Canon EOS 40D Review

In a world gone crazy over slim and light, full-sized digital SLRs like the Canon 40D ($925-$1300, body only) are behemoths. With the 28-135mm ES zoom included with my review unit, this EOS model weighed a hefty three pounds, and it gave me a whole new perpsective on the physical requirements for being a professional photographer.

To go along with its weighty proportions, the 40D has a dense set of controls that can be initially challenging.

The use of three dials--a Main Dial, Multi-Controller and Quick Control Dial--can take some getting used to. In some cases, the dials' functions overlap, as is the case with the Multi-Controller and Quick Control Dial, and in others, they split functions--like navigating and selecting menu items--that typically are the province of a single dial.

While the unit's button controls are a generous size, their scattered placement over the body of the DSC requires more hunting for functions than suits my taste. There are buttons on top of the camera, to the left and right of the viewfinder and below the main LCD. What's more, while the controls with silver labels are easy to discern, those with blue characters are difficult to distinguish, especially in low light conditions.

After a suitable adjustment period, you can learn to cope with the control issues and that's when the fun begins. The 40D, which has an APC-sized sensor, allows you to produce great pictures with excellent color fidelity and clarity and with a minimum of noise. Moreover, it gives you great latitude in controlling the camera's focusing, metering and white balancing systems.


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