Canon EOS 40D DSLR

kielder · #1 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 06:57 PM

Hi,

I am thinking about purchasing this camera, and was wondering whether anyone else has bought one, or knows what it is like?

glsammy · #2 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 07:16 PM

It's a lovely camera. Can't really fault it, although I've only had a 20D to compare it to.
What I particularly like about it:

Large rear screen, with Live View mode. Very useful when shooting macro shots.
Extremely fast in operation, both in start up and continuous shooting mode.
Although it's rated only 1.4 shots per second faster than the 20D, it feels faster than that.
Much better ISO range, I find this one of the best points of all. Gives far more flexibility.
High ISO performance to me seems much better than the 20D, although other disagree. All I know is that I can use ISO 1000 and get better results than I could with the 20D on ISO 800.
Good battery life, far better than the 20D.
Quieter shutter, especially in Live View Mode.
Faster more accurate auto focus.
Better more logical menu system.

I still use my 20D, but the 40D is without doubt the better overall camera.

You may gather I like it!

kielder · #3 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 07:20 PM

Wow, thankyou, I have to admit that some of those terms flew over my head, I am a newbie with this technology, but it was recommended, and although I know very little at the moment I will learn prior to getting it! Would you help me with these terms?

wildmanofthewoods · #4 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 07:38 PM

I bought this camera when it first came out & it is brill. Altough its just developed a fault. Well i mean it just don't work. i've returned it to canon for repair i hope i get it back before the weekend, i'm supposed to be going to Scotland for the week.

glsammy · #5 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildmanofthewoods

I bought this camera when it first came out & it is brill. Altough its just developed a fault. Well i mean it just don't work. i've returned it to canon for repair i hope i get it back before the weekend, i'm supposed to be going to Scotland for the week.

That's very bad luck.

I hope you get it back promptly.

wildmanofthewoods · #6 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

That's very bad luck.

I hope you get it back promptly.

Thankyou thats very much appreciated

wildlifesnapper · #7 (**permalink**) 13-06-2008, 08:20 PM

Hi

I'll guarantee you wont be dissapointed.

neil

CloudedYellow · #8 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 06:41 AM

Hi Kielder

I have one as well. I too upgraded from a 20D and I agree with all the comments Graham has made. I also really like the 2 second shutter delay - no more using a remote control!! The £100 cashback helped a little in my decision making (is that still running?) and like Neil I am certainly not disappointed either.

I guess the camera you need to compare with it is the 450D which I have not used myself. On paper it looks to be quite a lot better than the 350D which I do have. The 350 feels a bit light (with a heavy leans attached you need to support the lens and not the camera) and compared the 40D the menuing is a bit of a pain. I don't know what the price difference is.

Richard

ollyk · #9 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kielder

Wow, thankyou, I have to admit that some of those terms flew over my head, I am a newbie with this technology, but it was recommended, and although I know very little at the moment I will learn prior to getting it! Would you help me with these terms?

Maybe a bit overkill for a first choice then? The xxxd (oh and the new 1000d) camera's will produce images of exactly the same quality (even same noise levels) but this range are not quite as ergonomic, but overall a much smaller, lighter and cheaper package. Ideal if you are starting and you can spend more on the glass. I think hand size tends to figure a lot with many people though so go to Jessops try a 400 / 450d & 40d for comparison.

I have a 350d I would like faster focus, spot meter and a quicker way of changing ISO I considered a second hand 30d but then looked at my lens collection and decided against.
Another point is I feel that I am ready for an upgrade on a 'technical' level but I feel the images I produce are not at a level where I can justify such an advanced camera yet - I think my artistic expression lets me down here!

kielder · #10 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 07:58 AM

Thanks Olly! wish you were with me when I go and buy one, and advise :-)

kielder · #11 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 07:58 AM

What does Macro, ISO mean?

GerryNick2 · #12 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 08:13 AM

Upgraded from the 30D to the 40D in February and now taken 7000 images with the 40D. A great camera and you will not be disappointed by it.

Only one thing I have noticed with the 40D that I never experienced with the 30D, is avoiding blown highlights. I find I have to apply a lot more exposure compensation than I did with the 30D. Possibly because the sensor used in the 40D is the same as the 400D and more sensitive to light. Anyone else noticed this with the 40D?

Gerry

kielder · #13 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 08:16 AM

Thankyou Gerry.

GerryNick2 · #14 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kielder

What does Macro, ISO mean?

Macro is in simple terms close up photography, most compact cameras have a macro setting allowing you to get close to focus on small objects. With a DSLR a number of zoom lenses have a macro facility built into them or a dedicated macro lens will give you a true 1:1 image.

