Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS 40D→Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The EOS-1D Mark IV improves across 4 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most EOS 40D owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the EOS-1D Mark IV
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Resolution16MP vs 10MP (+6MP)
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Burst rate10fps vs 6.5fps
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Battery life~1500 shots (CIPA) vs ~800 shots (CIPA)
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Generation2 years newer (2009 vs 2007)
Unchanged or similar
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Weather sealingNot present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | EOS 40D | EOS-1D Mark IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.8 | ||
| Street | -0.5 | ||
| Travel | -1.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.3 | ||
| Documentary | +0.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.8 | ||
| Landscape | -0.2 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.2 | ||
| Casual | -0.2 | ||
| Food | +0.3 | ||
| Macro | +0.3 | ||
| Architecture | +0.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.1 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS 40D | EOS-1D Mark IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £26 used | £102 used | |
| Released | 2007 | 2009 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 10.1MP APS-C CMOS | 16.1MP APS-H CMOS | |
| Resolution | 10MP | 16MP | ↑ |
| Video | No video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | |
| Autofocus | 9-point all cross-type phase-detect via viewfinder; contrast AF in live view | 45-point phase-detect (39 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 6.5fps | 10fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~800 shots (CIPA) | ~1500 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 820g (with battery) | 1180g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 95% coverage, 0.95x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.76x | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 230k dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF / EF-S | Canon EF | |
| Memory Cards | Single CompactFlash slot | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS 40D and EOS-1D Mark IV next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS-1D Mark IV against your specific genres — not just specs.
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