Upgrade EOS 20d to 50d? 60d?

[icul8rg8r]

I currently own the Canon EOS 20d and have been wanting to upgrade for several years.  If you were in the same boat, which camera would you upgrade to - the 50d or the new 60d? 

I'm a serious enthusiast and we travel quite a bit (former travel agent) - my camera bag (and usually my carbon fiber tripod) is with me at all times.  Although we have an array of Canon lenses (my husband & sometimes I still shoot film/slide with our Elan 7e) the lenses in my bag are usually two zooms - the 17-85 and 75-300 - and a 100mm macro.

I like taking pictures of my kids, flowers, wildlife, scenery, sunsets, and of course the people & places & sites we visit while traveling.  We often go on photo safaris (Alaska, National Parks).  And at times I'll take wedding photos for friends/family (as my wedding gift when they can't afford a real photographer - don't feel confident enough nor do I want the stress of doing it for a living).

Since it looks like the 50d and 60d cameras will be around the same price, I'm just trying to decide which is the better camera to upgrade to - don't really need movie, but then again, I've never had it.  I do like the rotating screen (I also have a G2 P&S with that feature - usually used just for my ebay pics and an easier camera to throw into the diaper bag - and have been considering moving our P&S up to the G11 now that the G series brought back the rotating screen).  I also like Picture Styles that my 20d does not have.  Oh, and I would definitely use a grid or upgrade to an interchangeable grid screen (again, a feature the 20d does not have).  I love how my 20d DSLR and the Elan 7e SLR have basicallly the same camera layout - very easy to switch between the digital and film camera.  I'm thinking the 50d would be closer to what we're use to than the new 60d?

Your thoughts?  Suggestions?  Greatly appreciated!  Thanks in advance...

[Bob Atkins]

I can't really think of any reason the average photographer would have to choose the 50D over the 60D other than price. By the time you can actually get your hands on a 60D (which I suspect will probably be October), the 60D will be selling for $1099 and I suspect the 50D will be under $900, so you'd probably save at least $200. The other reason to go for a 50D would be if you want it now rather than having to wait 6 weeks or more.

The 50D does have "better" construction in that it uses a magnesium alloy based body, it also has AF microadjustment and a PC socket - but if you weigh those against HD video, a tilt+swivel LCD, a higher capacity battery, an electronic level and built in wireless flash control I think the 60D comes out ahead for most photographers.
 
I posted a comparison of the 50D, 60D, 7D and T2i at http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/canon_eos_60D_comparison.html

[Johnf]

One thing to consider anytime you are choosing between an old version and a new version is the low light sensitivity. 

I don't know the difference between the 50D and the 60D in that respect but I find the major benefit of a newer model camera for photographers like me (an aspiring serious amateur) is that the newer model in the same line often provides better low light sensitivity making clear pictures easier to achieve. 

I moved from a 40D to a 5D Mark II.  Granted I moved from one line to another but the low light capabilities of the 5D II are striking.  My 5D is now in the shop (ocean water is bad for your camera) and I am back to my 40D.  I feel like I can’t take pictures after sunset anymore.  Night sports under the lights even with a 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM are often a blur.  If you are doing any low light work I would recommend comparing the 50D and the 60D with that in mind especially if they are roughly the same price.  Other than that and video the autofocus and IQ of these 2 cameras are likely very similar. 

If you want a better autofocus, I would move to the 7D (it has better AF system then the 5D II).

Have fun