Canon EOS 40D

The 10.1MP 40D is probably the most comprehensive SLR in its range. This could translate into being too complicated and exhaustive for some professional photographers, but once you get the hang of things you will truly enjoy shooting with the 40D.

First of all, about the Live View feature; it’s not usual for DSLRs to have one. However, it's pretty good, although it would make more sense to use the optical viewfinder. Why? To begin with, manual focusing can be a real pain while using Live View. It focuses only in the center, and to top it all the sensor heats up faster than usual. You will need to use the multi-controller to set the spot, and then press the enlarge button to magnify the focusing frame.

Menu operation is of course something that you will need to acquaint yourself with even before you start shooting. Coming to the 9-point focus that the camera is equipped with, while in auto mode the camera will operate all the 9 points, but if you wish to experiment with the subject, you only need to press the AF-on button (not useful when you are in the Basic Zone) and use the multi-controller, or the Quick Control dial to move around the focus points.

To aid you, the camera also offers three Auto Focus modes: One Shot, AI Focus and AI Servo. I won't describe these in depth; to sum up, the one shot focus mode is more useful for still subjects; the AI focus lets you half-press the shutter release button and every time the subject moves it will refocus on it; and the AI servo mode is an automatic mode that chooses the best focus mode as needed.

However, you can also lock the focus while in auto mode. For example, if you want the subject or your object of focus in a corner of the screen, you can half-press the shutter release and lock the focus, and then move the frame.

The camera offers full manual controls, right down to the toning effects. If you are inexperienced with a DSLR, I'd suggest you select the right picture style before you begin. There’s a direct access button below the screen to get you there. There are four effects — Standard, Portrait, Landscape and Neutral. Through this you can control the vividness and sharpness for skin tones etc.

The effective distance of the built-in flash is 5 meters/16.5 feet, and you can control the flash compensation by using the Quick Control dial, but not while you are in auto mode.

The camera, in case you didn’t know, is also famous for the high-speed 6.5 fps in continuous shooting mode. This, as well as the low-speed 3.5 fps, can be used to shoot as long as the shutter is pressed.