40D >>>> 5DMkI?

Matblack

Matblack

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Matt
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OK bare with me

I have a gripped 40D had one for a while and I love it, nicely constructed, fast enough for me and I've been very happy with the quality of the shots. I currently have a few lenses for it 100mm macro (non L), Nifty 50, 70-200 f4 and most crucially a efs 17-55 f2.8.

Now on a whim I just bought a 24-105mm purely because I fancy trying one and I know they hold their resale so if its not me I can move it on.

What I'm wondering is now that I'm not all that sold on the new 60D my next upgrade is naturally the 7D however what I have come to realise is that 90% of the shots I take are portrait and very seldom sport or wildlife and wouldn't I be better off with a 5D classic instead?

My thoughts are that I could probably trade the 40D and 17-55mm (no point in keeping that) for a gripped classic and use the 5D with the 24-105mm as my walkabout lens as its as wide on the full frame.

The question is what would I gain and what would I lose (ISO noise etc) and is it worth it?

MB
 
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i would say that if you're wanting the very best image quality then the 5d classic will be better but i'm not sure if it's worth your upgrade. Why not put some money away and put say £400 toward a new 5d mk2 with your old camera and lens. If it's not worth it then simply move it on and buy a 5d mk1.
 
I suppose in some ways I was hoping someone would jump in and and say 'YES DO IT!' and that the improvement would be amazing, although I think I was expecting the response I've recieved.

I think you are probably right, now I need to weigh up between the 17-55 and the 24-105 and see which I want to keep and maybe think about a 5DII later :)

MB
 
If you're going to go full frame then it's worth replacing the 17-55, you could sell it and put that into a 5D mkII fund, save for a bit and get one. Or get the classic now and clean it when it gets dusty. You could of course get the classic now and save up for the mkII.

How much of your portrait work is between 17 and 24mm though? I'm not sure you'd miss it on the crop sensor and going FF will mean that the 24 is wider than the 17 you currently have on crop.

Just realised that's more questions than answers!
 
I moved from the 40D to a 5D classic and here are my thoughts:

* 5D images are of better quality (obviously, due to the larger sensor!). This is really noticable with landscape shots (to my eyes)
* Wide is REALLY wide!! I use many old manual focus 35mm lenses on my 5D and 17mm is incredible :D
* The 5D is bigger and may require you to get a bigger bag but...
* ...the 5D uses the same CF cards, batteries and remote :)
* The screen on the 5D is poor (mine has a newer serial) but I've come to accept that I can't see the screen on most DSLRs when it's sunny anyway
* The interface is different, and you may be frustrated for a while, as you flick the wrong thumbwheel to make something happen ;)
* Dust can be a problem, I just clean the sensor every day before a shoot and don't really suffer. No more than I do with the 40D anyway and I frequently change lenses (I usually take 4 or 5 with me).
* 5D doesn't had a 2 second self timer (grr!)
* No live view
* I absolutely love this camera :cool:

My suggestion? Before you dive in at the deep end with a 5D MKII, buy a used 5D and check that the format is right for you. You can pretty much forget birding unless you can get in close, but I have a small 1000D for that (which I rarely do anyway...and only when I can prise it away from my other half!!).

If you like it, sell it on (they hold their value) and buy a mk II :)
 
I have recently acquired a 24-105 as well for a 40D and have considered the exact same question as you. The answer unfortunately was a 5D MK II.....the MK I just wouldn't give me enough advantage to justify losing some of he EFS lenses that I have and my main reason for upgrading the body would be for better ISO handling. So it will be quite a while yet before I go full frame...maybe a 7D on the way though :)
 
DO IT NOW - that the response you wanted ? :)

Seriously, we have a 50D in the house (plus a 1D and a 5D), both the larger format cameras show a distinct gain in IQ. Anyone who has a 5D (1 or 2) will bang on about it but there is something very special about the image you get with a FF, it's just "better".
There's nothing wrong with a 40, nothing at all and the 5D wont give you anything you havent got with the 40, except the IQ is just so nice.

I've had my 5D a couple of weeks and every time I look at teh image it has taken I think "Wow that's good".

If you dont want/cant afford a Mk 2 then I seriously recommend a 2nd hand Mk1, personally I dont think you'll regret it.

HTH
Matt
 
Noooo stop!!! Dont!!! I don't wanna hear any more 70% of what I do is lanscape and I want a 5D or 5dII I luv to IQ and I dunno if its just me but FF images just seem to have more depth/realness about them than images from a crop.

Is there much of an improvement in ISO preformance on the 5D classic? Is the AF exactly the same?

I do really enjoy using my 40D though.
 
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you would gain everything from upgradnig to the mk1. bloody gorgeous camera.
better noise handling, full frame, professional camera in a prosumer body. win
 
The 5D is a good bet and is still a great camera. Might not look like much of a bruiser at first glance but mine has been working hard for years and takes a lot of abuse.

And the 2 second timer is activated with mirror lock up. :)
 
dazzajl said:
And the 2 second timer is activated with mirror lock up. :)
Click to expand...

Ha! This is why I should read manuals ;)

BTW, for the OP, the 5D is way better at high ISO noise control than the 40D. DXOMark scores the 40D with clean ISO at a maximum of around ISO 703 (I know it doesn't exist!) wheras the 5D is capable of clean output at ISO 1368.

That's quite a difference ;) I have no issues with the 5D at ISO1600 TBH :)
 
I acquired a 5D classic when I also had a 40D.
Never used the 40 whilst I had both !
'nuff said
 
Just got a 5d classic. I have a 50d and the picture quality and noise handling is way better. The 5D classics are little bargains so I would get one. Wait.... I did
 
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