Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR Camera UK Press Release

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Canon EOS 40D brings new EOS platform to advanced amateur market

United Kingdom / Republic of Ireland, 20 August, 2007: Canon today introduces its latest digital SLR for advanced amateurs and semi-professionals: the EOS 40D. With a 10.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor, 6.5 frames per second burst performance, a newly developed AF system and 3.0” LCD with Live View mode, the EOS 40D makes significant advances in both performance and versatility.

The camera benefits from the new EOS technology platform introduced earlier this year with the professional EOS 1D Mark III. Canon’s DIGIC III processor delivers responsive operation, improved colour rendering and near-instant start-up time. The EOS Integrated Cleaning System1 combats sensor dust, while a strong magnesium alloy body with weather resistance ensures lasting durability.

“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 Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “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.”

Pricing and availability
The EOS 40D will be available from September 2007 priced at:

EOS 40D body only: £899.99 RRP inc. VAT / €1329.99 RRP inc. VAT
EOS 40D plus EF-S 17-85 IS USM: £1199.99 RRP inc. VAT / €1779.99 RRP inc. VAT.

Key features
10.1 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
6.5 fps continuous shooting, max. burst 75 JPEGs
New AF system with 9 cross-type sensors
DIGIC III processor
3.0” LCD with Live View mode
EOS Integrated Cleaning System
Clear and bright viewfinder
Customisable Picture Style processing parameters

Speed and image quality
Canon’s third generation CMOS sensor improves on its predecessor with redesigned pixels that keep noise to a minimum. The EOS 40D maintains high image quality up to ISO 1600, expandable to H:3200 for situations where flash use is not permitted or desired. Highlight Tone Priority mode gives wedding and landscape photographers the option to boost dynamic range for highlights when shooting above ISO 200 – reproducing more tonal detail from wedding dresses, clouds and other light coloured objects.

The DIGIC III processor powers a burst rate of 6.5 fps, working with the image buffer to handle up to 75 Large JPEGs (17 in RAW) without pause. Images are processed at 14-bits for a greatly expanded colour depth, providing smoother gradations and exceptionally accurate colour reproduction.

New cross-type AF system
A key advancement of the EOS 40D is its new 9-point cross-type AF system. All nine AF points can achieve focus on both horizontal and vertical planes. A central AF point is capable of accurate focusing up to aperture f/2.8, with eight outer points working up to f/5.6. In response to requests, the dedicated AF Start (AF-ON) button allows photographers to execute auto focus with their thumb.

LCD with Live View mode
The Live View mode simplifies shooting from awkward angles such as ground-level macro or mounted tripod shots. The 3.0” LCD displays a real-time image in Live View mode, including a selectable grid overlay and a live histogram that simulates image exposure. The AF-ON button can be configured to flip the camera mirror momentarily and engage auto focusing. For the studio environment, remote Live View lets the photographer compose, adjust settings and capture the shot from a PC using the supplied EOS utility software.

Total control
The EOS 40D is fully customisable to the photographer’s shooting preferences. The mode dial contains space for three sets of user-defined settings, allowing the photographer to switch instantly between several shooting setups. A new My Menu tab provides quick access to frequently used settings, while 24 custom functions allow photographers to fine-tune camera operation and controls. The ability to change the focusing screen – with two additional screens available – adds further versatility.

For easier operation of system accessories, settings for the Speedlite 580EX II and new Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3 can be controlled directly from the LCD.

Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3
Also launched today is the Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3. Built to work with the EOS 40D, the WFT-E3 enables rapid wireless image transfer to remote FTP servers, along with two-way communication through PTP and HTTP. In HTTP mode, remote users can trigger the shutter button or download images from the camera via an internet browser window. PTP mode is used for wireless remote shooting with the EOS 40D and supplied EOS Utility software.

For longer shoots, the WFT-E3 can connect directly to external hard disk drives (HDDs). And if connected to a portable GPS device, the location and time of capture is automatically added to each image as EXIF data. A convenient grip design features a main dial and shutter controls for vertical shooting, while weather resistant seals protect the unit.

Two new EF-S lenses are launched today in conjunction with the EOS 40D:
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS – a high quality, affordable standard zoom lens incorporating a 4-stop Image Stabilizer EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS – a versatile telephoto zoom offering the longest focal range in the EF-S range to date as well as a 4-stop Image Stabilizer

Software
The EOS 40D is supplied with a comprehensive software suite to streamline the photographer’s workflow. This includes Digital Photo Professional (DPP), a powerful RAW converter that provides complete RAW image processing control. DPP integrates with cameras features such as Dust Delete Data and Picture Styles. Users can now also create their own custom Picture Styles with the supplied Picture Style Editor software. The camera also comes with EOS Utility, ImageBrowser/ZoomBrowser and PhotoStitch.