40D vs. 50D

I have read reviews of both cameras and some reviews suggest that the image quality is actually better with the 40D. Any suggestions on which of the two would be the wiser purchase?

I just went through this agonizing question and ended up with the 50D. Most reviews I read pointed out that Canon managed to increase the pixel count by 50% and managed to do it without degrading IQ. The main issues seem to be the over hyped high ISO above 3200 that can be noisy and the practically useless 12800 ISO. I really like the improved LiveView mode. I upgraded form an old 350D and the difference is like night and day but will be less evident if upgrading from a 40D. For me the technological advances of the 50D compared to the 40D were enough to justify the added $250. I also picked up the Canon PixmaPro 9000 rointer since they are offering a rebate that reduces the cost to $100 if bought with the 40D or 50D before January 17. Prices for the camera should go back up after that date too since they are offering an instant rebate of $100--Larry

PS--if you scan the threads in this forum from about a month ago you'll see a long discussion that I started and also a later one by Jim Erhardt on this topic.

I own a 40D and now a 50D (thanks work!). Here's my breakdown... Very similar image quality, high ISO does produce more noise & that is to be expected. As Larry stated, the liveview is improved, although I haven't used it enough to judge properly. I have read that the autofocus is improved, some 1Dmk3 users say the 50D is just as good, if not better in some instances, although the fps is obviously not as good. My big thing is the addition to micro adjustments to the sensor plane, and it's ability to calibrate each lens to the sensor. I haven't been able to put the 50D through it's paces just yet, so we'll see... But in my quick tests, it seems very promising! The extra pixels should help, and while the extreme ISO's are not noise free, it's 12800! What should we expect?

I bought a 40D in July, of course just before the 50D came out. I could have waited, but I needed a new camera. I believe there are a couple things that are better (as you know) on the 50D mainly being the VGA screen and 15 MP instead of 10.1 on the 40D...so if you don't want to spend the extra money (I got a rebate of $250 with my 40D so the difference in price would have been $500 more for a 50D) then go with the 40D...it really is a great camera, I read many reviews of it before switching from a Nikon film camera to Canon and no one had anything bad to say about the 40D...(maybe if you don't have to buy new Canon lenses like I did, the 50D would be worth it). By the way, if you haven't used LiveView it is a wonderful thing, so a nice screen to use it with might be a great benefit of a 50D, because the older screen on the 40D is hard to see in sunlgiht, especially the edges of the histogram...though I don't know if the 50D is any better.

I own a 40D and now a 50D (thanks work!). Here's my breakdown... Very similar image quality, high ISO does produce more noise & that is to be expected. As Larry stated, the liveview is improved, although I haven't used it enough to judge properly. I have read that the autofocus is improved, some 1Dmk3 users say the 50D is just as good, if not better in some instances, although the fps is obviously not as good. My big thing is the addition to micro adjustments to the sensor plane, and it's ability to calibrate each lens to the sensor. I haven't been able to put the 50D through it's paces just yet, so we'll see... But in my quick tests, it seems very promising! The extra pixels should help, and while the extreme ISO's are not noise free, it's 12800! What should we expect?