Is it worth doing this?

I have an opportunity to buy a nearly-new 40D for a very good price. I'm currently using an XTi, which I've had for about 18 months, and am not unhappy with it. However, I'm now doing a lot more sports and action photography, indoors and out, and the 40D's better AF performance is tempting. For those of you who have shot sports with both cameras, do you think the move would be worthwhile, or should I just stick with my XTi?

Depends on what's a good price? a used 40D body should be roughly $600 now?

nikonlegend wrote in post #7359853
Depends on what's a good price? a used 40D body should be roughly $600 now?

I'm in Canada, but if I do the conversion it would come in at just under that, with the grip included. Based on local prices, it's a good deal.

I shoot alot of sports and jumped from a XTi to a 40D last March. It was a big improvement in terms of keepers that are in focus.

Now if only there was a camera that would help with the content in those pictures that are now in focus. Then we would all truly have more keepers. It comes back to - yes, better equipment helps; but it is still the person using the camera that makes a photographer.

Go for it

I felt like my XT was a little toy after upgrading to the 40D. Do it and you won't look back. Trust me.

ceegee wrote in post #7359827
I have an opportunity to buy a nearly-new 40D for a very good price. I'm currently using an XTi, which I've had for about 18 months, and am not unhappy with it. However, I'm now doing a lot more sports and action photography, indoors and out, and the 40D's better AF performance is tempting. For those of you who have shot sports with both cameras, do you think the move would be worthwhile, or should I just stick with my XTi?

I have both cameras, & I mostly shoot sports (indoors & outdoors). After you get the 40D & you keep the XTi (which I did), you will use the 40D 95% of the time. Now the only time I use my XTi is as a backup when I am in an indoor situation and I need to use 2 different primes (28mm & 50mm) when the action is close & farther away.

You will definitely like the AF on the 40D. Bigger view screen. The big round wheel on the back of the camera is wonderful. When I first saw that wheel, I thought I would rather have what the XTi has.........WRONG. You will love it.

I really liked the way the XTi displayed all the data on the view screen, but I quickly got used to the screen on top of the camera for checking the camera setup. I now like the controls on the 40D better, but it took a few days to get accustomed to them (no problem)

The larger size of the 40D is much more comfortable in your hand. The menu layout is great, and the way you access the menus is very handy.

The kelvin WB is a feature you gain with the 40, and I personally use it a lot. It takes some playing with to get it right. Even if you shoot Raw, you still want to get the shot as close as possible to the correct WB as you can. I shoot jpg quite a bit, so WB is even more important to me.

So I say get the 40D. I don't think you will be sorry.

Go for it!

ceegee wrote in post #7359930
I'm in Canada, but if I do the conversion it would come in at just under that, with the grip included. Based on local prices, it's a good deal.

Do it!! Nikon's pricing increased across the board, I don't know if Canon did or plans on doing so.

do it do it!

A new camera won't help you shoot sports as much as more experience will. You can't spray and pray all the time you know. That said, perhaps a 30d or used 1dmkii (or n, though non-n is usually cheaper) would be just as good as the 40d.

nikonlegend wrote in post #7361841
Do it!! Nikon's pricing increased across the board, I don't know if Canon did or plans on doing so.

It's all gone up, something called a strong Yen

*observes nikonlegend* You Nikon people are a strange, pointlessly nerdy breed btw, from my observations at work, being nerdy about not allot to be honest; a sense of 'better camera' is simply like yelling to a wall in a darkened room; the technology is essentially the same, though I understand Nikon cameras are easier to use...

it's simply kit at the end of the day, 90% of it is how you handle it and the glass

basroil wrote in post #7361913
A new camera won't help you shoot sports as much as more experience will. You can't spray and pray all the time you know.

Ouch. Yes, I do know that. Actually, I don't "spray and pray" at all; I track the action and try to time my shots. And I don't expect a new camera to improve my photography; I simply wondered if the better AF system of the 40D would help me increase my keeper rate, which is already acceptable with the XTi. As I said in my original post, I'm not unhappy with the XTi, but an opportunity to buy a 40D has arisen, and if it's a better tool for the job, then maybe I'll consider it.

ceegee wrote in post #7363128
Ouch. Yes, I do know that. Actually, I don't "spray and pray" at all; I track the action and try to time my shots. And I don't expect a new camera to improve my photography; I simply wondered if the better AF system of the 40D would help me increase my keeper rate, which is already acceptable with the XTi. As I said in my original post, I'm not unhappy with the XTi, but an opportunity to buy a 40D has arisen, and if it's a better tool for the job, then maybe I'll consider it.

Didn't really mean that you in particular are bad, just that in general people like to abuse fps. AF will be marginally better, but still nowhere near a 1d or 1dmkiii level. If you shoot with centerpoint only, both the xti and 40d should be about equal. Neither camera can do RoF though, which is a shame, since it's amazing for indoor sports and field sports

nikonlegend wrote in post #7361841
Do it!! Nikon's pricing increased across the board, I don't know if Canon did or plans on doing so.

wow Nikonlegend, you have an awesome Nikon gear kit. *lust*