Which Canon - 500D / 40D / 50D

Gutmann pug · 30 May 2009, 19:03

I've had my 350D for a few years now and it's been a faithful servant taking some really rather nice shots for me. With my 40th Birthday fast approaching I am thinking of upgrading.

I fancy the idea of something a little more semi pro rather than entry level. I dont have a huge budget and need the body only. All my gear is Canon so it must be a Canon.

Had a quick look today and chat with a salesman.

My views....

500D
I just don't like it. Feels light (which is probably a good thing) but also a bit mickey mouse like. I hate the idea of it taking video, it just doesn't sit right with me. However 15 megapixels can't be sniffed at. It uses SD cards which I have none of, however I have loads of CF cards.

I asked the salesman about the 40 and 50D and his comment was that even though the 500D has the same or more megapixels the 40 or 50 would be more rewarding.

40D
Only 10.1 megapixel ( When I say only, I mean more than I have now obviously) but it feels like a nice piece of kit to hold. Sturdy and with percieved good build quality. Nice big screen, I like it.

50D
Close to the 40D but with 15 megapixels? He didn't have one there to see and try but his comment was that the 40D was just as rewarding to use. Perhaps not worth the extra money?

So my impression is that even though the 500D will undoubtably be a great camera, it just isn't for me. It doesnt feel right. So 40 or 50D?????

Any comments from you gratefully received

Hoppy · 31 May 2009, 07:11

I have a 40D and no plan to upgrade to a 50D. It's a lot extra for the questionable benefit of 15m pixels. Apart from that, the two cameras are almost identical. Very good action camera for the money.

40D is well priced ATM. Extremely capable camera. Big jump up from 350D

Edit: Price here http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod576.html Curry's £568 for body with discount code, though I'll never buy from them as long as I have a hole in my f/number. Such a shame Jessops aren't even on the list. WEX or Park Cameras for me.

Timwinner · 31 May 2009, 12:04

I think a 40D is just as good as a 50D, there are a few upgrades in the 50D but for the extra cash I would rather have a 40D and buy an extra lens.
I use a Sony, everyone warned me against them and said its a not a proper DSLR but I LOVE it.
I think a lot of it was brand snobs, you get a lot of camera for your money. But as for your question I think the 40D will be more then you will ever need. Top bit f kit.

john_s · 31 May 2009, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoppy

Curry's...[snip]... I'll never buy from them as long as I have a hole in my f/number.

Edit: I should add something useful...

I never saw anything in the 50D to make me want to replace my 40D with one... so the 40D option gets my vote.

evil_scoobs · 31 May 2009, 22:26

I was in the same situation and after lots of reading went for a Nikon D90 and sold my canon kit

Pumpkin · 02 June 2009, 10:11

I have a 40D and a 50D. The 50D requires top quality lenses. The LCD is better and noise handling is better as well considering the 50% increase in pixels over the 40D.

If they did the 40D with the 50D screen then that would be a great combination.

Both are great cameras.

Coffin Dodger · 03 June 2009, 16:31

Don't let the SD card thing put you off the 500D, they're so cheap these days.

As a 450D owner, if I was purchasing now it would be the 500D for me. Personally I quite like the idea of being able to shoot 1080p HD video through an SLR with all the various lenses you can get

The 500D and 50D do seem to have a lot in common, i.e. the 15mp sensor, hi-res screen, DIGIC4 processor, etc. so the gap narrows somewhat.

Tough choice

**Chris L** · 04 June 2009, 08:46

Pumpkin makes a good point about quality lenses - buying the body is only the start. I've got a 40D and I can see the difference between my L series and some of my other lenses, so I'm sure that the difference would be more noticeable on the 50D. Don't get hung up on megapixels though, look at the quality / price of the camera too. I love my 40D and I've had some stunning shots from it (published quality) - highly recommended. I'm inclined to keep the 40D for the foreseeable future and invest in some new lenses.

