Need to choose... 40D or 450D

arg245 wrote in post #6021088
Take it from a former REBEL series owner............... Forget the similarities in specs, once you try an xxD series, you'll never go back to Rebels. Many will disagree, but if you get the 40D, you'll see what I mean.

I'll disagree, thanks for the invitation !

I owned 40D for about a week and a half, then brought it back to the store and happily returned to my 400D.

Main reasons - the size and weight of 40D, the image quality that wasn't any better than 400D (actually XTi sometimes produced better pictures under same conditions), and the price difference.

Of course 40D had its advantages - better controls, spot metering, live view and high ISO performance. FPS is also higher but didn't matter to me.

You really have to try first. It's anything but a no-brainer.

40D EOT

Well since you do action and weddings, the 40D is probably the better choice.

Do you people not know how to use your cameras? Not to sound like a jerk or anything but I had a 400D for about 7 months and put about 15000 actuations on it. It took some wonderful pictures, let me tell you. I shoot a lot of sports but also do a lot of portraits, and a lot of random PJ stuff. Anyway, I decided to upgrade to the 40D since Canon was running rebates (though the 40D is still the same price after the "rebates" ended lol) and couldn't be happier. After learning to use most of the features it blows the XTi out of the water. The AF is superb and the frame rate is at the perfect speed for leaving it active while shooting sports and still being able to take single shots (if you have fast enough fingers). So for example, I can shoot a football game and take single shots here and there, capturing "moments" (I don't machine gun with my camera, I find it a waste), but when, say, the ball gets intercepted I can just hold the button down and take a series of the interception at a good frame rate.

As for people saying the 40D is "soft", I don't know what their deal is. I put the 70-200 f/4L on it and shoot wide open and it is tack sharp on the "standard" profile. Same with the tamron 17-50 f/2.8. Here are two example shots straight out of the camera with no post processing applied:
from the 17-50

2112 wrote in post #6020649
Hardly a no brainer. I had the XTI for almost a year and it performed just as well as my 40D I now have. In fact, the pics look better off the XTI, the 40Ds are a bit softer. The XSI is even better from what I used of it. I will say this. If the difference is only $150, get the 40D. If its $300-$400, get the XSI and a nice lens.

Your opinion... Most here and there is a very large list circulating, will dissagree with you...

Like dshirey says, it's knowing how to use the camera that makes the difference....

form wrote in post #6021830
Well since you do action and weddings, the 40D is probably the better choice.

+1

Kind regards, Wim

wimg wrote in post #6022057
+1

Kind regards, Wim

+2

And as your skills grow the lack of the thumbwheel and the convenience it brings is a real PITA.

Just my .02

if you can afford it, i'd say 40d

For "simple" situations, you can use any camera of these mentioned. 400D, 450D or 40D, they'll all do the job.

When the going gets tough (fast moving, low light etc.), then the 40D takes a definitive lead, compared to the other two.

I recently upgraded from a 20D to a 40D.
For $#!+'s and giggles I decided to grab a rebel and see what it was like.
I didn't like it.
Maybe because I'm use to the xxD series, but the 20D/40D settings are very quick to change when compared to the Rebel's.

Saying that, I vote the 40D...

-Mario

Stormin_24 wrote in post #6022047
Your opinion... Most here and there is a very large list circulating, will dissagree with you...

Like dshirey says, it's knowing how to use the camera that makes the difference....

Hmmm.... So if you don't know how to use a camera you're a xxxD user and if you do know how to use a camera, you're a xxD user?

Personally, I won't buy a 40D because of the size and I'm a big guy with big hands. It's simply too big. I don't shoot sports or do BIF so FPS means nothing to me. I'm not hard on my equipment so the all metal chassis also isn't important. I don't have fast lenses or plan to get fast lenses so super high precision focusing on all focus points isn't important either.

I do take lots of family, vacation and travel pictures and have for 30 years with SLR's and now DSLR's. I've owned a XT and now have a XTi. A XSi is next in line. Picture quality is equal to the 40D. Don't take my word for it, read every review at all the website and they'll all tell you the same thing.

Now, tell me why I have to have a 40D or I don't know how to use a camera?

Jim

Jim Holtz wrote in post #6022822
Hmmm.... So if you don't know how to use a camera you're a xxxD user and if you do know how to use a camera, you're a xxD user?


Jim

Not what I said at all. I have a 400D and still use it as a backup and know very well how to use it. What I have observed is that a good 70% of the people who gripe about the 40D have never owned an SLR before and go by the pictures it takes on Auto mode. That isn't (in my opinion) what the 40D is geared for, those modes are just on there because Canon uses the 40D as a bridge camera between consumer and pro bodies. It has an affordable consumer price with those "easy to use" modes, but it also has a lot of pro features that make it a worthy body. My view on complaining is this... Do your research and have a good enough idea of what you are doing that you can tell if you are doing it wrong if you know you could be doing something wrong, then don't complain until you are sure. If you know the product well enough to know you are doing everything right and it still doesn't work correctly, then complain. People usually complain about stuff that isn't easy, and the 40D fits that category. It has a steeper learning curve than the xxxD cameras and more functions.

I know that there are plenty of people that know their xxxD inside and out, and take great pictures, but those people aren't the ones who complain unless something is genuinely wrong.

like arg245, I'm an experienced Rebel owner, back to my Rebel film body that I just don't want to let go. I still have my XTi and love it but shoot primarily with a 5D. Better build, better sensor.

The better image quality doesn't jump out at you but, if you're really want to push your pics with sizing and developing, go with the D series.

dshirey wrote in post #6022925
I know that there are plenty of people that know their xxxD inside and out, and take great pictures, but those people aren't the ones who complain unless something is genuinely wrong.

Sorry, I just had to nail you guys on that one. I agree with you. There seems to be a ton of new DSLR users that are migrating from P&S cameras that don't understand the basics of photography and blame it on the camera. Just an observation, if they understood DOF and the relationship of ISO, aperture and shutter speed 99% of the complaints would go away.

However. proper exposure seems to me to be an ongoing learning experience, for me at least.

Anyhow, the 40D is a fine camera as is the XSi and XTi. The XSi/XTi fits my shooting style and photography needs best but that doesn't mean a 40D isn't better for others.

Best regards,

Jim

salfordred wrote in post #6019604
I recently owned a 400D, until it decided to take a tumble from out of my bag which I had forgotten to zip properly... down some marble steps.

Do I go with the cheaper 450D or the more expensive 40D ?.... both within my budget.

I had a 40D. I sold it can got the XSi instead. I like it better. It's lighter, the image quality is better and I like its version of live view better too.