Well, I've spent a few more weeks with the Canon 40D and have a few new things to add to the mix (the original summary review is here- scroll down a bit).

1. Lenses - I gave up on the 17-55 2.8 EFS IS lens. The second lens came from B&H and demonstrated the same issues - things were just not sharp. Now granted, I'm spoiled by decent Leica glass (and funny enough, I don't own the nicest Leica stuff - my lenses are all older generation technology) but they are sharp and give me beautiful results. I ended up buying a 24-70 2.8L last week and I'm much happier. The lens is finally giving me results that I'm happy with. Funny, but even my old D70 and its kit consumer lens was loads better than the 17-55 2.8 EFS IS. Go figure. I find the 24 is not wide enough (I really loved the 17 end of the previous lens) but I didn't want to lop off all those MM for a 16-35 L lens, despite the great things I'd heard about it.
2. Auto-Focus - I've come along way in understanding how to use all the various modes on the 40D. Several of you even emailed some hints on what would help and I find they are spot on. Thanks
3. CR2 - man I still hate converting them. I swear that copying files from the 40D takes twice as long as my M8 files.
4. I ended up just buying some bigger CF cards (2 12 GB Sandsik Cards) as they had a great rebate at the time of purchase. Wahooo.
5. I bought the battery grip. It makes a big/heavey camera even more unweildy, and I've only shot with it on a few occasions, but I like the vertical shutter and the extra power (I'm sure it will come in handy). But man, that camera is big.
6. I ended up needing a larger Domke bag to carry it all in (ended up with the excellent Domke Super Sachel) and I'm loving it. Its big and heavy, but I just wasn't fitting into the F2 anymore. Domke bags rock. Seriously.
7. I'm probably going to get the alternate focusing screen - the FTM focusing on these lenses is kinda cool sometimes, but not nearly as cool as the focus tab on my Summicron or that wonderful rangefinder patch. Its nice to have both cameras in my bag.

Enamored? Yeah. Will it settle? Yeah.

Here is another picture from yesterday's studio shoot.

Tags:Canon, Tech