Curmudgeon's review of the Canon EOS 40D

[JDArt]

I've been using Canon DSLR cameras for a long time. In fact, I've used almost every model the company has produced since it launched itself into digital DSLRs with the 30D. So you might say I'm jaded.

In any case, I've had a chance now to play with a 40D for a few days. Here are my initial thoughts on this latest consumer-level DSLR from Canon. Since I have more negatives to report than positives, I won't hold it against you if you look at this as a curmudgeon's review of the 40D. In fact, I'll even put "curmudgeon" in the title of this thread.

Pros:

• Very low noise in photographs. I'm surprised to see that a 1000 ISO shot can actually be usable.
• Snappy operation.
• Reasonably lightweight.
• Menu reorganization is nice, although I never minded the menus of the older model cameras
• Dust cleaning exists, but I'm not sure how well it works.
• The new external flash hotshoe is not painted. On previous "xxD" models, it was painted black, and the black paint always scraped off.
• The ISO setting is displayed in the viewfinder, and the addition of a single-purpose ISO button on the top of the camera means that you can change ISO without taking your eye from the viewfinder.

Cons:

• Insufficient standoff of viewfinder from back of camera. Result: you get to smash your nose pretty substantially into the LCD whenever you take a picture. That's not cool! Switching to a 1-series camera after using this is a HUGE relief from the standpoint of one's nose. Canon must have had this profile in mind when they designed the camera:
  
  
• The camera insists on reminding you that it is "cleaning the sensor" every time you turn on the camera and turn off the camera. Who cares? Just do it, I say.
• One time the camera locked up for no apparent reason. The top LCD showed info, but the camera refused to snap a picture when I pressed the shutter button. Reading around the net suggested that others have had this problem, not only with the 40D but with earlier "xxD" cameras. I had to pull out the battery and reinsert it to get the camera to work again. Firmware, you say? It is 1.0.5, the latest at this writing. Grrr.
• It's really uncomfortable to take a picture in vertical orientation when there's no vertical shutter release button.
• The battery technology of the 40D has been used ever since the ancient D60 and D30! I guess you get about 600 shots with it, but I've found these batteries to lose their useful life fairly quickly.
• The LCD on the back of this camera must be about 3 inches wide and tall. It is so big that I am tempted at times to use it to watch movies rather than take pictures with the camera. The LCD eats up more than half of the back of the camera.
• Other than for shooting wildlife or using telephoto lenses for other long-distance subjects, I find the 1.6x crop really constraining. I don't like it. It gives me claustrophobia.
• There is a "direct print" button on the back of the camera that I will never, ever in a thousand million years use. If I had 20 dollars, I would bet it all that no more than .00009 percent of the users of this camera will ever touch that button, much less use it.
• There is no dedicated button for changing image quality settings (Large to RAW, for instance). See my point above. Would you rather have a "direct print" button or an image quality button? Would the person at Canon responsible for the "direct print" button idea please stand up? Thank you--you're fired.
• Somebody at Canon must have looked at a Nikon camera some time ago and thought a joystick on the back of the camera was the way to change focus selection points. The trouble is that Canon's tiny, very plastic joystick is not only cheap feeling but also difficult to use. Positioning one's thumb in order to select one of the diagonally-placed focus points could very well cause muscle cramp--and will almost certainly take you so long that you'll either miss the picture you intended to take or give up on the idea altogether.
• The mode dial is a bit too easy to change inadvertently. You might take several pictures in "M" because the last time you used the camera you were in "A," but in removing the camera from your bag, the mode dial was changed as you scraped the camera on the side of the bag. Result: cursing and improperly exposed shots.

There you have it. As I delight in and curse the 40D, I may add more thoughts to this thread. Feel free to add your own. Insults accepted.

[Mr. Pickles]

Looks like verbiage for the PhotoCamel Reviews section to me........

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by JDArt

I've been using Canon DSLR cameras for a long time. In fact, I've used almost every model the company has produced since it launched itself into digital DSLRs with the 30D. So you might say I'm jaded.

Uhm...I'm assuming you're talking about the D30 since the 30D is fairly new.

Insufficient standoff of viewfinder from back of camera. Result: you get to smash your nose pretty substantially into the LCD whenever you take a picture. That's not cool! Switching to a 1-series camera after using this is a HUGE relief from the standpoint of one's nose. Canon must have had this guy in mind when they designed the camera: (pic removed)

EP-EX15 Eyepiece extender for US$15. Not a big deal.

