Upgrading from 350D to 30D or 40D? Which one?!

[Twizzel]

As you may have gathered I'm looking to buy a new body and keep my 350D as a 2nd body/spare.

I would ideally want a 40D, but they seem to be like hen's teeth 2nd hand, and when they do come up, they are nearing £500 which is well out of my price range.

Dad has suggested a 2nd hand 30D, as there are a few more of these available.

Has anybody had experience with both the 30D and 40D? Is there a noticeable difference? On paper it looks like there is, but you never know until you try both out.

I'll be using it mainly for sport photography, a few landscapes etc.

Opinions? Would a 30D be a good upgrade, or is it worth the extra £100 or so for the 40D?

 

[david1701]

I know it sounds nuts but the buttons along the top are back to front on the 20/30d compared to 40/50d tbh thats all I can come up with as I haven't had loads to do with either, but I lurve my lcd might be worth comparing the 30/40d lcds

 

[Ant]

the ISO performance is greater on the 40d over the 30d.

There is also improved ergonomics on the 40d.

I'd pop for the newer bodies compared to the older ones. If you can afford it, get the 40d. I have the 50d, and it's fantastic to hold, and everything is logically set out on the body. (Same body, same buttons, different internals on the 50d to 40d/)

But the 30d is still fantastic for the money, but they're getting less common now, well, the ones with lower shutter counts anyway.

 

[awhyu]

Well this exactly happened to me too! I had a 350D and upgraded to a 40D as I found one at a very good price, absolutely no turning back and you won't regret the upgrade to a 40D either....

I find the colour quality and richness of the tones better than the 350D as well as the overall build quality of the camera. The 350D was a good beginner's camera to start with but I can wholeheartedly recommend a 40D.

I have used the 40D for a first time wedding and it performed as well as landscapes.

Feel free to have at look at my flickr stream too. You won't regret the upgrade at all!

P.S I did also invest in better lenses too.

 

[Viking]

Given that the 50d was out and had some additional features, many chose the 40d simply because it represented the best value for money.

I think the chip on the 40d is newer than the 30, also it has more pixels.

John

 

[trapper501]

I've been pondering this a bit as having bought my partner a 40D I'm now using the 350D for my first attempts at Macro.

from what I've seen the 2nd hand 30Ds on here don't represent much of a bargain compared to a 40D, I'd hang on for a 40D. Larger LCD, higher pixel count, I think a 2nd hand 40D represents better value for money.

I've decided against a 30D now and will hold on for another 40D a bit later.