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Returning 40D

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Colin Smith1

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It is your choice to believe this or not. The brand loyalty here is close to paranoid. I am also brand loyal to Canon and certainly don't intend to change - I have been using Canon cameras and lenses for twenty years. I decided tonight to return my 40D Kit to Best Buy tomorrow. I am not maintaining that the flaws I have seen are in all cameras- in fact there are so many satisfied people on this forum that I must just have a bad one. I have used it for two days and here is what is wrong - the popup flash exposures in Program mode (the only one I tried) are off by at least two stops and around half were unusable. The camera consistently underexposes in all metering modes by a half to one full stop compared to my 30D that appears to me to be right on the money. Using any of my telephotos - a 180L Macro, 100-400L and my 500 F4 L the pictures look soft and muddy, maybe just slightly out of focus, sometimes in front and sometimes in back, compared to the 30D when used on the same subjects and settings. I did a backyard test with all these lenses and the difference is noticable. I have seen pictures on this forum using those lenses that were incredibly sharp so I know that isn't right. before you say it I know how to get sharp photos and understand good technique - tripod, cable release- dof. I am not going to ask for an exchange, but money back. I bought this camera for the great features, but I think I am going to wait a while before trying another. Maybe Canon needs to get the quality control fixed on this new body. I am living proof that there are some bad copies out there.
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Colin Smith
 
I am leaving on a trip to Colorado and Canyonlands and there is no time to check another one out. Besides I am not sure of availability. I am going to give it a couple of months, see if there are any firmware updates and definitely buy another.
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Colin Smith
 
Don't blame you for being angry, it is a big investment. Electronic things fail, sometimes within the first few hours, I remember my 300D Rebel just flat quit the first day out taking pictures. A portrait session.

It is probably something common to many functions, a low power supply voltage, a bad microprocessor, it taught me to always have a backup for serious shooting.

I would guess that a few of them here and there will roll over as lemons, but don't give up the ship. Everytime, I read about some problem someone is having, I quickly try to duplicate it. But with everything I try, my 40D always works perfectly.. figure that.

Good luck with your next purchase, when ever

DK
 
I see my 40D underexposing in compare to my 5D as well, not as dramatic but does. But XTi I own before 40D also underexposed in compare to my main body - 5D. I assume it is somehow normal, 5D is different and excellent, so cheaper models should not be up to 5D level.
Same time I did already several very good shots with 40D, that make me happy! :D

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My gallery: http://www.pbase.com/breitling65/best_of_
 
I too am confused as to why you do not exchange it. I mean you say your self that you think you have a bad one and most on the forums are very happy. I remeber with my 20d I took it back twice. Third time a charm. In anycase good luck next time round.
 
You must hate paragraphs as well. :)
Colin Smith1 said:
It is your choice to believe this or not. The brand loyalty here is
close to paranoid. I am also brand loyal to Canon and certainly
don't intend to change - I have been using Canon cameras and lenses
for twenty years. I decided tonight to return my 40D Kit to Best Buy
tomorrow. I am not maintaining that the flaws I have seen are in all
cameras- in fact there are so many satisfied people on this forum
that I must just have a bad one. I have used it for two days and
here is what is wrong - the popup flash exposures in Program mode
(the only one I tried) are off by at least two stops and around half
were unusable. The camera consistently underexposes in all metering
modes by a half to one full stop compared to my 30D that appears to
me to be right on the money. Using any of my telephotos - a 180L
Macro, 100-400L and my 500 F4 L the pictures look soft and muddy,
maybe just slightly out of focus, sometimes in front and sometimes in
back, compared to the 30D when used on the same subjects and
settings. I did a backyard test with all these lenses and the
difference is noticable. I have seen pictures on this forum using
those lenses that were incredibly sharp so I know that isn't right.
before you say it I know how to get sharp photos and understand good
technique - tripod, cable release- dof. I am not going to ask for an
exchange, but money back. I bought this camera for the great
features, but I think I am going to wait a while before trying
another. Maybe Canon needs to get the quality control fixed on this
new body. I am living proof that there are some bad copies out there.
--
Colin Smith
Click to expand...
 
