changing Kit .. advice welcomed

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Philtrum

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Phil
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Hi all


I've currently got a canon 350d with grip, canon 18-55 IS kit lens, sigma 28-300 DG, Canon 50mm F1.8, canon 430EX II, cheap macro tubes and a remote flash trigger setup with brollies and a home made portable background with white vinyl and black cloth

I've just sold a car on ebay and am awaiting the funds, so its decision time on some new kit

Im setting up to mainly shoot pet portraits, although have a friends wedding to do in the summer and want to be able to cover the vast majority of ranges for that too

my current plan is as follows

sell the 350d (either body only or with a non-is kit lens which I would need to purchase)
sell the 350d grip
sell the sigma 28-300
sell 350d accessories such as remote release etc

buy a 40d
buy a canon 70-200 F4 (non-is)
keep the canon 18-55 IS until I can afford a 28-105 F4 IS
buy either a 2nd flash and another ebay trigger to add to my portrait set, or a cheapish set of mains 2 mains flashes

I've considered a 30d and a 5d (both 2nd hand obviously), even thought about nikon as its such a dramatic change of kit ... my heart is still with canon though

anyones thoughts , ideas , ramblings would be more that accepted

Thanks in advance
Phil
 
I am looking for 5D now (currently with 30D, same 8MP as yours). I thought about 40D, 50D, but clearly the difference in print would be minimal up to 1mx1.5m size. 5D would give a real difference, and also much better ISO performance. You could keep 350D as a backup (sell the grip and ALL lenses).

30D is nearly the same as 20D.

Canon 70-210mm f/3.5-4.5 USM is very good on 30D, nearly as good as the L (I submitted photos uprezed to 16MP to alamy) - until you can afford the IS version.

You may want to consider older Tokina ATX-Pro lenses (except SV). They are very good, and quite cheap now. for DX format Tamron 17-50/2.8 is probably the best.

Primes are great too: 28/1.8 50/1.4 85/1.8 100/2.8Macro 200/2.8
 
fleaz said:
what's wrong with your current setup?
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The sigma 28-300 is a good allrounder in terms of focal length, however I've never been happy with it optically, its the weakest lens of the lot, so 1st to be changed, I borrowed a 70-200 F4 last year for an hour or so, and the speed of focus and clarity was great (good focus speed needed with dogs lol)

the 350d has served me well however the small screen on the back and iso performance makes me want to upgrade, since I got the grip it works soo myuch better in my hand, but its still not quite large enough to be "right" if you know what I mean

hope that makes sense

Phil
 
I suppose my question is ... is the 70-200 f4 as good as it seems, or is the F2.8 one worth the extra cash

also, are there any other lenses (non L) that are worth getting that are cheaper etc, I have thought about the 28-135 f3.5-5.6 IS USM instead of the kit lens and to see if the focal range works well for me, as its a lot cheaper than the F4 version

cheers
Phil
 
if you're sticking to crop bodies, i would definitely recommend the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 or as a cheaper alternative the Tamron 17-50 f2.8. 28 is simply not wide enough.

You should be asking, do you need the f2.8? If not, the 70-200 f4 is a cracking lens. For non-L, you could take a look at the 70-300 f4-5.6 IS.
 
Philtrum said:
I suppose my question is ... is the 70-200 f4 as good as it seems, or is the F2.8 one worth the extra cash
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I really understand the dilemma - in fact, there have been at least 3 threads on this very subject in the last fortnight.
:crowded:

Stroller
 
fleaz said:
For non-L, you could take a look at the 70-300 f4-5.6 IS.
Click to expand...
I thought about mentioning that lovely lens, but didn't because the OP mentioned portraits & weddings. I'd have thought the extra stop(s) of a 70-200 would be desirable?

Stroller.
 
thanks strolls and fleaz

Although I'd like the 2.8 for its versatility to get depth of field when doing portraits with dogs I tend to shoot at F8, F4 at lowest, ofcourse 2.8 would be nice, but then its almost twice the price ... perhaps a later upgrade ;)

I know what you mean about the F2.8 of F4 lens questions its been a dilemma that many people have faced, and will continue to face

talking that aside, is there anything else that I should be looking at... or any flaws in my logic ? .... I know its all personal at the end of the day but would love to hear peoples opinions

Phil
 
It's hard to say without knowing your exact budget. Do I get the impression that you want to go full-frame some time in the future? For me, personally, I don't think I could justify the new price of a new 40D when a secondhand 5D would be little more.

Secondhand prices of the two Canon EF 28-135mm f3.5-f/5.6 IS that are / have been listed this week in the classified here are insanely cheap - I don't think you could go wrong with one of those at all (although conversely, I wouldn't recommend buying a one new at the moment, unless you're absolutely sure it will fulfill your needs for a long time to come). Bawbee states in his listing "I am reluctant to sell this lens as it has been a great carry-around lens for the past 3 years, but I can't justify it as I now have the 24-105 f/4 IS" so it'd seem that others concur in thinking this a sensible path. Gotta be better than the kit lens, and if you buy a second-hand one then I don't think you'll lose anything when you come to sell it on.

I know what you mean about the F2.8 of F4 lens questions its been a dilemma that many people have faced, and will continue to face.
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Do read all the other threads, because the 70-200mm has been discussed reasonably in-depth recently - at least more in-depth than I can tell you, with a number of people stating their preferences of the 4 models available, and why, and which ones they've owned, tried and swapped between. For me, it's the f/2.8 versions of the 70-200mm that really stand out - I've got a decent f/4 - f/5.6 telezoon, so the f/4 only gives me one extra stop (and that only some of the time). Ok, the 70-200 f/4 will be sharper than that 28-300 Sigma of yours, but the f/2.8, on the other hand, you'll never need to upgrade from again. Bias: I am shootin' bunnies, and they move quicker than those lazy ol' hounds.

Stroller.
 
Hi

my budget is about £1100 although that does include what I have valued my 350d at and the sigma 28-300, so If I was to keep the 350d and just get glass (which of course is another option) then that figure would drop a bit

I will have a good read on the 70-200 threads, I would like the 2.8 however when shooting dogs Im not sure I want the DOF that narrow, portrait wize im normaly at F8

blimey ... why is spending money so difficult at times :lol:

Phil
 
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