Product ReviewsCanon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera - Black (Body Only) (Speedlite 580EX II Kit)

Great camera with powerful features

Canon has a long history of making high quality cameras and lenses and the EOS 40D is no exception. While it is an older model in the EOS line it still provides a large array of shooting modes and features that are attractive to both the advanced amateur and the professional photographer. If you want to learn how to use a high quality camera at a reasonable price the 40D is a good choice.
One caveat however, older EOS cameras may have reliability problems so be sure to check it out before buying one to make sure everything works. Repairs can cost more than the camera.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Sold by: 1stwebdeals

Great camera but beware.

These are great cameras but the last two that I have purchased have had problems that are typical of this model after they age. First the shutter button can get to the point where you have to depress it very hard to get if to work if that. A factory repair is up to $200. You can fix with alcohol (either in the camera or yourself) with instructions on youtube but it is risky. The other is that the click wheel can start slipping. That too is an expensive fix but here again you can google this issue and find a solution using glue. Other that that these cameras take great pictures and if you get one without these two issues you are gold.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: onlineclothingshed

Excellent camera for advanced/pro users

Although this camera may be considered "old" by today's standards, the build quality, image quality, and ease of use make this my go-to unit for serious photography. It shoots in RAW format, so nailing the exposure in high contrast scenes is a no-brainer. Keep in mind that cameras are just light boxes, therefore much of the art of photography is in the eyes and hands of the person doing the shooting... Canon's 40D is an excellent tool that doesn't get in the way of taking great images.

As long as the camera works, I see no need to upgrade. Used models are going dirt cheap, so the bang-for-your-buck ratio is through the roof. Highly recommended.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: ngpaul

Good bang for the buck. Good beginner Camera.

Amazing camera.

This camera is very good if you are a beginner. I wouldnt say that this camera is for the amateur but someone with little to no experience in photography. It has many functions to play around with which are very basic.

The image quality is very good, however this camera is now dated and does not have a video functionality.

Battery life is very good. I take about 40 pictures daily and don't need to recharge for about 2 weeks.

This is a very durable camera. It shoots when told to and never fails.

It has manual and automatic focus settings.Read full review...

Awesome product! Great image quality for so low price!!!

Canon EOS 40D is a camera which gives you perfect quality of image from one side and ensures you an easy work from another one. It has a magnificent design, its body is very ergonomic and lets change the settings quickly in quickly varying conditions of photography. For me it's an almost ideal camera which has only one "shortcoming"... it isn't a full frame camera))) But, it has many functions and it has the design of its "elder brother" Canon EOS 5D, which is recommended as the next grade for a Canon's admirer.
I am pleased with this camera very much and I recommend it.Read full review...

Great camera body

While this is an older Canon "Prosumer" body, it's actually stronger in image quality than the 50D and a more robust professional body than the 60D. The image quality and low light performance of this camera is great.

I would recommend this body to anyone who's advanced past the Rebel line of beginner cameras, but doesn't have the cash to afford a 7D or 5D.

The only drawback for this camera vs. the 50D is the lower resolution LCD, but that doesn't effect picture quality.Read full review...

Super Value!

Great option for a budget minded photographer. It is a drastic improvement over the Rebel XT 8MP camera I've used for the past 9 years. It has a faster shutter, does better in low light, and has a larger display.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: jeremytaylor17

Canon EOS 40D - an excellent Canon digital SLR!!

Hardcore Canon digital SLR fans need wait no more for their next camera. The Canon 40D has arrived. Some updates that appear on the 40D are a little late, others are a sign of the times.

With the same rugged, conservative shape, the Canon EOS 40D will be mostly familiar, save for a few moved controls, an extra button or two, and a very large 3.0-inch LCD.

Its 10.1-megapixel sensor finally gives Canon's semi-pro digital camera parity with the majority of its competitors, and a 6.5-frame-per-second continuous mode helps speed things up over the current competition at this price level.

The Canon 40D also has an improved viewfinder, an enhanced Live View mode, better dust sealing, and the DIGIC III image processor that allows 14-bit analog to digital conversion for better color rendition. Canon's improved upon the standard 9-point AF array on the EOS 40D by making all points Cross-type, which, combined with other improvements, results in a claimed 30% greater AF speed.

Other additions on the Canon 40D include interchangeable focusing screens, a much-needed AF-ON button, the EOS Integrated Cleaning System for sensor dust reduction, and three new optional accessories: an IS version of the 18-55mm kit lens; a new backward-compatible, weather-sealed battery grip; and a new Wireless File Transmitter that will allow remote control of the camera as well as transmission of a Live View image from the camera to the computer.

