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My wife grabbed one of the camera about 6 months ago and I've been drooling over it ever since. Canon DSLRs have always been excellent cameras, but this one is truly amazing. It's lightning fast, has great color (especially skin tones), and in kit form comes with an image stabilizing lens. The sensor auto cleans and can handle pretty low light without using the flash.Visual Guide to the Wineries and Hotels of the Central Coast: with the Photography of John Crippen
There are two types of photographers: Those who use Canons and those who WILL be using Canons. Even when boosted to ISO 3,200, the noise is not a problem, and I mainly shoot at ISO 1,600 and produce crisp images when enlarged to 16 X 24. For the money, this piece of photo equipment cannot be beat. Of all the features packed into this camera, the one that allows the photographer to change picture styles, including black and white, is, to me, the most amazing. Also, the dust removal system is flawless. A truly great and impressive camera.
I think entry level camera such as Rebel XSi would not able to withstand it.Canon 40D has many buttons and two main dials. It is made to withstand plenty of abuse. The top LCD screens is helpful to check out camera settings at any time and any circumstances. You will see more noise creeping in at 1600. It is weather seal as well. For example Canon 50D which has high-res LCD screen, higher image resolution and better Auto ISO.
Lens that have USM (Ultra Sonic Motor) is generally perform faster than non-USM, but some lenses like Canon 85mm f/1.2 USM AF are quite slow because of the complicated lens elements. The auto ISO range is from 100 to 800. It has green light lcd that could be turned on if necessary.Auto Focus SystemCanon 40D has 11 AF points, distributed in diamond formation. I dropped the camera once to the ground, and it still performs like new. I thought Pentax K100d is quite big, but it is nothing compare to this 40D. It has 51 points and better tracking system.There is also Nikon D90 which has hi-res 3 inch lcd screen, cleaner image in high ISO speed but slower continuous speed and worse built quality. To access live view mode, I simply push the button in the center of the dial.ISO and Auto ISOThe ISO range starts from 100 to 3200. The speed of AF will depends on the lens.
To solve this problem, you can use accessory called Hoodman. I have been using Canon 40D for two years. I feel confidence handling it.Body and controlThe built quality of Canon 40D is excellent. 40D handles noise very well up to 800.
I think it is a great feature because it protects the highlight from over exposure. I especially like the round dial. The first dial is thumb dial, located near shutter button. The size might be a bit too big for casual shooters, but after a while you might use to it.
The second one is the big round dial located at the back of the camera. The grip is very ergonomic. The top LCD screen is clear in the dim light condition such as indoor or evening, but not clear in the bright daylight. It is big, solid and tough. Some lenses are also better in tracking subject than other.Favorite featuresThere is a feature called Highlight tone priority. I usually change aperture, view photo, choose menu using this dial.
The image quality with the kit lens is good, but I recommend to get a higher quality lens to get maximum quality. This camera can also shoot up to 6.5 fps which is great features to capture fast moving object.CompetitionBecause this camera is more than two years old now, it has many cameras that match or surpass this camera in term of its specifications. It is my second camera (my first camera is Pentax k100). It sounds very professional. It is great to use for portraits, wedding, landscape and so on.The shutter has a distinctive noise. It tends to stick at ISO 400 most of the time.LCD ScreensCanon 40D has two LCD screens, the main / back screen and top LCD screen.
Even it is more than two years old now, this camera is still capable and robust for you if you can live with its limitation (hint: Auto ISO and LCD screen. The Auto ISO is the biggest disappointment for me. It is made from magnesium alloy body. Read controversy regarding Nikon D90 vs Canon 40D.ConclusionThis is a very good camera suitable for either professional or amateur photographer. I hope it is 100 to 1600. At ISO 3200, the image quality is unacceptable.
Nikon D300 is superior regarding AF system. Please check out more reviews at my blog radiantlite dot com.
The camera body is great and I enjoy it. But the EF28-135 IS USM zoom died after only six weeks. The diaphragm somehow became dislodged while I was manually focusing the lens, and now it rattles around inside and the lens is unusable. I'll need to return it under warranty, but fortunately already had other lenses that fit the camera so I haven't been in a hurry.
I ordered a 40D for my Alaska vacation; didn't want to take my 5D, wanted faster frames-per-second for shooting wildlife and the 1.6 sensor factor for added telephoto reach.The camera worked great. I really liked the sensor cleaning feature, which cut down a ton on spots in the blue Alaskan sky. The 6.5 fps helped capture eagles in flight and running bears, too.And the low light capability was put to the test on a couple of dark, overcast days. The camera excelled.I'm very happy with the 40D, as it will serve alongside my other 40D and my 5D for my professional work.
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