40D 2nd hand or 500D

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Nadeem

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Hi

I'm a little undecided if i should go for a 40d second hand or 500d brand new, Costing will be approx the same.

But i always have this thing of wanting warranty and if there is a newer model would prefer that.

Also a little affraid of spending x hundred pounds with out in most cases seeing the 40d.

The the other dilema i have is will i ever psuh the 40D to the limits. I very much doubt i would pushg the 500D nevermind the 40D but then again i might get the BUG.

This is also my 1st Dslr.
 
I believe that the 40D is similar in build to the newer 50D, so go into currys and try a 50d and 500d. I like the more solid feel of the 50D and the control wheel on the back to allow me to shoot in manual easier.

Go and try both and see what feels better in your hands.
 
What type of photography are you thinking of mainly concentrating on. From owning a 450D and then upgrading to a 40D I come to realize the 450D was limited in some ways where the 40D was better.
 
I wouldn't worry about not being able to push the 40d to it's limit now, you will eventually. I own a 500d (as of a few days ago, swapped from a Nikon D40) and so far I'm loving it but then again I've never used a 40d.

My only useful input would be that the 500d can shoot video whilst the 40d cannot, which for me was extremely important as I've missed editing video footage since my miniDV camera packed in and I couldn't justify buying a new one. Granted the only usable frame rate (30fps) is at 720p but that's enough for me.
 
Personally I would go for the 40D, I upgraded from a 400D to the 40D and found it made a great difference, I found to be a better camera overall and easy to use, hold etc.


But 50D can't be got at good prices second hand, so maybe that is an option as well.
 
with regards to wanting a warranty, i understand, mpb photographic offer a 6 month warranty with all (i believe this to be true) purchases, and they have a few 2nd hand 40 d's!

(no i'm not on comission nor work there!
 
c_robinson said:
with regards to wanting a warranty, i understand, mpb photographic offer a 6 month warranty with all (i believe this to be true) purchases, and they have a few 2nd hand 40 d's!

(no i'm not on comission nor work there!
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Ha, you beat me to it! www.mpbphotographic.co.uk have three Exc++ condition used 40Ds in stock at the moment, and yes they do come with a 6 month warranty. I got my 50D from them and I couldn't be happier.

And no, I don't work for them either :D
 
I'd go for a 2nd hand 40D from a reputable seller, you get a lot more for your money (except video which if you need that would be the only reason to go 500D).
 
If you have decided on either of these 2 models I would also say for the 40D.
I upgraded from a 450D to a 40D and in hindsight, I wish I had gone for the 40D in the first place.
Normally I would also be concerned about a warranty, but as I've heard very little about people making a warranty claim, I was happy to buy a used one from here.
A problem with a sale on this forum is very rare, you should find a potential seller will state if there are any marks or scratches and they will also post photos.
 
hashcake said:
If you have decided on either of these 2 models I would also say for the 40D.
I upgraded from a 450D to a 40D and in hindsight, I wish I had gone for the 40D in the first place.
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Yo Hash, I can agree with you there. Instead of going from 450D last year to 50D last month, I should have spent the extra at the time I bought the former and got the 40D... If I had that now, I'd probably be hanging onto it for another year until the 7D plummets in price/is available 2nd hand, or it's successor is released...

Saying that though, I am more than happy and impressed with the 50D; it outclasses me at the moment, but, having done a lot of pixel peeping, I have to say I'm blown away by the quality of the images it can produce, and was very pleased at the excellent price I got it for. It is a popular target in the forums for a slagging, but I think that's all B.S, and it could well last me a long long time :thumbs:
 
Hi

In terms of phtography will be just family events, some public seminar events but nothing to profesional required and candid shots. Of course maybe marco plants etc depends how much i get bitten by bug.

Thanks for the advice and links. Video is not a major thing does the 50D shot video.

I'm open to other suggestion but out of nikon i'd only afford a D90 but i think i'm more a Canon then Nikon.

Seens some 2nd hand 40D on the forumn so not in much rush but will keep my eyes open what would eb a good starter lens the 18-55 canon or something else as of course 40d does not come with a lens.
 
Glass wise if you can afford it either of these

Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L USM

Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM
 
If you want a bit of extra reach I can advise the Canon EF-S 55-250mm IS. Meant to be incredible for the money but you won't be able to use it on full-frame cameras if you decide to upgrade in the future.
 
hi there, i agree with all the comments above. i went from owning a 350d to a 40d within one year, and i loved it. sadly im selling it as im switching everything over to full frame but that is not a knock on the 40d, i wish i could keep it as it is a awesome camera and excellent value for money if you buy used. if you really want to start off in the DSLR with a lot of fun and learn loads, may I suggest you pick up a Canon 50mm 1.8, which an awesome little lens, it will do pretty much most of your intended uses (other than Macro) and I gaurantee you will learn loads and have lots of fun using it. The lens can be had new for 65-70 or second hand from £55ish.

