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EOS 40D  (Source: Canon)

EOS-1Ds Mark III  (Source: Canon)
Canon's new D-SLRs sport 3.0" Live View LCDs

Canon has finally taken the wraps off two new D-SLR cameras. Both cameras have been leaked and chatted about on the web for months, but now we can give you the official specifications.

The new EOS 40D sports a 10.1MP CMOS sensor, 6.5 FPS burst shooting mode (maximum burst of 75 JPEG images or 17 RAW images), 9-cross type AF engine and DIGIC III image processor.

Perhaps the biggest news is the addition of a new 3.0" LCD screen with "Live View" capabilities. This allows professional photographers to frame their images with the LCD screen instead of relying solely on the standard viewfinder like traditional D-SLRs.

Remote Live View can used to control the EOS 40D from a PC. Using EOS utility software, a photographer can have remote access to an EOS 40 to adjust image settings, compose and capture shots.

"The EOS 40D represents an important step in the development of EOS for the advanced amateur market. It incorporates many of the technologies pioneered in our latest EOS-1 series cameras," said Canon Europe's Consumer Imaging Head Mogens Jensen. "For digital photographers, the benefits of upgrading to the EOS 40D are real and significant. For analogue SLR users, there’s never been a more compelling reason to make the switch."

Canon also comes to market with three new accessories for the EOS 40D. The first is the Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3 which allows the EOS 40D to transmit images wirelessly to an FTP server or access image directly from the camera via HTTP. The WFT-E3 can also be connected to an external HDD or portable GPS device to record location/time as EXIF data.

The remaining accessories are the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens with 4-stop image stabilizer and the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS lens with 4-stop image stabilizer.

The other big Canon D-SLR announcement today comes in the form of the EOS-Ds Mark III. The full-frame EOS-Ds Mark III breaks the 20MP barrier with a 21.1MP 35mm CMOS sensor. In addition, the camera features a 19-point cross type AF engine, DIGIC III image processor and FPS burst mode. Like the EOS 40D, the EOS-Ds Mark III also features a 3.0" Live View LCD.

"Taking image quality and versatility to unprecedented levels, the EOS-1Ds Mark III redefines commercial photography conventions," remarked Karz Suzuki, Head of Canon Professional Services. "The camera will strengthen Canon’s popularity amongst professional studio photographers. Culminating 20 years of EOS development, the EOS-1Ds Mark III represents a definitive moment in our company’s photographic history."

The EOS 40D will launch in September with a price tag of $1,299 USD or $1,499 USD with the EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens. The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III will hit stores in October with a $7,999 USD price tag.

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Wow!
By Spivonious on 8/20/2007 9:12:45 AM , Rating: 1
20+ megapixels....finally digital zooming makes sense. But I think the $8000 price-tag is a little bit prohibitive for customers wanting to get into the digital SLR realm.




RE: Wow!
By Lord 666 on 8/20/2007 9:15:29 AM , Rating: 4
The 40D is extremely impressive, especially at the price point of $1200. That should fill 95% of the needs of prosumers or deep pocketed casual users.


RE: Wow!
By Spivonious on 8/20/2007 9:50:57 AM , Rating: 2
I agree, but the 40D doesn't have the 21MP CCD.


RE: Wow!
By ksherman on 8/20/2007 9:52:50 AM , Rating: 2
Indeed! I use a 20D, and it is an incredible camera already. I love the features Canon put into the 40D. The resolution of the 1Ds Mark II was already insane, but the Mark III is incredible! Personally I am a little disappointed not to see a 5D Mark II (or what ever it gets named). Hopefully one is coming soon!


RE: Wow!
By Lord 666 on 8/20/07, Rating: 0
RE: Wow!
By tdawg on 8/20/2007 11:12:59 AM , Rating: 3
The D200 and 40D are very comparable and you probably would not be able to tell much difference between the two. The 40D isn't offering anything earth shattering here that destroys the D200. The only real "advantages" the 40D has is an extra 1.5 fps and smoother high-iso options. But in the hand of a strong photographer, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between images that either camera produces.

To me, Live View and the Dust-off function, are nothing more than gimicks.


RE: Wow!
By finbarqs on 8/20/2007 12:07:09 PM , Rating: 1
Live View and Dust Off function is EXTREMELY useful. I currently own the Panasonic DMC-L1 which uses the Leica Lens. Awesome camera, but i'm really dissapointed in the small viewfinder which makes it incredibly difficult to MF. However, the L1 does support live view, and it really helps in difficult to shoot situations: Shooting an overhead shot, or shooting from a very low angle.

