DSLR Upgrade advice??

[wrogers]

Hi all...

Just come into some money
(18th Birthday, so presents and also a higher wage band!!)

I have decided my 400D needs replacing as I have had one or two, 'glitches' with the shutter staying open (had to take battery out and re-insert)
and also with stupidly dark shots... 3fps all at 1/800 F/4 and one of 5 shots was virtually black as if -4 EV!!!

I have looked at my options

another 400D - very little point
450D - another 2mp and 0.4 fps more but I would need SD cards
500D - has HD video but only mono sound
40D - more FPS better all round etc. but 50D is out and 60D could be soon
50D - more FPS, more resolution etc.
5DMk1 - 12Mp Full frame (need new standard zoom) outdated
1DMk2 - again F/F and outdated, spares may be an issue (other than batterys etc.

so what would you do??
My budget is £850 and I only need body only....

a 1DMk3 a 1DSMk2 and a red video camera system would be nice
but the bank balance would be further in the red than my student friends!!!

what camera would you suggest..

I do mainly shoot Landscapes, wildlife and also just general photography
and my lens collection seems fine at the moment so no, upgrade to L glass first responses please!!

Thanks
Will

[Mike Jackson]

I've heard tails on POTN that the 40D has been discontinued now so that may limit your choices.

I'm loving the 50D after my 300D. Only thing is it's bigger than the 400D so you need to try one before you buy.

You should get a body only for around £820.

[wrogers]

Mike: thanks for the hint at the 40D rumour, could help with prices, especially nearly new/used prices

also I have big hands and the bigger body was one of my reasons to upgrade, so a bigger body than the 400d is a good thing!!

I also think I need Photoshop Elements 7 so £50 needs to be added on...

maybe I can do £870 if i manage to sell my Sigma 100-300 F/4 and maybe my 400D as well!! which would get me a 50D and PSE 7

Time to try them out in jessops (only camera shop in Suffolk), then buy from my local camera shop!! (either Essex or Norfolk!!!) just a neat 80 mile round trip!! then again I could buy from my Local store online!!

Will

[Mike Jackson]

I'm finding that I can do most of my raw processing in Canons Digital Photo Professional so I would'nt leap into PSE7 just yet. Any other processing is done in PSP X2 but that rarely gets fired up now, mainly for a bit of horizon straightening on the odd shot.

[rawoak]

Though I don't run high end camera's I do use PSE7 and have not looked back since changing from PSP X2 more than capably of doing the amount of adjustment required here and far more. I recommend it.

[wrogers]

thanks for the insight

I find DPP is fine, but I sometimes wish I had PSE 7 to do the odd twiddle to a picture, and it can do some good things for family photos such as adding in people to a group shot who are camera shy (or are busy barbecuing in my case, honest) or are taking the photo.

also the panorama tool in PSE seems better than the canon one.
then again I haven't checked for updates of canon software lately!!

Will

[Mike Jackson]

I never used the Canon software when I had the 300D but the new software seems a lot better.

[wrogers]

well I have decided to save up a bit longer, and wait to see if there are any announcements for new cameras/lenses that interest me...
If my camera gives up the ghost too soon, then I will have to worry then, but in the mean time I will try to just enjoy taking pictures!!

Will

[Stevie]

I've had my eye on the 5D mark II but your budget would be limited as you would have to get FF lenses. I have the 5D and the 5D mark II is very tempting, im just not getting the time to use it to justify the upgrade.

If its just wildlife photography you are look at, do you need a FF camera?

[Toby]

40D good choice for wildlife, unless you need video the 50D doesn't seem a big upgrade although a high res LCD is nice.