ISO is a legacy from the days of film and related to the sensitivity of a particular film to light i.e 100 ISO, 200 ISO and 400 ISO which were among the more popular. On digital cameras the term ISO has been retained and is a means of changing the sensors sensitivity to light. In poor light you can increase the ISO rating which will give you a faster shutter speed or smaller aperture. With film you would have had to shoot a whole film at the same ISO with digital you can take one shot at ISO 200 and the next at 400 ISO etc.
Gerry

ollyk · #15 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kielder

What does Macro, ISO mean?

ISO = Sensitivity of the medium (film or digital sensor) to light. A change of ISO 100 to 200 then you are doubling your sensitivity to light. On a cloudy day you would increase ISO to maintain a similar shutter speed than you would achieve on a sunny day with a lower ISO, assuming aperture is unchanged.
Aperture, shutter speed and ISO are the three settings you (or the camera) sets to determine exposure / desirable effects of the finished photo.

Macro = Allows for very close focusing, resulting in images that appear close to life size on the image sensor. Zoom lenses often have a macro range on them which allow for much closer focusing but on an SLR if you are serious about insect / close up photography you are much better buying a dedicated macro lens.

There are some tutorials on Canons website that might help you understand things better - If you are buying an SLR I recommend you try to understand the fundamentals.. Otherwise a point & shoot might be a better option!

Hope that helps?

glsammy · #16 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kielder

What does Macro, ISO mean?

Macro is a term used to mean your taking very close up images. Having the Live View mode means you can view the image from the rear screen, just like in a compact camera, rather than the eye viewer. This is often very useful as my big head is not so close to the insect/subject I'm trying to capture.

ISO is the term used for the sensitivity of the camera sensor to light. The higher you set the ISO setting, the faster the shutter speed you can use. There is a price to pay for that in what we call image noise, which is a kind of speckled background you get, particularly in shadow areas of the image. Modern digital cameras are getting better all the time in controlling this noise, allowing us to use higher ISO settings than before.

If you knowledge really is that basic, I think Ollyk advice may well be sound. He's quite right in the fact that the cameras he's suggesting are quite capable of giving just as good images, at a good cost saving.

glsammy · #17 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 08:45 AM

Sorry Ollyk, I just missed your post, if I'd seen it I wouldn't have posted my reply!

ollyk · #18 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

Sorry Ollyk, I just missed your post, if I'd seen it I wouldn't have posted my reply!

No you raised a very valid point about noise which I completely forgot about

I also think different explanations / point of views can be very helpful to beginners one persons point of view / explanation might work better than another's.

CloudedYellow · #19 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

If you knowledge really is that basic, I think Ollyk advice may well be sound. He's quite right in the fact that the cameras he's suggesting are quite capable of giving just as good images, at a good cost saving.

Keilder, I strongly agree with this, a 40D is a lot of money and it sounds as though you will not be able to use its full potential (nor, I suppose, do I!) Also, don't forget that without a good lens you will not get good results from even a very expensive camera.

HowlinWolf · #20 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CloudedYellow

Also, don't forget that without a good lens you will not get good results from even a very expensive camera.

This is true to some extent, but may only be noticeable when making large prints, or aggressive cropping (and the pixel count comes into play, here). If you are shooting for web use then the kit lens that comes with the average DSLR will suffice, as it will for prints up to around A4. It's only when you start to make prints of A3 and up that top grade lenses will begin to show their class.

HW

zan · #21 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 11:48 AM

The 40D is a cracking camera, and I love it for wildlife. However, it assumes a basic knowledge, which e.g. the 400D \ 450D etc don't do so much. You can still get the 40D and learn to use it, but you might need to put in a little more effort than with a more entry-level camera.

The 400D is what I started with and it's a very good camera, and you can probably get it at a pretty good price now. The 450 isn't much of a step up to me, but your choice. I don't really know much about the 1000D, but it seems like a weird mix of the 400 and 450D, and I suspect is more a marketing ploy than a new camera

Zan

kielder · #22 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 03:36 PM

Just want to say a big thankyou to all your contributions, very interesting, will read them again.

kielder · #23 (**permalink**) 14-06-2008, 08:56 PM

I have a lot to learn, am still trying to grasp everything from above, but am looking forward to purchasing a better camera soon!

Hobjob · #24 (**permalink**) 15-06-2008, 10:05 PM

I hae a 30D and 40D - got so fed up with chaning lenses, especially in dusty
conditions.

Two major advantages of 40 over 30 are, for me

1. High ISO is MUCH less grainy

2. ISO setting shows in view finder so need to press
other buttons to check.

I think it is also quieter - a bit.