Pretty much all the 50D is going to give you is a higher Mpixel count (if you ignore the gimmicks like live view, direct print button etc)

MTBF figures are so vague, it's only an estimate, your 20 might operate perfectly for another 10 years, you just don't know. I have never been one for using burst mode, I take one photo and try to get it right, even when doing motorsports.

Of course, the 5D replacement will have a higher burst rate anyway, and will be FF (but it will be less than 10fps of the 1Dsn but will be 6-8 according to the rumours)

As a replacement camera then yes, the 50D is what would be considered a logical replacement if you want the same family, but the 450D is a better spec than the 20D, so why not buy that if you just want a replacement? Use the money you save on a lens.

When I said you would have to be a muppet to go to a 50 from a 40/30/20 I meant as an upgrade. Its a lot of money to spend on getting not a lot of upgrade in terms of features, its going to cost you a fair wedge to essentially just get some more Mpix and some extra fps. The noise handling will be better, but thats only important if you are a low light photographer.

This is why, in my opinion, the 5D or its successor would be a good replacement (as an upgrade, not simply as a direct replacement for say a a broken camera).

There is a rumour also about splitting the 5D market slightly too and offering two cameras in that range, a 5D replacement, bit more money but higher spec and a FF body that sits between the new 5D and the 50D. Or, a new 5D that is a similar price to the current 5D, slightly better spec (again a few more Mpix, dust removal, better noise reduction) and release a new body that sits between the 5 and the 1DMk111n.

We will have to wait and see

I initially considered live view to be a gimmick, however I have since been in situations where I have thought it may be useful.

True, but given the amount of use it gets that is highly unlikely especially given I am getting some errors recently.

Ah well, we can't all be perfect Given that a lot of the time I am photographing animals I do sometimes use the feature (not too often, but enough that I would take it into consideration when purchasing a new camera).

Sorry, but as far as I am concerned that is a step down, not up. I don't like the body on the xxxD series, far too small for my liking and not something I would even contemplate.

I was unaware the features of the new 50D had been given, which is why I said I would need to see the spec before making a decision. When the 40D came out it wasn't enough of an upgrade over the 20D to even consider it and the 50D may turn out to be the same, however that remains to be seen.

Hey GreyHawk,

The 50D specs have not been given, it's still 'rumour' phase But the differences between the 10/20/30 and 40 have all been fairly slight, which is why I have never considered going from one of these cameras to another to be much of an upgrade.

You said the 450d would be a step down, but in all honesty from a features point of view, it isnt really, you are right about the body, it is smaller, and I am not sure if it is the same alloy body or if it is AbS?

The thing is, I am talking more about an 'upgrade' where as you seem to be thinking more along the lines of 'replacement' with a view that the 50D will be a good replacement for your 20D with the added bonus that it might have a few newer features.

I still say that generally speaking, assuming that someone has a 20D or 30D that has nothing wrong with it, to go to a 50D is not much of an upgrade. In the same way going from a 400 to a 450D would not be much of an upgrade.

In fact Canon have changed camera specs so much now, to go from a 450D to say the 40D would 'almost' be pointless. The cameras at the lower end of the Canon market are now so tight. Certainly if you looked at what someone would have to spend to get a 40D, if they spent that money on a Lens, that would give them better image quality, which at the end of the day is the best upgrade of all

It's just an opition, don't want to get in to an argument about it. Like I said earlier, we are looking at this from slightly different angles, so we will have a different view point.

I can see what you are saying, so hopefully you can see what I am getting at too

All the best,
Alan.