Well, it isn't a 1D et al, or a 5D, but I'm thinking it's a pretty good upgrade for me. I've been using the 20D for two and a half years and didn't go for the 30D because I didn't think there was enough difference to spend the money. I think there are some significant upgrades from the 20D to the 40D though. For those of you using the Rebel, 20D or 30D, you may have looked into some of the differences, but if you haven't, here's what stands out for me:
-14-bit RAW files vs 12-bit
-New processor (DIGIC III)
-Dust Reduction System (high speed vibration
-3.0" LCD vs w/higher pixels vs 1.8" LCD
-Cross Point focusing points for f5.6 and faster lenses
-Additional sensitivity at center cross point for f2.8 lenses
-Wider Metering range from 0.0 to 20 vs 1.0 to 20
-Spot metering (introduced in 30D but not in 20D)
-Faster and quieter shutter, motorized in both directions instead of spring up motor down.
-Larger, brighter viewfinder
-ISO display in the viewfinder-finally (you think Canon would have put this in a long time ago)
-RGB Histograms (introduced in 30D but not on 20D)
Those are the things I liked the most and here are some things that I also like, but weren't the selling point for me, but gravy, so-to-speak:
-10.1 megapixels (with smaller photosites, but Canon says the new tech with not have more noise than the 8.2 mp with the slightly larger photosites
-LiveView LCD including 100% frame coverage, real time evaluative metering, exposure simulation, Rule of thirds grid overlay (optional), magnify
-In camera tilt correction and crop. It's not clear to me if this only functions with JPEG output or if it works on the RAW images. It might be nice to have some tilt correction before post processing.
-some weather proofing for the compartment doors (why not the whole camera?)
sRAW - a smaller RAW file that I might find useful for family photos where I'm not going to be printing big prints, but I still want some processing control.
Anyway, I'm sure this was very boring for you Nikon guys, and perhaps for everyone, but I should have camera in had next Wednesday, which surprised me because I thought it wasn't being released until Sept 20. I'd go so far as to say there are a few improvements over the 5D as well, but its not full frame, and obviously doesn't have as large photosites as the 5D, but both camera produce a RAW file over 12MB, which I'm assuming comes from the 40D creating a 14-bit RAW file and the 5D creating a 12-bit raw file.
Posted by Eric Hahl on August 30, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Very cool! congrats on the new toy.
Posted by Erik Lundh on August 30, 2007 at 1:01 PM
Ryan,
Congrats on the new camera. The Nikon D300 looks really inviting for a back up to my D2x. I need someone to talk me down.
The D300 does look pretty sweet! If I was a Nikon guy I'd be all over it. Sorry, Erik, I guess that's not really talking you down.
Posted by Adrian Klein on August 30, 2007 at 4:23 PM
ISO finally is visible on the viewfinder. Amen! This I agree has been long overdue. I really like some of the improvments with the 40D. I might get in touch with you and see what you think after you use it. I still have my 20D's and keep thinking about the 5D, but I have not ruled out considering the 40D either. My biggest hold back for never buying a cropped frame again is that I want to go to L glass for my wide angle and you cannot do that with a cropped frame and get the same view. I can only use my Canon 10-22 which is great but I know not as good as the 17-40 or 16-35 L, both of which will not give me the same view on the cropped frame bodies.
Thanks for the info though Ryan!
Posted by Hans Hibbard on August 30, 2007 at 5:21 PM
Adrian, I agree that it would certainly be nice to have a full frame camera to use that wide L glass. I'm pretty happy with my 10-22 (it does have a Super UD element that Canon claims is equivalent to the fluorite elements that L lenses use to correct chromatic abs). From my experience and the reviews I've read online, its performance is very near or equal to an L series lens, in fact some reviews state it should just have the red ring around the darn thing.
Anyway, that doesn't mean I wouldn't someday like to have a full frame camera, but the 5Ds are still selling for a little more than I'd like to spend on a camera (or perhaps what my wife would like me to spend), and the 40D has some options I like now that the 5D doesn't. Of course, I'm sure sometime in the next few months to a year the 5D's replacement will be out and incorporate much of what the 1Ds Mk III and 40D have added. If I was in this to make money or a working pro, it would be a different story, of course, but I'm a hobbiest who occasionally sells some stuff, and I think the 40D will fit that mold just right.
Feel free to send me an e-mail Adrian and I'll let you know what I think about it after I've got it. It should be arriving on the 5th.
Posted by Mike Stovall on August 30, 2007 at 6:31 PM
Wow, didn't realize it was already out now. This has some great new features, that I'd like to see in the 5D. But the 5D replacement probably won't happen for a while...
The dream feature for me would be a button that focuses the lens automatically at the hyperfocal distance. It's close to impossible to do if the hyperfocal distance is greater than about 4feet, because of the lack of gradation marks on the zoom lens distance scales... I'm sure this would be easy for the canon engineers to implement for lenses that return distance data...
