What Camera to Buy???

[I_Dralion]

Hi, So up until now I've been taking pictures with point and shoot type cameras. I really like the experience of taking pictures and trying to capture what one sees. Trying to capture a moment, to somehow relay an experience through a lens to me is an awesome talent. This year I've decided to put some effort into learning more about how the photographic process works and have enrolled in some college courses. This site is a wealth of knowledge, but without the practiced hands on and guidance I hope to receive from a class I feel a bit lost. The class Im starting with is a general photography and developing class. I will gain darkroom experience. Ultimately I hope to buy a higher end camera and have been looking at the 40D or 50D from Canon. The user reviews for the Canon 40D seem to rank high and it appears to be a camera that'll be everything I think should be and be able to grow with me. Canon seems to have a reliable reputation and my own experience says they stand behind their equipment (even out of warranty). My photographic interests are landscapes/wilderness, wildlife, night lights, and sports..... the gamut I guess. Eventually I would like a camera setup that would allow for making large prints of killer outdoor scenes. Would the 40D be an excellent choice for these interests? Will this camera have the power to take professional quality picture (limited only by the user)?
What about the 50D, doesnt its new features make it a camera to seriously consider over the 40D such as its 15.0 MP? Also maybe there are other makers I should be looking at. All and all I want a high level camera made by an excellent company, with good reputation, and durability for outdoor conditions.
Thats about all I know, thanks in advance for your thoughts and feedback.

[Ron Kruger]

I shoot a Pentax K20D (14.6 MP), but I have a professional friend that uses a Canon 40D and am familiar with what this camera can do, especially when matched with fast (expensive) IS lenses. I think it is a camera of exceptional quality (maybe the best on the market) and will give you plenty of room to grow and expand.
The only real advantage (that I can tell) to the 50D is megapixels. It depends upon what you want to do with the images. The extra MPs would be most advantagous for "making larger prints of killer outdoor scenes," but very little noticable application to standard prints and certainly not for internet use.
I chose the Pentax because I shoot outdoors (weather seals) for publications, which demands higher resolution and MP than any other application, and I've been impressed with the quality--but not with Pentax (the company).
And while I'm impressed with the Pentax quality (especially with DA* lenses), they are not better than what my friend gets with his 40D.
The 40D has plenty of "power to take professional quality pictures (limited only by the user). If, however, you can afford the extra bucks for the 50D, the considerably larger MP (now highest in its class) is well worth it.
Whatever you choose, you won't be satisfied with it forever. Someone will probably come out with a 16 MP in a few months, and someone else with an 18 MP next year, and someone else with a 20 MP the year after that.

[I_Dralion]

Thanks for your reply. It is very useful input when someone "in the field" takes the time to share their information and experience. You spoke about your shooting environment and the need for the camera to be "weatherproof" and that your camera has seals. Are either of Canon's 40D or 50D built with "weatherproof" features. I think 90% of pictures I would be taking would be outside. some sort of weatherproofing would be a great benefit to me. This weekend i was on a outdoor adventure and a advanced camera with "weatherproofing" would have been a nice comfort factor. It was snowing and such, just to know there was some protection from this would have been nice and something I would take into consideration during the buying process. Let me know. thanks again.