I am blessed with some extra money that came my way. I currently shoot with a 30D. I am thinking of upgrading either to a 40D or to a 5D. I shoot mainly landscape and wildlife, but also do portraits and events.

Is the image quality of a 5D so much superior to the 40D as to justify the price difference?
Or should I forget about upgrading and invest in some top quality glass?

Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.

JK

Invest in lenses first, unless you are completely unhappy with your current 30D.

A happy photographer makes happy images

You look like you've got some good lenses already so I'd go for the 5D, personally.

The 5D of course is full frame, whereas the 40D is not. Given your curent lenses 16-35, 24-70, 70-200 F2.8 and 100-400 you have some good quality L glass. You also have the 50mm F1.4 and the 85 F1.8 that many rave about. My kit started similarily to what you have except the 85 F1.8. When I bought my first digital I went with the 5D because I primarily shot landscape and wildlife and wanted full frame for landscape. As time progressed I expanded my lens collecion and find I use the lenses you have in your kit less and less, primes more often than the zooms because I like shooting at wider aperatures to blur the background for wildlife, and for landscapes I can shoot at lower light conditions.

Instead of reaching for the 100-400 I always use the 400 F5.6 which I have taken off the tripod mount for easier handling, the 70-200 f2.8 is rarely used I usually grab the 70-200 F4(lighter weight) or the 200 F1.8, the 16-35 is used rarely mainly because it suffers from IR hotspots(I usually take my modified infrared 5D along with my regular 5D) with me and a lens that exhibits any IR hotspots gets left behind. The 17-40 does not have hotspots. The 50mm F1.4 same siuation as the 16-35, now I usually take the 50mm F1.0 or 1.8. The 24-70 is still used regularily.

I mainly use my zooms for travel when weight restrictions are in place.

Going back to your original question of 5D, 40D or more glass, one can never have to much glass as the more available the more choices you have available for any given type of shooting, but the question arises are you happy with your current digital camera, does it give you what you want in terms of picture quality, speed and field of view? If it does then look at additional glass. For myself I had no intentions of going digital until there was a full frame digital that met my price point. The 5D gave me that. Many other people told me for several years prior I should buy a digital, but I waited to get what suited my needs. If your camera doesn't meet your needs then look at the 5D and 40D but compare the features of each (5D, 40D and 30D) as compared to your needs, Field of view, frames per second, It's a tough decision glass or new body.

If you decide on keeping your 30D and buying a second camera i would suggest the 5D and when out shooting you will have two cameras at your disposal. put a lens on each and you are ready for any opportunity. Nothing more frustrating when you have the wrong lens on your camera.






Edited by burningheart on Mar 29, 2008 at 06:59 PM GMT

Don't go to the 40D. If you're going to buy a new camera, go 5D. Perhaps wait a few months, and if the rumors materialize the 5D will likely drop in price. Since you already have a camera, you can afford to wait.

Wildlife and events: 40D
Landscapes, portraits and events: 5D

It depens on what you shoot

Having said that... I don't think the 40D will be a huge IQ improvement over the 30D (but I am second guessing here, since I haven't own these cams). Anyway, I would go for the 5D. But I prefer FF for shooting landscapes and people. I think a 5D will be a good mate next to your 30D.

bacilonur wrote:
You look like you've got some good lenses already so I'd go for the 5D, personally.

I'd have to agree there. Can you afford to keep the 30D if you get the 5D? If not, then you will lose enough reach for wildlife that it might be an issue. Have you considered a 1dmk2? IMHO it's a good compromise on crop factor, and the IQ/high ISO are excellent after a little postprocessing.

Edited by timbop on Mar 29, 2008 at 03:22 PM GMT

I agree with timbop who agrees with bacilonur.

The 1-series II/IIN like Timbop suggested are great alternitives. Good at all you do and rugged as a brick.

jfk03 wrote:
Is the image quality of a 5D so much superior to the 40D as to justify the price difference?....
JK

Your lens line-up is more suited to FF than another crop camera, IMO.

However, I have both the 40D and the 5D at the moment and I actually enjoy shooting with the 40D more. The AF is much quicker and more reliable - the 5D feels incredibly slow in comparison.

Also, I like to shoot in manual mode and I wear glasses so I thought that the bigger VF of the 5D would be a hugh plus - the problem is that the settings in the VF are so small and located so far down that I strain to see them for each shot; In the 40D I can see them clearly, making shooting in manual much easier.

I have conducted several tests and image comparisons between the two and the difference in IQ is almost non-existent at ISO < 800, even in 100% crops, but the 5D does edge the 40D out at ISO > 1600. However, the IQ difference is not nearly as much as many would have you believe, IMO.

If you plan to shoot with wide angle primes at their native FL (35L, 24L, etc) then the 5D is the way to go, but for other uses the decison is much less clear cut.

michael49: Slightly off topic, but I had problems with seeing the VF. I was told about the VF extender (EP-EX15). It costs under $20, and is great for those of us with glasses!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I probably won't buy a new body right now. I am relatively satisfied with the 30D. I am not convinced the 5D would be vastly superior for landscape photography, and I don't have the money to spend on the new 1ds Mark III. It would be cheaper to invest in the EFS 10-22 for wide angle work. The 16-35 doesn't quite do it on a 1.6 crop body.

Jim Burk wrote:
michael49: Slightly off topic, but I had problems with seeing the VF. I was told about the VF extender (EP-EX15). It costs under $20, and is great for those of us with glasses!

Jim,
Thanks for the tip!

Save it till something really new comes out ?

I have a 30D and want to upgrade, but I don't want my 100-400 to suddenly BE a 100-400 if I go to a 5D. However, I'm not convinced the 40D is a $400 upgrade to me. I say $400 since that's about the difference between a new 40D and selling my 30D. Of course, I would have a warranty, live view (for macro) and the bigger LCD. I'm just not sure that's all worth $400. I'm thinking wait till the next go-round of upgrades.

1D2 is a compromise. Not FF and not 1.6x