Which one 40d or 5d?

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GerryD

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Gerald Davies
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I'm going to get a new camera next week, as the house will finally sell next Thursday, so I'll have a little cash to spend on some equipment.

I'm looking to get either the Canon 40d or 5d. But which one?

Photographically, I like taking wildlife and landscape photos, so the full frame 5d would be good for landscape and the 40d with the 1.6 crop sensor would be good for the wildlife.

I know going to full frame from the 2x crop factor of the Oly e-500 is going to be a jump.

I'll be purchasing the 24 - 105 f4 L lens to go with either of the cameras, as this should make a good general purpose lens. I also have the Sigma 70-300 DG APO macro lens. Does anyone now how this will work with the 1.6 crop of the 40D? (got ahead of myself on this one :bonk:)

Looking forward I will be looking to develop my photography skills and branching out to try some portraiture and some sports photography :) and may even have a look at some stock photography and may look to go (semi-) pro in the future as my skills develop.

Has anyone got both of these cameras? Which camera has the best picture quality? Should I wait for the 5D successor to be launched and pic up a 5d cheaply and get the 40d now?

I'm leaning towards the 5d due to the full frame sensor and the slightly larger sensor. Please help me decide?

Cheers

Gerald
 
Without spending silly money on the Canon 1Ds or Nikon D3/D700, the 5D is the best IQ you can get on a SLR at the moment, certainly for the price (around £1,200). The quality is film-like - rich colours and natural grain-like noise at high ISOs - and stands apart from other models IMO.

It's not so good for sports (3 fps is a bit low, and the focusing is bettered on the 1D), but for landscapes, portraits etc. it's a winner.

Having been a hardcore film user for 20+ years, the 5D was the camera that tempted me to go over to digital, and I haven't regretted it :thumbs:

A.
 
Sorry Gerald I'm not going to help you decide this one!

I've got a 5D and I love it but.........and here's the but........the list you have provided is neither one thing nor another. Sure the 5D is ace at both landscapes and portraits but I'm not going to tell you it's any good for sports or motorsports because it's not! Not unless you can get them to slow down a bit into the 5D's autofocus range.

The 40D may well be a whole host better for those applications (I'll bet it is but I don't have one so can't say from experience) The 1.6x will be better for wildlife and the autofocus may be better for sports.

On the list you have given us both cameras have their strengths but also their weaknesses. 5D, full frame gorgeousness, blindingly good portraits.........40D faster, better for wildlife and sports.

Take your pick because I couldn't!
 
If it were me in that situation i'd go for the 40D. It'd be more than sufficient for portraits (as any dslr is) but has better AF for sports/action.
 
AliB said:
Sorry Gerald I'm not going to help you decide this one!

I've got a 5D and I love it but.........and here's the but........the list you have provided is neither one thing nor another. Sure the 5D is ace at both landscapes and portraits but I'm not going to tell you it's any good for sports or motorsports because it's not! Not unless you can get them to slow down a bit into the 5D's autofocus range.

The 40D may well be a whole host better for those applications (I'll bet it is but I don't have one so can't say from experience) The 1.6x will be better for wildlife and the autofocus may be better for sports.

On the list you have given us both cameras have their strengths but also their weaknesses. 5D, full frame gorgeousness, blindingly good portraits.........40D faster, better for wildlife and sports.

Take your pick because I couldn't!
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Thank you both for your comments. Having used an Oly e500, where the af is very bad, the 5d is going to be a luxury, even if it is slower than the 40d.

I know my requirement mean I have to choose between which I enjoy best, and I think thats going to be the landscape side of things. Tuff choice, so I'm of to Swansea to have a play :)
 
I shoot with a 5D and find it very capable for most situations. You could also look at a second hand 1D.
 
I would advise going for a 5D if you're leaning towards portraiture and landscapes but you haven't got a lens to put on it that'll get anywhere near wildlife....300mm won't cut it on an FF body.
On the other hand, your potential 24mm is not going to be the greatest on a 40D for landscapes either.

Bob
 
Is there any reason you are only looking at canon.

I see youre moving from olympus, now i wont argue that the FF Canon 5D is superb, but at this moment in time, in DX format, nothing can touch the Nikon D300, which will give you excellent results no matter what you do.
 
taxi said:
I'll be purchasing the 24 - 105 f4 L lens to go with either of the cameras, as this should make a good general purpose lens.
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It should be borne in mind that the 24 - 105 lens on the 40D gives a range of 38mm to 168 mm (equivalent). If you went for the 40D you'd need a 17-40 as well! Go for the 5D! You know it makes sense!

I wish I had .... :'(
 
I'd go for the 40d as it's aquite alot cheaper and invest the difference in some glass that you can still use in the future, putting that sigma lens on either the 40D or the 5D would be somewhat of a waste of the bodies ability.
 
Monkey said:
Is there any reason you are only looking at canon.

I see youre moving from olympus, now i wont argue that the FF Canon 5D is superb, but at this moment in time, in DX format, nothing can touch the Nikon D300, which will give you excellent results no matter what you do.
Click to expand...

I have access to a range of canon lenses as and when :), so that kind of forced my hand, I just need to get the lenses I must have
 
I've got the 24-105mm on a 5D as a walkaround and it's been great. It's not the best indoors in low light but the quality outdoors is more that adequate. :)
 
I dont think the price of the 5D will go down much when the new 5D is here due to the fact that the demand will still be there. I've got a 40D with the 24-105mm and that works well but im always finding myself at 24mm end of things.

Saying that, I should be getting a 5D next week for the fullframness and the IQ.
 
jerry12953 - thanks for the info on lens/crop factor did remind me just in time. And I think I know what you are saying about the 5d.

Canon Bob, thanks for confirming what I thought and infor and 24-105 on 4d with landscape.

a1ex2001, I prob going to go for 40d so will be looking for best lenses I can afford to upgrade at a later date. I already have that lens, at a good price. Although I have a lot of money coming in I do have to spend it wisely. If you are correct then I'll be forced into getting a better lens. I'll see how it goes first.

Alib, its what I'm looking for in the 25 - 105, a walk about lens. Cheers for that bit of info on the low light side of things.

I've been playing again with both cameras and impressed with both of the cameras.

There are to many options combinations to consider, and my head has felt like exploding this afternoon.


I'm going for the 40d. There are a couple of reasons -

1) as I'm going to be traveling for a couple of mths the 40d cheaper
2) the crop will allow me more flexibility. I know I'll lose a little with landscape/potrait, but I'll gain more in the wildlife/sports area, as I'll be doing this more over the next couple of mths
3) I also found it a little more comfortable to use, only having 3/4 of an trigger finger, it seemed easier to use.

Also if the new version of the 5d is released then I can save some money when the price of 5d is reduced. Poss canon will have another cash back offer :)

With lenses i'm looking at the 17-40 f4 L lens, and the 24-105 f4 l lens. Both are ef so can be moved to the 5d should I buy on the future. As anyone used the 17-40, if so what do you think of it?

I've pm'd kerso for some prices.

Cheers

Gerald.
 
why not buy a second hand 1d mk2? 1.3x crop on the sensor, it will be superb for sports and wildlife, and will be fine for portraits and landscapes.....
 
nowler said:
why not buy a second hand 1d mk2? 1.3x crop on the sensor, it will be superb for sports and wildlife, and will be fine for portraits and landscapes.....
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I did not think about it, thats to much camera for me at the moment. The 40d with the 1.6 crop suits my needs a little better at the moment, and spending less on the camera, will allow me to buy some more glass :)
 
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