Should I buy a 40D or 5D

You could buy a used 20d, and get a brand new 5d. The 20d is similar in quality with the pics as far as in the 40d...,as well fps. A mere joy of both worlds. Problem solved. Or just say F' it and Buy a Mark II, full frame, weather sealed, 8fps etc.

Buy a used 1DMK1 with lots of change left over for a nice lens.

I had a 30D, sold it when i got my 5D... Couldn't be happier. (jumping in air) I love my 5D! forget about the FPS. You can do it in 3, just practice. The IQ on the 5D is well worth it. For everything else your gonna shoot like landscapes, portraits, etc....

I say, 5D, FTW!!

for the kind of photos you shoot i would think a 40D is more suitable for your needs - faster FPS and 1.6X crop giving you longer reach. it'll do fine for family portraits as well. the 5D is more for people who want to make full use of UWA, need low noise at high ISOs and creamy film-like image quality.

As noted, you might get better IQ from the 5d but the extra frames per second are a must for sports. 3 fps is not enough. If your willing to spend the money get the 1D Mark III

I used to take pictures with 30D and 5D by 70-200 f2.8 L. For 2hours, usally I have about 1,000 pictures by 30D, and about 300 pictures by 5D. And if you use 200mm lens, It's too far.

I recommand 30D or 40D with 70-200.

If you can get 1dmark2, It's better. Bacause It's more important focuing than plenty of pictures

the crop doesnt give you more focal range?! I am in the same position as the original poster but Im going to be shooting more Portrait/glamour

I sold my 5D to get a 40D.

I need 2 bodies, and I figure why not get almost what I paid for my 5D before the 5D II comes out and the prices drop. So this way I'll suffer for a short while but save a good chunk of change in the long run.

WillOPhotos wrote in post #3850655
the crop doesnt give you more focal range?! I am in the same position as the original poster but Im going to be shooting more Portrait/glamour

You need the 5D. The 40D has a 1.6 crop factor which is like having more focal length. IMO you could crop the 5D and get the same picture and quality of the 40D's crop factor.

The problem I see is the fps. I shoot sports and 3 fps is NOT enough.

40D for sports and fast action photography, 5D for everything else.

The 40D's improved AF and 6 FPS makes it a better canidate for action and a good stitching program will handle the landscapes.

I shot 35 mm film for about 25 years, but now I used a D60 and a 20D, both with APS-C size sensors. I have absolutely no desire to go back the a larger sensor. The image quality from the current EF-S cameras exceed what most of us will ever need and it is more often the photographer's technique than the camera that limits picture quality.

The smaller sensor makes for a much smaller and lighter outfit if you travel or have to carry your equipment around on your shoulder. To get the image that a 200 mm lens does on a 40D you would need a 320 mm lens on a 5D. Compare the cost, weight and size of a 300 mm f/2.8 lens to a 70-200 f/2.8. Cropping a larger format image is a silly argument because you could just as easily crop an image from a 40D to get an even longer lens effect. When you start cropping to get the image you want the 5D will never catch up.

For the uses you describe I would get a 40D with the 17-55 f/2.8 IS and 20-200 f/2.8 IS lenses.

I have the 5D, and am considering the addition of a 40D for sports photography (assuming the servo AF tracking mode is a match for or is superior to the 5D's) for its burst shooting capabilities. As others have stated, 3fps can be very limiting when shooting action.

If you decide to go with the 40D, I would also recommend the 17-55IS in lieu of the 24~XX lenses, as they are insufficiently wide on a crop body.

for sport 40D will be better , I have 5D and for sport 3fps little slow.
get 40d and 70-200 f2.8 .

It's full frame versus 1.6x magnification. It really is up to you. For the outdoor stuff, I'd get a 40D, because the burst rate is twice as fast as a 5D, and you'll get some additional reach on all your lenses.

Can't beat a 5D though. The full frame is pretty darned sweet.