40D vs 50D

kickstart

kickstart

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Sorry I'm being a bit slapdash with my posts but I was looking for a 40D for my daughter who is a photography student.

The budget I'd set was around £450 - £500 and as long as I avoid ebay it seems like the kind of price they sell for on here.

However I've been offered a 50D (As new with full warranty) for just a little more (about £100-£150).

From what I've read the increased file size is not a big improvement but the higher quality screen is.

What would you consider to be the best choice?
 
It so much depends on what sort of photography your daughter is interested in - both are excellent cameras.

The 50D has an enormouse 5 million pixel increase over the 40D, but the real advantage of that is for people using long lenses - wildlife for example, where the large file size and pixel density allow massive cropping of an image to show a distant bird for example, at a good size in the final image while still retaining good image quality.

For normal photography- portraits, landscape and using moderate lenses, you're not going to see an appreciable difference in prints from either camera.

The price you're being quoted for the 50D sounds about right anyway, so no major bargain there in price, but whichever you choose your daughter will get an excellent camera.
 
She's doing a documentary photography degree in Newport (Wales), so it's for general use.

The 50D is turning out to be a bit cheaper than I was originally quoted (£590), the main question is, should I take this over a 40D at £460?
 
Assuming everything is OK with the 50D for that price difference, then I'd say take the 50D and she has all the options open to her whatever she wants to do.
 
Personally I'd go for the 40D - I've been looking at upgrading my 400D to either the 40D or 50D and can't see a great advantage in the newer model. That extra money can go towards something else instead!

Although I've not used either for any length of time so I'm happy to be contradicted by someone who has!!
 
I have a 40D and have used a 50D and to be honest - there's nothing in it so I wouldn't change but if I had neither and was buying one or the other from scratch I'd go for the 50D if only for the extra cropping options and higher ISO.
 
personally I like the 50D but am not pushed to change mine

if I was buying on a budget, I would look at the 40D and a flash or nifty 50, which will go a lot further for her course.
just my tuppence
 
Personally I don't think that the extra 5mp on the 50D really makes much difference, sure you can crop in a bit harder but ideally you take shots that need little or no cropping. Yes the LCD is better on the 50D, but unless you intend to use liveview alot it won't make much difference. Noise levels at high ISOs are a much discussed issue with these two cameras but from what I've seen the 40D does have an edge. I'd go for the 40D and put the money saved towards a lens or flash.
 
Great, thanks for the advice everyone, my head said go for the 40D as it's all she needs (and more) - but my hear was saying the 50D is NEW and who cares if it costs more as I would be getting a great discount and it would be worth more if we sold it in the future.

The reality is that the 40D is the sensible option... and the one I think I will take.
 
CT said:
The 50D has an enormouse 5 million pixel increase over the 40D, but the real advantage of that is for people using long lenses - wildlife for example, where the large file size and pixel density allow massive cropping of an image to show a distant bird for example, at a good size in the final image while still retaining good image quality.
Click to expand...
Of course your ability to crop "harder" will depend on having good glass. I know the OP was looking at partnering the body with a 17-85 and I feel the 15mp sensor in the 50D might start to show up the inadequacies of this lens with aggressive cropping.
 
You should also consider that the 50D has micro focus adjustment which may be useful when she gets more lenses..
 
I think there are a few people missing the point here? As I said initially, there's lttle to choose between these cameras for portrait/landscape type photography. The difference comes when you need to crop, when the difference isn't just minor or negligable as some seem to think, it's very significant indeed. That's based on having owned both cameras amd shooting both side by side for a while behind long lenses, where the disadvantage of the 40D was painfully obvious - so much so that we got a second 50D body.

If she gets the 40D, then she'll be fine - if she gets the 50D she'll be fine, and obviously in the latter case, any heavy cropping would challenge her kit lens, but give her a distinct advantage should she later want to shoot wildlife, (for example) with a longer lens.

Future proofing her purchase beyond her immediate needs in other words, and thus avoiding further expense down the line. ;)
 
Thanks everyone - 40D and 17-85mm purchased from this forum, I'm sure it will be ideal for her (I'm actually starting to think I would like one as well!)
 
50D not worth the extra cash. and you only look at the histogram for information since most LCD's are not a true representation of the image


kickstart said:
Sorry I'm being a bit slapdash with my posts but I was looking for a 40D for my daughter who is a photography student.

The budget I'd set was around £450 - £500 and as long as I avoid ebay it seems like the kind of price they sell for on here.

However I've been offered a 50D (As new with full warranty) for just a little more (about £100-£150).

From what I've read the increased file size is not a big improvement but the higher quality screen is.

What would you consider to be the best choice?
Click to expand...
 
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