Yet another camera thread: Good Buy, 40D?

[ldmelsa]

I think mine are still on the default settings - it was only last night that I figured out how to actually disable the button

huh? disable?
the 400d must work differently to mine

btw - lol at xti on your camera (American code for the American guy )
400D for us

 

[bwana]

huh? disable?
the 400d must work differently to mine

Its the custom function settings (300D users can get similar functionality via this firmware hack - YMMV!) I changed mine to playback as it was the only option that didnt change camera settings.

btw - lol at xti on your camera (American code for the American guy )
400D for us

Yeah - got one of each - if I got a third it would have to be an Asian version to complete the set.

 

[ldmelsa]

Do you mind sharing the settings you use?

the 300d does not work the same way as the 400d so yours with all it's new stuff should work better than mine (lots more custom settings)

sRGB (of course)
contrast: -2
sharpness: -2
saturation: +2
color tone: 0
I shoot everything in "program mode"
I usually under-expose by, up to, a stop (digital clips highlights)
For WB I use "flash" or "cloudy" when in daylight - I like the tones of "flash".
Then I take it to Photoshop and use the "Match Color" tool (click on "Neutralize" and move the "Fade" slider) to get the WB the way I want it.
After that, I sometimes bring out some shadow detail with the "Shadow/Highlight tool. (use a big radius otherwise you get funny halos)
After that, just use "Levels" to get your levels right.
As a final step, I sometimes have to desaturate it a little. (too much colour from my stuffing around )

 

[ldmelsa]

Its the custom function settings (300D users can get similar functionality via this firmware hack - YMMV!) I changed mine to playback as it was the only option that didnt change camera settings.

I tried that once! I set it back to factory defaults.

Yeah - got one of each - if I got a third it would have to be an Asian version to complete the set.

haha

PS. I'm going to the shop. I'll be back.

 

[bwana]

haha

Learnt a nasty lesson about Canon support in PE when I broke my screen - repairs can take a loooonnnnnnggggg time. iirc it was more than 6 weeks!

 

[koffiejunkie]

Yeah, but we were talking about Canon lenses. Are the Pentax lenses good value for money?

I was really just throwing that in there for kicks but yeah, they generally are. This of course differs from lens to lens, and at least one of the Pentax branded lenses is a badge-engineered Tamron (the 18-250 I think). On the high end their Limited lenses compare well to Canon's L glass, but is much smaller and lighter, and comes in at less than half the price in some cases. Their kit lens is dirt cheap, much better build quality than the Canon 18-55, and is pretty sharp.

I like their cameras. They have built in IS in the body. That's kinda cool. Maybe my next digital will be a Pentax. Maybe the K200D, yes? Then I can use my Pentax lenses with it.

The K100D Super I'm playing with continues to make me wonder if buying the 40D was a mistake. It does somethings, important things, better. It's metering is way more accurate especially in mixed light. It's fill flash gives better exposure. It's AF is more accurate, although much slower. Even though I spend maybe 5% of my time shooting with it, I have a much better keeper rate than on the 40D.

 

[bwana]

The K100D Super I'm playing with continues to make me wonder if buying the 40D was a mistake. It does somethings, important things, better. It's metering is way more accurate especially in mixed light. It's fill flash gives better exposure. It's AF is more accurate, although much slower. Even though I spend maybe 5% of my time shooting with it, I have a much better keeper rate than on the 40D.

If you have to wonder then it probably was.

Feel free to send me some of that nice canon glass you have when you're ready. I'll let you have my Kent address to make it even easier

 

[ldmelsa]

Their kit lens is dirt cheap, much better build quality than the Canon 18-55, and is pretty sharp.

Yes, I've heard that lens is excellent.

It's metering is way more accurate especially in mixed light. It's fill flash gives better exposure.

Interesting.

___________________________________

I just went to the shop now, and saw the beautiful light (late in the day).
And here I am, on a forum, talking about photography.


_

 

[koffiejunkie]

If you have to wonder then it probably was.

Maybe It's not like the 40D is bad or anything - it's one hell of a nice camera. One learns to adapt to it's kinks...

Feel free to send me some of that nice canon glass you have when you're ready. I'll let you have my Kent address to make it even easier

You should be so lucky

 

[bwana]

You should be so lucky

You cant blame me for trying.

The K100D Super I'm playing with continues to make me wonder if buying the 40D was a mistake. It does somethings, important things, better. It's metering is way more accurate especially in mixed light. It's fill flash gives better exposure. It's AF is more accurate, although much slower. Even though I spend maybe 5% of my time shooting with it, I have a much better keeper rate than on the 40D.

By fill flash are you referring to the built in flash? I always keep a strip of masking tape on the bottom of my cameras just in case I'm ever forced to actually use it. It does a great job of diffusing it which is useful if you're using it as fill. I also use the popup to trigger my sigma flash if I'm using it remotely.

