogram, AF point display, Auto rotate, Rotate, Live View (View image before shooting on LCD monitor; live histogram and live simulation of exposure level possible with C.Fn IV-7-1), Highlight Alert |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 4.2 x 5.7 x 2.9 (108 x 146 x 74 mm) body only |
| Weight | 26.1 oz. (740 g) body only |