The camera insists on reminding you that it is "cleaning the sensor" every time you turn on the camera and turn off the camera. Who cares? Just do it, I say.

It's on for a whole SECOND. Press the shutter and it stops. This is kinda reaching for something to bitch about. And at least you don't FEEL it like the Sony. Scared the crap out of me trying it out.

It's really uncomfortable to take a picture in vertical orientation when there's no vertical shutter release button.

Get the battery grip and you'll kill two birds with one stone here...

The battery technology of the 40D has been used ever since the ancient D60 and D30! I guess you get about 600 shots with it, but I've found these batteries to lose their useful life fairly quickly.

Actually, I find mine lasting longer than my 20D. I use third party 2000mAh batteries, though.

The LCD on the back of this camera must be about 3 inches wide and tall. It is so big that I am tempted at times to use it to watch movies rather than take pictures with the camera. The LCD eats up more than half of the back of the camera.

Uh..what else did you want to do with the back of the camera? I love this screen.

Other than for shooting wildlife or using telephoto lenses for other long-distance subjects, I find the 1.6x crop really constraining. I don't like it. It gives me claustrophobia.

I hadn't noticed it, even when switching from film. I haven't shot full frame regularly, though, so I guess I just got used to it.

There is a "direct print" button on the back of the camera that I will never, ever in a thousand million years use. If I had 20 dollars, I would bet it all that no more than .00009 percent of the users of this camera will ever touch that button, much less use it.

You'd lose. It's popular in Asia, especially Japan. But yeah, I wish it was programmable.

Somebody at Canon must have looked at a Nikon camera some time ago and thought a joystick on the back of the camera was the way to change focus selection points. The trouble is that Canon's tiny, very plastic joystick is not only cheap feeling but also difficult to use. Positioning one's thumb in order to select one of the diagonally-placed focus points could very well cause muscle cramp--and will almost certainly take you so long that you'll either miss the picture you intended to take or give up on the idea altogether.

You actually use the joystick? I just use the Main Dial.

The mode dial is a bit too easy to change inadvertently. You might take several pictures in "M" because the last time you used the camera you were in "A," but in removing the camera from your bag, the mode dial was changed as you scraped the camera on the side of the bag. Result: cursing and improperly exposed shots.

I gotta be honest: I've never seen this happen. I've easily passed about 10,000 shots on mine so far and it's hit my various bags a LOT. No issues at all. But then again, I set my camera back to certain defaults at the end of every shoot (with an empty card and fresh battery) so it's ready to pull out immediately and I simply KNOW what the settings already are. I've never seen it change (or my 20D with everything in the same place and it's a LOT looser than the 40D).

[JDArt]

From B&H:

The Canon EP-EX15 Eyepiece Extender extends the eyepiece by 5/8" (15mm) from the camera body and reduces the viewfinder magnification by 30%. This is useful for eyeglass wearers and others who wish to prevent the tip of their nose from touching the camera body. It also prevents condensation or fogging.

Canon | EP-EX15 Eyepiece Extender | 2444A001 | B&H Photo Video

and the one review for this item states

Not For Those Careful About Framing

Compromises the precise field of vision, and therefore is not for those who care about exact framing. It is not always possible to compensate by using editing software, such as Photoshop. This Eyepiece does what it is designed to do, but I'd rather wipe a few nose prints from my 40D, and see exactly what I feel I need to see in the viewfinder!

Why would I want to reduce the viewfinder magnification? Is this a good thing?

Some responses to your other points:

Get the battery grip and you'll kill two birds with one stone here...

Battery grip adds cost, weight, and bulk. I may as well have a 1-series camera.

Uh..what else did you want to do with the back of the camera?

Have quicker access to important camera functions via dedicated buttons.

I hadn't noticed it, even when switching from film. I haven't shot full frame regularly, though, so I guess I just got used to it.

I didn't notice it that much either until I used full-frame digital cameras.

You actually use the joystick? I just use the Main Dial.

Main dial is for exposure comp. The joystick is there to be used. I think it's crappy and always have felt that way since Canon introduced it with the 20D.

I gotta be honest: I've never seen this happen.

Has happened since the 20D, when Canon loosened the tension on that mode dial. The 10D and D60 did not have this issue.

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by JDArt

Why would I want to reduce the viewfinder magnification? Is this a good thing?

No, but some take the lens out of the EP-EX15...

Battery grip adds cost, weight, and bulk. I may as well have a 1-series camera.

...you seem to expect 1-series performance... that comes at a price (for the 1-series... )

Have quicker access to important camera functions via dedicated buttons.