 

[koffiejunkie]

By fill flash are you referring to the built in flash? I always keep a strip of masking tape on the bottom of my cameras just in case I'm ever forced to actually use it. It does a great job of diffusing it which is useful if you're using it as fill. I also use the popup to trigger my sigma flash if I'm using it remotely.

Yes. Popup with the camera in Av mode, but it's apparent in M mode too - the 40D seems to always underexpose. But it's not a lot, like I said, you learn to compensate for it. It's fixable in RAW too.

 

[bwana]

Yes. Popup with the camera in Av mode, but it's apparent in M mode too - the 40D seems to always underexpose. But it's not a lot, like I said, you learn to compensate for it. It's fixable in RAW too.

Have you tried playing with the Flash Exposure Compensation?

 

[koffiejunkie]

Yip, pushing it up half a stop gives me good results. But that's not really the point of my post. I'm just amused that the lowly £230 entry-level camera does some things better than a much more expensive, semi-pro camera.

Don't get me wrong, I *love* my 40D. It takes good pictures, and I discover new things about it all the time. I don't see myself upgrading any time soon, unless they bring out something with much better low light performance.

 

[bwana]

Yip, pushing it up half a stop gives me good results. But that's not really the point of my post. I'm just amused that the lowly £230 entry-level camera does some things better than a much more expensive, semi-pro camera.

Don't get me wrong, I *love* my 40D. It takes good pictures, and I discover new things about it all the time. I don't see myself upgrading any time soon, unless they bring out something with much better low light performance.

Have you thought about sending it in to canon to have the meter tested and if necessary re-calibrated?

I think Canon is going to have to answer the gauntlet Nikon has thrown down wrt low light performance - hopefully sooner rather than later.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Have you thought about sending it in to canon to have the meter tested and if necessary re-calibrated?

The mere thought of parting with it makes me want to cry - but yes, I have considered it. For now I think I'll keep shooting until I really know it well enough to know if it's really a problem or not.

I think Canon is going to have to answer the gauntlet Nikon has thrown down wrt low light performance - hopefully sooner rather than later.

I hope they do. If the 5D's replacement is as good as, or better than the D3 in that respect, I might just find myself upgrading sooner than I expected

 

[koffiejunkie]

xrapidx, so what have you decided? Are you taking it? Something else you might consider:

DigitalRev always have bargains on their eBay store. EOS 40D Body + 18-55mm IS Kit for £579.99 (R8744.50 at today's rate). Or even better, if you want to look at different lenses, you can get the 40D body only for £499.99 (R7538.34)

I bought mine this way, and wouldn't hesitate to buy my next one from them again if they have a good deal. When I got mine, they also included customs etc in the price, so I didn't have to bother with it. It's worth asking them about it.

 

[bwana]

The mere thought of parting with it makes me want to cry - but yes, I have considered it. For now I think I'll keep shooting until I really know it well enough to know if it's really a problem or not.

Does parting with it involve sending it to canon or a third party?

xrapidx, so what have you decided? Are you taking it? Something else you might consider:

DigitalRev always have bargains on their eBay store. EOS 40D Body + 18-55mm IS Kit for £579.99 (R8744.50 at today's rate). Or even better, if you want to look at different lenses, you can get the 40D body only for £499.99 (R7538.34)

I bought mine this way, and wouldn't hesitate to buy my next one from them again if they have a good deal. When I got mine, they also included customs etc in the price, so I didn't have to bother with it. It's worth asking them about it.

Unless DigitalRev has a similar business set up in SA I doubt it will be as attractive. He might as well look at US pricing.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Does parting with it involve sending it to canon or a third party?

No idea, I'll have to find out. Warranty is in the box under my bed

Unless DigitalRev has a similar business set up in SA I doubt it will be as attractive. He might as well look at US pricing.

True, I just quoted the UK pricing because that's what the site defaults too for me (cookies, I guess). That 's why I mentioned he should ask.

 

[ldmelsa]

sRGB (of course)
contrast: -2
sharpness: -2
saturation: +2
color tone: 0
I shoot everything in "program mode"
I usually under-expose by, up to, a stop (digital clips highlights)
For WB I use "flash" or "cloudy" when in daylight - I like the tones of "flash".
Then I take it to Photoshop and use the "Match Color" tool (click on "Neutralize" and move the "Fade" slider) to get the WB the way I want it.
After that, I sometimes bring out some shadow detail with the "Shadow/Highlight tool. (use a big radius otherwise you get funny halos)
After that, just use "Levels" to get your levels right.
As a final step, I sometimes have to desaturate it a little. (too much colour from my stuffing around )

 

[bwana]

Thanks ldmelsa - I've programmed your settings into one of the user defined sets so I'll see how it goes. I can always slip into RAW+JPG mode.