30D or 40D

Im thinking about getting a 30D or a 40D i really dont know which one to choose i hear all kinds of diff stuff about them two cameras.I have a XTI right now and want to upgrade i love it but i want a better camera i love the feel of the 40d and the 30d.Please tell me what camera you recommend i want better quality and i want a better build camera.Thank you all for your advise and support.

My friend has a 30D and I just got my 40D two days ago. The 40D is a very well built camera and is technically superior. Personally, I prefer and recommend the 40D. However, the difference between the two cameras, IQ wise, is minuscule. Go down to your local camera shop and play around with them a little before deciding.

I was in a similar quandary to yourself for the past several months as a Rebel xt owner and also wanted to move up to something more serious in build quality and performance and end up opting for the 5D as I was really lusting after the adulation of all those folks with full frame sensors who kept endlessly fawning over the 5D's low light performance and bigger brighter viewfinder and lack of need to do all that 1.6 cropping factor conversion and last weekend, I finally bit the bullet and bought a 5D along with the BG-E4 battery grip and a EF 50 F/1.4 USM prime and I must say that I am totally blown away with the performance, fit, feel and results of this decision which ended up costing me close to the price of a decent used car!

To me, if life were a staircase, the 5D represented a couple a stairs closer to the top of the landing while the 30 and 40 were just a singular step.

My apologies for going off topic.

Cheers!

Doesn't this always simply come down to how much you want to spend? I don't get why everyone asks the public what they should buy. They both take great photos. Buy what you want to afford. $6-800 for a used 30D, $1400 for a 40D.

I opted for the 40D myself and have been very pleased with it. The difference between it and my 20D is like night and day.

I had two 40D's,( 1 replaced the other) and sent them both back, so decided on 30D and it's great.
Look for my tread "40D still a problem"

Brian

I think both will do the job just fine. When it comes to choosing lenses that's another thing altogether.

The only thing that would swing me from a 30 to a 40D would be the sensor cleaning function. As that's something that drives me nuts.

The 40D is clearly a major upgrade and the better camera. But if you won't use the additional / enhanced features of the 40D or if you'd rather put the cost difference towards glass, then the 30D is an excellent choice.

So, depends on if you want the top of the range features to shoot action, use low light AF, macro, and want HTP, live view, fast fps etc - or not.

I seem to remember some posts on here of several other xti users upgrading to a 40D - if you do a scan or search you'll probably find them and see what they thought.

I have both...if you can afford it, I'd say get the 40D. Feel and features are a lot nicer. If money is an issue, look for a gently used 30D here. Both are great cameras.

I went from XTi to 40D and am glad I did.. Sure IQ is similar, but the value of the 40D smokes the other models... The extra FPS, IS lens, metal body, 3" screen, live view sold it for me.... I LOVE this camera!

rowdyred94 wrote in post #4203235
Doesn't this always simply come down to how much you want to spend? I don't get why everyone asks the public what they should buy. They both take great photos. Buy what you want to afford. $6-800 for a used 30D, $1400 for a 40D.

yes, it absolutely comes down to how much cash you have and where you spend it. The 40D has features that can make a difference in the heat of getting a shot in a fluid situation. For me the AF is the key - having all cross AF sensors and better lowlight AF is a fantastic capability. BUT - if buying the 40D means you can't get the glass you need (e.g. WA, long tele, wide aperture) then don't get it.

I haven't priced the 20D recently, but if it is still significantly cheaper than the 30D, you should be asking yourself which to buy between the 20D and the 40D

20D -> 30D (almost no changes: 0.5" larger LCD and spot meter)
20D, 30D -> 40D (significant improvements across the board)

So if the 30D fits the bill, so would the 20D. You might save enough to buy a better lens or external flash, both of which would probably have a more significant effect on your photos than any differences between the two.

either camera would be fine. Or you could just jump to a 5D

how are they the same? digicIII, 6fps., better iso, 40D

darktiger wrote in post #4204453
either camera would be fine. Or you could just jump to a 5D

There are many areas where the 40D beats the 5D - it depends what you want.