40D or D450 ?

[DeanoH]

I'm looking at buying a Canon Camera so that I can have the benefit of a telephoto with IS. (Good advice Chucaro).
But before I walk I must crawl. The first step as I see it is a lens for general purpose work. As much as I dislike the idea of a zoom lens for this it is probably a logical but expensive choice to get a really good one. I'm sick of soft photos. My thoughts are for something like a 17-85 f/4-5.6 or lash out and 28-70 f/2.8L if I can find one in good condition.
The lens is the easy bit, its the body I'm agonising over. The 40D looks good but has a features that I won't use. eg. do I really need ISO 6400 ? The 450D is a newer model with similar (cut down) features and is smaller and lighter. It also has built in IR which the 40D hasn't. Am I missing something important here ?

Deano

[Chucaro]

I would go for the 40D any time. it is a great camera and well prooven by avian photographers.
The 450 is like the 400 more for people that are not considering at all take photography seriously.
But if money is an issue, then first get the lens and then the body with the spare money ;)
Very rarely you will use ISO over 800 because the clean up of the image in the PP will works against the srpening on it.
You will have to go to a D700 camera to be able to go very high on the ISO adjustments

[Offender90]

Depends on what you plan to use it for & how soon. My advice generally would be to spend the money on lenses rather than the camera body, simply because quality glass will last you decades, whereas even a good (digital) camera body will be superceeded in a matter of years, several at most.

If it were my money, I'd get a S/H 30D, and use the extra cash to upgrade to the 24-70 F/2.8 L series glass. Given the strong performance of the aussie dollar, I suspect you'll get much more value for your money buying from the US.

Also, as you get more serious about photography, there's a gfood chance you'll be wanting to upgrade to a full frame sensor eventually (such as the 5D). I'd therefore stick to EF range of glass where possible. The only EF-S lens you may want is the ultra-wide range 10-22mm, as there is no equivalent available in the EF range.

Cheers

[SteelNerve]

Have to agree with everyone here, I have a 20D and love it. I have had several high end compacts and they don't even come close.
The quality of image and ease of use is second to none with the DSLR. The higher end camera's have more button's which means easier access to functions that you have to dig through menus on cheaper models.
Glass, yes and size does matter. The cheap consumer glass that comes with a packaged deal are only just good enough.
I purchased a 70-200 2.8f L and the image comparison is outstanding. I now have to save the pennies and get a 2.8f L wide angle.

Even though my 20D is an old model I bearly see the advantage to upgrade yet when the images are fantastic and the 8.2mp is big enough for any work I am doing.
Good luck in finding the right combination for you.:cool: