Canon 500D or 5D Mark 1 - which is best for me?

[Rooster]

I'm looking to upgrade from my 450D. My budget can get either a new 500D or a used 5D mark 1. Since I mostly photograph landscapes and buildings, which is best for me?

The 500D appeals to me for the Digic 4 processor and high ISO range with reduced noise at long exposures (which I'm interested in). The HD video is a very nice bonus too.

The 5D mk 1 - well the full frame sensor obviously, but does this outweigh the improved processor on the 500D?

I will be using this with a Tamron 17-50mm f/1.8 for now, upgrading to a Canon 24-105mm L if I go for the 5D as this will be not wide enough on the cropped sensor for my purposes.

 

[HoppyUK]

The sensor size is fundamental. All things being equal, bigger is better, but all things are never equal. What it usually boils down to is print size, and unless you always print very big then you maybe won't see much benefit from full frame, but there are lots of other aspects to the decision, which swings both ways.

To make the most of full frame, you need high quality lenses. Your Tamron 17-50 won't fit - not sure if that was what you were planning - so you'll need the 24-105 from kick off.

 

[hashcake]

Rather than a 500D how about a 40D?
I've just upgraded from a 450D to 40D and even 2mp less, when I crop a photo it retains a much better image quality than the 450D.

Here is an example: uncropped: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/3901243337_a8b6478239_b.jpg

Cropped: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2582/3901240365_2e6730b78e_b.jpg

 

[LongLensPhotography]

5D is better in all respects. Digic 2 is powerful enough. It is still one of the best cams out there, with IQ nearly equal to D700/D3.

 

[Jayst84]

Go and handle a 5D, then see if you can face using an xxxD camera again.

 

[rickj]

I some times wish I had kept my 5d over the 50d it just felt better and I cant see any difference in my pics the only thing I didnt like is the small screen

 

[rgrebby]

I had the 400D and upgraded to the 5Dmk2 although I was wondering about getting the 50D instead. I gave the 400D to my mum and when I have used it since it feels so small.
Its true what they say, once you go full frame you dont often go back.

 

[pete.rush]

Get a 1D MkIIn, best of both worlds, ok not full frame, but only 1.3x Crop, as good ISO performance as 5D, plus fantastic autofocus abilities for action photography.

Seriously if you are mainly photographing landscapes, go full frame, you'll have the full advantages of the wide angle lenses. Just relies that if you have any EF-S or 3rd party equivanlent lenses then they don't work on the 5D or 1D series camera's on EF lenses as the EF-S lenses are specifically designed for the smaller cropped sensor camera's like the 500D.