The Canon 40D is the first significant update in Canon's mid-line DSLRs since the introduction of the 20D exactly three years ago in August 2004. (The 30D was an insignificant addition of a bigger, but less accurate, LCD and an RGB histogram compared to the 20D.) Therefore I'd skip the 30D and get a 40D instead for not much more money.

The 40D is a no-brainer today for anyone shooting sports and action. For $1,299, nothing on earth goes 6.5 FPS with this level of quality. I own a Nikon D200, but if sports were my thing, I'd rather have a Canon 40D