Canon 350D needs replacing, where next?

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Gilbert42

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Julian
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It's a great little camera but it's time to upgrade. I've got the 18-55 f3.5-5.6 kit lens (non-IS), 75-300 f4-5.5 and Speedlite 430EXII so a Canon upgrade sounds sensible. Been looking at the 600D and 60D and there appears to be little to choose between them - is the 600D enough of a jump from the 350D, if so why pay another £150 for the 60D? Or should I push the boat out and go for the 7D?

Current thinking: get the cheaper camera (600D) and spend more on the lenses.

Any thoughts appreciated. Cheers!
 
In your place I'd replace those so-so lenses first as IMVHO the camera is probably capable of giving better results than you've seen so far with those lenses.
 
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This:

5630405857_65f1ba3b1f_b.jpg
may help on the feature front.

The 60D is a physically bigger version of the 600D but pretty similar otherwise (same sensor). The 7D has a superior focusing system (same sensor again).

I'd second the better glass view - those lenses are going to spoil the image quality from an 18Mpix sensor. The 15-85 IS is a pretty capable lens if you're looking for an all in one walkabout.
 
With those two lenses you've barely given the poor 350d a chance to show you what's it's capable of.

Get some good glass first, those lenses would look very poor on an 18mp body, then think about replacing the body.
 
As said better glass is required, now whether you get that as a package with a body depends on your budget, I made the jump from the 350D (which I still have and use from time to time) to a 7D with a 15-85, a great combination.
 
I would maybe think about a Canon 50D 2 hand and tamron 17-50 f2.8 this will be about the same price as 60D.

Then save up and get a 70-200 F4.

This will give you a great base and a nice step up from your current gear.
 
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I've had my 350D for 5 years or so, and would recommend some of the advice above - namely, get better glass. My main lens is the 24-105mm L, which not everyone would suggest for a crop body, however the fact remains that it can still consistently get good results. Ignore all the latest sugarings added on to current gen cameras and get better lenses instead if you want better results.
 
Thanks for all the helpful advice folks, plenty to think about. I had an hour in the shops yesterday getting to know the 600D and 60D and have been doing some other research. I'm heading towards a 60D with the EF-S 15-85mm zoom for starters. It feels like a "serious" camera & lens combination and looking at what I've been doing with the 350D I think that lens would work for about 95% of my photography. As a means to help to move my photography on to the next level it seems like a good combination.

Any further thoughts?
 
Gilbert42 said:
I'm heading towards a 60D with the EF-S 15-85mm zoom for starters.

....

Any further thoughts?
Click to expand...
Perfect combo :) There is a reason the 15-85 is the more expensive 7D kit lens (same sensor as the 60D).....
 
arad85 said:
This:

5630405857_65f1ba3b1f_b.jpg
may help on the feature front.

The 60D is a physically bigger version of the 600D but pretty similar otherwise (same sensor). The 7D has a superior focusing system (same sensor again).

I'd second the better glass view - those lenses are going to spoil the image quality from an 18Mpix sensor. The 15-85 IS is a pretty capable lens if you're looking for an all in one walkabout.
Click to expand...

Fancy making a table for Nikon/Panasonic/Olympus/Sony etc? :D:lol:
 
I would agree with Rod, post #12. Have a look at some of his photographs on his flickr account taken with the 350D and L glass. They will prove that better glass wins every time.

PS. Providing the person behind the camera knows what he/she is doing.
 
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woof woof said:
In your place I'd replace those so-so lenses first as IMVHO the camera is probably capable of giving better results than you've seen so far with those lenses.
Click to expand...

Well I had the same combo (350D and 75-300mm lens) and managed to produce what I think are quite good results with it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20926615@N05/sets/72157625949886818/

The reason I upgraded to a 70-300mm IS USM lens was my inability to hold the 75-300mm steady at less than about 1/500 sec.

.
 
Having had a 350, and been down the upgrade road (40D, 50D and now a 7D), if I did it all again, I'd set my focus clearly on a couple of decent lenses before I looked at changing my body. The sensor in the 7D/60D is hard on your glass and it won't tolerate poor performance lenses, so much so, that when I upgraded to my 50D I made sure I bought a couple of lenses to go with it.

I know that the 350 is getting on a bit now, but when coupled with decent glass it can really perform. By all means get your new body, but make sure you have some glass to support it.

Steve

Sent from my iPad using TP Forums
 
Many thanks folks for all the responses and advice. I did end up changing both the body and the lens and now have a 60D and 15-85 combination. I have to say I'm delighted with it. Having opted for the 60D the thing I notice most is the top plate LCD which I find I'm using all the time! The lens has a great range and super quality and acts as a brilliant walk about lens - exactly what I was after. Focusing is quick, accurate and virtually silent and the full-time manual override is really useful for the occasional tweak. Got a good price for the 350 on eBay too!
 
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