Should you upgrade Canon 40D to 50D?
September 2, 2008 by Norman · 20 Comments
Canon 50D was announced only after one year Canon 40D was introduced. How much improvement is Canon 50D over Canon 40D? Should you upgrade Canon 40D to Canon 50D? Should you buy Canon 40D for $949 or Canon 50D for $1399?
To answer these questions, we need to know what are the major differences of 40D and 50D.
- Canon 50D has a 15.1 MP CMOS sensor comparing with a 10.1 MP CMOS sensor in 40D.
- Canon 50D has ISO 100 to 3200 with extendable to H1 (6400) and H2 (12800). Canon 40D ISO 100 to 1600 with extendable to 3200.
- Canon 50D has a much better live LCD with face detection and three times better resolution (920,000 dots verse 230,000 dots for 40D). According some initial observation of dpreview, the LCD of Canon 50D is even better than Nikon D3.
- Canon 50D uses a digic 4 Image processor and 40D use a digic III image processor.
- Canon 50D has better weather sealing and HDMI output which allow to use with HDTV display.
The detailed preview of Canon 50D is here.
- Is it worthy to upgrade from 40D to 50D?
I don’t think so. It is nice to have a much better LCD. But for most of people, Canon 40D will deliver excellent image quality.
- Should you buy Canon 40D or Canon 50D?
For people in the market to buy Canon 40D or 50D, if you need it right now, 40D is still a good choice for the lower price. If you can wait, Canon 50D might be a better choice for its LCD display, higher ISO and digic 4 processor.
Related posts:
- Canon 50D review from dpreview-Canon 50D is not a replacement of Canon 40D
- Should you upgrade to Canon 5D Mark II? What you need to know
- When Canon XSi upgrade Canon XRi will be available?
- Mac OS X leopard 10.5.6 upgrade crashed my MacBook!
- Canon Rebel T2i / EOS 550D and Rebel T1i / EOS 500D comparisons
Canon 50D will be available in Oct.
I bought a Canon 40D after it was introduced just under a year ago. Now I learn that Canon has replaced the model with the 50D selling at the same price point. I cant believe that this company is doing this. I feel both betrayed and swindled. Selling $1400 cameras with a half-life of six months without notifying consumers that the unit will be replaced in less than a year is dishonest. I have used Canon cameras exclusively for more than 30 years. When it comes time to replace my 40D I am purchasing a Nikon.
Why? Does the release of the 50D cause your 40D to not work as well?
The DSLR technology advances very fast recently. That is why Canon upgrades faster their digital SLRs. Nikon has $$$ to spend on R&D and they upgrade digital SLR models less frequently.
Was in San Francisco & considered buying the 40D (was quoted $899 on the wharf) for the 6.5 frames speed, since my XTi only pushed 3.5 frames. I held back to do more research on the 40D since I knew squat about it.That’s when I discovered that the 50D is to come out soon. I’m going to spend the extra 40% on the 50D over the 40d. If I don’t I will be by kicking myself for the next 2-3 years for not getting the 50D. I’m sticking with Canon, because I have invested in 2 Sigma telephoto lenses for sports photography.
I too feel betrayed by CANON.
I wish I knew that they had the upgrade in production…I would have waited.
I bought the Canon 30D after it was introduced, then shortly the 40D when it came out. So I understand the frustration after learn that Canon upgraded so soon with the 50D. Where is Consumer Protection when you need them?
I have been a Canon user for 6 years now, but will switch if they keep this up.
Canon is out to do one thing…make money! If they made “one” perfect camera, everyone would have it and revenue would slow down. So they churn out one new camera after another.
I obsessed over the never-ending “upgrades” with Canon, always wanting the latest. But in the end it comes down to what you see on your computer screen and in print. My 40D pics looks just as good as images I’ve seen taken with the higher end cameras. So that’s all I care about now.
I got my 30D for $800 when the 40D was released a year ago. Now I’m ready for a second body and this is perfect timing.
Can’t wait till Monday!
You guys are right Canon should lay down and quit coming out with better cameras this is ridiculous. They should just let Nikon do that ! Come on people this is how technology works. Should Apple quit improving its computers ? Canon is great and it has been a year since the 40D came out, and the 5D has been out even longer. So either keep your 40d which is a great camera or bite the bullet and upgrade. Also guess what as we speak those sorry bums at Canon are working on the 60D.
You people aren’t serious are you???
Are you REALLY complaining about advancements in technology? Canon releasing a 50D, 60D or 7000D doesn’t make your camera any LESS efficient at its job. Yes, it does mean that there is a better camera out there that MIGHT do a better job, but that also means that a year from now, THAT “better” camera will also be LESS expensive!! I really wanted a 40D LAST year, but waited and low-and-behold, here we are a year later and I just bought one for $800 – almost HALF what it was last year. Next year I’ll do the same for the 50D. No big deal. I learned this years ago with computers….don’t kill yourself over the “newest, greatest thing”…there will always be better just around the corner.
Man, there seems to be a lot of conversation about this topic. Here’s another post I read . . .
http://tech.spotcoolstuff.com/photography/digital-camera/slr-showdown-40d-50d-canon-eos/
. . . that reached the same basic conclusion as you. But they seem to thing that the 50D controls are more intuitive. Did you find that also? I’m shopping for my first SLR. I want it to be powerful but also relatively simple to use.
If you are shopping for your first DSLR. Why not consider Nikon D90 or Canon 5D mark II. Check out post on Nikon D90 and Canon 50D mark Ii
http://web500.us/nikon-d90-preview-and-comparison-with-nikon-d80-canon-50d-and-canon-xsi-which-is-for-you/
http://web500.us/canon-5d-mark-ii-and-nikon-d90-comparison-the-full-frame-advantage/
I have Canon 40D, sometimes I feel I want to sell it and buy Canon 5D markII
no offense to all those who feel betrayed by canon, but it’s not canon’s fault, its your basic ego kicking you in the butt. by releasing new gear, of course your gear will no longer seem sexy enough, but hey, its a photo equipment. and your 40d would NOT stop taking pictures just because there’s 50d now. if you feel you can’t afford every new model popping too soon, or can’t just stick to the model you already bought, then go buy pimped up half a century old Mustang. That will never go out of fashion.
had to say it all..now it feels good.
Not worth it. 50d’s images above ISO 3200 are pretty crappy. The price difference is still rather big and all for the gadgets rather than the actual photo quality. Any upgrade from a 40d should be full-frame one already! ;D