I wasn't around when the 20D was introduced. Did it have the same distribution of people with/without problems??

I shot a whole bunch of crappy marching band pictures tonight, but they were with the 70-200IS f/4 and 1.4X converter at ISO 800-3200, so I cant honestly say it was the cameras fault at f/5.6 in dim light. it seemed to focus fine, but the combo of the converter and sio 3200 is not great for pixel peeping.

I have had great success using the 40D with the Canon 400mm f/5.6, 500 f/4 IS and the 600mm f/4 IS lenses for birds-in-flight. I had a Mark III and after my second one began getting ERROR 99's, I returned it and bought two 40D's.

I have written a comparison of both cameras for birds-in-flight photography. Here is a link to my article:

http://iwishicouldfly.com/iwishicouldfly/journal/html/093007.html

My only negative comments regarding the AI Servo mode on the 40D has to do with the smaller focus points and that the tracking sensitivity isn't adjustable as on the Mark III. Other than that, I'm very glad I returned the Mark III.

Alan

I shot military jets yesterday and I had an great keeper rate. The keeper rate was up there with the 1DII. Those that were out of focus was due to user error. I wouldn't be complaining.

Though I noticed that the white balance likes to varie...

trenchmonkey wrote:
Locks on like a 'monkey on a cupcake.

I have to say that I have been really impressed with my 40D's auto focus so far,

monochrome wrote:
Wow, I feel for you, I can't imagine having to wait that long.

Wow, Canon down under mustn't be very good! I drove 9 lenses and 2 bodies down to Canon UK this Monday morning, the tech started work on Tuesday morning and finished doing a service, clean and calibration on each bit of kit by end of Wednesday. The gear is on it's way back to me now... actually come to think of it where the hell is that damn brown van?!!!

I guess CPS does have some benefits.....

AJay wrote:My only negative comments regarding the AI Servo mode on the 40D has to do with the smaller focus points... as on the Mark III.

In case you didn't know, on the 40D the actual AF sensors extend well beyond the boxes shown in the viewfinder. Whether the AF sensors are bigger or smaller than the ones on the 1DIII I have no idea, but they're not tiny. In fact, some have speculated that the bigger AF sensors (compared to viewfinder size) of the xxD series contribute to many of the AF problems reported for these cameras. I have seen nothing that suggests that the 40D AF sensors have gotten any smaller, but that's not conclusive.

redman wrote:
Lucio Gomes wrote:

I totally understand that a 40D is not a MkIIn; but all the talk about the "greatly improved AF"
was what enticed me to buy this camera. That, along with the higher frame rate, made me think that I could "replace" the MkIIn with the 40D, and save my money to get the new "6D" to finally have a full-frame camera.
Maybe I am a little sloppy in my technique, having had the benefit of AF tracking sensitivity
and focusing point expansion of the 1D series I don't need to be ON the subject all the time.


Not to be rude, but......

You said it yourself in this quote, The 40D IS NOT a MKIIN AF-Wise or any other 1 series camera for that matter. I read this over and over on this forum. 1 series bodies have a superior AF and you have to pony up for it.


Well, not to be rude, but I totally disagree with this.

Does it mean that a Canon non-1 series should not or cannot have a great AF system? I mean, at $1200 or so US, why should not the 40D have an outstanding AF? Nikon's middle of the road D300 for example will have an AF which will be years ahead of Canon's comparable bodies...

I really hate the way Canon gives just a little improvement in their bodies over time. They should give it all their best! Damn it!

As has been said: The 40D is NOT a 1D, if you need your camera for demanding and precision work, then the 1D is what you need, not the prosumer models. Well, in my opinion anyway.

Second, you just got the 40D - give it time, get used to it. All new equimpment, even another copy of the same model, will behave diffrently than what you are used to in my experience.

And welcome.

As has been said: The 40D is NOT a 1D, if you need your camera for demanding and precision work, then the 1D is what you need, not the prosumer models. Well, in my opinion anyway.

Second, you just got the 40D - give it time, get used to it. All new equimpment, even another copy of the same model, will behave diffrently than what you are used to in my experience.

And welcome.

