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First experience: Canon 40D
I have purchased two brand new Canon 40D bodies Thursday Sep 20th 2007. Got them from Ritz Camera online at $1,299 apiece, no tax, overnight shipping for $26 only. Received early morning Friday Sep 21st. Played with them over the weekend trying to learn as much of the functionality as I can, and then used them extensively in Glacier NP at Smugmug shootout (Tue Sep 25 - Sun Oct 1), bringing home about 4,500 frames (about 44Gb).
The following are my brief impressions over the new gear.
Gear Background:
I purchased my first Canon 20D DSLR in Aug 2005.
Upgraded to 30D in March 2006.
Got second 30D body in December 2006.
Sold both 30D here at andybay a few days ago.
I have the following lens line up:
10-22, 17-55/2.8 IS, 50/1.8, 70-200L/2.8 IS, 100/2.8 Macro, 100-400L IS, 1.4 TC, extension tubes.
HTH
PS
I know Mike (Iem), Bendr, Pathfinder and Nightingale were using their 40D at Glacier, too, I'm sure they will add their own favorite features.
The following are my brief impressions over the new gear.
Gear Background:
I purchased my first Canon 20D DSLR in Aug 2005.
Upgraded to 30D in March 2006.
Got second 30D body in December 2006.
Sold both 30D here at andybay a few days ago.
I have the following lens line up:
10-22, 17-55/2.8 IS, 50/1.8, 70-200L/2.8 IS, 100/2.8 Macro, 100-400L IS, 1.4 TC, extension tubes.
- That 3" LCD is freaking gorgeous!
When you gradually upgrade your gear you may not think it's that obvious, but when you have a chance to see 20D, 30D and 40D all together you can clearly see the difference. - Much more info on the LCD!
* You always get your basic info while the playback
* While shooting, if you press Info twice, you'll get an extremely useful screen that shows ALL your settings live, all in bright big letters. No need to reach for tiny top LCD again. The mode is persistent until you do something else, which is especially great for a night shooting - you can see it from a few feet! No need to press that tiny light button again (and the light disappears after a few seconds)
* Now you can have both RGB and Luminosity histograms! - Sensor cleaning
Due to the fact I own and use two identical bodies, the need to change lenses is significantly less than with the one body setup. However, I did changed them enough (outside, very windy conditions) to pretty much guarantee a lot of dust bunnies in 30D or any other unprotected models. I don't know, maybe it was very clear Montana air, or was it the effectiveness of the sensor cleaning system, but I didnt see a single bunny yet. - New menu system
It takes a bit of time to get used to this 1D-based tabbed system, but I like it. - New custom functions
Very useful additions, like High ISO Noise reduction (be aware, though, it can drastically affect your burst rate at high ISOs).
Highlight preference seems also like a very nice feature. - Much better noise reduction
I have just mentioned High ISO noise reduction, which kicks in gradually as you crank ISO up. But it looks like the Long Exposure Noise reduction has been improved as well. I used them in combination, and it took only a few seconds (like 5-ish) to get back to me after 30 sec exposures - I didn't have to wait the full 30 second for the dark frame! And from what I have seen thus far, the pictures look much cleaner compared to what I remember from my 20D/30D ISO 3200 shots. - Auto ISO
This is what I call "green mode for advance shooters". Turn the ISO dial below 100 and you get Auto, which means it will automatically shift between 100 and 800, with 400 being a default initial value. I used this mode a lot and it works great! - User Settings
Now this was a total life saver. Record up to three sets of camera settings and switch between them in a fraction of a second. It remembers speed, ISO, custom functions, mode - the whole shebang.
One moment you're shooting smooth water at ISO 100, next moment - bracketing landscape at +/-1.5 EV and next one - shooting fast-moving Schmoo at ISO1600. Considering your regular settings also work and are stored independently, you have, in fact not 3, but 4 instantly switchable modes.
