40D or take the plunge and go for the 5D?

elderlemon

Thinking of upgrading from my 350D to something new.. Logical step up would be the 40D and keep my existing lens suite - nice camera, love the larger lcd and I find the viewfinder bigger and brighter.

However.. seems like the world is going full frame and the 5D is also nice. Its about twice the price (Kea Photo) of the 40D but I would have to lose two of my EF-S lenses and get something new.

My thinking is that the 40D is as much camera as I need and if I wait another year and upgrade again I'd probably get the 5D for a lot less , or would it make sense to jump to the 5D and play in the full frame world?

Comments/feedback/experience greatly appreciated!

Paulw

Either way, it's a big step. I looked at similar earlier this year, though moving from the 20D.

My decision was to go with the 40D, and I don't regret it at all. The 40D is brilliant. I didn't feel the need for a full frame camera, and still don't.

If you're doing weddings, portraits and landscapes, then the 5D is brilliant for these. Of course, Canon will release an upgrade to the 5D later this year.

It really depends on what you want the camera for, and can you afford it?

PaulieC

from what I've heard, the 40D is 'all that'. However, I was kinda thinking about getting 5D/replacement too. What are the advantages and disadvantages of going full frame?

Borderfox

The 5d is superb and at an excellent price at the moment. I had a 40d and preferred the 5d in nearly every respect except for frame rate. It depends on what you shoot also but for me as soon as I used it there was no going back...

Heres a shot of a peace lily


Heres the 100% unsharpened!

Paulw

Advantage - full frame, more pixels, generally better ISO response.

Disadvantage - slower fps, no more EF-S lenses.

Also, the 5D has older technology (until the replacement comes out).

bovril

One disadvantage of going Full Frame is having to buy new lenses if you have some of the lenses that can only be used on cameras with a non Full Frame sensor. I have the 17-85 IS USM for my canon 350D and 40D, if I was to go Full Frame (which I can't afford) I would have to get maybe something like the 24-105L or the 24-70L.

One of the things the 40D has over the current 5D is the fps. If you intend to shoot sport or anything that would require higher fps the 40D might be a better option.

The 5D is great at high ISO, the 40D is not bad either I might add.

PaulieC

Borderfox wrote: »

The 5d is superb and at an excellent price at the moment. I had a 40d and preferred the 5d in nearly every respect except for frame rate. It depends on what you shoot also but for me as soon as I used it there was no going back...

Heres a shot of a peace lily


Heres the 100% unsharpened!

how much of this is down to the lens though?

rymus

it'd have to be the 5D.. sitting looking at mine all boxed up now. T'was worth the fight with FedEx.. Just have to figure a way to get the afternoon off work now

Borderfox

Cambo the 5d accounts for the smoothness in all the 5d images. You just have to try one and then try to resist

Paulw

I can resist anything except temptation.

Maybe I'll have to try out the 5D replacement when it comes out. Then again ... I'd nearly just get the 1Ds MkIII at this rate. :eek:

elderlemon

Borderfox - what lens did you use for these?

Borderfox

100mm macro f2.8 nice lens and not too dear from HK. If you stick something like a 24-70L on the 5d then it really comes into its own. High ISO is excellent and low ISO is sublime.

b318isp

The main question I would ask is what deficient in the 350D? Until you answer this, I wouldn't pick a replacement. If you want to upgrade "just" because there are newer/better cameras out there, then you will be throwing your money away.

As with many things in life, it's not what you have but what you do with it.

I'd always advise to use what you have until it is the limitation on what you can do (and you can identify this limitation clearly). With photography, it's the guy pressing the button that has the greatest effect on the quality of the final picture.

PaulieC

b318isp wrote: »

I'd always advise to use what you have until it is the limitation on what you can do (and you can identify this limitation clearly). With photography, it's the guy pressing the button that has the greatest effect on the quality of the final picture.

why it almost sounds like you completely disagree with the whole concept of gear porn. I'm probably just reading wrong

rymus

rofl.. exactly what I was thinking.

Placebo

i still havent ordered my 40D, so lazy.
Is kea photo the most popular choice? i think i saw some slightly cheaper prices.
Paulw, did u just get the body ? or default lense too?


thanks

Paulw

I always buy just body only and get lenses separately. Mind you, the new 18-55mm IS lens is supposed to be quite good.

elderlemon

I guess the main reasons for upgrading is the viewfinder and the physical size of the camera. I have big hands and even with the battery grip I have always found the 350 a little small. I also think the viewfinder on the 40D to be much much better than the 350. Haven't played with the 5D yet to see how it fairs.

I also shoot a lot of sports and kids and the better fps would be nice.

rymus

Two good things about the 5D. it's big for big hands and the viewfinder is a beautiful thing to gaze through. I dont think I'll be able to look through my 30D viewfinder anymore

elven

I'm feelin seriously limited by the high iso performance (or lack of) of the 350D these days, since I'm too lazy to use a tripod. It seems like half a step going to a 40D though, in terms of noise - and there's just something bloody beautiful about the way they 5D records colour and light. I'm wondering just how much improvement in those terms there would be with a 40d - from pixel peeper tests i saw, not enough to warrant getting the credit card out.

How long do we think before canon announce the 5d replacement? And how long after that would one be able to get one's hands on a 5d, and how much would the prices change after that announcement? Would it be, possibly, the bizarre situation that happened witha couple of fuji p&s's that the older version sell just as well simply because they are damn fine cameras, irrespective of newer models?

Dammit, must stop thinking about gear. Look what you've all done, you've infected me!

/wanders away mumbling "it's not the camera, it's not the camera..."

rymus

elven wrote: »

How long do we think before canon announce the 5d replacement? And how long after that would one be able to get one's hands on a 5d, and how much would the prices change after that announcement?

See, the trouble you could easily get yourself into there is the old waiting for new gear that doesn't exist problem. I say upgrade now while the 5D is so damn cheap. Even if a newer model comes out later this year, early next year or whatever, you'll still have to wait months to get it and there may well be problems with it given Canon's quality control with more recent bodies.

Get the card out, get it out I say!

Fajitas!

5D replacement announced this morning! Looks pretty damn fine!!!

(joke)

rymus

I keeeeeeeel youuuu!

Fajitas!

Ricky91t

Fajitas! wrote: »

5D replacement announced this morning! Looks pretty damn fine!!!

(joke)

DAMN YOU
iv just spent the last 5 minutes serching the web :mad:
Just noticed the sneaky (joke)

Fajitas!

What makes it even funnier is Rymus' new 5D arrived yesterday

rymus

rofl

Calina

Fajitas! wrote: »

What makes it even funnier is Rymus' new 5D arrived yesterday

you're so evil.

Dabs is better for the 40D than Argos in case anyone is interested.

Placebo

Fajitas! wrote: »

What makes it even funnier is Rymus' new 5D arrived yesterday

LMAO !!!
link?

Fajitas!

No, it wasn't actually released, I just wanted to wind Rymus up...

My apologies

(For those interested in the new 5D, rumour is, the replacement used the same AF as the 1D mkIII, so they've put it on hold until they've got something better in place!)

elderlemon

Ok Seeing as I started this thread I think I finish it off. I've decided to go with the 40D. My reasons are that its actually more camera than I need (in other words I have to improve my skills before I exceed the power of the camera!). The 5D, while really nice is much much more camera than i need. So I'll get the 40d, get better and move to full frame later.

Have taken the money I "saved" on the 5D and ordered a 24-70 2.8 to go with it and I'll keep this for my full frame whenever I get it. Now to order the 40d and get rid of my 350!

Paulw

Welcome to the 40D club. You won't regret it.