Previously in this thread I had mentioned that my 1Ds2 was being serviced. I got it back from Canon this week after about 5 1/2 weeks. That makes it the quickest service experience I have had so far with Canon. I've been too busy to test it thoroughly but will do so and report back in a new thread next week. No sign of my 40D yet.

- Alan

5 & 1/2 Weeks?!

I've sent a 20D, 17-55 2.8 IS, 70-200 2.8 IS, all of which they claim needed work and got them back in 10 days. Mercy!

Your scaring me. They have my 40D right now.

AJAY just read your write up of the Mk3 and 40D very informative.Thanks Graham.

geniousc wrote:
I don't consider the focus button a joke, I have mine set to go from single shot AF to Servo mode when depressed. I also assigned the button to push button AF in live view mode, a worthwhile add on in my book . A nice feature in fact!

That's fantastic; exactly what I have been looking for. What is the custom function for this?

Yohan,

That has not been my experience. I tested this as soon as I had the camera in my hands. I panned the camera away from a focused object and as soon as the camera moved off of the center focus point, the focus shifted.

It's an easy test to perform. I will try it again, but my experience has shown that the focus area is not at all much bigger than the red square found in the viewfinder.

Alan

Yohan Pamudji wrote:
AJay wrote:My only negative comments regarding the AI Servo mode on the 40D has to do with the smaller focus points... as on the Mark III.

In case you didn't know, on the 40D the actual AF sensors extend well beyond the boxes shown in the viewfinder. Whether the AF sensors are bigger or smaller than the ones on the 1DIII I have no idea, but they're not tiny. In fact, some have speculated that the bigger AF sensors (compared to viewfinder size) of the xxD series contribute to many of the AF problems reported for these cameras. I have seen nothing that suggests that the 40D AF sensors have gotten any smaller, but that's not conclusive.

timbop wrote:
geniousc wrote:
I don't consider the focus button a joke, I have mine set to go from single shot AF to Servo mode when depressed. I also assigned the button to push button AF in live view mode, a worthwhile add on in my book . A nice feature in fact!

That's fantastic; exactly what I have been looking for. What is the custom function for this?
I saw what geniousc wrote too, and I can't find it either.

Anyone?

Mark

While there are tiny variances to the rule, at the end of the day you get what you pay for ...

gm

I haven't read thru this whole thread but have you seen this AF test:

http://www.prophotohome.com/forum/pro-photo-reviews-articles/74359-canon-canon-40d-camera-interactive-review.html?garpg=2#content_start

Not very good results as far as I'm concerned.

Seems to me, that, just like the 1D3, there's a wild variation in the 40D's AF performance from body to body.

As for folks suggesting that you can't expect 1 series AF accuracy on a 40D, well Nikon has certainly changed that expectation, haven't they? They've put the same AF system in both a $5000 and $1800 camera.

Good luck with your 40D!

CHeers!

akclimber wrote:
I haven't read thru this whole thread but have you seen this AF test:

http://www.prophotohome.com/forum/pro-photo-reviews-articles/74359-canon-canon-40d-camera-interactive-review.html?garpg=2#content_start

Not very good results as far as I'm concerned.

Seems to me, that, just like the 1D3, there's a wild variation in the 40D's AF performance from body to body.


That page has been discussed and criticized here before. Firstly, the 40D in that set-up is getting 2.5 keepers per second. Secondly, it is being asked to focus on a white shirt with hardly any contrast, against a background of highly contrasty trees. (It should tell you something when even the Canon 1-series line had trouble.) Thirdly, the difference between the 40D and 1 series was not world's apart.

There is no point of mentioning Nikon's AF until you see their results on that page. And when I looked last time, the poster hadn't posted anything concerning Nikon.

There is nothing in that test that shows there is a large variation in AF among 40Ds. A recent poll was taken of 40D owners, and there very few disappointed in the AF.

therock wrote:
5 & 1/2 Weeks?!

I've sent a 20D, 17-55 2.8 IS, 70-200 2.8 IS, all of which they claim needed work and got them back in 10 days. Mercy!

Your scaring me. They have my 40D right now.

Don't worry - you're in the USA and I'm in Australia. Canon seems to have more camera technicians over there

- Alan