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Megapixel.net Canon EOS 40DPocket-lint Canon EOS-40DThe Digital Picture Canon EOS-40DCamera Labs Canon EOS 40DPhotoReview Canon EOS-40D |
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A recurring question mark in EOS architecture is the continued placement of the power switch on the lower back portion of the camera body. While this leaves the control out of the way of accidental depression, the positioning and sloping design forces users to power the camera on with their left hand while gripping the camera with their right. The two-handed design differs from the more logical construction utilized by Nikon and Pentax, which places the power control around the shutter release. When integrated with the shutter button, users can power the camera on and snap a quick shot much faster, using just their right hand. This also frees shooters up to walk with the camera powered off – conserving battery juice – until they’re ready to fire off a shot.
Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (7.5)
Retaining the same basic layout as the EOS 30D, the 40D’s control array has been modified from its predecessor to make room for the enlarged 3-inch LCD. In doing so, the vertical array of buttons has been shifted from the left side of the display to below it. This is detrimental for handling, as the expanded display results in less physical space to hold the camera and make adjustments – an issue that’s impacted usability on point-and-shoot cameras for a while. Alternatively, this is not an issue on the competing Nikon D300, which also touts a 3-inch LCD; Nikon was able to expand the display without removing buttons from either side of the screen. The buffer space is where your hands naturally fall, and is invaluable for comfort and control.
The biggest issue with the 40D’s layout, however, is its seemingly unnecessary re-pairing of settings and buttons on the top of the camera. The 30D had the same three buttons, in the same place, but they controlled different settings. With each button, one setting was changed, while the other was kept the same. The buttons on the 40D access Metering/White Balance, Autofocus/Drive mode, ISO/Flash exposure compensation; the same controls on the EOS 30D cover Autofocus/White balance, Drive/ISO, Metering/Flash exposure compensation. Collectively, the same six settings are accessible, with the same three buttons, just not the same buttons for each setting. Make sense? We were under the impression that Canon implemented its Picture Styles (which gain a dedicated button on the 40D) to help streamline compatibility across multiple bodies. It seems like 20D and 30D shooters may oddly face a steep adjustment curve.
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The dedicated Picture Styles control, along with the direct print button, also appears to be an impractical use of the 40D’s external real estate. Both features are convenient, and may appeal to a small segment of users; however, we suspect the majority of shooters would have preferred more critical settings (Bracketing, Mirror Lock-Up, Picture Size/Quality Options, Live View menu) assigned to those buttons. Further, neither control is customizable. User-specified button assignments are increasingly common on DSLRs, and we hope Canon furthers its profusion. If not, hopefully 40D (and 5D) users do a lot of direct printing!
Canon added an AF-On button on the back of the camera that we found particularly useful. The AF-On button is adjustable (in the Custom Settings menu), and can be used to separate autofocus and auto exposure lock functions, and engage autofocus in Live View mode. The button is flexible, logically placed opposite the shutter release on the top back portion of the camera, and improves shooting efficiency.
Menu (8.25)
The Menu system is organized in nine tabs; two Shooting, two Playback, three Setup, one Custom, and one My Menu tabs. The tabs are color coded; red for Shooting, blue for Playback, yellow for Setup, orange for Custom Function, and green for My Menu.
The 40D’s menu layout is a break from its predecessors, which have list-style menus that require users to scrolls through options with the Quick Control dial. The tabbed menus are logically arranged and closely resemble the 1D Mark III. Menu options fit on the displayed screen, eliminating the need to scroll through lengthy lists.
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Shooting 1 |
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Quality
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Set image size and compression
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Red-eye On/Off
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Turn red-eye reduction on or off
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Beep
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Turn focus lock beep on or off
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Shoot w/o card
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Take a shot without a memory card in the camera
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Review time
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Off, 2 second, 4 second, 8 second, Hold
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Shooting 2
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AEB
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Controls exposure bracketing, +/- 2 stops in 1/3-stop increments.
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White balance
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Select from auto and preset white balance settings
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Custom WB
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Manual white balance
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WB SHIFT/BKT
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Shift white balance along the blue/amber and magenta/green axis, bracket white balance +/- 3 steps in full stops
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Color space
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sRGB or Adobe RGB
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Picture Style
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Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, three custom settings
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Dust Delete Data
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Used in conjunction with included Digital Photo Professional software to track and remove spots in images caused by dust on the sensor
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Playback 1 |
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Protect images
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Prevents images from being erased
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Rotate
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Rotates selected image
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Erase images
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Erase individual images or all images on the memory card
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Print order
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Select number of prints to be made from an individual image or all images on a memory card
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Transfer order
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Select images to transfer from the camera to the computer
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External media backup
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Appears when an external device is attached to the camera
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Playback 2
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Highlight alert
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Turns the highlight warning on or off
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AF point disp.
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Display the focus points on the image during playback
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Histogram
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Select brightness or RGB histogram
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Auto play
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Plays images automatically
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Setup 1 |
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Auto power off
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The power can be set to shut off after 1, 2, 4, 8, 15 or 30 minutes.
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File numbering
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Set the way images are numbered
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Auto rotate
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Images can be set to automatically rotate when viewed on the LCD screen and/or computer.
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INFO button
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The INFO button can be set to display camera settings and/or shooting functions.
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Format
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Formats the memory card
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WFT settings
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Appears when the wireless transmitter is attached
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Record func. + media select
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Appears when media is connected via the wireless transmitter
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Setup 2
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LCD brightness
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Sets the LCD brightness
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Date/Time
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Sets the date and time
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Language
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18 languages are available
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Video system
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Sensor cleaning
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Can be set to auto, manual, or clean now
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Live View function settings
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Enable/Disable Live View and select settings
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Flash control
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Controls various flash functions
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Setup 3
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Camera user setting
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Assign camera settings to the custom positions on the mode dial
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Clear all camera settings
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Restores default settings
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Firmware Ver.
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Displays current firmware version installed in the camera
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Custom Functions |
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C.Fn I: Exposure
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Set ISO increments
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C.Fn II: Image
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Turn long exposure noise reduction to off, auto, or on
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C.Fn III: Auto focus/Drive
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Enable or disable mirror lockup
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C.Fn IV: Operation/Others
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Enable/disable Live View exposure simulation
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Clear all Custom Func. (C.Fn)
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Clears all Custom Functions
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My Menu |
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My Menu settings
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Stores Menu settings and Custom Functions selected by the user
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Ease of Use (6.75)
The 40D supplies a range of modes that allow users to determine the degree of control they’d like to assume over the camera. For those looking for point-and-shoot usability, the Full Auto mode transforms the camera into a one click device; those interested in more advanced functionality can shoot remotely, manually adjusting each setting on their PC. The all-inclusive approach offers a versatile platform for users looking to grow into the medium, and the logical layout should be reasonably intuitive for all level shooters.
Ironically, the biggest roadblock in usability applies to existing 30D shooters. Canon, for some reason, has reassigned the three control buttons on the top of the camera. The buttons access critical shooting parameters - ISO, White Balance, and Metering mode – and are likely to disorient 30D shooters who have become familiar enough with the camera to shoot by feel. 30D users expecting to adjust ISO with the center control will actually end up switching the Drive mode on the 40D. If they’d like to change the ISO on the 40D, they will have to use the rightmost control, which set the Metering pattern on the 30D. We feel for any professional on a shoot with both 30D and 40D bodies – hopefully the additional weight or enlarged LCD will help the association along. Perhaps a future Picture Style will emerge for unifying button assignments?
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