Development concept
As the successor to the EOS 30D, the EOS 40D was developed to give better performance and higher quality by strengthening the model's core functions. Below are some of the specific development goals we pursued for this high-end digital AF SLR camera.
• Superb resolution and quality
· 10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor
· DIGIC III for fine image detail and natural color reproduction
· Picture Styles
• Speed
· Continuous shooting with a maximum burst of 75 frames at about 6.5 frames per second
· Nine cross-type AF points
(the center AF point is sensitive to both vertical and horizontal lines at f/2.8)
• Comfort
· Viewfinder with 0.95x magnification
· Interchangeable focusing screens
· Three-inch, high-resolution LCD monitor
· Live View shooting (with Silent shooting mode)
• Retains the outstanding features of the EOS 30D
· Fast shutter with a maximum speed of 1/8000 sec. and X-sync speed of 1/250 sec.
· Start-up time of only 0.15 sec.
· Shutter life of 100,000 cycles
• Thorough dust elimination
· EOS Integrated Cleaning System
• High-grade design
· New design with a solid feel
· Magnesium alloy exterior
Advances in resolution, image quality, and digital functions
(1) Canon-developed 10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC III
The EOS 40D touts a large, Canon-developed CMOS sensor (Photo 2) with 10.10 effective megapixels (10.50 total megapixels) and an effective sensor size of 22.2 × 14.8 mm. Although the sensor's size and pixel-count specifications are the same as the CMOS sensor in the EOS Kiss Digital X, a new semiconductor fabrication process and microlens configuration were adopted so that the sensor can handle a wider ISO range (100- 1600, with a maximum of ISO 3200) while achieving lower noise.
Thanks to the combination of the RGB color filter, the three-layer, high-performance low-pass filter that also cuts infrared radiation, and the fast, high-performance DIGIC III image processor, the camera produces high-resolution, high-quality images.
(2)Top-the-line image-processing technology from the EOS-1D Mark III
The EOS 40D image quality outstrips that of the EOS 30D because it incorporates the following acclaimed technology found on the EOS-1D Mark III.
· 14-bit A/D conversion provides richer tonal expression
The EOS 30D uses a 12-bit process (4,096 steps) to convert the CMOS sensor's analog output to a digital signal, whereas the EOS 40D uses a 14-bit process (16,384 steps) that produces digital data with full tonality and smoother gradation".
· Highlight Tone Priority mode
This mode expands the headroom from the proper exposure (18% gray) to the white saturation point by approximately one f-stop. The additional headroom limits blown highlights and gives smoother reproduction of tones from gray to highlights.
· Noise reduction during long exposures
This feature is particularly effective for exposures of a few minutes or longer.
· Noise reduction at high ISO speeds
This function operates at all ISO speeds but works most effectively when shooting at high ISOs.
(3)Brightness and contrast auto correction
In Full Auto mode and the Basic Zone modes, the camera automatically detects when underexposed or murky images are likely to occur and then adjusts the brightness and contrast immediately after the photo is taken to give a desirable result.
(4)Auto ISO speed enabled in Creative Zone modes
On the EOS 30D, Auto ISO could only be used in the Basic Zone modes. It automatically set the ISO speed between 100 and 400 depending on the shooting conditions at a reference speed of ISO 200. The EOS 40D features an upgraded Auto ISO mode that works not only in the Basic Zone modes (ISO 100 - 800) but also in the Creative Zone modes, where it sets the ISO speed automatically between 400 and 800.
(5)Three-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD monitor with a wide viewing angle
The large 3-inch LCD monitor (Photo 3), which has 230,000 pixels and a wide 140° viewing angle, is both brighter and uses less power than the 30D's monitor. The menu display (Figure 1) uses the same easy-to-read design found in the EOS-1D Mark III.
The EOS Integrated Cleaning System: an evolution in total sensor cleaning
The EOS Integrated Cleaning System was developed on the basic concept of ''don't make, don't collect, don't leave'' any dust in the camera. This model uses the four-stage comprehensive cleaning solution outlined below.
(1)Limit creation of dust
When we redesigned the shutter mechanism and its raw materials for a 100,000-cycle service life, our first priority was to ensure these parts shed very little dust.
(2)Limit collection of dust on the imaging sensor surface
Static electricity, which is a major cause of dust accumulation, is completely discharged.
(3)Shake off any dust adhering with ultrasonic vibrations
The Self Cleaning Sensor Unit (Photo 4, Figure 2) is combined with the low-pass filter in front of the CMOS sensor. This unit shakes off any attached dust with ultrasonic vibrations in a form that differs from the EOS-1D Mark III and the EOS Kiss Digital X.
(4)Obtain and append ''Dust Delete Data'' to images/remove dust automatically in software
When the Self Cleaning Sensor Unit (in (3) above) cannot clean all the dust from the sensor, this function maps the dust particles (which are found and recorded by taking a photo of a solid white object beforehand) and adds this information to the image data. Later, the dust mapping is used by the included software (DPP Ver. 3.2) to automatically process and remove all dust marks from the image data.
