Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS 40D→Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Strong upgrade
The EOS 5D Mark III improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most EOS 40D owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the EOS 5D Mark III
-
Resolution22MP vs 10MP (+12MP)
-
Battery life~950 shots (CIPA) vs ~800 shots (CIPA)
-
Generation5 years newer (2012 vs 2007)
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 5D Mark III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.3 | ||
| Street | +0.1 | ||
| Travel | +0.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.0 | ||
| Documentary | +1.6 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.6 | ||
| Landscape | +1.4 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.3 | ||
| Casual | +0.2 | ||
| Food | +0.8 | ||
| Macro | +0.6 | ||
| Architecture | +1.4 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.8 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS 40D | EOS 5D Mark III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £51 | £219 | |
| Released | 2007 | 2012 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 10.1MP APS-C CMOS | 22.3MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 10MP | 22MP | ↑ |
| Video | No video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | |
| Autofocus | 9-point all cross-type phase-detect via viewfinder; contrast AF in live view | 61-point phase-detect (41 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 | 6fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~800 shots (CIPA) | ~950 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 820g (with battery) | 950g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 95% coverage, 0.95x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.71x | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 230k dots | 3.2" fixed LCD, 1.04M 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 5D Mark III next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS 5D Mark III against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the EOS 40D
Related buying guides
Camera family history