considering 40d

TeamSpeed wrote in post #4806337
And here are how rumors get started...

I guarantee you there will be no release or info of a new release anytime in 2008. IMO, I would state that the 40D is the best well-rounded camera Canon has made to this point, and I have had every single crop body to date except the Dxx series. I would say just get the 40D, you won't look back.

And I too would like to know what these documented issues are that are impacting the 40Ds. A few have issues here and there, but most likely well within the tolerance of error found in large manufactured numbers, unlike what happened with the MKIII.

ok.. firstly i have had 2 40d's - the first was faulty on arrival - may have been dropped during shipping so not a big issue. It was replaced on the spot..

I shoot alot of motorsport and I had an issue with AI servo focusing - funnily enough not too dissimilar to the issues the mk3 had..

When i reported this issue to Canon for a service. their words were 'oh one of those'. They took it back and "re calibrated" - replaced a part (unknown what part) - updated firmware etc. and it came back all good. (however I still think my 30d is sharper)

The comment oh its one of those got me thinking. So i spoke to a very good friend of mine at canon who confirmed that the AI servo is faulty but not to the extent of the MK3 so a recall was not deemed necessary.

I have then spoken to a number of 40 d users who have all confirmed the same fault but they had put it down to user error.

The other issue that canon are trying to fix with the next firmware update is an issue with the auto white balance - which is out by bit.

Nzshrimper wrote in post #4813916
The comment oh its one of those got me thinking. So i spoke to a very good friend of mine at canon who confirmed that the AI servo is faulty but not to the extent of the MK3 so a recall was not deemed necessary.

I have then spoken to a number of 40 d users who have all confirmed the same fault but they had put it down to user error.

The other issue that canon are trying to fix with the next firmware update is an issue with the auto white balance - which is out by bit.

Interesting to hear this, spotted a few threads here highlight problems with the 40D......think I'll stick with trying to get a 1D MkIIn then

I made exactly the jump you are considering. The start up time is much quicker. Image quality at higher iso better and focusing quicker. I find it is a worth while step up.

Given the large POTN community that all own a 40D, with a few threads here and there about an AF issue, still shows this is within an error tolerance of the entire 40D run. It could have been only a problem with a small range of initial serial numbers in fact, but the issue was quickly resolved and the later bodies were manufactured with an upgraded part.

If there was a widespread issue, it would be found here, on dpreview, and other large DSLR boards, much like what happened with the MKIII. Those were found immediately upon release of the MKIII, the 40D has been out a while with no large numbers of gripes. Firmware updates to tweak the behavior of a new body are to be expected as well. I don't doubt there are some 40Ds with some issues, but that does not mean the 40D line is tainted at this time.

For all those with an AI servo issue, maybe a thread documenting each person's findings and serial number would be warranted to help track this better? Mine was spot on, with zero issues. My MKIII, on the other hand, showed its AI servo issue immediately and I should get it back here shortly from Canon.

jimwong,
The 40D will be a great!!! upgrade over the 10D.
Like ed rader I also feel the 40D is light years ahead of the 10d.

Also I don't have AF issues like Nzshrimper said he had. The mass majority (at least here on POTN) don't have that problem either as per the poll 40D Focus Issues POLL: <-- click to see

TeamSpeed wrote in post #4814294
Given the large POTN community that all own a 40D, with a few threads here and there about an AF issue, still shows this is within an error tolerance of the entire 40D run. It could have been only a problem with a small range of initial serial numbers in fact. If there was a widespread issue, it would be found here, on dpreview, and other large DSLR boards, much like what happened with the MKIII. Those were found immediately upon release of the MKIII, the 40D has been out a while with no large numbers of gripes. Firmware updates to tweak the behavior of a new body are to be expected as well. I don't doubt there are some 40Ds with some issues, but that does not mean the 40D line is tainted at this time.

you missing the point. the 40d is aim at the serious amature market, not the pro market. Most people who use the AI servo on the 40d get what they would class as acceptable results, and this is why canon have not recalled it like they did with mk3.

With the Mk3 the issue was highlighted by pros and canon do treat the markets differently. As a motorsport camera the 40d fails. as a catching the kids running around the garden its great and most users dont know that its a problem that the focus is out. Within the production run tolerance i doubt it. Not economical to recall and repair thats more like it. So they have adjusted the stock they have and repair anything that people complain about.

Our little group on here has 9 ( i think ) 40d's between us, of them 9 - 6 have faulted with the same issue. if thats the tolerance level then great. (camera bought from different shops and from release date to Christmas 2007)

you also need to think what lens most 40d have attached to them (check the kit lens they issued with them) they are soft and have been blamed for this mis-focus.

Anyway as a camera it has great features and produces great shots.

Many pro shooters have the 40D as their backup, so the 40D may be aimed at a different market, but it is a worthy crop backup for pros. I am basing that on so many folks here that have discussed their 1D vs 40D in many topics. These same folks that have the 1D series would be pretty vocal about the 40D shortcomings.

I would be curious how many of these 9 have had a 30D to compare the AI Servo performance to that of the 40D. That would be a good test, replicate the same conditions, like a child running at you, and use AI servo on both cameras in both modes to see what happens. Again the only way to determine the nature of this issue would be log a central post with serial numbers and where purchased, then after enough folks state they had AI servo issues, things have a tendency to spread thru the net like wildfire, which always catches the attention of Canon. A consolidated thread just sitting here on POTN won't go unnoticed by Canon either.

Nzshrimper wrote in post #4814350
you missing the point. the 40d is aim at the serious amature market, not the pro market. Most people who use the AI servo on the 40d get what they would class as acceptable results, and this is why canon have not recalled it like they did with mk3.

With the Mk3 the issue was highlighted by pros and canon do treat the markets differently. As a motorsport camera the 40d fails. as a catching the kids running around the garden its great and most users dont know that its a problem that the focus is out. Within the production run tolerance i doubt it. Not economical to recall and repair thats more like it. So they have adjusted the stock they have and repair anything that people complain about.

Our little group on here has 9 ( i think ) 40d's between us, of them 9 - 6 have faulted with the same issue. if thats the tolerance level then great. (camera bought from different shops and from release date to Christmas 2007)

you also need to think what lens most 40d have attached to them (check the kit lens they issued with them) they are soft and have been blamed for this mis-focus.

Anyway as a camera it has great features and produces great shots.

And this is how rumors are started..
Not a single fact, not a single data that could be verified, just a bunch of statements that could hardly pass a giggle test.

Hermeto wrote in post #4814514
And this is how rumors are started..
Not a single fact, not a single data that could be verified, just a bunch of statements that could hardly pass a giggle test.

this was not a fact finding mission or a data gathering exercise. Its an opinion and that was formed based on the experience i have had..

I still love my 40d and as a general all purpose crop body its great. Now its been "adjusted" it seems better at AI focus. However i still find the 30d sharper. (ablit not as fast) and as a back up camera for most situation.. its great.

If I had a 10d and wanted to upgrade to a 40d then i would go for it.. well i did upgrade from a 30d to a 40d.

As for testing a 30d with the same conditions and lens as the 40d, i did that which confirmed to me that there was an issue, not just me be a dumbass and miss focusing.

I just went from a 10D to a 40D. There will always be something new coming. Always. But in the meantime the 40D is far superior to the 10D in so many ways... it has been a great decision for me.

I would say "do it" and don't look back.