At first blush, the Canon 40D consists mostly of incremental improvements, once again. The EOS 40D is not as groundbreaking as some would like, but it's arguable that serious photographers don't want to have to learn whole new ways using their main tools. It's also important to note that Canon's semi-pro SLRs, both the 20D and 30D, are much loved by their owners, producing excellent image quality despite the "mere" 8-megapixel sensor. The line in general has never been about sex-appeal, but about solid, reliable performance.

Look and feel. True to the line, the Canon EOS 40D appears very similar to its predecessors, especially the EOS 30D and 5D. From the back, however, there is one very large difference: the 3.0-inch LCD. Its influence on the back control layout is so great that they had to move four of the buttons that are usually arrayed to the left of the screen to the bottom, under the LCD. When it comes to viewing images, composing in Live View, or changing menu settings, the large LCD is great to have.

Heft & Grip. The EOS 40D feels similar to the EOS 30D, weighing only 1.4 ounces more than its predecessor, and it's also very slightly larger in all dimensions, most noticeable is its height. The grip has a good-sized indent for the middle finger, as we've enjoyed on the EOS 5D and other recent SLRs we've handled. The indent on the 40D seems a little broader than the 5D, and a lot bigger than the 1D-series. Regardless of size, this divot improves control, and better centers the hand for the right grip every time.

Body. The Canon EOS 40D's body is still magnesium alloy, but Canon says they've improved seals against dust and water. New seals protect connection ports, the battery compartment, and the compact flash door. The frame is stainless steel, and the mirror box is high-strength engineering plastic. Holding the Canon 40D is like gripping a well-sculpted rock: solid, with no twisting or creaking. The EF lens mount is metal, compatible with all Canon EOS EF and EF-S lenses.Read full review...

If your camera breaks, buy a "body only" camera and use your pricey lenses on the "new" one!

This Canon EOS 40D was a huge upgrade from our ten year old Rebel XTi version! The 40D is a serious camera that doesn't have the issues that the Rebel gave us (ex. saying it's "busy" when looking through the lens so that you can't take pictures for several seconds). So far the picture quality is amazing, though we haven't actually ordered prints yet. The picture view screen is a lot bigger, which is nice, and truthfully the Rebel looks like "Mini Me" compared to the 40D, but it's not too cumbersome; it just leaves you feeling like a genius for winning an auction on a serious piece of equipment instead of paying $700+ for a brand new at the store.

In general, if you already own a nice digital SLR camera that eventually stops working, you might want to just buy the same brand camera (body only) on Ebay and use your expensive lenses that you already had for your old camera. Amazing savings and an upgrade to boot!Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: compuchip

Canon 40D

This is one of the best cameras out there for the price in my opinion. It delivers excellent image quality, with great colors and detail. The camera is also very responsive and is more than enough for my needs. It powers on quickly, even with the dust removal feature on and has virtually no shutter lag. The menu system is also very intuitive and easy to learn and the my menu feature (allows you to store a few settings that can be quickly accessed rather than having to go through all of the menu tabs) is good for me about 90% of the time and keeps me from having to go through the whole menu interface. I also like the 6.5fps shooting, which is handy for my wildlife shooting. Autofocus is very good with all points being cross type and the outer points are usable in all conditions. Focus tracking is decent, but not up to what you would get with a 7D or Nikon D300. If you're strictly a sports shooter then I would recommend either one of those cameras. That being said, The 40D has been decent at birds in flight and animal tracking for me. I couldn't justify the price difference for my needs, so I picked up a second 40D rather than upgrading. Your experience may very, but I find this to be a very good camera body at an unbeatable price on the used market. I couldn't justify the extra cost of the 50D for basically the same camera with 5 extra mp's and Micro-adjustment.Read full review...

Canon 40D picture noise? What noise?

I switched to a Canon 50D from Sony DSLRs (shot Minolta for over twenty years, hence the Sony) and couldn't be happier. Bought the 40D as my backup body and second for events and sports and am delighted with its performance. My 50D is awesome, but the 40's shots are "quieter" at higher ISO speeds.

I use the 40D more than my 50D as it's the one I carry with me (I never leave the house without the 40D and my Canon 18-200 IS lens) and it's caught many great shots. Beginner or pro, this camera will serve anyone well. Beginners can use the "Creative Zone" modes and get great shots; pros have complete control and will appreciate an excellent feature set. This camera proves that megapixels are NOT the most important thing - quality electronics and lenses are ... well, that and the photographer's skill.

This is a rugged, robust camera that anyone who's serious about photography can appreciate. Like any higher end unit, the body with the lens described above is a bit heavy - 3.5 pounds - but there's no substitute for quality equipment. I've tried to carry point 'n' shoots, but they disappoint, so the extra weight is truly worth it.

For the money, I don't think you can do any better than a 40D. You can spend a lot more and not do any better.Read full review...