Camera Labs

Hi

I am very new to this site and also the world of DSLR cameras.

I was going to purchase a 550d, just the body and get a Cannon EF 50 f/1.8 II lens and practice until I was sure which other lens I may wish to buy, this was advised to me and sounded good as most things I have read said the twin lens where not much good.

My query is now is a girl I work with does wedding photography when she can get the work and has two x Cannon 40D and she wants to sell one with a 17-85 lens (I think that is the lens size). She has said the camera and lens have not had much use.

She wants $500 for the 40D and lens etc. At the moment you can get a brand new 550D for $549.00 body only.

I have looked at different website but most of the links seem to be a few years old and I am not sure if the 40D she is selling with the lens is the better camera and worth the money.

I have never had a DSLR before and would like to get in photography as a hobby.

Any advise offered is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I saw a similar question posted in a photography magazine recently and they said the 550D or 600D would be a better choice than a 40D. If it were a 50D then they would go for the 50D instead.

Personally I would go for 550D as it has the newer 18Mpxl sensor and video. I would also get it with the 18-55 Image stabilized kit lens which is better than the 17-85 lens your friend is selling both optically and has is a later version of IS.

Get the 50 f/1.8 as well (or later if budget does not allow right now).

If you have particularly large hands then the 550D may be a little small. I have a 400D and don't have any issue holding it.

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Canon EOS 400D, EF-S 18-55mm, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.8 MK I, EF-S 10-22mm, EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, EF 28mm f/1.8, EF 85mm f/1.8
Canon 430EX II, Manfrotto 055CXPRO3, Arca Swiss P0
Panasonic GF3, Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, Olympus 45mm f/1.8

MY FLICKR!

The 40D is a wonderful camera. If you dont mind it to lack video, many megapixels etc., but you prefer a bigger and more solid body, top LCD screen, faster continuous shooting and other pro features, then the 40D is a very nice camera to start with!

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies

That's the zoom range. If it was a compact camera they'd advertise it as a 5x zoom lens. The 17-85mm is a nice allround lens.

The 40D still is a very nice camera - fast, robust (metal body), better autofocus, slightly bigger viewfinder, top LCD. Sounds nicer Takes CF cards.
The 550D is a less professional camera but it's newer - it's slower, but it has a better sensor with lower noise and more detail because of the higher resolution, smaller plastic body (= quite a bit lighter), a good video mode the 40D doesn't have. Takes SD cards.

The 50mm 1.8 is nice but it's no zoom lens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujAwXVF_ ... PkkN0gA%3D <--- The 550D is better (faster, higher resolution, better video mode, rubberized grip ) than the 1100D.

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Canon EOS 500D + Canon EOS 5D Mark III + Canon EOS 33v
Canon EF 24-105mm 4L IS USM + EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 100mm 2.8L Macro IS USM + Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM + Canon Speedlite 580 EX II + Nissin Speedlite Di 466

if someone offered me a 40D and a 17-85 for $400 I think I would buy it, if it was all in good condition. Great combination, would make a good camera to get started and learn with and a good second body later. Personally not a big fan of the 50 1.8, I couldn`t recommend it. The focal length doesn`t work for me, its not sharp at 1.8 or f2 and mine in particular has front and back focus issues.

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Canon Powershot S95, Canon 6D,7D, 24-70 2.8 Tamron VC, Canon 15-85, Canon 85 1.8, Sigma 30 1.4, 50mm 1.8, Canon 100 2.8L Macro, Canon 70-300L +Kenko 1.4 Pro 300DGX, Canon 430EX II and RS 4 Classic

I actually have a personnel 550D and a military issue 40D. I can second what ruben123 says. I really enjoy the increased sensor size of the 550D but there are a LOT of the physical body and speed features of the 40D that I love.

