Canon EOS 40D
The Canon EOS 40D has a DIGIC III processor with an APS-C sized CMOS
sensor. The effective pixel count for the camera is 10.1 mega pixels.
Startup time for the unit is ±2 seconds.
The camera captures images in three pixel sizes-3888 x 2592, 2816 x 1880 and 1936 x 1288 and two quality levels-fine and normal. In addition to using the JPG file format, it can create pictures in the RAW and SRAW file formats.
The compression ratio for JPG images at fine quality ranged from 1:3.7
(1936 x 1288) to 1:4.5 (3888 x 2592). At normal quality, compression ratios spanned 1:8.2 (2816 x 1880) to 1:10.4 (1936 x 1288). On average, the time between shots for the 40D is ±.08 seconds.
In RAW mode shot-to-shot times increases slightly to ±2.1 seconds.The 40D uses interchangeable lenses. It has a Canon EF mount and will
accept EF, EF-S, TS-E and MP-E lenses. This Canon model uses
CompactFlash media to store images. The media must be purchased
separately. Two self-timer modes are available-10 seconds and two
seconds. When using a self timer, the camera’s viewfinder must be
covered for proper exposure. Standards supported by the 40D are
EXIF 2.2, DPOF, NTSC/PAL, USB 2.0 and PictBridge.
The zoom feature of the model is controlled by a large ring at the
front end of the lens and a smaller one located behind the zoom ring,
can be used for manual focusing. A switch on the side of lens toggles
it between AF and MF mode.
Three auto focusing modes are supported by the camera. One-Shot AF is for clicking on still subjects. When performing partial depress of the shutter button in the viewfinder, the AF points used for focusing the
shot will flash red. Another focusing mode is AI Servo AF. It’s used
for focusing on moving subjects. Once focus is locked on moving target, the camera continues to be focused on the subject automatically until shot is taken. AI Focus AF combines both One-Shot and AI Servo AF modes. With AI Focus AF, if a still subject starts moving, the camera will enter AI Servo AF mode to keep the target in focus. The beeper will sound in AI Focus AF mode but the confirmation light will be disabled.
Shutter speeds can be set manually or automatically. In Shutter Priority mode (Tv), one can set the shutter speed manually and the camera chooses an appropriate aperture setting for the shot.
In Program mode, the camera auto set the shutter speed and aperture
when using the built-in flash. In Aperture Priority mode (Av), the
flash exposure will be matched to the F number that is chosen and
the shutter speed is adjusted accordingly.
The 40D has two sequential shooting modes. High-speed mode fires 6.5
shots per second at 3888 x 2592 while low-speed mode fires three shots per second at the same image size and resolution. Burst speeds will
vary depending on battery power.
The 40D comes with four metering modes. The evaluative metering can
cover range of situations from portraits to backlit subjects. When
shooting against a bright background, partial metering covers about 9% of the viewfinder area at its center. For a tighter exposure area, spot metering is suitable as it bases its reading on 3.8% of the viewfinder area at its center. Finally, there’s center-weighted average metering which emphasizes the exposure at the center of the
viewfinder and uses that reading in conjunction with averages taken
from the rest of the scene.
This Canon model has a TTL secondary image-registration phase detection focusing system with nine AF points using cross-type technology. A self cleaning sensor unit which runs by default when the bytecam is turned on or off reduces the start-up time of this camera. The cleaning device shakes dust off the front layer of the sensor. In addition to operating when the camera is turned on or off, the cleaner can be activated manually through the DSC’s menu system.
The camera also has a red-eye reduction feature. When the features activated, the unit’s red-eye reduction lamp will light when the shutter button is partially depressed.
In addition to all these, a built-in pop-up flash is set when certain
conditions warrant it. In the Creative Zone, the flash is manually
popped up by pressing the lightning bolt button located just below the
flash housing at the front of the camera. The exposure of a shot can
also be altered by ±2 stops.To utilize exposure compensation feature,
the camera’s power switch must be turned to the Quick Control Dial
setting. With that done, when the shutter button is partially depressed,the exposure compensation for a scene can be set by rotating the Quick Control Dial.
