30d vs 40d....

ok as far as im aware the 40d is the newer version of the 30d correct? is there really much difference except the price.

im currently tempted to sell my 400d and get one of these. so any help much apreciated...

Before you sell, you might want to share your thought as to what you’re looking for in the upgrade? I just upgraded from the 400 to the 40 as I was loosing the 400 and took the opportunity to do so. Though I am very happy with the performance of the 40, I was quite disappointed that the difference between the 40D and 400D was as small as it is. Outside of the new features and slight performance gains, they are the same camera except for one big difference. The size, weight, and feel of the two are quite different.
The reason I am a bit disappointed is that I was hoping that DigicIII would improve the general operation of the camera at least as much as the Digic to DigicII jump did but the difference is much less noticeable. IQ and noise is indistinguishable. Focus performance is a tad better, but not so much so that it will wow you. The 40D does have faster FPS so if this is important, it is reason enough. The rear LCD is nice but without an increase in resolution it’s about as worthless as the 400’s. Live view is the one feature that sets the 40D apart from the 30/400.

either body is kick ass....you cant go wrong either way..

I've got both, two totally different cameras. The 40D has a superior autofocus system over the 30D, especially in low light. Great if you shoot fast moving indoor sports. My keeper rate went way up moving to a 40D for that reason alone. 40D has live view which is nice for macro or landscapes. 40D is much more customizable. I can build 3 different personal configuration modes with all the camera parameters and functions preset by the mode dial. I can have one for indoor sports, another for Macro, and another set for doing HDRs.

If you're not shooting moving stuff, don't care about noise reduction, and don't think liveview would be useful to you, then you'd be equally happy with the 30D.

bsmotril wrote in post #4263799
I've got both, two totally different cameras. The 40D has a superior autofocus system over the 30D, especially in low light. Great if you shoot fast moving indoor sports. My keeper rate went way up moving to a 40D for that reason alone. 40D has live view which is nice for macro or landscapes. 40D is much more customizable. I can build 3 different personal configuration modes with all the camera parameters and functions preset by the mode dial. I can have one for indoor sports, another for Macro, and another set for doing HDRs.

If you're not shooting moving stuff, don't care about noise reduction, and don't think liveview would be useful to you, then you'd be equally happy with the 30D.

I had quite a bit of success with "moving stuff" with my 30D:


http://www.pbase.com/g​rinchy247

rebelling_lemming wrote in post #4263279
ok as far as im aware the 40d is the newer version of the 30d correct? is there really much difference except the price.

This guy reckons there is...

I would concur...

I use my 30D and 40D together and I don't see any major differences. I slightly prefer the 40D as it has a better menu system to me and a little snappier in AF, but really it isn't gonna get you better pictures much of the time IMO. The 350D and 400D are not in the same league in terms of feel or usability. I would much prefer even a 30D over the 400D. Again, not too much difference in IQ as far as I can see tho' so you are changing for handling and feature reasons mainly. The 5D is better that any of them IQ wise but twice the price .

40D is ten more than the 30D and 20 more than the 20D - 50% and 100% more D's.

Better flexibility, better in camera jpegs, better focusing. better customization.

That being said, a getly used 20D is a hell of a bargain at $500 or a 30D at $750.

And so have I with mine. But I have a much higher keeper rate of in focus shots with the 40D at the same events with the same lens. The 40D autofocus tracking is much better than the 30 D with the 85 1.8 and 24-70L lenses shooting bodies moving 10-20mph on skates who are coming at you, or moving away, at ISO 1250-1600 at F2-F4 at 1/200-1/250th of a second. Better....?

grinchy wrote in post #4263933
I had quite a bit of success with "moving stuff" with my 30D:


http://www.pbase.com/g​rinchy247

bsmotril wrote in post #4265265
... The 40D autofocus tracking is much better than the 30 D .......?

That is the one thing I did notice, Autofocus speed is a bit faster, but not much. It does hunt a bit less, but the 100mm f/2.8 still hunts and looses focus especially when very close. But servo tracking performance is much better. Once locked on, to rarely looses tracking.

bsmotril wrote in post #4265265
... The 40D autofocus tracking is much better than the 30 D .......?

That is the one thing I did notice, Autofocus speed is a bit faster, but not much. It does hunt a bit less, but the 100mm f/2.8 still hunts and looses focus especially when very close. But servo tracking performance is much better. Once locked on, to rarely looses tracking.

gjl711 wrote in post #4265294
What the heck, why did it post twice?

It happens sometimes. You can delete the extra post though.

Mark