Upgrading from XTi to.....??

Hi everyone, I am making the move up from my trusty XTi (still will be used as back up and second body) to either a 40D or 50D.

I have read quite a bit of threads that discuss the pros and cons of each. Apparently it seems the overall opinion is that 40D has better IQ.

On the other hand the 50D has the micro adjust feature. Is this REALLY worth the extra coin?

Now I usually shoot events, indoor events (clubs, resturants, etc..), travel photos, basic every day photos.

I do NOT shoot sports, birds, or anything require burst rate or super duper fast shutter speeds.

The other gear I have - just to give you an idea of what else my package is comprised of - is :

Tamron 17-50 2.8 (most often used lens)
Sigma 10-20
Sigma 105 2.8 Macro
Canon IS 70-300

My future purchases "may" be a fisheye depending on whether or not I can determine if I will use it enough to justify spending the $$ on it. Eventually I will upgrade my flash from the 430EX to a 580II. I may also add a Tamron 18-270 VR as a general walk around lens too. But all this is in the future, nothing that I really need immediately.

Based on the info I have given, which would you suggest 40D or 50D to be the best overall to upgrade to for my shooting needs?

The 50D is twice the price of the 40D and has these new features:

921k screen
15.1 megapixels
microadjustments

Is that really worth paying twice as much?

The part that's missing from your post is a description of what it is about the XTi that is limiting you, in other words, what do you hope to achieve with your proposed upgrade?

I've recently bought a 50D and the differences from my Xti are:
1) Faster focus.
2) Better ergonomics.
3) More Raw file sizes.
4) Better controls.
5) Live view (I do Macro and this is a must have).
6) Better view finder.
7) Better details when view pix on camera.
I'm Happy

xarqi wrote in post #7079424
The part that's missing from your post is a description of what it is about the XTi that is limiting you, in other words, what do you hope to achieve with your proposed upgrade?

Bingo, if you're just hoping your pictures turn out better, then you're wasting time, what are you limited on?

Well... good question.

I don't really have any limits on the XTi. Granted the entire menu and controls can be a pain at time, but overall I am very happy with the XTi and the photos I have gotten from it.

I just want to have two camera bodies. So that it would eliminate the need to change lens at times on shoots. When I do photography on the cruise ship here for a travel agency, I usually borrowed another body (another XTi) from a friend so that I could have my 17-50 on one and my 70-300 on the other.

So it really helps to have a second back up body at times.

ClickClick wrote in post #7081294
Well... good question.

I don't really have any limits on the XTi. Granted the entire menu and controls can be a pain at time, but overall I am very happy with the XTi and the photos I have gotten from it.

I just want to have two camera bodies. So that it would eliminate the need to change lens at times on shoots. When I do photography on the cruise ship here for a travel agency, I usually borrowed another body (another XTi) from a friend so that I could have my 17-50 on one and my 70-300 on the other.

So it really helps to have a second back up body at times.

Well, how about another XTi then? You'll avoid any possibility of confusion over menu/control layout, and save some money that you could put toward, say, upgrading your 70-300 to a 70-200/4 IS, or maybe getting an 85/1.8 for available light candids.

Actually I was thinking of replacing the 70-300 IS with the Sigma 50-150 2.8.

It seems that I never go beyond the 200 range (and even reaching 200 only infrequently) for the cruise.

I would have thought that the 40D was a better than the XTi, so if you upgrade (or even just make an addition) don't you want something "better"?

I thought the 40D had a Live View option as well. Or maybe I am getting that mixed up with the XSi.

ClickClick wrote in post #7084106
I would have thought that the 40D was a better than the XTi, so if you upgrade (or even just make an addition) don't you want something "better"?

It is, but if it does nothing to improve your photography, why spend the money?

I'm not saying there aren't reasons, just advising that you identify them so as to address them correctly and reduce the chances of disappointment or buyer's remorse. Maybe you just need a new toy to invigorate your interest - nothing wrong with that.

It does. Again, this won't directly improve your images and will do so indirectly only for the likes of low-level macro work where accessing the viewfinder is difficult. It can be used to assist in manual focusing too. It may enable you to be more "stealthy" in your candids, I guess.

SF Lights wrote in post #7079365
The 50D is twice the price of the 40D and has these new features:

921k screen
15.1 megapixels
microadjustments

Is that really worth paying twice as much?

Either you're comparing new 50D vs used 40D or you don't know 50D's price has dropped by a lot already.

Sounds like if i were you i would buy a 30d or a 40d. Even a 20d might sufice. I would grab a used 30d, and pick up a 70-200f4 IS or non-IS.