PLEASE help a rookie

I am hoping for some help from some of you who have a far better Canon knowledge than me. I have been a Canon owner now for about 4 - 5 years, having bought my first digital camera secondhand from a work colleague. I have got a 300D which has served me really well but I am now looking to upgrade my body a bit.

Regrettably I do not have the budget to go out and buy a new body, so have been looking at either a 40D or 50D. Apart from the obvious difference in the megapixels, please please could any of you post me some views, opinions, pictures taken by one or the other or both - basically anything that might help me with my decision. Either of these will fit into my budget and I would rather buy secondhand XXD series than a new cheaper level camera.

I appreciate that to many of you this is probably a very low grade purchase but unfortunately I am restricted by budget but still want to make a good and informed purchase.

Finally is the 50D as prone to the Error 99 problem as the 40D and if so what can be done about this issue.

Please accept my apologies if these questions have been asked previously but there are so many threads to search through to find what I need. I am hoping to put my work xmas bonus to good use for this and would love to be settled in my decision by then.

Thank you very much indeed for any help you can all give me. I know I am only a rookie with a measly budget but I love my camera and want to do the best I can with it.

Just one from me taken at the weekend, its far from perfect but could be worse too!

I think the error 99 problem may be a bit of an internet phenomenon. Most 40D users havent had a problem so its not a major worry. The 50D came out shortly after the 40D and a lot of folks who upgraded felt like it was an interim model. The addition to the 50D was micro adjust, and a few more megapixels. Those users also complained that the 50D tended to have more noise at higher ISO's. I wouldnt be afraid of either (I have a 40D), but I wouldnt pay a ton extra for the 50D over the 40D.

Have you been checking the offerings in the for sale section?

I don't have and have never used a 50d, but I have a 40d (in addition to my 5dii). I think it's a great camera with good IQ. It's also fast (a tad faster than the 50d in fact).

Microadjust is useful if you have large aperture primes, but it's of much less use otherwise. I'd say the best route is to keep on the lookout for a really good example of either and then get it if the condition is right. Then stop looking!

I would thoroughly recommend the 40D - it's a wonderful camera, and I've never had Error 99 occur.

I shoot a 40D all the time, never a problem.

40D and 5DII in my bag.

I think the 40D for $450 or less is still the best used DSLR bargain out there. I would grab one without reservation. If your budget is a bit higher and you want some warranty (90 days) you can get a 50D through Canon CLP for <$600 (if you are in the US). A very nice bargain as well.

A 50D was my first DSLR almost 2 years ago and I've really enjoyed learning with it. Never had the 99 problem either.

nice Spit btw

Both are great cameras and I have never had an issue with either one. The 50d does have Micro adjust, a much, much better screen, better live view and more custom functions. I find the noise to be pretty equal with both, but you can go higher ISO with the 50d. If I had to keep just one; it would be the 50d.

I have a t2i and am considering selling it and switching to a 40d.

I had the rebel xs, and the image quality was great. Same sensor as the 40d. But the forty has much more to offer than the xs ever did.

Plus, I'm sick of the high iso fight. I'm about to quit even trying to shoot indoor motion.

I started with a 300D, upgraded to a 30D and then to a 50D.

The 50D is a big improvement in lots of ways over the 300D:

- lower noise (about 2 stops better)
- 15 megapickles vs. 6.3
- much bigger, better quality screen
- live view
- microfocus adjustment
- automatic sensor cleaner (which actually works, rather to my surprise)
- a bit larger than the 300D
- better ergonomics (particularly the back dial)

I could go on, but you get the idea.

I've never used a 40D, but if possible I'd choose the 50D over it because of the microfocus adjustment and the better screen. And the additional 5 MP, which means you can crop much more if needed.

I've never had any kind of error with my 50D.

-js

another vote for the 50D for the added feature list over the 40D. I shot with the 50D without issue. It's a real 'workhorse' of a body.

dave

Roy Mathers wrote in post #13398965
I would thoroughly recommend the 40D - it's a wonderful camera, and I've never had Error 99 occur.

It's easy to get the impression that things like error 99s happen all the time if you read forums on the internet, just because people will only go on to post about it if they have the error. If 1,000,000 cameras are sold and 1% have a problem, that's 10,000 people who will potentially post about it. The 990,000 who don't have the problem have no need to post anything... That's my theory anyway...

Agreed.

I wasn't even aware that the 40D was prone to Err 99 issues. Mine has been fine so far