I have already posted my reasons for not getting an exchange right now, but I will add another. There is enough new technology in the 40D and a new production process to expect a few glitches. If I wait a few months, Canon will work those out and there will possibly be a Firmware update. There usually is. I am going to the Galapagos in May so I will want one by than. As to the poster who said I was angry and to wait awhile before exchanging it when I was less emotional. I am not emotional at all, and as I always do I methodically checked all the 40D functions with all my lenses and flashes. I would suggest you do the same if you haven't already. Thanks.
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Colin Smith
 
...it seems to work great.

Rather than underexpose, mine might OVER-expose slightly. I fumbled around for an afternoon before I figured out how to use the exposure compensation. Coming from the 300D, it's quite a different set of controls.

The overall feel of it is great and the rapid-fire high speed continuous shooting is downright scary first time out!
Hope you try another one after your trip.
Good luck.

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Alastair
http://www.pbase.com/alastair
 
I understand exactly why you just want your money back. Last year I ran into a very similar situation, a major purchase not long before a trip and it turned out to have problems. I decided I just didn't want to be thinking about it until after I got back, so I returned it for a refund instead of trying out a new one, just too many other things to think about.

Let us know how Best Buy reacts, that's the part I'm most interested in!

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/bclee/
 
Thanks guys. I appreciate the grown up comments (except the one about my grammar. Maybe my failure to use paragraphs led to the emotional charge) I will post after I deal with BestBuy tomorrow. The sales clerk told me that I had a thirty day, no questions asked return policy. I suppose if wouldn't be a tragedy if all they will do is exchange it.
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Colin Smith
 
Now this is reaching for straws, I agree, but is there a possibility that while you were trying out various features of your new 40D you may have inadvertently turned the Quick Control Dial and dialed in a couple of stops of (under) exposure compensation? I did this myself and was dismayed how poor a few exposures were before I caught the error.

Bob N.
 
I'm sorry to hear of your problem. Mine seems to be perfect but I haven't tried every possible setting although all the biggies being AF, exposure, etc. work fine.

I completely understand your not wanting an exchange when leaving on a trip shortly. I always check new equipment before a trip and would not risk something not fully tested.

Good luck.

Bob
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http://www.pbase.com/rwbaron
My PBASE page is new and growing so please be patient.
 
I don't think anyone would reasonably expect that 100% of the 40D's are problem free. I also don't think anyone would flame a reasonable post like yours. You described the issue well, and you titled your OP reasonably. I think the irate reactions are to inflammatory posts by brand-new identities, with titles like" Canon 40D's proved to cause cancer". Since at least some of the brand new identities seem to have a common bent, one could reasonably suspect that they are bogus, describing bogus issues, and are the work product of someone who can't get out to vandalize things, so instead, tries to create havoc here.

Sorry about your new camera. In your place, I would be more than put out. Are you going to exchange, or forget the entire thing? I'd suggest you give the 40D one more chance. Lots of people, including me, are having very positive experiences.

JC
 
Colin Smith1 said:
The camera consistently underexposes in all metering
modes by a half to one full stop compared to my 30D that appears to
me to be right on the money. > Colin Smith
Click to expand...
are you aware that there are some threads on here that say the 30D is over exposing and the 40D corrects this?
 
jamesfrmphilly said:
Colin Smith1 said:
The camera consistently underexposes in all metering
modes by a half to one full stop compared to my 30D that appears to
me to be right on the money. > Colin Smith
Click to expand...
are you aware that there are some threads on here that say the 30D is
over exposing and the 40D corrects this?
Click to expand...
.. over/under exposure has nothing to do with the metering modes? Why blame it on the camera's (not just Canon, but any) metering mode when it is focus point(s) that reads the reflectance lights and tells the internal light meter what EV to set? Most of the time the composition is not uniform in brightness/colour ... hence when the focus point is on a brighter part, you end up with slightly under exposed picture. And when it's on a darker part, you get a slight over exposed picture. Yes I know there's a thing called Average (or Matrix) metering mode ... but this is where the misleading starts! Just because it averages things out, doesn't mean that the overall exposure is correct to the human eyes!!!
 
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