Upgrade from 40D or upgrading lenses

[klems]

Hi

I have a 40D-camera and the following lenses - Sigma 18-200 DC OS, Sigma 10-20DC HSM, Sigma 150-500 APPO DG HSM, Tamron 90/2.8.

My problem is that the noise-level is very high, even at ISO as low as 640.
I am thinking about an upgrade and are looking at 7D.

I have 2 questions :
Should wait a little longer for the 7D mark II (if it comes) or go for the current 7D?
 or Should I start upgrading my lenses?

Most of my photos are macro-, landscape- or bird-photos.

[kaihp]

I think that you would find the 7D to have more noise than the 40D 

[DArora]

Upgrading to faster prime lenses will help you shoot at lower ISOs and reduce the noise. However during low light conditions you will still need to bump up your ISO levels. So upgrading just lenses will not help you get rid of noise.

I would say to wait at least till Photokina, Canon might introduce some new DSLRs.

[marek.sykora]

Hi, I owned 30D and upgraded to 7D in spring. I'm very satisfied, in term of noise 7D is one f-stop better, iso3200 is quite acceptable for me.

I feel 7D is noisy at every iso level, but it's possible to use software for noise reduction, try it!

7D is superb camera, noise is not everything. With 30D I had issue with AF in low light, also AF precision was not good. Finally I found out microadjustment very imporving my lenses.

Before with 30D: iso max 800, aperture almost f/4 to get proper focus.

After with 7D: iso max 1600, but I can use f/2.2 with my primes because I have better AF including MA.

I'm very satistied with 7D + 28/1.8 + 85/1.8.

[And-Rew]

I owned a 30D & 40D simultaneously until i moved up to 5D2's.

The thing with the 7D, it's like a 5D2 and other newer cameras - they demand a lot from the glass. That is, they expose poor glass heavily.

You have 3 lenses and 1 body. So for me, the body is the thing to be upgraded first - then you can see which of your lenses needs to be upgraded first (if any).

As said by DArora, wait for Photokina to be over, so you can see what Canon's plans are re the 7D2/ 70D scenario.

At worst, it could mean there is no replacement for this model and you are in the same boat as now - at best you might have a new body announced that suits your needs extremely well, or forces a price cut in the 7D 

[dschosd]

I made the switch from the 40D to the 7D just six weeks ago.  Images straight out of the 7D are probably noisier than the 40D but will clean up pretty good in post.  If your main reason to upgrade the body is noise alone, I think I would wait.

[elflord]

Hi

I have a 40D-camera and the following lenses - Sigma 18-200 DC OS, Sigma 10-20DC HSM, Sigma 150-500 APPO DG HSM, Tamron 90/2.8.

My problem is that the noise-level is very high, even at ISO as low as 640.
I am thinking about an upgrade and are looking at 7D.

I have 2 questions :
Should wait a little longer for the 7D mark II (if it comes) or go for the current 7D?
 or Should I start upgrading my lenses?

Most of my photos are macro-, landscape- or bird-photos.

I'd say upgrade your glass. Signal to noise ratio depends largely on sensor size. It has changed very little in the last several years. Canon could release a shiny new toy but it won't be a game changer as far as sensor noise is concerned.

Your signal to noise would improve substantially by going full frame, but if you're distance limited (as may be the case with bird shots), that might not help a whole lot.

A decent tripod will help if you don't have one already (should help you use lower ISOs for landscapes)

Better glass  could help a lot, especially at the mid to long end (e.g. find something to replace the 18-200 and the 150-500). You'll get better images, and the faster apertures could come in handy with the bird shots. With the landscape and macro shots, you might not be able to take advantage of very fast apertures, however. With the landscapes you will generally want a smallish aperture to get more depth of field and with macro, you need to close the aperture to get reasonable dof because the subject is very close to the lens.

Are you primarily using high ISOs for the bird shots ?

[AJ]

I think that you would find the 7D to have more noise than the 40D 

Not true.  The 7D is less noisy, albeit by a small margin.
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/%28appareil1%29/619|0/%28brand%29/Canon/%28appareil2%29/180|0/%28brand2%29/Canon

If high-iso noise bothers you, use lower iso and a tripod.  Or else consider a full-frame camera.

[LostArk]

7D would only be an "upgrade" for your birding.

What I would suggest instead is to upgrade your glass. Pick up a 50 1.8, there's no excuse not to have one. Replace your 150-500 with a Canon 100-400. The Canon is shockingly, amazingly, you-will-poop-your-pantsingly sharper. Ditch your 18-200 and replace it with an 18-55 IS II + 55-250. The IQ is so much better, SO SO MUCH BETTER, than with a single 18-200. So, to recap:

50mm 1.8
18-200 -> 18-55 + 55-250
150-500 -> 100-400

I think with these upgrades you'll see a massive improvement in your IQ, more so than anything else you could do other than go FF or dropping serious bank on some 2.8 zooms or white primes. The 7D would just be writing you checks your glass can't cash.

