Equipment Dilemma

Russ77

Russ77

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Russ
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Hi all, I'm new to the forum so please be gentle with me :lol:

I've owned a Canon 400D, Sigma 18-200 and 170-500 for around 3 years now and I'm feeling the need to upgrade.

The 2 obvious upgrades (bodywise) are the 550D and 7D however like anything, cost/affordability would count against the latter.

A secondary reason for a new body would be that my 400D would then become my spare/back up camera.

Photo-wise I'm into a variety of different types, I've done a little portrait work (although my favoured style is reportage), a wedding or two, I'm a sucker for a nice landscape or sunrise/set shot and I also like taking pictures of Cricket and Rugby.

Then in the back of my mind I think maybe I should get a new lens, something along the lines of a Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L IS USM as although I'm missing a little length compared to my Sigma, I should more than make up for it in the quality stakes?

So........ to summarise, would I be better off:

Keeping my 3 year old 400D and buying some nice L glass for it

Buying a 7D and using it with my current Sigma lens?

(Obviously the 7D and 24-105 would be very nice but I'm not made of money :lol: )

Cheers

Russ

PS...... I'll try and get some of my shots on here soon :D
 
Get something like a 40D? £350ish used. I went from a 350D to a 40D, and was exactly the step I wanted, it feels much more substantial and also the general handling & controls are nicer, really pleased with it. Maybe team that with a mid-range lens like a Sigma 2.8 18-55. Im no expert but just a thought.

Id defo not go for a 7D with the current Sigma, waste of a good body IMO. Also buy a 50mm prime, amazing quality for the money £60 used, 90 new) and ideal for portrait/wedding etc. Keep the sigma for sports, use the 18-55 2.8 for walkabout general stuff and your sorted.

Just my thoughts but hopefully it helps.
 
Cheers for the feedback Shabba.

Been thinking about getting a 50mm prime for a while now, seen there's an offer on this site too ;)

A photographer friend of mine (who set me up with my current kit) reckons for my usage, the 7D might be a little OTT and that the 550D would still give me all I need and some which opens up the possibility of a new body AND L glass :clap:

Incidentaly, do Sigma do an L glass equivalent?
 
If you are wanting a boost in Image Quality then upgrade your lenses, decent lenses will outlive any new camera body. If you need a feature not on your 400D then think about going to the XXD range over any of your choices. The 550D is a small step up, the 7D to big a step.

Sigma have their EX range which is their top shelf stuff.
 
Obvious improvements of the 550D over the 400D are:

* Much bigger viewfinder
* Liveview
* Video
* Higher resolution
* Much improved high ISO

Depends if you need these features I guess! I would heartily recommend a 50mm prime BTW...good for lower light work and portraits with shallow depth of field.
 
I'd defo look at moving over to the next model range, i.e 40/50D rather than sticking with the 3 figure range (4xx, 5xx). Go feel one in a shop and see what you think.
 
shabba said:
Get something like a 40D? £350ish used. I went from a 350D to a 40D, and was exactly the step I wanted, it feels much more substantial and also the general handling & controls are nicer, really pleased with it. Maybe team that with a mid-range lens like a Sigma 2.8 18-55. Im no expert but just a thought.

Id defo not go for a 7D with the current Sigma, waste of a good body IMO. Also buy a 50mm prime, amazing quality for the money £60 used, 90 new) and ideal for portrait/wedding etc. Keep the sigma for sports, use the 18-55 2.8 for walkabout general stuff and your sorted.

Just my thoughts but hopefully it helps.
Click to expand...

I agree, your existing lenses would be useless on anything above 10mp sensor, but useable on the 40D (albeit not ideal).
 
Thanks again for the comments, as I suspected, my lens is the weakest link.

I suppose the main reason for wanting a new body is the 400D's age and the fact that it can only go up to ISP1600 which can be a little restrictive. Although I'm guessing I'm being a little paranoid about the life expectancy of a Canon?

I'm willing to consider second hand gear and have been looking on MPB Photographic, used prices are quite enticing........ If I work on the basis that a new 7D would have cost around £1200, just over £1300 on a used 50D and 24-105 f4L is quite appealing and given the above comments should be a noticible step up in quality/functionality and also give me backup/spare kit too.
 
shabba said:
used 50D and 24-105f = bingo.
Click to expand...


Just a bit of a correction...... as well as 50Ds they also had 5Ds and that's what I worked my costings on, guessing a MK1 5D would be better than a 50D?
 
A xxD and a 24-105 would be a cracking combo and give you both a better body and better glass.

If you were going to do one or the other I'd say get glass first.


edit - took too long to post and you've also mentioned the 5D so ......

The 5D's a different kettle of fish again, as it's full frame - I don't know if those sigma's will work on it so it'd be worth checking that. It would be ideal for your wedding/landscape stuff though.
 
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i think probably the ISO might be on par with each other between the 50D & 5D, i would probably go with the 50D, bigger screen, live view, more range of lenses being crop.
 
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