40D to 5D - Would you?

studioworks

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I currently have a 40D with my main lens a Tamron 17-50mm 2.8, 90% of my shooting is portrait style so I've been tempted for a long time by going full frame. Not concerned so much by the 5D's supposed poor AF speed as I only ever use the centre point anyway, I'm more concerned with its low light handling in regard to AF and bumping up the ISO.

Intrested to hear if anyone else has made the switch or whether I should just stick to what I've got.
 
Personally I would.

I'm planning from moving to a 5dMK2 from a Nikon D300 (crop sensor), so I'll also be loosing AF performance, but to me the jump in low light handling and general image quality will be worth it.

The 40D is a cracking wee camera (I shot with one before my D300) but I reckon once you go full frame you won't look back!
 
5D has better IQ than 40D, the AF is about similar if anything (not exciting on both)

It was the AF and better build that made me switch to 1DsII as opposed to 5D (or the mkII).
 
5d all the way for portraits I'd say bit of a no brainier. Even if you needed the AF performance as I understand it it's still good just not fantastic. Might be worth hanging on for a while you might get to pick up a mk2 at reasonable money if cannon ever get round to bringing out the mk3 or really have a blow out and pick up a mk3.
 
If it helps at all...

I've had a 20D since more or less they first came out and more recently bought a 5D(original.) I think that the differences in higher ISO performance 20D v 5D are marginal, the 5D being marginally better but it's not a massive difference and TBH I was a bit underwhelmed, less than a stop I'd say. 5D shots do seem to hold together better under heavier processing though.

To me the biggest advantage of full frame isn't high ISO performance but a return to the 35mm view, if you're old enough to have used a 35mm film camera. There are drawbacks with the 5D though, there's vignetting and although the body isn't more than a few mm bigger in any direction once you've put a lens on it the chances are that it'll be a bigger and heavier package than an equivalent APS-C+lens, you lose your in built flash and because the FoV is different you may end up using different lenses possibly at smaller apertures and/or higher ISO's.
 
POAH said:
Af is better on 40D than 5D particularly the outer points

I'd say exactly the opposite, 5D has focus assist points around the centre if you want too.

The IQ is a big jump, the 5D blows the 40D away. The ISO is also better, I'd say by about a stop.
 
The sensor on the 5D performs quite a lot better than the 40D across the board, check out http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Ca...brand)/Canon/(appareil2)/176|0/(brand2)/Canon

I have a 5D as a backup to my 2 x 5DmkII bodies and it still really holds its own and I would have no worries shooting with it if one of the primary cameras goes down.

As for AF, I've shot sports with it when my 1DmkIII was in for some work and it was OK, wasn't great, but did OK and I got what I needed.

Just put some nice glass on it if you do decide to change.
 
Andy_S_T said:
I'd say exactly the opposite, 5D has focus assist points around the centre if you want too.

The IQ is a big jump, the 5D blows the 40D away. The ISO is also better, I'd say by about a stop.

No real difference for the centre spot that I could tell between 40D and 5D2 but outer points much better on 40D
 
Is it just me who's underwhelmed by the 5d mk1??
 
Nope - me too these days. The 5D is a fine camera and I've been considering getting a full frame camera as well as my other crop cameras. I remember the 5D was a great camera, but I used with one for a day and thought my 50D out performed it.

I then used a 5D mk2 and that's a definite step up. Really noticeable difference in quality. I'd have one of those, but then with a suggested release soon of a replacement, I may just wait for the price to drop.
 
Is it just me who's underwhelmed by the 5d mk1??

Possibly...:p

Do remember that the 5D Mk I is an OLD camera as camera technology seems to run with computer technology nowadays. When launched it was a ground breaking camera in many ways...

In 10 years from now the 5D Mk I (If you can find a working example then) will still be a great camera BUT, as with any camera, it has it's limitations...AF being one.
 
i went from a 40D to 5D mk1 and would definatly do it again.
 
Is it just me who's underwhelmed by the 5d mk1??

I remember putting my 20D+50mm f1.4 up against someone using a 5DII+L zoom and we both agreed that my shots were better :D Much to the annoyance of the 5DII user :D

I suppose it's down to technique, choice of settings, lenses and post capture processing. As my 20D beat a 5DII and as I think that my 5D is slightly better than my 20D I expect that should my friend with the 5DII agree to a rematch (and I don't think they will based on their reaction last time :D) I expect that my 5D would wipe the floor with them and their 5DII :D
 
it would only be fair to be using the same lens though surely?
 
it would only be fair to be using the same lens though surely?

I don't think they were doing a quality test but rather a aesthetics test as woof woof says

I suppose it's down to technique, choice of settings, lenses and post capture processing. As my 20D beat a 5DII and as I think that my 5D is slightly better than my 20D I expect that should my friend with the 5DII agree to a rematch (and I don't think they will based on their reaction last time :D) I expect that my 5D would wipe the floor with them and their 5DII :D

I'm pretty sure we can safely say a 5DmkII would destroy a 20D and do a lot better than a 5D in IQ tests as can be seen by DXO Mark.
 
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