In association with Amazon.co.uk
The Canon EOS 40D semi-professional digital SLR camera can be used for a wide range of photo shoots and by a wide range of photographers. It has settings for the beginner and excellent possibilities for the professional.
Tested hardware and software
The camera tested was a Canon EOS 40D kit consisting of a camera house with an EF-S 17-85 IS USM lens. Some shots were done with an EF 100-400 L IS USM lens and some with a speedlite 580 flash.
The Basics
The Canon EOS 40D basically works as a film-based SLR, with a very similar design. The lenses are interchangeable and images can be downloaded from the camera through a USB interface built into the camera or by taking the Compactflash memory card out of the camera an putting it into a card reader. The 17-85 lens is a good allround 3-in-1 zoom lens which covers both the wideangle, standard lens and short tele areas.
Pros
The camera house has a 3" screen, making image inspection after a picture is taken very easy. The screen can also be used as a viewer when taking pictures, but it uses a lot of power and decreases battery life significantly.
The Canon EOS 40D has improved weather handling compared to the earlier n0D models, with rubber covers over external interfaces.
Cons
When using the Auto ISO feature when using a creative setting, the camera selects a speed between 400 and 1600 ISO. Why not take advantage of the 100 or 200 ISO speeds?
Experiences
The sound of the shutter when taking a picture is something you will probably notice and even have to get used to if you have ben using other Canon D-SLR's before.
The size of a single image varies between 2.5 and 13 Mb depending on the chosen resolution and image format. When using the RAW format you should get a 4Gb or 8Gb CF card to ensure that you don't run out of space during a shoot.
Conclusion
The Canon EOS 40D is an excellent camera for business use. The price/performance is good, and the range of photo jobs it can be used for is very wide, including pictures for printed materials. The Canon EOS 40D is a high quality camera which gives you high quality images.
Being written by Hans-Henrik T. Ohlsen
Last update October 11, 2007
In association with Amazon.