Canon 1D Mark III vs 40D

The Canon EOS-1D Mark III and the Canon EOS 40D are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in February 2007 and August 2007. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-H (1D Mark III) and an APS-C (40D) sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 10.1 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon 1D Mark III		Canon 40D
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses		Canon EF mount lenses
10.1 MP – APS-H sensor		10.1 MP – APS-C sensor
no Video		no Video
ISO 100-3,200 (50 - 6,400)		ISO 100-1,600 (100 - 3,200)
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 230k dots		3.0" LCD – 230k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
10 shutter flaps per second		6.5 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		not weather sealed
2200 shots per battery charge		750 shots per battery charge
156 x 157 x 80 mm, 1155 g		146 x 108 x 74 mm, 822 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS-1D Mark III and the Canon EOS 40D? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon 1D Mark III and the Canon 40D are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon 40D is considerably smaller (36 percent) than the Canon 1D Mark III. Moreover, the 40D is markedly lighter (29 percent) than the 1D Mark III. It is worth mentioning in this context that the 1D Mark III is splash and dust resistant, while the 40D does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor (as in the 1D Mark III) will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, while more compact options are available for the smaller-sensor camera (40D). You can compare the optics available in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the 1D Mark III gets 2200 shots out of its Canon LP-E4 battery, while the 40D can take 750 images on a single charge of its Canon BP-511A power pack. As can be seen in the images above, the 1D Mark III has a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power. In order to provide similar functionality for the 40D, Canon provides the BG-E2N vertical grip as an optional accessory (see here on ebay).

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon 1D Mark III	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1155 g	2200	Y	Feb 2007	EUR 4 309	ebay.com
2.		Canon 40D	146 mm	108 mm	74 mm	822 g	750	n	Aug 2007	EUR 1 299	ebay.com
3.		Canon 1D Mark II	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1535 g	1200	Y	Jan 2004	EUR 4 499	ebay.com
4.		Canon 1D Mark IV	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1230 g	1500	Y	Oct 2009	EUR 4 699	ebay.com
5.		Canon 1Ds	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1265 g	600	Y	Sep 2002	EUR 8 999	ebay.com
6.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	150 mm	160 mm	80 mm	1385 g	1800	Y	Aug 2007	EUR 7 999	ebay.com
7.		Canon 5D Mark II	152 mm	114 mm	75 mm	850 g	850	Y	Sep 2008	EUR 3 299	ebay.com
8.		Canon 5D Mark III	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	950 g	950	Y	Mar 2012	EUR 3 299	ebay.com
9.		Canon 5DS R	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	EUR 3 699	ebay.com
10.		Canon 20D	144 mm	106 mm	72 mm	770 g	700	n	Aug 2004	EUR 1 599	ebay.com
11.		Canon 30D	144 mm	106 mm	74 mm	785 g	750	n	Feb 2006	EUR 1 399	ebay.com
12.		Canon 50D	146 mm	108 mm	74 mm	822 g	800	Y	Aug 2008	EUR 1 099	ebay.com
13.		Canon 1000D	126 mm	98 mm	65 mm	502 g	500	n	Jun 2008	EUR 399	ebay.com
14.		Nikon D2Xs	158 mm	150 mm	86 mm	1252 g	3800	Y	Jun 2006	EUR 5 069	ebay.com
15.		Nikon D3	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1300 g	4300	Y	Aug 2007	EUR 4 849	ebay.com
16.		Nikon D3S	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1240 g	4200	Y	Oct 2009	EUR 4 999	ebay.com
17.		Nikon D90	132 mm	103 mm	77 mm	703 g	850	n	Aug 2008	EUR 1 189	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The 40D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 71 percent) than the 1D Mark III, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 1D Mark III features an APS-H sensor and the Canon 40D an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the 40D is 37 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.3 and 1.6. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Even though the 1D Mark III has a larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 10.1 megapixels. This implies that the 1D Mark III has a lower pixel density and larger individual pixels (with a pixel pitch of 7.21μm versus 5.73μm for the 40D), which gives it a potential advantage in terms of light gathering capacity. It should, however, be noted that the 40D is a somewhat more recent model (by 5 months) than the 1D Mark III, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The Canon EOS-1D Mark III has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200, which can be extended to ISO 50-6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS 40D are ISO 100 to ISO 1600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-3200.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. Of the two cameras under review, the 1D Mark III has a notably higher overall DXO score than the 40D (overall score 7 points higher), which gives it an advantage in terms of imaging quality. This advantage is based on 0.6 bits higher color depth, 0.4 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.6 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon 1D Mark III	APS-H	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.7	11.7	1078	71
2.		Canon 40D	APS-C	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.1	11.3	703	64
3.		Canon 1D Mark II	APS-H	8.2	3504	2336	none	22.3	11.1	1003	66
4.		Canon 1D Mark IV	APS-H	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	22.8	12.0	1320	74
5.		Canon 1Ds	Full Frame	11.0	4064	2704	none	21.8	11.0	954	63
6.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	Full Frame	21.0	5616	3744	none	24.0	12.0	1663	80
7.		Canon 5D Mark II	Full Frame	21.0	5616	3744	1080/30p	23.7	11.9	1815	79
8.		Canon 5D Mark III	Full Frame	22.1	5760	3840	1080/30p	24.0	11.7	2293	81
9.		Canon 5DS R	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.6	12.4	2308	86
10.		Canon 20D	APS-C	8.2	3504	2336	none	21.9	11.0	721	62
11.		Canon 30D	APS-C	8.2	3504	2336	none	21.5	10.8	736	59
12.		Canon 50D	APS-C	15.1	4752	3168	none	21.8	11.4	696	63
13.		Canon 1000D	APS-C	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.0	10.9	719	62
14.		Nikon D2Xs	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	none	22.2	10.9	489	59
15.		Nikon D3	Full Frame	12.1	4256	2832	none	23.5	12.2	2290	81
16.		Nikon D3S	Full Frame	12.1	4256	2832	720/24p	23.5	12.0	3253	82
17.		Nikon D90	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/24p	22.7	12.5	977	73