Man, this feature alone justifies the upgrade! - Live View
In all fairness, I was a tad sceptical about this one. I've been using Sony DCS bodies for several years, so it kinda was nothing new.
Well, I was wrong. It's an extremely usable feature for macro, night or low/weird angle shooting. Of course, articulated screen would make it a total killer, but hey, there is always a room for improvement and 50D :-)
Word of advise: it drains your battery FAST, so don't leave your camera in this mode for long. Occasional trips into it, however, seems to be perfectly OK. - Timers
Thank Almighty: 2sec timer is not bound to MLU anymore, so you can finally choose 10 or 2 yourself. - Drive
That 6 fps and a bigger buffer sure feels nice when you shoot wildlife (or, again, Schmoo:-) - Favorites
Last but not least: you get to choose several of your favorite menu commands to be neatly grouped in one screen (you can even make it a default one). With it in place and the user settings saved, your need to navigate over other tabs virtually disappear.
HTH
PS
I know Mike (Iem), Bendr, Pathfinder and Nightingale were using their 40D at Glacier, too, I'm sure they will add their own favorite features.
"May the f/stop be with you!"
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My Gear
My Websites - Personal www.ericsmemories.com |"Professional" www.vividphotography.org
My Favorite Photos - Chicago, NYC, DC, London, Prague, Alaska, Yellowstone, Glacier NP, Vermont, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands NP, The Appalachian Trail
You know, of course, you can't tell sh!t over even 3" screen, you need to look at ti over the large screen at home/office.
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</subliminal message>
<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/rolleyes1.gif" border="0" alt="" >
I have been impressed with how much better this camera is than my last APS DSLR, the 20D. The AF is faster, better, and more accurate. This body focuses with an f5.6 telephoto very quickly, even in low light after sunset!
This frame is about 1/4 of a frame from the 40D, shot after sundown from the hood of my car at 1/30th sec, f 5.6, ISO 1600, at 500mm. I was able to focus with the center AF point. The lens was a Tamron 200-500 at 500mm, without tripod, resting on the hood of my car. The sun had set 5-10 minutes earlier. No noise reduction has been performed on this shot, either in the body, or in post processing. I did some luminance and color noise reduction in ARC.
Not a great shot, but the noise is pretty low for ISO 1600.
The improved weather sealing is worthwhile, as my bodies get used in the rain and snow, and were in Glacier as well.
The 14 bit image depth also is a real, noticeable improvement.
This image of a sunset is straight from Adobe Raw Converter - no fancy double frames with masks - one simple step from RAW to jpg. Notice, no burned out highlights either. Tamron 200-500 ISO 400, f 10, 1/1250th, -2/3s EC
As Nik said, the 3 inch LCD is lovely and much, more useful. I have not found any dust bunnies on the sensor yet either, altho I haven't really hunted for them.
Here is Skippy at ISO 1000 - f 3.5, 1/40th, Canon 24-105 L IS
It takes the same batteries as the 20D and the also.
I have not played with Live View yet.
I do like this camera - the better AF and noise properties, along with more pixels, will make this a great camera for wildlife shooters. I kept it on the seat beside me with a Tamron 200-500 zoom - small, light, with real reach that does not require a porter to carry.
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
My Gear
My Websites - Personal www.ericsmemories.com |"Professional" www.vividphotography.org
My Favorite Photos - Chicago, NYC, DC, London, Prague, Alaska, Yellowstone, Glacier NP, Vermont, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands NP, The Appalachian Trail
What kind of extended eyepiece is that? Do you like it?
www.casongarner.com
5D MkII | 30D | 50mm f1.8 II | 85mm f1.8 | 24-70mm f2.8L | 70-200mm f2.8L IS II | Manfrotto 3021BPRO with 322RC2
On the contrary, I have that eye jobbie and i like it very much.
