Upgraded from 450d to 40d, what I think

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Donki

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Ok so I have been a member on here only recently but I alreadyhave managed to pick up a 10-2mm Sigy plus upgraded my 450d to a 40d. Staying away from the classifieds for a while. Having read around the numourus reviews and people opinions, some said it was no different than my 450d ad otherssaid its a definite viable upgrade. Rite well to cut a long story short I am absolutely over the moon with it. I am currently selling my old 450d and kit lens on Fleabay which should make £400 the 40d cost me £375 and so I can buy a resonable lens to go walk about with.

**** better?
The build, egonomics and weight are all perfect for me on the 40d. Using the 450d was fiddley and after shooting on it all day my hand was sore (not being a girl anout it). I feel I can hold the camera steadier simply because there is more to hold on to. Faster shooting rate, dont have to worry about using shorter bursts. The viewfinder on the 40d is mush clearer and seems bigger looking through it, I havn't googled to see if t actually is. Having tested the two side by side the focusing seems alot better on the 40d and there isnt so much huning at times. Theres is more noticeable on my nifty fifty. Higher ISO allows better perfomance in low light situations.

**** worse?
Well maybe its the new toy syndrome but I cant see nything worse yet, there is the fact of 2MP less but Im not really going to notice that, plus some people say more mega pixils on a small sensor leads to more noise.

Anyway I am a happy camper and if there is anyone out there contimplating the same step, or dare I say stepping up from the 500d I would stongly sggest you do. As soon as you pick the 40d up you wont want to go back toa smaller body.
 
Glad to hear you're happy.

OK I'm a tad biased as I have a 40D but having used most DSLR in the Canon range I still maintain that the 40D was (and still is) a great camera.

I know we've since had the 50D and the 7D but I always found it interesting to read how people found the 40D after 'upgrading' from the 400D or 450D. A lot of people question the spec and why it's a step up - much in the same way that the new little 550D will punch above it's weight but there's no doubt that I find the 400/450/500/550 like toys compared to the 40/50.
 
Having used both the 20D and 50D I can see why you are happy, having the big thumb wheel on the back makes it so easy to use exposure compensation and manual modes added to that moving from a small plastic body to a larger Mag Alloy one is very nice, if you ever get the chance to try it out with a grip on it go for it, the balance even with big heavy glass is fantastic, it still took me about 2 years to get out of the habit of turning the camera and holding it in the no grip way to using the alternate controls on the grip :-)
 
The 40D is a fantastic step up for anyone who wants to upgrade from a xxxD series.
I went from a 450D to a 40D and with my inital tests, I was suprised to see a gain in IQ with photos as I wasn't expected this to happen without upgrading to L lenses.
I also found the increase in body size much better and less fiddly than the 450D.
 
How is the IQ of the 40D made better than the 450D and similar bodies? I presume (maybe wrongly) that the sensor in the 40D is the same one in the 1000D - they are the same megapixel count - so what other factors go to make the IQ better, or is it just a Placebo effect?

The metal body and better grip might benefit me but the extra weight may not. Then again, if I decide not to go for an xxD, I might hanker over a 1D2, partly because the body is just such a beautiful piece of engineering.
 
trencheel303 said:
How is the IQ of the 40D made better than the 450D and similar bodies? I presume (maybe wrongly) that the sensor in the 40D is the same one in the 1000D - they are the same megapixel count - so what other factors go to make the IQ better, or is it just a Placebo effect?
Click to expand...


I took a shot of a statue using the 450D and 40D with a tamron 18-270VR lens.
I used the same settings for both camera and the same focal length.
I did identical crops and also 100% crops and the IQ was better with the shot take on the 40D.
I was very surprised seeing as the 450D has more MP but there was no doubt the quality of shot taken on the 40D was better.
I certainly wasn't expecting to see any difference, both cameras use the Digic III sensor.
 
I've just done a (forced) upgrade from a 300d to a 30d and i totally understand all the points you made.
I also agree with what mini mad says about the grip, i found a 30d which came with the grip and it feels almost complete with it on.

I hope you have some fun with it.
 
hashcake said:
I took a shot of a statue using the 450D and 40D with a tamron 18-270VR lens.
I used the same settings for both camera and the same focal length.
I did identical crops and also 100% crops and the IQ was better with the shot take on the 40D.
I was very surprised seeing as the 450D has more MP but there was no doubt the quality of shot taken on the 40D was better.
I certainly wasn't expecting to see any difference, both cameras use the Digic III sensor.
Click to expand...

Interesting thanks. Are you able to post the sample shots?
 
I upgraded from a 350D when the 40D came out , best thing I ever did :)
40D is a brilliant camera not saying the IQ was better just the 40D is so usable if you know what you mean
Pete
 
Recently gone from a 450D to a 40D here to, and I'm very happy also :D

The 40D is a superior camera in many ways, build quality especially, the magnesium alloy body is heavier and just fits really nice in your hands,
it really is a joy to hold. The buttons and dials are in all the right places, the rear AF-On button is also a useful addition.

I also find the bigger viewfinder much clearer, and also I like the joystick and especially the thumb wheel, accessing the dual menu
is faster and simpler than I first thought too.

I'm really happy to go back to using the CF cards too, which just seem so much more durable than the flimsy, easy to lose SD cards which I've always disliked!

The 40D's body, is also much better balanced with both my 17-85 and my 70-300 than it was with the 450D, which with either lens tended to be front heavy.

IQ of images I'd say are equal to the 450D's 12mp's (same DIGIC III processor, 14bit colour etc) but I have to say IMO the images from the 40D just look better!

I will say that the 450D's shutter sounds nicer than the 40D's but that's a sacrifice I can live without I think :D

If you can pick up a good 40D for under £400 then I reckon it's a real bargain!
I paid close to £450 for mine, but honestly think it was worth every penny :love:
 
Glad to see it's not just the new toy feeling and others are the same. The more I use it the better it feels. I didn't want to mention image quality but I honestly can see a difference, I know technically they shouldn't be thou.
I still have my 450d as it's still on eBay ATM, I will try a few sample pictures and post them up if I get a chance. Would I be wrong in thinking the 40ds impoved focusing system would improve IQ, also does anyone know if it's the same metering system?
 
The 40D is a great camera. I use the 50D and find the body much better weighted. Many of the cheaper Canon's I find are far too light and plasticy, but I suppose as with most things - you get what you pay for. You've moved up quite a bit from the 450D IMO.:thumbs:
 
Donki said:
I didn't want to mention image quality but I honestly can see a difference
Click to expand...

Donki said:
Would I be wrong in thinking the 40ds impoved focusing system would improve IQ, also does anyone know if it's the same metering system?
Click to expand...

Im not 100% sure, but I think they share the same metering system & Digic processor, but the focusing system is said to be superior to that of the 450D,
the video link states that the images from the 40D are better than those from the 450D, which you & I have both already concluded :)


40Dv 450D comparision


Video Review:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghqim1Fv3sM


http://www.dpnotes.com/canon-40d-vs-canon-450d-digital-rebel-xsi/
 
CruisingComet said:
IQ of images I'd say are equal to the 450D's 12mp's (same DIGIC III processor, 14bit colour etc) but I have to say IMO the images from the 40D just look better!
Click to expand...

Could you clarify please. If you'd say the IQ of images are equal then how can you then say the 40D images 'just look better' :suspect::lol:
 
The 40D has higher quality microlenses (whatever they are!) on the sensor, and I would say the processing method is different within the DIGIC III processor, over a 40D. Having upgraded from a 400D to a 40D 18 months ago, I can confirm there is a huge difference in image quality, even using the same lens.

Plus, it's just a much nicer body to use over the xxxD series. It's bigger, the screen is better, the controls are far easier to acces (ISO adjustment can be done on the fly without moving your eye from the viewfinder, rather than having to go through the menus as on a 400D.) and it's just a better camera all round.

I keep thinking about upgrading to 7D but I honestly see no need at the moment.
 
I saw some image comparisons somewhere on the net a while ago between the 450d and the 40d with the same actual lens and there was a fair amount of quality difference.
 
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