[bdunbar79]

7D would only be an "upgrade" for your birding.

What I would suggest instead is to upgrade your glass. Pick up a 50 1.8, there's no excuse not to have one. Replace your 150-500 with a Canon 100-400. The Canon is shockingly, amazingly, you-will-poop-your-pantsingly sharper. Ditch your 18-200 and replace it with an 18-55 IS II + 55-250. The IQ is so much better, SO SO MUCH BETTER, than with a single 18-200. So, to recap:

50mm 1.8
18-200 -> 18-55 + 55-250
150-500 -> 100-400

I think with these upgrades you'll see a massive improvement in your IQ, more so than anything else you could do other than go FF or dropping serious bank on some 2.8 zooms or white primes. The 7D would just be writing you checks your glass can't cash.

+1

[klems]

Thanks for the inputs

My current plan is at least to wait until Photokina before I do any investments, but before that I am going to photocourse/meeting and there I will have the possiblity to test my camera with some better lenses. It will be interresting to see if my problems comes from the  the camera or from the lenses.

[koolman]

The primary advantage of the 7d is the superior AF. Maybe better for the birds.... but not relevant for the macro + landscapes.

40d is a nice body - I'm not sure the 7d is a "leap" as far as IQ.

FF might be a leap.

I'd start upgrading the glass, as you have mostly consumer zooms.

Suggestions on the wide:

1) Canon 10-22

2) Samyang 14mm MF lens - SUPERB - your whole landscape photography will change. For so wide the MF is not a problem.

3) For the macro - you have the Tammy 90 - which is nice.

4) For the birds - maybe consider canon 135mm L OR Canon 70-200 f/4 IS.

[nicku]

Hi

I have a 40D-camera and the following lenses - Sigma 18-200 DC OS, Sigma 10-20DC HSM, Sigma 150-500 APPO DG HSM, Tamron 90/2.8.

My problem is that the noise-level is very high, even at ISO as low as 640.
I am thinking about an upgrade and are looking at 7D.

I have 2 questions :
Should wait a little longer for the 7D mark II (if it comes) or go for the current 7D?
 or Should I start upgrading my lenses?

Most of my photos are macro-, landscape- or bird-photos.

I had upgraded from 40D to 7D. In terms of noise comparison the 7D have more noise at base ISO ( when the images are compared at 100%. but here must be mentioned that 7D has 80% more resolution), BUT 7d retain more detail compare with 40D, the colors are more accurate  the contrast is better. In terms of camera build, AF speed and features 7D is way over 40D.
To get the maximum out of 7D you must use ONLY high quality lens or fixed focal lens ( like 17-40 f/4L, 70-200 f/4 L ; 50mm f/1.4 USM ; 100mm f/2.8 USM or the equivalent of other manufactures )....; otherwise you will end up writing another review on the internet about how bad is the 7D IQ.

You must apply some noise reduction on all 7D files ( regardless of ISO speed). the 7D Raw files are more versatile compared with 40D.

If you are on budget and want to upgrade to a above average ALL AROUND camera than i suggest 7D.
If you are interested ONLY on IQ than definitely buy a 5D2.
If the money are not such a big issue buy 5D3 and you will have all 7D features and 5D2 IQ in a single camera.

[tiger82]

For roughly the same $, you should consider getting better glass like the 16-35mm or 10-22mm for the Sigma 10-20DC or the 100-400 for the 150-500.   I started out with Sigmas which gave decent bang for the buck but when I compared the images, the L lenses far outperform non-L lenses let alone non-Canon lenses.  I started with a 20D and Sigma lenses.  I switched to a Canon 100-400L IS lens and it gave me better images than any of my Sigma lenses.  After I finished upgrading my glass, I upgraded to a 50D in 2007 and added a 7D in 2009.  I just upgraded the 50D to a 5D2 and gained an extra 60% FOV on the short end of my zooms and all of my primes. 

Rent the 7D and test it with your lenses then rent a 100-400 to test with the 7D and 40D, then decide.  I'd consider a used or refurb 50D if I were you.

[emag]

The primary advantage of the 7d is the superior AF......

2) Samyang 14mm MF lens - SUPERB - your whole landscape photography will change. For so wide the MF is not a problem.
.
.
.
4) For the birds - maybe ......Canon 70-200 f/4 IS.

I'll second these suggestions.  The wallet impact is not too excessive either.