Hoppy · 04 June 2009, 18:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris L

Pumpkin makes a good point about quality lenses - buying the body is only the start. I've got a 40D and I can see the difference between my L series and some of my other lenses, so I'm sure that the difference would be more noticeable on the 50D. Don't get hung up on megapixels though, look at the quality / price of the camera too. I love my 40D and I've had some stunning shots from it (published quality) - highly recommended. I'm inclined to keep the 40D for the foreseeable future and invest in some new lenses.

That's exactly what I'm doing - keeping the 40D and investing in good lenses. I reckon the next camera upgrade for me with be at least one or maybe two generations of new models away.

I advertised five lenses today on Talk Photography™ and sold the flippin lot within hours! You just collect them, two or three hundred quid at a time, and only ever use two

Well I do anyway

So I've had a clear out and am going to get a Canon 70-200mm f/4 L IS, plus a set of extenion tubes for macro, which means I will be down to 10-22, 17-55, 70-200 and 100-400 plus 1.4x extender, all Canon. I think that will do me for now.

BTW, the 70-200 4 L IS is currently £799 from Kerso, thanks to the strengthening £ against the $ I think. That's about £150 cheaper than anywhere else. It's reckoned to be the sharpest zoom known to man

Duck_Pond · 05 June 2009, 11:14

I have both 40D and 50D and agree with what's been said in general. I only ended up with the 50D after Jessops failed to get hold of a 40D for me before I was set to go away - they're stopping selling them.

The screen is much better, and the ISO / noise handling is arguably better than the 40D. But, I don't think it's worth the 50D is worth the additional cost at the moment.

I've got some very nice shots with my 40D. It's a HUGE leap from the 350D - that was my previous camera. When my 40D broke, going back to using the 350D was such a frightening experience, I went out to get another 40D as a back up, and then ended up with the 50D.

vibrio · 11 June 2009, 18:52

40D out of those 3purely on IQ, handling, price and noise being the best of the bunch lol

CharlieWhiskey · 20 June 2009, 11:00

Ditto what's been said above

I went from a 300D to a 20D and now have the 40D, the extras on the 50D are not enough temptation for me to wish to change yet, although a 5D MkII would be nice

P1Fanatic · 04 July 2009, 11:57

Im in a similar position. Picked up a 2nd hand 350D off here last year to see if I like the world of DSLRs. Now Ive bought a few more lenses I want to upgrade the body next.

40D is the obvious choice and well priced at around £550 - it was even cheaper way back with £100 canon cashback. The quandry is do you spend another £200+ to get the 50D which has more megapixels, better res screen (major drawback of 350D for reviewing), higher ISO (would I ever really use it), digic 4 processor, newer camera by about a year.

From reading the various forums it generally seems that every other camera release brings more to the table and is the better buy i.e. 20D, 40D.

Add to the mix the possibility of the 60D which could be out end of August although a lot of suggestion that Canon will go back to 18 month release cycle so could be Jan/Feb 2010. Even if its more it should in theory drop the 40 & 50D prices or maybe Canon will start some more cashback schemes.

Im not in any great hurry so will wait til Xmas I think.

Simon

Ian Cook · 04 July 2009, 15:38

Latest Canon cashback/tradein

Canon UK - Index

Doesnt have to be your current camera so if you have an old SLR/DSLR thats worth peanuts send em that lol

Gutmann pug · 05 July 2009, 07:10

40D is an excellent camera - a huge step up from a 350D.

If you can get a new 50D for £750 you are doing well by the way

P1Fanatic · 05 July 2009, 11:22

Gutmann - did you get a 40D in the end then?

Simon

finchyboy · 05 July 2009, 21:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffin Dodger

Don't let the SD card thing put you off the 500D, they're so cheap these days.

As a 450D owner, if I was purchasing now it would be the 500D for me. Personally I quite like the idea of being able to shoot 1080p HD video through an SLR with all the various lenses you can get

The 500D and 50D do seem to have a lot in common, i.e. the 15mp sensor, hi-res screen, DIGIC4 processor, etc. so the gap narrows somewhat.

Tough choice

I've just sold my 450 i had real problems with soft images and trust me i tried everything ? Have you experienced any problems ?

Just bought a Nikon D5000 and the difference between the images is night and day.