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Hope someone can help me. I currently have a Fujifilm FinePix S2950 and I'm looking to switch to a DSLR rather than a bridge, the current camera has a slow focus especially in low light.

I think I've narrowed down my search to either of the following:

EOS 40D £124
EOS 400D £79
EOS 1000D £99

with my preference being the 40D. Any thoughts on which would be the best to go for? It will be mostly portrait shots (holiday / parties etc) and some landscape shots for when I'm hillwalking.

Also trying to decide on the lens to get with it, think I've got it down to:

Tamron 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di II LD Macro £49
Canon EF 80-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II £54
Sigma 70-33mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro £59

Can anyone give any advice on which of these bodies and lenses would be the best to go for? The key things I'm looking for:

fast autofocus
good lowlight / indoor performance
mattdm
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denimknight
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1 Answers1

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Camera

The 40D was introduced in Q3 2007.
The 400D was introduced in Q1 2007.
The 1000D was introduced in Q3 2008.

All were built around the same basic 10.1MP sensor.

  • The 40D sensor has improved microlenses over the 400D and outperforms it in terms of high ISO noise.
  • The 40D records the sensor output in 14-bit raw files versus the 12-bit 400D.
  • The 40D uses the DiGiC III vs. the 400D's DiGiC II in-camera processor.
  • The 40D has a significantly faster burst frame rate: 6.5 fps to 3 fps and a deeper buffer that allows you to take more images before the camera gets bogged down waiting to write images to the memory card.
  • 40D shutter lag is shorter at 59ms vs. 100ms.
  • The 9-point 40D Auto Focus system is slightly faster than the 9-point 400D AF system.
  • The 40D has a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 second compared to the 400D's 1/4000 second.
  • The 40D has Live View mode that allows for more precise manual focusing using a magnified image on the rear LCD when the camera is mounted on a tripod. The 400D does not feature Live View shooting.
  • The 40D has 3" rear LCD vs. the 2.5" screen of the 400D.
  • Maximum ISO is 3200 for the 40D versus 1600 for the 400D.

Add to that the magnesium alloy body vs. aluminum/polycarbonate, two control wheels and a joystick vs. cross key buttons that require more delving into menus to change settings, slightly larger viewfinder, a longer shutter life rating (100,000 vs. 50,000), and better weather sealing and it begins to be clear that the 40D surpasses the 400D in terms of performance and durability in practically every way.

The 1000D, while the newest of the three models, was introduced as a budget level introductory model one tier below the x00D model line and two tiers below the x0D model line. It is a mashup between the ingredients of the 450D, 400D, and even retains some of the limits of the 350D. 12-bit raw files, maximum ISO of 1600, slower burst rate and shallow buffer, a 90ms shutter lag, 1/4000second maximum shutter speed, a slower 7-point AF system, and the smaller 2.5" LCD are some of the areas where it lags behind the 40D. A DiGiC III processor, improved microlenses, a 100,000 cycle shutter rating, and Live View mode are areas where it matches the 40D.

If small size and weight are important to you, the 1000D is the lightest at 17.5 ounces (497g) compared to the 400D at 19.9 ounces (564g), and the 40D at 29.5 ounces (836g). It is slightly taller but not as wide or deep as the 400D while the 40D is about 3/4" taller and wider and about 1/2" deeper than the other two.

Lenses

Your lens choice in this range of lenses is probably going to be more about what suits your particular shooting style than a side-by-side comparison of their optical qualities. For your stated primary purpose of holiday/party shots in indoor low lighting none of the three you have listed are going to do very well. They are all three too long and too slow (their narrow maximum aperture forces slower shutter speeds) for that purpose. For indoors use on an APS-C sensor camera lenses with minimum focal length of 70mm or 80mm are going to be way too narrow to get everything you want into the frame. And a lens usable at f/2 will allow a shutter speed 1/4 as long as a lens that only opens up to f/4. With the limited maximum ISO of the cameras you are considering this is a key consideration!

In the extreme budget category consider something like the EF 50mm f/1.8 II that can be had just as cheaply as the three you have listed. If you insist on a zoom a used copy of the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II can also be had in your price range. Avoid the pre-IS versions of this lens as their optics suffered from poor quality control. The EF 40mm f/2.8 is another inexpensive choice to consider.

Michael C
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  • HI Michael, thanks for the in-depth response. Looks like it's going to be the 40D. Budget is a big concern as I'm getting married in 5 weeks so don't have a lot of disposable income. thanks for the advice re lenses, I'll have a shop around and get one of the models you advised. Thanks again. – denimknight Oct 03 '15 at 07:32
  • @denimknight A few other choices for a fast prime: EF 50mm f/1.8 STM (upgraded 50/1.8II, close to the same price--metal mount plate, focus motor, and usable manual focus ring); EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM (crop version of the 40/2.8--better fit for general purpose shooting), and the super-cheap Yongnuo YN 50/1.8 (50/1.8 II clone). – inkista Oct 03 '15 at 17:17
  • @inkista Most all of the prices in the OP look like they are for used gear. New Canon stuff in the UK tends to cost more than the price of new Canon stuff in the US multiplied by the current $/£ exchange rate. I imagine it would be unlikely to find a used 50mm f/1.8 STM at this point. Maybe later on after it has been out a little while. – Michael C Oct 04 '15 at 14:19
  • @MichaelClark amazon.uk is listing the YN 50/1.8 at £40.99. The 50/1.8II at £67, the STM at £96. I agree, the 24/2.8 is substantially higher at £129. But compared to other lenses, they're still low-cost. – inkista Oct 04 '15 at 14:36