Congrats and happy shooting!
Posted by John Lehmkuhl on August 30, 2007 at 7:29 PM
I'm waiting for spring. The 5D mark II with anti-dust will be out and either I'll get one of them, or I'll find a used 5D for mega cheap. I'll be curious to the IQ between the 40D and the 5D. It's a huge difference in IQ between the 20D and 5D so I wonder if it is closer. We're talking small percentages of difference here, but they are significant, imo.
I can't believe the resolution of the LCD display on the new Nikon cameras. 922,000 pixels compared to Canon's paltry 230,000 pixels. That is a huge difference for each being a 3" display. I'm guessing that Canon is holding off the 5D mark II to improve the LCD with this new superior display from Nikon.
I'm SO glad that Nikon is roaring back with killer cameras. Canon has been a bit lax at updating and competition will only benefit all of us
I thought about waiting for the 5D replacement to come out and pick up a 5D at that point, but I do like the 1.6 crop for shooting wildlife with my 100-400L, which gives me reach out to a 640mm equivalent. There were a lot of things to weigh, but I believe I'll be very happy with this decision. For my photographic purposes, it will certainly serve its purpose for a couple years. Now I just have to get my 20D ready to sell and see how much I can squeeze out of that.
Posted by dan elster on August 31, 2007 at 12:32 PM
I just put down a deposit on one. I've been living in the dark ages w/ a 10D so this will be a major upgrade for me. to the cropping factor, I can use all of the reach I can get.
Discussion
10 replies-14-bit RAW files vs 12-bit
-New processor (DIGIC III)
-Dust Reduction System (high speed vibration
-3.0" LCD vs w/higher pixels vs 1.8" LCD
-Cross Point focusing points for f5.6 and faster lenses
-Additional sensitivity at center cross point for f2.8 lenses
-Wider Metering range from 0.0 to 20 vs 1.0 to 20
-Spot metering (introduced in 30D but not in 20D)
-Faster and quieter shutter, motorized in both directions instead of spring up motor down.
-Larger, brighter viewfinder
-ISO display in the viewfinder-finally (you think Canon would have put this in a long time ago)
-RGB Histograms (introduced in 30D but not on 20D)
Those are the things I liked the most and here are some things that I also like, but weren't the selling point for me, but gravy, so-to-speak:
-10.1 megapixels (with smaller photosites, but Canon says the new tech with not have more noise than the 8.2 mp with the slightly larger photosites
-LiveView LCD including 100% frame coverage, real time evaluative metering, exposure simulation, Rule of thirds grid overlay (optional), magnify
-In camera tilt correction and crop. It's not clear to me if this only functions with JPEG output or if it works on the RAW images. It might be nice to have some tilt correction before post processing.
-some weather proofing for the compartment doors (why not the whole camera?)
sRAW - a smaller RAW file that I might find useful for family photos where I'm not going to be printing big prints, but I still want some processing control.
Anyway, I'm sure this was very boring for you Nikon guys, and perhaps for everyone, but I should have camera in had next Wednesday, which surprised me because I thought it wasn't being released until Sept 20. I'd go so far as to say there are a few improvements over the 5D as well, but its not full frame, and obviously doesn't have as large photosites as the 5D, but both camera produce a RAW file over 12MB, which I'm assuming comes from the 40D creating a 14-bit RAW file and the 5D creating a 12-bit raw file.
Congrats on the new camera. The Nikon D300 looks really inviting for a back up to my D2x. I need someone to talk me down.
Thanks for the info though Ryan!
Erik...GO FOR IT!! That camera looks great.
Anyway, that doesn't mean I wouldn't someday like to have a full frame camera, but the 5Ds are still selling for a little more than I'd like to spend on a camera (or perhaps what my wife would like me to spend), and the 40D has some options I like now that the 5D doesn't. Of course, I'm sure sometime in the next few months to a year the 5D's replacement will be out and incorporate much of what the 1Ds Mk III and 40D have added. If I was in this to make money or a working pro, it would be a different story, of course, but I'm a hobbiest who occasionally sells some stuff, and I think the 40D will fit that mold just right.
Feel free to send me an e-mail Adrian and I'll let you know what I think about it after I've got it. It should be arriving on the 5th.
The dream feature for me would be a button that focuses the lens automatically at the hyperfocal distance. It's close to impossible to do if the hyperfocal distance is greater than about 4feet, because of the lack of gradation marks on the zoom lens distance scales... I'm sure this would be easy for the canon engineers to implement for lenses that return distance data...
Congrats and happy shooting!
I can't believe the resolution of the LCD display on the new Nikon cameras. 922,000 pixels compared to Canon's paltry 230,000 pixels. That is a huge difference for each being a 3" display. I'm guessing that Canon is holding off the 5D mark II to improve the LCD with this new superior display from Nikon.
I'm SO glad that Nikon is roaring back with killer cameras. Canon has been a bit lax at updating and competition will only benefit all of us