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The 1D Mark III and the 40D are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinder in the 1D Mark III offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the 40D (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. On the other hand, the viewfinder of the 40D has a higher magnification (0.59x vs 0.58x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon 1D Mark III and Canon 40D along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon 1D Mark III	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	n
2.		Canon 40D	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.5/s	Y	n
3.		Canon 1D Mark II	optical	Y	2.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.3/s	n	n
4.		Canon 1D Mark IV	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	n
5.		Canon 1Ds	optical	Y	2.0 / 120	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0/s	n	n
6.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
7.		Canon 5D Mark II	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.9/s	n	n
8.		Canon 5D Mark III	optical	Y	3.2 / 1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0/s	n	n
9.		Canon 5DS R	optical	Y	3.2 / 1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
10.		Canon 20D	optical	Y	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	n
11.		Canon 30D	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	n
12.		Canon 50D	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.3/s	Y	n
13.		Canon 1000D	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
14.		Nikon D2Xs	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
15.		Nikon D3	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/8000s	11.0/s	n	n
16.		Nikon D3S	optical	Y	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/8000s	11.0/s	n	n
17.		Nikon D90	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.5/s	Y	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The 40D has one, while the 1D Mark III does not. While the built-in flash of the 40D is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The 1D Mark III writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDHC cards, while the 40D uses Compact Flash cards. The 1D Mark III features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the 40D only has one slot.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS-1D Mark III and Canon EOS 40D and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon 1D Mark III	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Canon 40D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon 1D Mark II	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
4.		Canon 1D Mark IV	Y	stereo / -	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon 1Ds	Y	- / -	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
6.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	Y	mono / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon 5D Mark II	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Canon 5D Mark III	Y	mono / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon 5DS R	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
10.		Canon 20D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
11.		Canon 30D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Canon 50D	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Canon 1000D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Nikon D2Xs	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Nikon D3	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Nikon D3S	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Nikon D90	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

Both the 1D Mark III and the 40D have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 1D Mark III was replaced by the Canon 1D Mark IV, while the 40D was followed by the Canon 50D. Further information on the features and operation of the 1D Mark III and 40D can be found, respectively, in the Canon 1D Mark III Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon 40D Manual.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 1D Mark III or the Canon 40D – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS-1D Mark III:

• Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (7 points) in the DXO overall assessment.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Requires less light for good images (0.6 stops ISO advantage).
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 6.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More portrait friendly: Features an integrated vertical grip for easier portrait shooting.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (2200 versus 750) on a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in February 2007).

Advantages of the Canon EOS 40D:

• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.59x vs 0.58x).
• More compact: Is smaller (146x108mm vs 156x157mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 333g or 29 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (71 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Was introduced somewhat (5 months) more recently.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the 1D Mark III emerges as the winner of the contest (9 : 6 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 1D Mark III and the Canon 40D place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the 1D Mark III and the 40D in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon 1D Mark III	..	..	..	..	..	..	Feb 2007	EUR 4 309	ebay.com
2.		Canon 40D	..	+ +	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2007	EUR 1 299	ebay.com
3.		Canon 1D Mark II	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Jan 2004	EUR 4 499	ebay.com
4.		Canon 1D Mark IV	5/5	..	..	89/100	..	..	Oct 2009	EUR 4 699	ebay.com
5.		Canon 1Ds	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2002	EUR 8 999	ebay.com
6.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	..	..	..	+ +	4.5/5	..	Aug 2007	EUR 7 999	ebay.com
7.		Canon 5D Mark II	4/5	91/100	..	79/100	4/5	..	Sep 2008	EUR 3 299	ebay.com
8.		Canon 5D Mark III	..	+ +	..	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2012	EUR 3 299	ebay.com
9.		Canon 5DS R	5/5	+	..	83/100	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	EUR 3 699	ebay.com
10.		Canon 20D	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Aug 2004	EUR 1 599	ebay.com
11.		Canon 30D	..	+ +	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2006	EUR 1 399	ebay.com
12.		Canon 50D	..	+ +	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2008	EUR 1 099	ebay.com
13.		Canon 1000D	..	82/100	..	+ +	3.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2008	EUR 399	ebay.com
14.		Nikon D2Xs	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2006	EUR 5 069	ebay.com
15.		Nikon D3	..	..	..	+ +	5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2007	EUR 4 849	ebay.com
16.		Nikon D3S	5/5	..	..	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	Oct 2009	EUR 4 999	ebay.com
17.		Nikon D90	..	+ +	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2008	EUR 1 189	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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