I don't ware graduated glasses. Only sun glasses, polarized of course.
http://www.chrislaudermilkphoto.com/
Nikon D300
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6
Nikon 50mm f/1.8D
[SIZE=-3]Mary Beth Glasmann Photography[/SIZE]
Which card are you using with the 40 D ?
I own Sandisk Extreme III on the 20D but it is the fastest/best for the 40 D ?
What's your experience about this ?
Of course the ST-E2 works fine with the 40 D and so does the 430 EX
Thank you.
Unless you find yourself bottoming our the buffer on your camera, really CF speed is irrelevant. I used to shoot sports with a microdrive if you can believe it... on my XTi with the larger buffer. I did stop using it because it started acting funny and I didnt really feel secure dumping lots of data on a little drive like that, but when it worked the speed was sufficient. You could argue that download speeds are improved with faster CF, which they are, but its very small compared to the price difference. I'd rather buy 2 8gb cards that are slower compared to a single 8gb extreme III. I use 2 8gb transcend 120x's and 2 8gb kingston 133x's now if that makes any difference...
I'm using 8Gb Kingston x133 in each (there was a deal on it here at dgrin, each cost me only $59). So far - so good...
I did the same thing
Yes, I have a dual layer DVD burner, but not all DVD drive in computers will read dual layer yet, so I have stuck with single layer DVDs for storage for now. I also have my files on a hard drive, but DVDs are an easy way to store my RAW files complete with an printout on paper of the thumbnail images contained. Not the best way perhaps, but it works for me.
In reference to card speed, I prefer the faster cards, not because they slow my camera down ( I rarely if ever fill a buffer ) but because I HATE sitting and WAITING for a computer to retrieve my files. I have stuck with Lexar and Sandisk - I have had too many other cards die sooner or later - I have chosen to stick with the big players Sandisk and Lexar only.
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
When I use the Sandisk and the "others" I can feel/see the difference when either the buffer is full or empty.
The "not so good" CF cards are also much slower when uploading to the computer.
The Sandisk cards write to the camera faster. Even in only one photo. And I like that. I shoot, I want to look at the screen and have the picture there at once.
Robgalbraith gives very good figures for the Sandisk Extreme IV CF cards on the 20 D.
A 2 Gb Sandisk Extreme IV CF card writes RAW at 6.080 Gb/sec and a 4 Gb Sandisk Extreme IV CF card writes at 5.812 Gb/sec.
It is more expensive, slower ( a bit, bit) and more risky (when changing, dropping on the floor) to have 2 cards of 2 Gb than 1 of 4 Gb.
From all this I think I can say that if I get a 40 D with an Extreme IV CF card - either 2Gb or 4 Gb - I am on the right track.
Huuummm. I think there is one 40 D waiting for me in Lisbon.
Thank you.
I'm literally ROFL right now
Sorry to add another hijack to your thread, but :smooch to you too! I have a whole year to practice my dodges before Moab, so I hope Canon technology can keep up.
Back on topic, the 40D sounds so very nice. Not that I'm ready for an upgrade yet but many of those features sound very, very enticing. Thanks for the comprehensive review!
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
I'll be training, too ;-)
My pleasure, thanks for reading!
So far I am convinced this is my next body. I just sold off my 30D, XT and accessories to raise the money. Heading to my local shop in a day or so to pick it up.
My photos
"The future is an illusion, but a damned handy one." - David Allen
One or the other of what?
Moab or the wedding? The camera or the wedding?
There's no "decisions" -
I think you get at least 2 of the 3: Camera & Moab sound good to me!
-Fleetwood Mac
I'm currently saving up, after the lens I bought, for the 5D.
www.tednghiem.com
This is NOT the place to go if you want to save your money!
http://www.chrislaudermilkphoto.com/
Yeah, but it's when ppl want to see your camera and they stick their big slimy nose on your LCD. ewwwwwww....
Photos | Blog | Youtube
Yeah I just learned that! haha!
www.tednghiem.com