upgrading to 40D or 50D?

[TheStig]

Just words, totally irrelevant, unless supported by specific photos of what each feature can do. DSLR are about taking good photos, so post some.

Photo shot in 'M' mode, MF lens ($120), with old fashioned 5D, handheld wide open, no auto ISO, just my pair of eyes.

This thread is about 40D and 50D. Of course 5D, even the mk1 will kill both those cameras in terms of image quality...

 

[Anthony Lee]

This thread is about 40D and 50D. Of course 5D, even the mk1 will kill both those cameras in terms of image quality...

Who says 40D or 50D cannot take such a photo. I owned a 40D b4 and have posted many photos. My point is talk less and post more.

40D with CZ 501.7 wide open

5D with CZ501.7, f1.7, 1/10, ISO 160 taken indoor, handheld, at Buddhist temple in Chinatown. You don't need to shoot at high ISO, just a steady pair of hands.

 

[dolina]

Just words, totally irrelevant, unless supported by specific photos of what each feature can do. DSLR are about taking good photos, so post some.

Photo shot in 'M' mode, MF lens ($120), with old fashioned 5D, handheld wide open, no auto ISO, just my pair of eyes.

Auto ISO is a feature that is most convenient especially when you want to lock down your shutter and aperture and let your body select which ISO to choose with your chosen exposure bias.

As I do not own a 2009 camera like the 7D or 1D4 I cannot show any examples. As the 40D & 5D2 have flawed implementations I never used it.

Do not worry I will buy the 7D and 1D4 to show you examples.

P.S.

I also have the 5D1 which I have very difficult time parting with. The image quality is such that it would be easier to part with a newer crop camera first before parting with the 5D1. My sole complaint with my 2yo 5D1 is the on-board LCD. The color is so inaccurate.

Also the ISO1600 of a 5D1 looks better than the ISO1600 of a 7D.

 

[TheStig]

Who says 40D or 50D cannot take such a photo. I owned a 40D b4 and have posted many photos. My point is talk less and post more.

40D with CZ 501.7 wide open

5D with CZ501.7, f1.7, 1/10, ISO 160 taken indoor, handheld, at Buddhist temple in Chinatown. You don't need to shoot at high ISO, just a steady pair of hands.

Well, 40D/50D is faster than the 5D, has better and bigger LCD, has more features, etc. But 5D is still better in terms of image quality imo. I've compared pics taken with my 40D with pics taken with my friend's 5D when I borrowed it. Of course 40D can take great pictures. I own that camera and I love it.

Btw, when comparing 40D and 50D, the images from both cameras will be very similar if you use the same lens haha. That's why I don't see why people wanna pay more for the 50D just for the LCD and the microfocusing thingy. ISO 12,800 is just pointless if the pic is unusable anyway.

Btw that CZ is a greaaaat lens.

 

[dolina]

Well, 40D/50D is faster than the 5D, has better and bigger LCD, has more features, etc. But 5D is still better in terms of image quality imo. I've compared pics taken with my 40D with pics taken with my friend's 5D when I borrowed it. Of course 40D can take great pictures. I own that camera and I love it.

Btw, when comparing 40D and 50D, the images from both cameras will be very similar if you use the same lens haha. That's why I don't see why people wanna pay more for the 50D just for the LCD and the microfocusing thingy. ISO 12,800 is just pointless if the pic is unusable anyway.

Btw that CZ is a greaaaat lens.

Though the 40d/50d may be faster but what you want is fast useable photos unless of course you're a paparazi and want a photo of Brad Pitt kissing Jennifer Aniston after the split.

The LCD upgrade is really useful when you want to check whether you got a tack sharp image. But not enough to trade up for an incrimental upgrade like the 50d. I was really surprised that the 50d was announced 6 months too early. Microfocusing is useful if you do not want to send your camera to CSC.

Carl Zeiss lenses are great. Worth the money they ask for even if they're manual focus.

 

[Anthony Lee]

Auto ISO is a feature that is most convenient especially when you want to lock down your shutter and aperture and let your body select which ISO to choose with your chosen exposure bias.

As I do not own a 2009 camera like the 7D or 1D4 I cannot show any examples. As the 40D & 5D2 have flawed implementations I never used it.

Do not worry I will buy the 7D and 1D4 to show you examples.

P.S.

I also have the 5D1 which I have very difficult time parting with. The image quality is such that it would be easier to part with a newer crop camera first before parting with the 5D1. My sole complaint with my 2yo 5D1 is the on-board LCD. The color is so inaccurate.

Also the ISO1600 of a 5D1 looks better than the ISO1600 of a 7D.

I use film SLR from 1963 until recently and any LCD on board your camera is a bonus. When I do need to check my LCD I normally look at histograms and never rely on it for anything else. You guys just make too much fuss. My wife's handphone LCD is 100 times better than my 5D. I never use ISO above 800 on my 5D and never allow the camera to decide my ISO setting. In 'M' mode means in complete control of the camera, like when I shot films.

