Another 40d vs 50d dilemma - DPChallenge Forums

11/14/2008 08:55:56 AM · #1

I am itching to buy a new body. I am afraid of pulling the trigger. So I would like some input from people that have either of these models as to performance and the price.

Right now I can buy a 50d body only $1399Cdn/$1145US
or 40d with 28-135 lens for $1199 Cdn/$941US

Which would you rather?

ETA Conversion

Message edited by author 2008-11-14 08:59:04.

Prof_Fate

11/14/2008 09:10:03 AM · #2

I have three 40Ds and love that body. My friend upped ot a 50d from a 40 (and i got one 40 from him) and he says it's very comparable to his 1D3 in focus capablilities and he LOVES the LCD on it. He's not impressed by the high ISO noise though it is perhaps a stop better than the 40D.

One of my 40s I got as a kit with the 28-135 lens and I really liked that lens as a walkaround lens and for studio use.

10mp is about perfect to me, so the 15mp of the 50D is overkill (hence my sticking with 40s for now). The 50 has an sRAW of about 7 mp that would probably serve you for 90% of what one shoots.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

11/14/2008 09:21:37 AM · #3

I am mainly shooting for this site.I did a few weddings as second shooter this past summer and plan on doing some more. Possibly a wedding this coming year on my own. So should I go with a 40 and save the few extra bucks and put it towards an L lens or just step up to the 50. Am I or my customers going to notice the difference?

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

11/14/2008 09:37:47 AM · #4

Originally posted by LVicari:

I am mainly shooting for this site.

LOL!! pretty lame reason for spending more money unless you have loads of it. Gotta love that peer pressure keepin up with Jones sorta thing that goes on around here. Keep the 350 and buy glass.

Message edited by author 2008-11-14 09:38:45.

Moose408

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

11/14/2008 10:13:15 AM · #5

Originally posted by LVicari:

I moved from a Rebel XT to the 50D and there was definitely a noticeable difference in picture quality. Over the summer I rented a 40D for a week and there was also an improvement in picture quality over the Rebel. I believe the 50D PQ is slightly better than the 40D in bright light, but the noise is worse in low light. It is the only thing that makes me wonder if I should have gotten the camera.

I don't think you can go wrong with either.

figaro

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

11/14/2008 10:36:50 AM · #6

I moved up from a Rebel XT to a 30D and have not regretted it for a second - marked improvement in picture quality (mainly due to superior focusing), superb accessibility of controls and excellent high ISO performance (better, some say, than either of its successors). If you're looking at doing weddings then you're going to need some really excellent glass so I'd recommend looking at the 40D or a 30D in good nick!

Tiberius

Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+, S25 Ultra

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

11/14/2008 12:08:37 PM · #7

40D from what I read.
I also moved from the 350D. Big improvement in handling the camera and IQ. Sometimes I wish I still had the 530D (sold it) just smaller and easy to throw it in a bag.

Not sure it helps...

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

11/14/2008 04:28:34 PM · #8

Originally posted by NstiG8tr:

Originally posted by LVicari:
I am mainly shooting for this site.

LOL!! pretty lame reason for spending more money unless you have loads of it. Gotta love that peer pressure keepin up with Jones sorta thing that goes on around here. Keep the 350 and buy glass.

I know its prety lame. but I have outgrown my XT I shot a baptism last Sunday at ISO 200 and had to go thru an despeckle every shot. I am tired of seeing the poor quality on my shots and having to try and recover thru pp. Will L glass make that much improvement on this body and issue. Or is this usual? Not having the another body to shoot with, I don't know if this is normal. Is it the sensor,glass or is it the shooter? Or all the above?

Input pls

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

11/14/2008 05:23:18 PM · #9

Originally posted by LVicari:

Originally posted by NstiG8tr:

Originally posted by LVicari:
I am mainly shooting for this site.

LOL!! pretty lame reason for spending more money unless you have loads of it. Gotta love that peer pressure keepin up with Jones sorta thing that goes on around here. Keep the 350 and buy glass.

I know its prety lame. but I have outgrown my XT I shot a baptism last Sunday at ISO 200 and had to go thru an despeckle every shot. I am tired of seeing the poor quality on my shots and having to try and recover thru pp. Will L glass make that much improvement on this body and issue. Or is this usual? Not having the another body to shoot with, I don't know if this is normal. Is it the sensor,glass or is it the shooter? Or all the above?

Input pls

A lot of noise can be avoided by exposing to the right (without blowing highlights). Whenever the shadows have to be brought back, noise will appear (using any body). Noise is related to the sensor and how you expose your shots.

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

11/15/2008 09:51:37 AM · #10

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Originally posted by LVicari:

Originally posted by NstiG8tr:

Originally posted by LVicari:
I am mainly shooting for this site.

LOL!! pretty lame reason for spending more money unless you have loads of it. Gotta love that peer pressure keepin up with Jones sorta thing that goes on around here. Keep the 350 and buy glass.

I know its prety lame. but I have outgrown my XT I shot a baptism last Sunday at ISO 200 and had to go thru an despeckle every shot. I am tired of seeing the poor quality on my shots and having to try and recover thru pp. Will L glass make that much improvement on this body and issue. Or is this usual? Not having the another body to shoot with, I don't know if this is normal. Is it the sensor,glass or is it the shooter? Or all the above?

Input pls

A lot of noise can be avoided by exposing to the right (without blowing highlights). Whenever the shadows have to be brought back, noise will appear (using any body). Noise is related to the sensor and how you expose your shots.

I've shot with a 350 in the past and the noise at 200 shouldn't be as bad as you describe. I agree with Colette about exposure playing a big factor in noise. This could be the majority of your problem. It's a lot easier to correct a slightly over-exposed image than an under-exposed image with out adding more noise. The histogram is your friend. Use it if you don't already. If you don't understand how to read it,learn.
Don't look to camera bodies to help with your photos. My photos are not that much better with a 5D than they were with the 350 IMO. There are people here that can blow the doors off a 1Ds Mark III with a P&S. Investments in glass are always a good thing if you have the means. Camera bodies come and go and will never retain their value like good glass.

Message edited by author 2008-11-15 09:53:57.

seasaw

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/15/2008 11:09:51 PM · #11

Bryan Carnathan just posted his 50D review. He takes an unusual approach with this review. Compare what he says about the 40D and 50D at this link:

The Digital Picture

FYI - Bryan is pretty good about responding to Body/Lens questions by email if you have anything specific you need to know before making your decision.