Good luck and make sure you share your images on the forum :)
 
40D would be an excellent choice. I upgraded my 400D to the 50D and it just feel so much better quality.
 
Ziploc said:
Glass wise if you can afford it either of these

Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L USM

Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM
Click to expand...

If i could afford that glass i'd alos be buying a new 50D, Although after all the postives about the 40d i might just save a while longer and do that.

But at this moment budget is like 600 or max 700, So a 40d is say 450 leaving me with 150 to 250 for glass which i can build on later.
 
Having just changed from a 400D to 40D i would recommend the 40D.

With your budget you could go for as 18-55mm IS kit lens + 55-250mm IS Canon to add the extra reach.
40D £400-450 S/H,18-55 £60 S/H 55-250mm £160 ish New
 
Another vote for the 40D over the 500D here. And with the 17-85IS kit lens it's a pretty good combo which should be within your budget. :)
 
40D for big hands, 500D for small hands.

The 40D felt perfect in my chubby fingers.
 
I actually had this issue a month or two back, i tried the 450D, 500D and the Nikon D90 and was all set on the D90 due to it feeling better and fitting my hands better. but ended up with a 40D from a guy off here and its great, well worth the money. smiliar feeling to the d90 in terms of size.
 
Lots of good advice thanks. I was just about to get a 500d and have now changed my mind. I think :bonk: Any other recommended 2nd hand retailers?
 
Seriously Scuba (and the OP); I remember in October last year, around the time I dived into the DSLR world and purchased the 450D, reading a lot of posts telling people to forget the entry level and get the 40D. Now then, although the 450D (and, by extension the 500D) are amazing little cameras, if you do suspect you've been bitten by the bug, you have to at least try the 40D or 50D. After 12 lovely months with the 450D I moved up, and wish I had a year ago! Fortunately for me, what with the recession-fuelled increase in new equipment prices over the last year, but also the disproportionate devaluation of cameras like the 40/50D (the former due to it stopping production, the later coz of the release of the 500D and the 7D), I was able to sell my 450D kit for as much as I bought it for, and buy my 50D body secondhand for a song, for which I'm very glad!

The point is with these semi pro/prosumer (I hate that word) models we're all championing, is that they're more robust, coz the build quality is better, and they're more customisable and are more versatile. Yes, you will probably get just as good pictures out of the xxxD range as you would out of the xxD lot, once you know what you're doing, but the xxD and above ranges are proper tools that can be relied upon day in, day out in all sorts of conditions, which can't really be said for the entry level stuff.

Go for the 40D; you know it makes sense :thumbs:
 
Right i think i'm decided i'd rather wait and spend a bit extra and get a xxD, Hopefully around now or after xmas some upgrades, make avilable some kit and in mean time i can save the pennies.
 
Tis highly unlikely a vendor will offer 0% credit AND price match at the same time; either one or the other.
 
The xxxD range use a pentamirror, which is a pale imitation of the pentaprism the xxD range use. Therefore, yes, it's not only bigger, it's brighter.
 
Thanks, I had a look at the 500D and was suprised at how small the view finder was after I had borrowed a Nikon D70.
 
I think you're making the right decision... I went from 350D to 40D about 18 months ago and haven't looked back since :) The viewfinder did it for me.
 
Go for the 40D, you won't regret it.
I spent ages deciding but was pleased I went for the 40D in the end

Until I found the 7D of course!! :love:

Not being able to afford to keep 2 bodies is the ONLY reason I am selling the 40D
 
Now that Jessops have 0% thinking of moving to the darkside and getting a D90 only beacuse it's cheaper then th 50D but IQ is comprative and the £200 i save i can put towards a lens.

Any reason not to go to Nikon?
 
If you have friends/family using either system it is probably better to go the same as them for swapping/trying out bits of kit etc.

Go into a camera shop and have a play with both, but you are certainly right to be thinking along the lines of spending more on glass.
 
No friedns of family have any Dslr kit so thats not a problem and to be honest i have tired the feel of both nikon and canon i'd be happy with either and learn to work with them but i find it hard to jusify 1000 for a 50D option where as the D90 falls between the 50D and the 500D i was going to buy new originally
 
Nadeem said:
No friedns of family have any Dslr kit so thats not a problem and to be honest i have tired the feel of both nikon and canon i'd be happy with either and learn to work with them but i find it hard to jusify 1000 for a 50D option where as the D90 falls between the 50D and the 500D i was going to buy new originally
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The D90 is nice, but not as ruggedly well built as the 50D. The difference in body price for the D90 and the 50D at Jessops is only £100, so I would go for the latter and get the Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 Di II LD, which put either camera's kit lenses in the shade. Shame you have to buy on HP, coz you'd get much better value if you purchased elsewhere or 2nd hand, even if you did wack it on a credit card.
 
Not wanting to put a spanner in the works, but Canon are doing £50 cashback with the 500d if you buy new. Probably not enough to sway anyone but a nice little extra if you was going that way.
 
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