 

[ahlionel]

Lai Lai...

We are still comapring 40D vs 50D.. not 40D vs 5D... Haa :bsmilie:

 

[dolina]

I use film SLR from 1963 until recently and any LCD on board your camera is a bonus. When I do need to check my LCD I normally look at histograms and never rely on it for anything else. You guys just make too much fuss. My wife's handphone LCD is 100 times better than my 5D. I never use ISO above 800 on my 5D and never allow the camera to decide my ISO setting. In 'M' mode means in complete control of the camera, like when I shot films.

Does histograms show focus? And who looks at accurate colors via the JPEG displayed on the camera LCD? Other than not being able to calibrate the onboard LCD the light from the environment would influence what you see.

The 5D1 doesn't have the auto ISO feature.

Auto ISO is great if you know what opening and shutter speed you want but want the appropriate speed to expose properly. Most useful in sports and wildlife where lighting conditions changes suddenly.

On other cameras like the 5D2 auto ISO is treated as another ISO number located to the right of "L".

 

[Anthony Lee]

Does histograms show focus? And who looks at accurate colors via the JPEG displayed on the camera LCD? Other than not being able to calibrate the onboard LCD the light from the environment would influence what you see.

The 5D1 doesn't have the auto ISO feature.

Auto ISO is great if you know what opening and shutter speed you want but want the appropriate speed to expose properly. Most useful in sports and wildlife where lighting conditions changes suddenly.

On other cameras like the 5D2 auto ISO is treated as another ISO number located to the right of "L".

Show me some of your photos.

 

[dolina]

Show me some of your photos.

Using auto ISO? I haven't used it as it isn't properly implemented on the 40D, 5D2 and is absent in the ancient 5D1.

Rest assured I will buy a 7D and 1D4 to show you properly implemented auto ISO images.

 

[Anthony Lee]

Using auto ISO? I haven't used it as it isn't properly implemented on the 40D, 5D2 and is absent in the ancient 5D1.

Rest assured I will buy a 7D and 1D4 to show you properly implemented auto ISO images.

Guess as much.

 

[izerkudie]

hmm..thanks for the advice though

 

[woeilee]

When 50D was lauched, many reviews said that it is not worth upgrading from 40D to 50D if IQ is the most impt element. Till now, I would think this is still very true.
In view of this, I would suggest 40D to TS since you can take photos of IQ as good as 50D while paying less (S$1350 for 2nd hand 50D vs. S$850 for 2nd hand 40D).

And of course the 40D must still be in good condition (cosmetically and functionally).

 

[Anthony Lee]

hmm..thanks for the advice though

TS, 40D, 50D & 7D are all 1.6 cropped cams and depending on usage and budget, anyone will do. When you can master a camera, it is a good camera. When you let a camera takes over the control, no camera will be good enough for you because there is always another better one on the horizon.

 

[sensornoise]

Your questions are too vague. You might want to ask about stuff like strength of anti-aliasing filter, normalized/pixel level SNR, AF tracking algorithm, shutter lag/VF blackout, mirror slap sound, RAW headroom, whether you should consider jumping over to the dark side etc.

LOL. Think about what you need and what you don't. Like seriously. But if you have enough to spend, get 50d. Similar to 40d but generally better.

 

[icelava]

hang on to your 450D; it already serves 90% of your needs so you're well covered.

i am hanging onto mine too, until the real specs for the 60D can be evaluated before i make a decision if i can do without 7D.

 

[Henry Koh]

Hi, I formally own a 400D and i sold it off for an upgrade . I was struggling between 50D and 7D for 3 months due the the price gap and finally bought the 7D . I have no regrets on my decision as the focus performance and the 8fps was great and also the high iso performance . 5D is way out of my budget . I like to take sports photography and do not like to use flash unless necessary . maybe this camera suits me .

 

[TheStig]

hang on to your 450D; it already serves 90% of your needs so you're well covered.

i am hanging onto mine too, until the real specs for the 60D can be evaluated before i make a decision if i can do without 7D.

Maybe 60D will use the same sensor as 50D, with addition of HD video. Maybe 720p. I don't think it will have 7D's AF. 7D is a lot more expensive, but very successful. I also read somewhere that canon may not introduce 50D's replacement this year :dunno:

But I agree, hold on to your 450D first, and then do an upgrade if you really cannot live without a better body. I held on to my 400D for 2.5 years before getting the 40D :sweat:

 

[izerkudie]

yes..40D or 50D..actually the price range is along different. hmm..

 

[jotwein]

I upgraded from a 400D to a 50D just a couple of months ago and I'm really enjoying the quicker fps and expanded ISO (though I only shoot up to 3200 and in my line of work a reasonably grainy photo is better than no photo at all).

I used a 40D at my last workplace and there really isn't that much difference between the two (biggest difference being LCD), except my 50D was sponsored so there really was no reason to pay less :bsmilie: