Which body to upgrade to?

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Allen
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Hi

I currently own a Canon 1000D body and have been using it with various lenses over the past year (Sigma 17-35mm EX DG HSM, Canon 28-135mm IS USM, 50mm mkII) and really enjoying it.

I have just recently purchased a Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM and Sigma 10-20mm f/4.0-5.6, and now in the dilemna of whether to upgrade my body yet or not. I'm tight for funds after splashing out on the lens but could maybe stretch to a used 40D/50D if I could sell off some of my old lenses.

I would prefer the 50D over the 40D as it is 15mp and digic 4 but is there a big difference between these 2? And is there a big difference between the 40D and 1000D, since both 10mp and share same processor?

Would this upgrade be worthwhile now or should I wait and save for say a 7D?

Will there be noticable difference in IQ and usability/functionality from the upgrade? Also, is the 1000D body limiting the 17-55mm lens in any way?

Thanks for any advice

Allen
 
that 17-55 lens you have is a beauty and IF any body was restricting it I'd say it would be the 1000d sinee thats the baby of the canon range.

I have a 7d and can thoroughly recommend it, but I use it for video too. If I didn't I'd probably have got a 50d or 40d.
 
Thanks for the reply.

The lens is really nice yes, the constant f/2.8 is great, but I'm not seeing THAT much of a difference in IQ.....but maybe this is due to the 1000D? I just don't know...........I was hoping someone with more experience who also has the 1000D as well as a 40D/50D could shed some light.

I'm really tempted to just wait and save for a 7D........it seems like it has everything that is needed to last for a long time but not wanting to move to full frame.
 
The 17-55 will feel better weighted on a body such as the 50d or 7d, it looks a bit goofy on the smaller dslr's in my opinion.

IQ wise i don't think you will see much of a difference with either body(7d 50D) compared to the 1000d but you will be able to micro adjust the body to the lens and that may give the lens the extra edge on the better body.

Higher usable ISO's will also be available to you plus a myriad of extra settings to hone your camera.These settings may work against you, the 7d takes some 'learning' to get the best of it. One of the reasons there are so many posts on the forums concerning posters moving to the 7d from lower end camera's and having problems with focusing and exposure etc.

The 7d brings many features found on expensive pro camera's to the enthusiast user that has had little experience of how to use them so be ready to sit back read the manual and absorb if you buy one.

I have a 7d and at first i didn't like it compared to my previous 40d until i set it up correctly to my style of photography.

Ive also got the 17-55,cracking lens!!!

Hope this helps.
 
Hi

Thanks for your input! The video capability of the 7D would be a great bonus, but not essential, I was just thinking more along the lines of if I upgrade to a body, I want it to be the final body I will have unless I choose to go full frame down the line.

But it seems everyone who has gone to the 7D has either owned a 40D or 50D prior to it.......would jumping from a 1000D to 7D be too much? Would I get more benefit getting a 50D first?

I'm not entirely sure how you mean by micro adjusting the body to lens.......would this need to be done each time a new lens is attached?
 
i went from a 450d to a 7d, it wasn't too big a jump. apart from how much heavier it is.

micro adjusting is where a lens is adjusted specifically for the focus to the body. Once you do it the body saves the data and as each lens is attached it detects the lens and readjusts, you only have to do it once. I have 5 lenses and 4 out of the 5 needed an adjustment.

I doubt any body will be a final body, in 10 years time imagine what might be available, you're bound to want to go to the next technology.

the video on the 7d is awesome, It's 50% of what I use the camera for I'd say so I get the best out of both worlds for my money, others don't use it and so it seems a lot more expensive for features that aren't out of range of a 50d
 
It does sound useful to have the micro adjust feature......I suppose my body isn't really doing my lens enough justice. I know I will definitely upgrade at some point.......

How is the 19 point AF in comparison to the 50D? Is it noticably better or overkill ?
 
What do you feel is restricting you with your current body and what do you want a new one to improve on?
 
What do you feel is restricting you with your current body and what do you want a new one to improve on?

Hi

This is a good question.........and I'm not sure on how to answer it tbh. I think my 1000D is great and easy to use........the only thing that I feel is limited is the shot rate is quite slow.......sometimes I take shots and it takes so long to process that it's barely usable for taking successive shots of anything. I don't take many action shots though.........so it isn't a show stopper or anything but would be nice to be able to shoot quicker without having to wait.

Another thing is the ISO is limited to 1600,.......but what I would like to know is, would there be less noise at the same ISO setting on a better body? i.e. 1600 ISO on 1000D vs 50D vs 7D ??
 
yes is the answer to that question. You will see better performance at higher ISO levels on the 50 and 7d compared to your 1000d
 
yes is the answer to that question. You will see better performance at higher ISO levels on the 50 and 7d compared to your 1000d

Thanks for response.

I'm now considering just getting a used 40D as a in between step to the 7D as they are going for relatively cheap......is there a big difference between 40D and 50D to justify the extra cash or will the 40D be good enough jump from a 1000D?
 
I prefer the controls and handling of the xxD models to the xxxD. The xxD's are a little larger and heavier though but you may find those things to be an advantage.
 
I have a 40D and from what I have seen and reports I have read I can't see any benifit to go to a 50D. My 40D does everything I want and more. I may consider a 7D when secondhand one become availableat a sensible price.
 
Does the extra 5mp and Digic 4 processor not make any difference?
 
This is an extract from dpreview.

It appears that Canon has reached the limit of what is sensible, in terms of megapixels on an APS-C sensor. At a pixel density of 4.5 MP/cm² (40D: 3.1 MP/cm², 1Ds MkIII: 2.4 MP/cm²) the lens becomes the limiting factor. Even the sharpest primes at optimal apertures cannot (at least away from the center of the frame) satisfy the 15.1 megapixel sensors hunger for resolution. Considering the disadvantages that come with higher pixel densities such as diffraction issues, increased sensitivity towards camera shake, reduced dynamic range, reduced high ISO performance and the need to store, move and process larger amounts of data, one could be forgiven for coming to the conclusion that at this point the megapixel race should probably stop. One consequence of this is that the 50% increase in pixel count over the 40D results in only a marginal amount of extra detail.

We're by no means saying the 50Ds image quality is bad but it's simply not significantly better than the ten megapixel 40D. In some areas such as dynamic range and high ISO performance it's actually worse and that simply makes you wonder if the EOS 50D could have been an (even) better camera if its sensor had a slightly more moderate resolution.
 
Yup. They said that but they liked the even higher mp 7D.
 
Yup. They said that but they liked the even higher mp 7D.

That's because it had a new dual sensor that could handle the extra megapixels.
 
I'm looking to upgrade my 400D but struggling mentally! I feel that a 40D would be fine, but the major advantage I see in the 50D (apart from the better screen) is being able to micro adjust all your lenses to it. Surely that has got to be what perfects a shot and makes it tack sharp? Its just a pity you have to pay an extra £300 ish for it over the renowned 40D :shake:
 
I'm looking to upgrade my 400D but struggling mentally! I feel that a 40D would be fine, but the major advantage I see in the 50D (apart from the better screen) is being able to micro adjust all your lenses to it. Surely that has got to be what perfects a shot and makes it tack sharp? Its just a pity you have to pay an extra £300 ish for it over the renowned 40D :shake:

Yes the micro adjustment of the lenses can be handy especially if you do a lot of macro photography or are using a narrow depth of field.
 
I've just purchased a used 40D off a forum, with 1 year warranty left, only 4500 clicks, extra battery, extra shutter release, extra strap, 2 x 512mb CF, and a Sandisk Extreme III 4GB all for £420 delivered. Thought it was too good of a deal to miss?

I was going to get a 50D but cheapest I could find was over £500 and that's without any extras, no warranty and higher shutter counts. And from what people have said, it seems the 50D can't handle the high MP?

I think I will be happy with the move to a 40D, will find out tomorrow when it arrives!

Thanks everyone for their input!
 
the deals are out there on the 50d , you just have to wait for them. i picked up my 50d from ffords second hand for £550 and with that i got 6months warranty

to buy a 40d from most stores second hand(i.e with warranty) is about £450

luck of the draw i guess
 
Yeah, the difference in price is not massive.....probably an extra £100-150 but it seems for my needs, I won't really be getting any benefit from the 50D over the 40D........and £150 is still money saved.

The main thing seems to be the 15MP vs 10MP and the newer Digic 4 processing but the general consensus from what i've gathered seems to be that the 50D can't handle the 15MP......even with the Digic 4.

Oh well, I've gone for the 40D now so won't regret it.....i'm sure it will last me until I can save up for the 7D, or whatever the next model will be.
 
I think that was a good deal on the 40D Allen. I'm sure you will be very happy with it!
 
I have been looking at exactly the same the last couple of days. I have a 400d and would love a 7d, but it's pricey and a big step up.
On top of that, my personal situation means it will be some time of saving before i can afford a 7d anyway.

So i have decided to go for a second hand 40d, its already lost the bulk of its value and is still going to be an improvement. Ii'll go for a 7d, or whatever else is available, when i can comfortable afford to and sell the 40d with i imagine a pretty small loss.
 
Yes, I made this exact same decision...........7D would be nice to have, but expensive and overkill for me right now, especially as just a hobby, the extra money has been spent on glass which is definitely the better option.

Main reason I've made this upgrade now is because i'm off to China again in a week, and will have some time to properly play and test it out along with the lenses.
 
I would like a 7D but without selling my 450D I am short of cash beyond what I would be willing to put on a credit card.
I have decided that if I cannot sell the 450 I am going to get a 2nd hand 40d and convert the 450 for IR.

The 7D is an animal, it's ISO handling (just short of a 5DII) and focusing is amazing and there is a marked difference in those 2 areas over the 40 and 50D's.
 
Yes the micro adjustment of the lenses can be handy especially if you do a lot of macro photography or are using a narrow depth of field.


for 1:1 macro you would use manual focus so you wouldn't see any benefit from this feature also I'm still not convinced about the benefit of using this with a zoom lens but it works well with a prime.
 
for 1:1 macro you would use manual focus so you wouldn't see any benefit from this feature also I'm still not convinced about the benefit of using this with a zoom lens but it works well with a prime.

Good point Paul, I was checking if anybody was reading the posts. :schtum:
 
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