Moving from a 20D to 40D. Worth it

The Asgard · 8 Dec 2008 at 09:04

I'm thinking of upgrading my camera to a 40D. Is it worth doing?

I have had the 20D for a number of years and use a Sigma 24-70mm EXDG Macro. I have also got a 430EX Speedlite flash. It's all worked flawlessly. Would I see a noticable difference?

I'm a bit of a gadget person and love new tech and I think this is driving me in the direction of the upgrade. Thought I might run it by you people before I made the purchase.

Also fancy a change and I did look at a 2nd hand D200 but what with my current investment in the lens and flash it would mean starting over again. Is the 40D better than the D200?

My budget is up to £700

Any advice would be greatly appeciated.

neil_g · 8 Dec 2008 at 09:10

i have a 20D and personally i dont see any benefit in going to a 40D. liveview doesnt really sell it, neither does 1.5M extra pixels, nor an extra 1.4fps.

my next upgrade will be a 2nd hand 1Dmk3.

but thats just me.

Mr Jones · 8 Dec 2008 at 09:32

To be honest, if you are happy with your 20D setup, why no invest in a new glass? The Canon 17-55mm f2.8?

Paul11 · 8 Dec 2008 at 09:43

i was also considering this upgrade.

interesting to see peoples opinions.

FreeStream · 8 Dec 2008 at 09:45

350D to 40D was worth it.

The better ISO performance might sell the upgrade?

But a 17-55 USM IS is in that budget and its a quality lens!!

neil_g · 8 Dec 2008 at 09:59

Mr Jones said:
To be honest, if you are happy with your 20D setup, why no invest in a new glass?

agreed. some nice fast glass would be more beneficial.

do you only have the 24-70 at the moment? what do you shoot subject wise etc.

The Asgard · 8 Dec 2008 at 10:00

Mr Jones said:
To be honest, if you are happy with your 20D setup, why no invest in a new glass? The Canon 17-55mm f2.8?

To be honest I have not really considered a new/additonal lens. The Sigma seems to be just right for my family shots and it really does produce very sharp pictures with good contrast.

I have 3 kids. One 3 Year old boy and 8 month old twin girls so life with the camera at the moment revolves around the family.

neil_g · 8 Dec 2008 at 10:01

Concorde Rules said:
The better ISO performance might sell the upgrade?

wouldnt say the 20D has bad ISO performance tbh. but with some nice fast glass that shouldnt be too much of an issue anyway.

The Asgard · 8 Dec 2008 at 10:03

Thanks for the feedback. I had a feeling my tech addiction was the driving force behind the upgrade.

How much better would the Canon L Glass be over my current lens. I thought the Sigma was nearly on Par?

neil_g · 8 Dec 2008 at 10:06

depends on your budget. the EX range is great at a fraction of the cost.

im running the sig 18-50 f2.8 and the 70-200 f2.8 and they both knock out nice tack sharp images.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilgates/

have a rummage, most of the sports shots are with the 70-200 and the more recent days out pics with the 18-50

Willis · 8 Dec 2008 at 10:07

When you say D100 do you mean a Nikon D200 ?

The Asgard · 8 Dec 2008 at 10:08

Willis said:
When you say D100 do you mean a Nikon D200 ?

My bad yes. I updated the post just before you posted.

The Asgard · 8 Dec 2008 at 10:13

neil_g said:
depends on your budget. the EX range is great at a fraction of the cost.

im running the sig 18-50 f2.8 and the 70-200 f2.8 and they both knock out nice tack sharp images.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilgates/

have a rummage, most of the sports shots are with the 70-200 and the more recent days out pics with the 18-50

Some great pictures there mate. The Sigma lens are exceptional for the money.

Wished I had more time to get out and about. Family and Work committments have my hands tied.

neil_g · 8 Dec 2008 at 10:17

The Asgard said:
Some great pictures there mate. The Sigma lens are exceptional for the money.

Wished I had more time to get out and about. Family and Work committments have my hands tied.

thanks

i know the feeling, i feel guilty for having my kit sat around doing nothing most of the time. been planning my motorsport events for next year tho so should have a bit more use soon..

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 8 Dec 2008 at 10:35

I actually think upgrading to a 40D is worth it.

Better ISO, faster buffer, more mp, higher fps, better build quality, larger screen, feels more stable to hold, much faster use of the menus, sensor cleaning, live view, ports reveresed, much faster af, spot metering, generation better processor.
just to name its better features, there are more.

I had the 20D, 30D and 40D and I feel that the 30D had hardly nothing over the 20D. The 40D sure as hell does.

neil_g · 8 Dec 2008 at 10:49

well the 30D was more like a 20.5D

better is a little subjective, a lot of those features are only marginally better on paper figures.

Troop · 8 Dec 2008 at 11:01

Think the buffer is the big thing with the 40D, any motor sport fast action, continuous shooting, it is a very big step up.

turtle1000 · 9 Dec 2008 at 11:35

Bear in mind that the 50D is available for another £100, or with the 40D around £550 at the moment you could get that plus a 17-55mm is (a fantastic lens) by selling your 20D and current lens to help fund the extra.

Mr Jones · 9 Dec 2008 at 11:40

turtle1000 said:
Bear in mind that the 50D is available for another £100, or with the 40D around £550 at the moment you could get that plus a 17-55mm is (a fantastic lens) by selling your 20D and current lens to help fund the extra.

That is IF he haven't already factor in the sale of his 20D into his 700quid budget.

D.P. · 9 Dec 2008 at 12:29

turtle1000 said:
Bear in mind that the 50D is available for another £100, or with the 40D around £550 at the moment you could get that plus a 17-55mm is (a fantastic lens) by selling your 20D and current lens to help fund the extra.

50D is more like a downgrade than an upgrade from the 40D.