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Mike "The Squirrel"
Canon 550D | Canon EF 35mm 1:2 | Canon 50 f/1.8 II | Sigma 18-125mm DC OS | Tamron SP 70-300mm Di VC USD | Canon 430EX II
Military Issued Canon 40D | Canon 55-250mm IS

I agree the 40D magnesium body and better controls are a step up from the 550D's but for me a least it's image quality that matters and the 40D has essentially the same sensor as my 400D albeit with a faster readout and firmware allows ISO 3200. I never use ISO 1600 unless I know it's going to be a B&W conversion as the noise just gets too much (personal preference I know). I have seen shots from a 550D at ISO 6400 which I would be pleased to use.

My advice is to borrow the 40D and spend a day taking some shots, then take an SD card to a friendly local camera store and take a few shots with the 550D. At this point you will have already decided based on the ergonomics of each and if it's a wash compare the images on screen.

When testing take shots at each ISO level

.

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Canon EOS 400D, EF-S 18-55mm, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.8 MK I, EF-S 10-22mm, EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, EF 28mm f/1.8, EF 85mm f/1.8
Canon 430EX II, Manfrotto 055CXPRO3, Arca Swiss P0
Panasonic GF3, Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, Olympus 45mm f/1.8

MY FLICKR!

Hi

Thank you to everyone who has replied offering advise.
I have borrowed the 40D camera from the girl at work selling it. It seems to have take 9678 photos, she left the card in there to look at the photos.
I will get my own SD card tomorrow and try the camera over Easter and then go to a camera shop and try the 550d.
It does feel large and heavy in my hand but I am putting that down to never having held a real DSLR camera before.

Michael

The 40D, 17-85mm and a 50mm f/1.8 for less than a 550D and 50mm f/1.8....
I would probably go for the 40D set.

Having a decent zoom, and a nice prime like the 50mm f/1.8 would set you up for most shooting situations.
I used to own a 17-85mm and I was quite fond of that lens. I made the mistake of lending it to my mother who also became quite fond of it. So when it came time to replace it, I decided to take the money I got for it and upgrade. There are some occasions that I miss it though as it was a nice, general purpose, lens that covered a very useful range. To this day I do not have a single lens that covers all the range that that lens does.

As most people tend to replace their dslr quickly once they get into photography, spending a lot of money on a camera body is probably not the best investment. Having better lenses, however, is a good investment if you enjoy photography.

As you have not owned a DSLR before, going for the less expensive option of the two would not be a bad thing.
Especially since the 40D is a nice camera.

If you are worried about the age itself, I am still using a slightly older XTi/400D, so the 40D would be an upgrade on my current camera.

However, feel both cameras in your hands. The one that is more comfortable in your hand will probably be the one you will be happier with. These are tools. What you learn in how to take the picture will determine the results far more than the quality of the tool.

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Canon 5DIII, Rebel XTi/400D
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II, 24-105mm f/4L, 50mm f/1.4, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DO, 85mm f/1.8
Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX Macro
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
Canon 430EX II
Opteka 13mm, 21mm, and 31mm extension tubes
Vivitar 50mm f/1.8 for OM System

After using a 350D for more than a year, replacing it by a 50D and not having a 350D for a few weeks, I decided to buy a 350D again. As second body.
After I saw some sample images of the standard JPEGs with the standard 18-55 at 1600 ISO, I fell in love again with it. I use it as small ''carry everywhere camera''. It's far better than any compact camera to date.
What I wanted to say? Ive got a 50D also, but Im using the 350D with the kitlens almost more often than the 50D. The IQ is really good, and the 40D's IQ is even better.
Dont buy the 550D because you want better IQ alone, the 40D's IQ is also excelent. Do buy a 550D though if you really want to have a movie mode, or that many megapixels.
Cant let it go to say my 50D is standard at 3,7 megapixel sRAW mode...

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies

I have had a 40D for 4 years. It is an excellent camera.

If it is your first dslr it will be more than enough for you. I take good photos with the 17-85 kit lens and even better ones with the 70-200 f4L lens. So it benefits from having quality lenses. 10 megapixels is quite enough to start with and you will get better and better as you get to know the camera and its capabilities.

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Canon 40D, EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, EF 70-300 IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.4, Speedlite 430EX II, EF 70-200 f/4L IS USM, EFS 10-22mm.