Help me decide 40D vs Lens

Hi everyone,

I currently have about $1000 saved up. I'm trying to decide on what to get first, the 40D or the 70-200mm f/2.8L non IS. I will be getting both, it's just a matter of when. My current gear list is: 350D, 2 spare batteries, nifty-fifty, 18-55 kit, 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5, 75-300mm f/4-5.6, and 430EX. At the moment, I'm not happy with the 350D. Its too slow and small for my comfort. Lens wise, I'm pretty happy for the time being. I plan on getting the 40D, 70-200 f/2.8L non-IS, 580EX, and 17-40 L. It just depends on which order I get them. Does anyone have suggestions or reasons why I should get one over the other first? Thanks in advance.

Go for the 40D and save up for the 70-200 2.8 IS. Then save for the 24-70 2.8, then the 17-40. Then save for a 5D mk II...............the list goes on

My guess is that in x months time when you're ready, the 40D price will have dropped more than the lens price.

Seems like a no-brainer to me, no offense intended. You aren't happy with your body, and you are happy with your lenses, so buy the new body.

wintoid wrote in post #4152577
My guess is that in x months time when you're ready, the 40D price will have dropped more than the lens price.

Thanks for the input and that's exactly why I'm asking if I should get the lens first and wait to see if there's a price drop on the 40D.

xarqi made a good point...you said you're unhappy with the body so i would go ahead and change that. you could always sell your 350D to help start the fund for the 70-200 2.8 which is actually prolly gonna be my next purchase, unless I can find a good deal on the 40D or 1dmk2
Good luck!

wintoid wrote in post #4152577
My guess is that in x months time when you're ready, the 40D price will have dropped more than the lens price.

bsaber wrote in post #4154709
Thanks for the input and that's exactly why I'm asking if I should get the lens first and wait to see if there's a price drop on the 40D.

I would 100% agree. People get to into the bodies and you really (IMO) get a lot more with a new lens. Also, there probably will be a price drop and if nothing else the generally asking price online will go down overtime on the body...but the lens will probably stay the same as they tend to (especially L glass).

So I would go for the lens, and get a new body later...you are not going to gain THAT much with a new body but you should with nicer glass which opens up new opportunities to you.

But then again, if you really dislike the body, go for the body first...it really depends on what YOU need/want and no offense, but we cannot tell you that.

Well...

Bsaber, I kinda weigh in on the side of upgrading your body first. The 40D is such an improvement over the 350D in so many ways, it will love your L glass when you get it, but with the 350 you will still be stuck with the limitations that are bothering you now, except that the L glass will give you some speed and certainly image sharpness -- possibly more than what the 350 knows what to do with, but I've never used a 350 so I'm not speaking from experience.

Even though the 350 sensor is abut the same size as the 40D that doesn't mean it's the same quality -- in fact, you can assume that the 40D is technically quite superior, not just because the XXD series is better in build quality (including a more solid and larger body) all in all but because several years of technical advances have gone into the 40D.

I tend to think that for the above reasons and because you have specifically expressed dissatisfaction with the Rebel that you will be thrilled with a 40D and then even more so when you add new glass to your collection, because the 40 will shine with it even more.

IMHO, of course, but I hope this helps!

Tony

Yep! as everybody said... go with the 40D, now is the time to improve your photo quality and learn more new things that the 350D cant do!

$1000 invested in a lens will usually be better than $1000 invested in a body.

I know that at some point new bodies are needed, but to me buying bodies is like buying a new car and buying lenses is more like buying land. They are both expensive but one will probably be with you a lot longer!

I have to vote for the lens. I am looking forward to upgrading from the 350D to the 40D but already have the 70-200 2.8 IS, a lens I am very pleased with. Getting better glass may make you happier with the Rebel XT.

The good news about all of this is, no matter which way you go you are going to take better pictures have have fun learning new gear.

I loved my upgrade from the 350D to the 30D. But then again I loved my upgrade to a "L" lens. I would prob go with the 40D, then upgrade in a month or two to the lens of your choice...

the 70-200 is sooo nice. Get the lens first.

Go with the 40D. Why? You don't like the 350D and your happy with your lens situation. That's reason enough for me. I loathe the Rebels. A 20D/30D/40D is an improvement on the Rebels.

As for "get the lens 'cause the 40D price will drop", that's silly. The price drop will be so slow and gradual that before it drops anything significant the 40D replacement will be out. It's like telling someone to wait for prices to drop before they build/buy a new computer. The prices constantly drop at a slow rate and before you know it the next best thing is out. If you wait for prices to drop you'll always be waiting to just get a little cheaper until you see the new thing, and then you want it but then wait until IT gets cheaper. If you want/need it now and have the money get it.

I'm in the boat though, with my 20D, where I'd benefit greatly from new glass and lighting but not so much from a body. Thing is I really want a 40D and a 5D but they are last on a very costly list. So I guess I'll be waiting a while.

I am assuming that by speed you are referring to FPS so I surmise your into shooting sports. If so a upgrade to the 40 will give you a few more frames per second and at times it can make the difference between getting or missing the shot.

Roy Hernandez wrote in post #4154946
Yep! as everybody said... go with the 40D, now is the time to improve your photo quality and learn more new things that the 350D cant do!

The 40D will not improve your photo quality very much at all nor is there anything new to learn. The XT has the came capability as the 40 nearly feature by feature. The 40 has a couple more MPixels but unless you printing very large pics, you'll not see that improvement. The 40 has better ergonomics but that wont improve IQ either. If you need live view, thats it a great reason to upgrade as the XT does not have that.

bauerman wrote in post #4155004
$1000 invested in a lens will usually be better than $1000 invested in a body.

I agree, glass beats body every time and sometimes the difference is astounding. Below is a pic I took a while ago comparing the kit lens to the 17-55. Same body, tripod mounted same settings. I took several shots allowing the lens to focus each time and took the best from each though there really wasn't much difference between the series. Based on your current lenses, I recommend going for the glass. You'll see a huge improvement with the very first pic.

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