I'm looking into upgrading my camera body. I've been using a Rebel XT for almost two years now and need something updated. The main features I'm looking for are higher image quality, spot metering, better AF.
I mainly shoot landscape and recently bought a Sigma 50-500 for birding/wildlife. My budget is around $1,000 but I also need to purchase a wide angle lens soon (had to sell it over summer).
So the options I've got are 30D, 40D, and I was also looking at spending a bit more on the 5D.
If I bought the 30D I'd have more to spend on a WA lens, maybe the Canon 10-22 instead of the Sigma 10-20. But if I bought the 5D I could save a couple more months and the the 17-40L which would probably give better quality shots. But then again it seems the 40D has a lot better high ISO performance which would help with my 50-500 since its such a slow lens.
I can't decide.
Edit: I think I'm extending budget. $1300 on body. I'll get a full frame, might as well get something higher quality now, since I'll be using it for at least two more years. Will get 17-40L in January once I save again after the body purchase.
Which is better 1D MKII or 5D? Will 1D MKII be same quality, just with faster AF?
1D MK II N is out of budget for sure.
My main walk around lens is the Tamron 28-75 F/2.8. I've heard this gets soft at the edges and is most noticeable on full frame cameras. Would this change my decision?
Edit: would now be the time to buy a 5D or should I wait for the 5D mark 2 to come out for prices to drop more?
Lots of questions you had and since I shoot both w/ 5D and 30D/40D(I will explain) maybe I can shed some light.
The 5D is an absolutely incredible body. The IQ of this is unparalled. When you are talking landscapes I don't know if there is a better choice especially when coupled with the 17-40 L that you are also considering. This combo is probably the most common one of photogs in the landscape forum.
However, you are also talking birding/wildlife. I am not sure the photogs in the wildlife forum would recommend the 5D for that, especially for birding. The focusing on the 5D is not the fastest nor is the shutter response time (lag). I made the mistake of buying mine for sports (equine) and it is not ideal.
The 5D will not serve you well for both and you may need to decide which pursuit is more important and then compromise on the other one.
Regarding the 30D/40D. The 20D was a minor upgrade over the 10D. Similarly, the 30D was a minor upgrade over the 20D. But the 40D was a major upgrade over the 30D. I won't go into all the specs because you can find that elsewhere. But since the release of the 50D the prices of 30D's and 40D's have fallen out of bed. The $ difference between the two is minimal. Above I said I shoot with a 30D/40D. On Sunday I sold my 30D in this forum for $500. Today I just bought a 40D that is supposedly like new for $700. For that little difference go with a 40D IMHO.
Lastly if you decide to go cropped sensor (30D/40D) for a wide angle take a look at the Tokina 12-24 F4 Pro. It has every bit as good as optics as the Canon 10-22 and it is F4 through out the zoom range. It has the Tokina build quality, which is to say like a tank, and it is probably half the cost. Again, JMHO.
Robert Birnie wrote:
I'm looking into upgrading my camera body. I've been using a Rebel XT for almost two years now and need something updated. The main features I'm looking for are higher image quality, spot metering, better AF.
I mainly shoot landscape and recently bought a Sigma 50-500 for birding/wildlife. My budget is around $1,000 but I also need to purchase a wide angle lens soon (had to sell it over summer).
So the options I've got are 30D, 40D, and I was also looking at spending a bit more on the 5D.
If I bought the 30D I'd have more to spend on a WA lens, maybe the Canon 10-22 instead of the Sigma 10-20. But if I bought the 5D I could save a couple more months and the the 17-40L which would probably give better quality shots. But then again it seems the 40D has a lot better high ISO performance which would help with my 50-500 since its such a slow lens.
RobertLynn wrote:
The 40D doesn't have a lot better high ISO performance than the 5D. Quite the contrary, the 5D's is a world better than the 40D.
Also the 30D and 40D for terms of noise are about the same.
Rob
From the reviews I've read the 5D had comparable noise to the 20D, it was just less noticeable in print because its spread over the larger sensor. So I assumed the 30D/40D would have improved above the 5D standards. I must have been mistaken though.
Someone really needs to put together a round up of all these cameras, its hard to make a comparison from 40D to 5D because you have to work through a grape vine of reviews to get there. 5D->20D->30D->40D.
Edit: and thanks for all the description matonanjin and rob, it helps a lot. I think I'm really leaning to the 5D, now just to work out the $$ and a time line to get a WA, its my most used/favorite lens so sooner I have it back the happier I'll be.
This file here is an ISO 800 or 1600 shot from the 40D (I can't remember which one, HOWEVER, let's say it's 1600...it looks hands down worse than the 5D...and if it is 800..bleh.
The 20D / 30D has the same image quality as your XT (which are all considerably better than the 10D), so are out of the running.
The 5D won't be nearly as good for birding / wildlife for you, so I'd recommend the 40D, especially as it has only a slight loss of resolution compared with the 5D. This will also save you a bit of money in the short term.
jvarszegi wrote:
The 20D / 30D has the same image quality as your XT (which are all considerably better than the 10D), so are out of the running.
The 5D won't be nearly as good for birding / wildlife for you, so I'd recommend the 40D, especially as it has only a slight loss of resolution compared with the 5D. This will also save you a bit of money in the short term.
I have heard that this is not the case. Some say the 30D has the same sensor as the XT, but I don't know if that's the case, because quite a few say that it's not.
RobertLynn wrote:
I have heard that this is not the case. Some say the 30D has the same sensor as the XT, but I don't know if that's the case, because quite a few say that it's not.
It's very slightly different (200,000 more pixels on the 30D sensor). The image quality is the same. Now you know.
Robert Birnie wrote:
My main walk around lens is the Tamron 28-75 F/2.8. I've heard this gets soft at the edges and is most noticeable on full frame cameras. Would this change my decision?
Edit: would now be the time to buy a 5D or should I wait for the 5D mark 2 to come out for prices to drop more?
My Tamron works great on the 5D. It focuses a little slower than the 24-70, but IQ is about the same.
The 5D is a great camera, but it is not great for fast action shots. Get a used 40D now and maybe a used 5D next year. Good combo in that price range for landscape & wildlife.
for $700. For that little difference go with a 40D IMHO.