Canon EOS
40D
 vs
Canon EOS
7D

Canon EOS 7D

97
Winner

Canon EOS 7D
"Good quality 1080/720p video output with a range of frame rates"
dpreview.com | talking about the 7D's video-quality
"Excellent build quality with magnesium body and environmental sealing"
dpreview.com | talking about the 7D's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 7D

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
8 fps
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
19
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
Canon EOS 40D

73
Runner-up

Canon EOS 40D
"In your hand the EOS 40D feels almost exactly the same as the EOS 30D, except for the subtle new finger hook moulded into the front of the hand grip which I'm sure will be noticed by some but didn't really have a significant effect for me"
dpreview.com | talking about the 40D's feel
"This is a 'well sorted camera'. It feels well rounded - the result of years of evolutionary improvement, it delivers in almost every area, and it inspires confidence."
dpreview.com | talking about the 40D's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 40D

Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon 40D
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 22 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.1 more bits of color
Size Slightly smaller 146x108x74 mm vs 148x111x74 mm
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 822 g vs 860 g
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $999.99 vs $1,329.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $329 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Canon EOS 40D Learn more about
the Canon 40D

Advantages of the Canon 7D
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.7 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 10.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 80% more detail in your photos
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 854 ISO vs 703 ISO
Help
 The 7D has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 66.0 vs 64.0
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The 7D's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.59x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 8 fps vs 6.5 fps
Help
 More than 20% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The 7D's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Canon EOS 7D Learn more about
the Canon 7D
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 40D
73 vs 97
Explain scores
Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS 7D
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 7D.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 40D
 Canon EOS 40D vs Canon EOS 7D
CanonEOS 7D
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
10
15
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
8
18
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
7
14
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
7
15
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
9
11
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
9
16
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Thickness Thin Help
2.9"
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Weight Heavy Help
40D:822 g
7D:860 g
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
40D:APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
7D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
40D:64.0
7D:66.0

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
40D:146x108x74 mm
7D:148x111x74 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
40D:$999.99
7D:$1,329.00
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Weight Light weight Help
40D:822 g
7D:860 g
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
40D:3,200 ISO
7D:12,800 ISO
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
40D:1,600 ISO
7D:6,400 ISO
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
40D:0.59x
7D:0.62x
Color depth Poor color depth Help
40D:22.1 bits
7D:22 bits
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
40D:11.3 EV
7D:11.7 EV
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
40D:703 ISO
7D:854 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Cross type focus points Has slightly fewer cross-type focus points
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 7D
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$879 - $1,304 body only

$1,139 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 7D
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,160 - $2,400 body only

$2,799 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 7D
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$624 - $800 body only

$869 - $1,100 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 40D
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 7D
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$569 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is slightly smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 40D
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 7D
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 7D
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$849 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External mic jack Lacks and external mic jack
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 7D

Canon EOS 40D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$459 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the EOS 40D

Canon EOS 7D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 - $1,499 body only

$1,998 - $2,049 with 16-50mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Color depth Better color depth
Viewfinder Has a digital viewfinder
Lens availability Significantly fewer lenses available
Compare the SLT A77 vs the EOS 7D

appearance

Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 7D
Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 7D
Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 7D

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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