...buy a Nikon or an Olympys ??

Main dial is for exposure comp. The joystick is there to be used. I think it's crappy and always have felt that way since Canon introduced it with the 20D.

I use joystick direct (CFn setting on 20D and 40D). never had your problems with that stick, but a bit longer reach would be nice...

Has happened since the 20D, when Canon loosened the tension on that mode dial. The 10D and D60 did not have this issue.

I shoot or shot 10D, 20D, 40D, 350D, 400D, all with mode dials, all in the same (more and more cramped) bag, but never had that problem...

...would you prefer the old ISO style (lift modedail, select, push back ??) dials ?? as even tense dials could loosen over time...

...€0.02...

Kindest regards,

Max@Home

[JDArt]

So no one else has experienced the camera lock-up issue that I mentioned?

[dougsmit]

I'd consider a dedicated button for changing image quality almost as big a waste as the direct print button. If I had a desire for a DSLR with 3 Meg images, I'd find a used D30. As it is, I set the menu to RAW and am glad that I don't have a button to accidentally hit and change something. Whether a function is controlled by a button or menu is a decision that has to be made carefully. There are a hundred things that could be given a button but only so much real estate on the camera. Overall I approve of most of the choices Canon made (but agree that a programmable 'direct print' button would be a good idea so you can set yours to whatever strikes your fancy).

Regarding the nasally challenged Roman lady: Who are you calling a guy?

[JDArt]

Originally Posted by dougsmit

I'd consider a dedicated button for changing image quality almost as big a waste as the direct print button. If I had a desire for a DSLR with 3 Meg images, I'd find a used D30. As it is, I set the menu to RAW and am glad that I don't have a button to accidentally hit and change something.

I think one thing this discussion demonstrates is what Brian suggested: it would be useful to have at least one programmable button on the D40.

Regarding the nasally challenged Roman lady: Who are you calling a guy?

Woops.

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by JDArt

So no one else has experienced the camera lock-up issue that I mentioned?

One time the camera locked up for no apparent reason. The top LCD showed info, but the camera refused to snap a picture when I pressed the shutter button. Reading around the net suggested that others have had this problem, not only with the 40D but with earlier "xxD" cameras. I had to pull out the battery and reinsert it to get the camera to work again. Firmware, you say? It is 1.0.5, the latest at this writing. Grrr.

This happened to me on the 40D once with a 85F1.2L II attached, on the 20D maybe 8 times in it's three year life, always with the 70-200F2.8IS attached...

Indeed a bother, but easily remedied... Canon's run on DOS firmware, so -as a Windoze user- I expect a blue screen every once in a year...

...€0.02...

Max@Home

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by JDArt

...it would be useful to have at least one programmable button on the D40.... Woops.

woops indeed: 40D not D40, that's a Nikon (and a good one)

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[Sparky98]

The 40D is my first DSLR and I have only taken about 2K shots since I got it in September so I am not the most experienced voice but I have not had the same experiences with my camera as you.

The sensor cleaning doesn't bother me at all. In fact I just ignore it and let it do it's thing and it doesn't slow me down or cause me any problems. You can turn that feature off and initiate a manual clean on your own schedule if you want to.

Mine has never locked up so I can't relate to that.

My batteries seem to be doing fine so no complaints there.

None of my previous cameras had a vertical shutter release so I still use the same procedure - turn the camera, support it with my left hand, steady it with my right hand on top and take the shot. I guess I don't know what I am missing so I can't really relate to that problem.

My LCD stays greasy but so did the back of my AE-1. When I used the viewfinder on my G3 I always geased up it's LCD also. My nose is not exceptionally large but I have just accepted the fact that the back of the camera is going to get greasy. I find my shirt tail does a good job of removing the grease.

I doubt that I will ever use the Direct Print button so I agree with you there. I wish Canon had made that button programmable.

After having used P&S cameras for the last several years I don't feel constrained by the sensor at all. In fact my world has really opened up since I got the 40D. I wouldn't mind having a 5D for the FF sensor but since I have never shot with a FF sensor I guess I don't know what I am missing. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

I don't have a problem with the joy stick. For me, it is relatively easy to use but occasionally I do find it a little too sensative and move it in the wrong direction.

I have never had the mode dial move accidentally. It may be the way I place mine in my backpack but I take no pains to protect the mode dial and haven't had a problem yet.

I am very happy with my 40D and find few faults with the camera. It may be because I am such a rookie that I don't notice all the flaws but if I had it to do over again I would still buy the 40D.