Camera Labs

so now i'm stuck. I have used both the 30d and the 40d many times but i do not own one. So i have decided to break down and get a new camera. I have a 350d right now and i think its time for an upgrade. So please help me i have been looking at both the 30d and the 40d but i can't decide which one to get.

- Jake

Hi Jake!

(I should add for anyone reading this that Jake's also posted aboput wanting to do Skateboparding photography in the action section).

I'm sure you've already seen this, but you can compare the features between the 40D and 30D in our 40D verdict here:

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon ... dict.shtml

Basically, both are great cameras for the kind of action you want to shoot, but I wouldn't bother with the 40D unless you want or need it's additional features: 2 extra mpixels, live view, so-so anti-dust, PC remote control, slightly quicker shooting, slightly bigger screen, improved weather-proofing etc.

Me personally? I really value Live View for example, so would go for the 40D, but others may not need the extra features and could save themselves 300 or 400 bucks which could buy an external flash or go towards a nice lens.

yeah and so i have thoroughly looked into both the 30d and the 40d. And so i have decided to get the 40d i think that i could really use the live view facility along with the other upgrades from the 30d.

so besides the action shots what do you think is a good general purpose lens for the 40d??

Hi Jake, here's a group test of popular general purpose Canon lenses which will work on the 40D.

http://www.cameralabs.com/features/Cano ... s_upgrade/

so i looked at the three lenses in the article and i have a question i will probably be getting the 17-85 lens. but i have a couple of other lenses in mind as well how do you feel about the CANON 28-135 IS lens? and what kind of lens should i get that has good tele capabilities?

Hi Jake,

You can see from my signature the choices I made but then I rarely want to go shorter/wider than 24mm (personal style).

With the 40D's EF-S 17-85mm IS already in the bag I'm not sure the EF 28-135mm f3.5-f/5.6 IS USM is going to add a lot. It is sold as the kit lens in North America but some have questioned whether 28mm is short enough as a general purpose lens.

However, the EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM might be a natural fit with the EF-S 17-85mm IS if you don't want to spring the cash for "L" glass. The PhotoZone review for this lens says that it "can be almost described as a hidden Canon L lens".

Bob.

P.S. Interesting that PhotoZone are about to retest the EF-S 17-85mm IS. Their original view wasn't hugely favourable but the lens has received much better treatment elsewhere, as well as here at CameraLabs, so maybe they were lent a bad copy.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

yeah thank you so much. and is the 75-300 non is lens any good????

I have no experience with this lens so all I can do is quote from the Digital Picture review where they state "If you care about great image quality and sharp photos, the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM Lens is not for you. And Photoshop cannot enhance details that are not there". It is cheap though.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

yeah that makes alot of sense its a super cheap lens. Well i think i have figured it out i am going to get the 40d with either the canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6mm IS USM lens or the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM and wait to save for a better tele lens. So are my two choices okay? or is there something a little better?

Hi.
There is almost always something better
But I think both options are good.
In my opinion, you need to decide if you need a wide angle, because the 28-135 will not give you that.

Liron.

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Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 17-40L, Canon EF 70-200L f/4 IS and Canon SpeedLite 430EX
My picasa

yeah i would most defenatly need a wide angle lens with the 28-135. So that brings another question? is there a good wide angle lens that is inexpensive???

If you need a "standard" wide (equivalent to 28mm), so go for the 17-85 as a single lens.
If you go for the 28-135, you will need another lens.
People here talk about the Canon 10-22 (which is great but expesive) or sigma alternative (Ithink it's 12-24).
Since I don't have such a wide lens, and not planning to buy, I don't know much about them.

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Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 17-40L, Canon EF 70-200L f/4 IS and Canon SpeedLite 430EX
My picasa

Hi wat3rpolo,

I agree with amitzil. If you need wide, but not ultra-wide, then go for the EF-S 17-85mm f4~5.6 IS USM. With that lens in the bag the EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM adds little so for the longer term the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM would seem to be the natural second lens, as I mentioned in an earlier post.

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

yes i agree 100%. So it sounds like the 17-85 is the way to go. It won't take long to get the 75-300 after i purchase the camera hopfuly sometime soon.

Great news. When you decide to buy a telephoto zoom remember that the 75-300 and 70-300 lenses are different animals but can easily be confused.

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.