Canon EOS
40D
 vs
Canon EOS
50D

Canon EOS 50D

79
Winner

Canon EOS 50D
"The ergonomics feel well sorted, all the controls are in the right place and even the formerly rather pointless Direct Print button now serves a purpose"
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's button-layout
"The EOS 50D has to stand its ground in a highly competitive bracket of the DSLR market."
dpreview.com | talking about the 50D's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 50D

Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
Canon EOS 40D

74
Runner-up

Canon EOS 40D
"With each step up the evolutionary ladder to the EOS 40D Canon has demonstrated improvements in image quality."
dpreview.com | talking about the 40D's image-quality
"Low noise and a complete lack of unnatural artifacts."
dpreview.com | talking about the 40D's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 40D

Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second

differences

Advantages of the Canon 40D
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 64.0 vs 63.0
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $999.99 vs $1,281.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $282 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Canon EOS 40D Learn more about
the Canon 40D

Advantages of the Canon 50D
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 10.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.4 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The 50D's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The 50D's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Canon EOS 50D Learn more about
the Canon 50D
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 40D
74 vs 79
Explain scores
Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 50D
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS 50D.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 40D
 Canon EOS 40D vs Canon EOS 50D
CanonEOS 50D
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
26
14
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
23
18
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
26
15
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
26
15
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
24
14
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
25
13
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Thickness Thin Help
2.9"
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Weight Heavy Help
822 g
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
40D:1,600 ISO
50D:3,200 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
40D:APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
50D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
40D:11.3 EV
50D:11.4 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
40D:64.0
50D:63.0

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
Professional size 146x108x74 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
40D:$999.99
50D:$1,281.99
Weight Light weight Help
822 g
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
40D:3,200 ISO
50D:12,800 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
40D:10.1 MP
50D:15.1 MP
Viewfinder size Below average viewfinder size Help
0.59x
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
40D:6.5 fps
50D:6.3 fps
Color depth Poor color depth Help
40D:22.1 bits
50D:21.8 bits
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
40D:703 ISO
50D:696 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,138 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 40D
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 50D
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the D90 vs the EOS 50D
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 40D
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,400 body only

$2,799 - $2,839 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 50D
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$445 - $629 body only

$504 - $609 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the EOS 40D
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the EOS 50D

Canon EOS 40D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 40D.

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 50D.

appearance

Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 50D
Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 50D
Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 50D

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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