I would not buy a camera without the dust off function. In fact, my friends had a couple of 5D's before where dust got on the sensor and it really is a nuissance when they had to send the camera to canon to get it serviced (remove dust).


RE: Wow!
By tdawg on 8/20/2007 4:35:49 PM , Rating: 3
According to tests performed on all the current dust-off technologies, only Olympus's system shows any real improvement. The rest are just pretenders. Here's one test: http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/26/dslr-dust-remov...

Using the screen to manually focus will become less and less accurate with glare and all the face grease that gets on the screen. Plus, any scratches in the future will make it increasingly difficult. You're much better off getting one of the new replacement screens if they offer one with the split focus circle. I can see the arguments for live view if the screen were articulated, but since it's fixed, it won't help with shots where you can't be eye level with the screen.


RE: Wow!
By tdawg on 8/20/2007 4:38:01 PM , Rating: 2
RE: Wow!
By otispunkmeyer on 8/21/2007 3:57:32 AM , Rating: 2
dust off has its uses, once in a blue moon, and yeah to be fair until those rear LCD's get big enough and high enough in resolution most of them are not too good to use for MF, no better than the view finder anyway, theyre just not sharp enough IMO.

i agree though, photographer here at work stil uses his old Nikon D2H... thats like 4.3MP or something, takes amazingly good shots.


RE: Wow!
By soydios on 8/20/2007 10:06:06 PM , Rating: 2
Personally, I wouldn't flip manufacturers that quickly. You'd have to buy all your glass all over again.


RE: Wow!
By Sartori42 on 8/20/2007 9:55:38 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
I think the $8000 price-tag is a little bit prohibitive for customers wanting to get into the digital SLR realm


No one "looking to get into the digital SLR realm" should even consider this camera anyway. The camera is specifically intended for professionals or very well-heeled amateurs with the need for such a camera. That doesn't include you or I....


RE: Wow!
By ksherman on 8/20/2007 10:16:01 AM , Rating: 2
Agreed, if that describes you, go for an XTi or even a used 20D or something.


RE: Wow!
By tdawg on 8/20/2007 11:05:31 AM , Rating: 2
$7,999 has been the price for every 1Ds to this point. This isn't an amateur camera so it doesn't need to be priced as such. Professional photographers that need all that this camera offers are probably successful enough to warrant this purchase.


Live view
By Thoreau on 8/20/2007 9:54:13 AM , Rating: 2
It should be interesting to see how Canon made the live view function work, and how well it works in the long run. If memory serves, one of the biggest hurdles to live view was sensor overheating. A hot sensor would be more likely to generate image noise on previous DSLRs, so hopefully that won't be an issue here.

The article doesn't seem to mention this, nor link to any other data sources, but based on the price of the 40d and the resolution, it's probably safe to assume that it's the same APC-S sensor found in the Digital Rebel XTi/400d.

In any case, back to waiting for my B&H shipment with new lenses and other toys for my 400d =)




RE: Live view
By ksherman on 8/20/2007 10:02:56 AM , Rating: 2
i would bet that to overcome the overheating issue, the full resolution of the sensor is being used. I bet if they are only using a fraction of its resolution it produces much less heat....

And yes I too would guess it is the same sensor, but perhaps of a better quality than the exact one used in the XTi


RE: Live view
By Thoreau on 8/20/2007 10:11:44 AM , Rating: 2
Hmm, that method didn't even enter my mind. Cut back on resolution for live view, and theoretically cut back on heat and power draw. That live view will probably make a battery grip with multiple batteries a must have.

Some of the other features, namely the 6.5fps burst mode, would be of interest to me personally, but after going from a point and shoot to my XTi, I've started to actually prefer the viewfinder vs. live view LCD. Just show me all my shot settings in one quick view, and let my eyeball do the composition through the lens. Of course, live view could make it that much easier to do manual focus shots in low light where using the viewfinder can sometimes be a shot in the dark (no pun intended.)

Cue the die-hard old-school photographers who live and die by the viewfinder in 3... 2... 1... (j/k, hehe.)


RE: Live view
By Netscorer on 8/20/2007 10:47:54 AM , Rating: 2
Live view without tilting would be pretty useless IMO. The only two situations when I currently miss it is when the camera either positioned too high on the tripod or too low on the ground to be able to compose your shots through the viewfinder.


RE: Live view
By littleprince on 8/20/2007 1:58:44 PM , Rating: 2
Canon Angle Finder works wonders...


RE: Live view
By Netscorer on 8/20/2007 7:57:28 PM , Rating: 2
For $165 I can do wonders too


RE: Live view