Advances in speed, comfort, and shooting functions
(1)High-magnification viewfinder and new interchangeable focusing screens
The pentaprism has been optimized and the aperture of the eyepiece enlarged to give an improved viewfinder (Figure 3) with higher magnification of about 0.95x (and a 26.4° viewing angle). The focusing screen is now interchangeable. In addition to the standard Ef-A Precision matte, the Ef-D Precision matte with grid overlay and the Ef-S Super Precision matte, designed for finer focusing with large-aperture lenses, are available.
(2)More precise AF from nine cross-type AF points and a center AF point for f/2.8 lenses
The autofocus performance of the 40D has been improved dramatically with the inclusion of a newly developed AF sensor (Photo 5) with nine cross-type AF points.
• Nine cross-type AF points
All AF points (Figure 4) work as cross-type points at f/5.6. (Cross-type points are sensitive to both vertical and horizontal lines.) This provides highly precise, stable AF performance with fewer failures with hard-to-focus subjects.
• First EOS with a cross-type AF point sensitive to f/2.8 (center point)
Previous f/2.8-sensitive AF sensors in EOS cameras only detected vertical lines. The f/2.8-sensitive center AF point in the EOS 40D is the first in an EOS camera to be sensitive to both vertical and horizontal lines. This advance gives the 40D faster and more accurate AF with greater sensitivity and stability.
• AI Servo AF capable of 6.5 fps continuous shooting in bursts of up to 75 frames
Thanks to faster AF calculation (1.3 times faster than the EOS 30D), this model can reach continuous shooting speeds of about 6.5 fps with predictive-tracking AF. The subject capture ability during continuous shooting is greatly improved because of the nine cross-type AF points, and a maximum burst during continuous shooting of about 75 JPEG (Large/Fine) or 17 RAW pictures (Table 1) is possible.
Other aspects of the 40D related to AF operation are the same as those of the EOS-1D Mark III, and it has a dedicated AF-ON button.
(3)Live View mode
The EOS 40D uses the same Live View shooting mode used on the EOS-1D Mark III. However, Live View on the EOS 40D features several enhancements, described below, over the EOS-1D Mark III, which permits only manual focusing in Live View.
• AF function (C.Fn III-6)
Holding down the AF-ON button in Live View mode pauses Live View, drops the mirror and autofocuses by phase-difference detection. After the user confirms the focus and releases the AF-ON button, Live View immediately returns. Pressing the shutter button will resume Live View shooting.
• Electrical first-curtain shutter ensures quiet shooting
The EOS 40D's CMOS sensor comes with an electrical first-curtain shutter function that exposes only a slit across the sensor in tandem with the mechanical second-curtain shutter. Therefore, the only mechanical operation in the exposure control is the movement of the mechanical second curtain when in Live View monitoring with the aperture wide open (the first curtain and mirror are up). This, of course, makes for extremely quiet shooting (Figure 5).
· Silent Mode 1
In this mode, it is possible to continuously shoot as fast as 6 fps or shoot only one frame quietly since neither the mirror nor the mechanical first curtain move.
· Silent Mode 2
When shooting in this mode, the only sound made as each frame is taken is the second-curtain shutter, which closes when the photographer completely releases the shutter button (thus, the photographer controls the timing of the second-curtain shutter). In other words, although the EOS 40D is an SLR camera, it shoots as quietly as an old-style lens-shutter camera.
Advances in customization
(1)Enhanced custom functions
There are 24 custom functions with 62 options. The categories have been reorganized based on the EOS-1D Mark III's menu.
(2)Register camera user settings
Almost all the user settings made on the camera, including the shooting modes, menu settings, and custom functions, can be registered as camera user settings to C1, C2, and C3 on the Mode dial (Photo 6).
(3)My Menu
Up to six frequently used menus or custom functions can be set to appear on the My Menu screen. When enabled, the My Menu options will appear before any other menu when the Menu button is pressed.
Advances in system expandability
The EOS 40D comes with the following system expansion features.
• Supports the WFT-E3
The EOS 40D supports picture transfers (wireless and wired) with the bottom-mounting WFT-E3 wireless file transmitter (Photo 7).
• Supports external storage media
Hard drives and other external storage media can be used concurrently with the WFT-E3. A GPS device can also be connected.
• Supports the original image verification system
The EOS 40D comes with image-encrypting functions that are compatible with the OSK-E3 original data security kit.
• Set flash functions from the camera
Various functions on the 580EX II flash can be set from the camera's menu.
• Extended PictBridge functions
When the EOS 40D is combined with a Canon printer, new direct-print special effects can be previewed on the LCD monitor and the cropping angle can be corrected (±10° in 0.5° increments).
This month we have presented an overview of the new EOS 40D digital SLR camera.
Table 2 compares the main specifications of the EOS 30D and the EOS 40D.
Next month, we are planning to take a look at a camera that was developed in parallel with the EOS 40D: the new EOS-1Ds Mark III, equipped with a massive 21.1 megapixel, full-frame CMOS sensor. We will present our new lenses- the EF 14 mm f/2.8LII USM, the EF-S 18 - 55 mm f/3.5 - 5.6 IS, and the EF-S 55 - 250 mm f/4 - 5.6 IS - at a later date.