Equipment Upgrade (again)

Russ77

Russ77

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Following on from my previous thread ( http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=262040 ) where I was looking for upgrade options from my current kit consisting of a Canon 400D, Sigma DC 18mm-200mm and Sigma 150mm-500mm I’ve had some more thoughts on my options after gaining a whole wealth of information browsing this forum.

For those who don’t have the inclination to read my first thread, I was considering upgrading either my body or lens but it became apparent that my current lens on a body over 10MP wouldn’t be too clever and whilst a new lens may improve IQ, I’d still be limited by the older features of the body.

So it seems to me that to get any decent increase in IQ and functionality I need to upgrade body and lens so here goes my new thoughts………

I don’t have a particular style/genre of photography, I generally cover family parties/gatherings, go for walks and shoot anything that looks like it’d make a nice photo and from time to time I’ll get some shots at local cricket/rugby matches (hence the 150mm-500mm)

I find one of the biggest limiting factors with my current kit is low light handling, the ISO only goes up to 1600 and the lowest f/stop on the lens is 3.5 but that’s only when it’s wide open.

As much as I’d love to try and make some money through photography, I’m only ever going to be an enthusiastic amateur, therefore a body such as the 7D would be overkill. The 550D wouldn’t be a major step up so the new 60D would be the next logical (Canon) choice? I have considered used 50/5Ds but given they’re only a couple of hundred pounds less than a new 60D, I’d rather go for new kit and the video function would be a bouns.

Lens wise, given that the sensor on the 60D is nigh on twice the MP of the 400D, my faithful sigma lens wouldn’t be great but I’ve got very reliant on it’s range. I’ve heard good things about the new Sigma 18mm-250mm and the Tamaron 18mm-270mm, the added range of the Tamaron is appealing but I’d go for the lens with the better IQ.

Given that my photographic subjects are random and varied I think I’m willing to compromise on IQ a little so I can cover a wide range of subjects. I understand that my 150mm-500mm will ultimately limit the IQ on a newer body but I don’t use it all that often.

I’m also looking at getting a “nifty fifty” too so I can get some decent IQ when I choose to get up close an personal to my subjects.

In an ideal World I'd love to rush out and buy a new body and lens but that's just not going to happen (lottery win aside) so I'm guessing a new lens would be the first step?

Your thoughts on my thoughts would be appreciated :)

Cheers

Russ
 
If IQ is important to you then you really need to get off the superzoom bandwagon. The 18-270 is a 15X zoom and with the best will in the world it's not possible to design a lens of that zoom range with good performance, certainly not at the price you're looking at.

The Sigma 150-500 is quite an acceptable lens. A colleague of mine has one and I was impressed with it for the price. In his case (he's been shooting for a bit over a year now), and I suspect yours (and apologies if this sounds insulting, it's not intended as), there's more to come from the lens with practice and technique.

The lenses he has are the Canon 18-55IS and 55-250IS, both of which offer good performance, particularly for what they cost.

So, my suggestion is spend what you would have spent on the 60D + 18-270 and spend it on 60D + 18-55IS kit and add the 55-250IS.
 
I-S said:
[SNIP]The Sigma 150-500 is quite an acceptable lens. A colleague of mine has one and I was impressed with it for the price. In his case (he's been shooting for a bit over a year now), and I suspect yours (and apologies if this sounds insulting, it's not intended as), there's more to come from the lens with practice and technique.

The lenses he has are the Canon 18-55IS and 55-250IS, both of which offer good performance, particularly for what they cost.

So, my suggestion is spend what you would have spent on the 60D + 18-270 and spend it on 60D + 18-55IS kit and add the 55-250IS.
Click to expand...

No offence taken :)

I can see what you're saying about going for 2 separate lenses, it makes sense that the more zoom functionalitly a lens has the more IQ suffers.

Can't help thinking the crucial shot would always come my way when I've got the wrong lens on :lol:
 
To be honest, I'm struggling to see the point of the 60D..
The 550 has the same sensor and IQ, the build quality of the 60D isn't what it should be, and the 550 does the video you mention. It sounds like your budget is around a grand, so the best way of improving IQ is with quality glass. You won't get a fat long lens, but a 70-200mm is within reach, as is a whole host of 'L' glass, in addition to the nifty or the 85mm f1.8.
A new camera is the sexy option but not the smart one
 
Good point pooley, now you mention the points about the 60D/550D it makes sense (or not from Canon's POV).

I was just thinking that my manager has a 550D and the new Sigma 18mm-250mm so there's a possibility that I could try that out on my 400D and see if it's an improvement on my sigma lens, if it's not then I'd definitely consider 70-200/L options.
 
Spend a little time checking out the data on your shots and see what focal length you are using the most, it may well surprise you. Thats where to concentrate the money.

The long end is covered by the big sigma, you just need to sort out that superzoom and really split it to two lenses with faster glass.
 
Russ77 said:
I have considered used 50/5Ds but given they’re only a couple of hundred pounds less than a new 60D, I’d rather go for new kit and the video function would be a bouns.
Click to expand...

I would take 5D any day over any xxD. If IQ is important 5D can deliver in most general areas. 7D is nice for wildlife... Perhaps 1D mk2N is something to consider if you want a compromise and tough body.

New? Yes, eventually somebody HAS to feed the high street and support carnivores like me at the end of the food chain.

Lenses - fast zooms or primes. Any 10-15x zoom will take very average - even compact-like - photos. There is nothing like a sharp f/1.4 or f/2.8 shot taken on full frame. No 10x zoom will ever do that, nor XXD cameras will get the same shot as full frame ones can with the same lens.

To be honest 400D and better glass sounds like a better plan than 60D with more cheap glass. There is nothing wrong with ISO200 on that camera, and nothing wrong with ISO800 once it goes through some treatment in Lightroom.
 
The 5D will give much better image quality than a cropped frame camera but you will lose the extra reach that you get from the 1.6 crop. It's a swings and roundabouts issue. I'm a wildlife fan with a 550D and a Sigma 150-500mm. There are occasions when I really need every single one of the Sigma's effective focal length of 800mm.
 
TBH, I rarely use my 150mm-500mm I bought that on a bit of a whim to get some nice close ups of my cricket team and given that cricket's playing in the summer, light isn't usually an issue, although it can be on the handful of occasions I go to a rugby match.

My cricket/rugby shots don't go any further than facebook or the club's websites, although I did sell some shots to a company doing grass-roots sponsorship promotion :cool:

Would my current lenses work on a ff sensor though? I thought the 18mm-200mm "DC" denoted it wouldn't work? How about the 150-500?
 
Oh yeah, forgot to add......... I went through some of my albums last night and from what I can see 18mm-88mm covers (at a guess) around 60-70% of the shots with a fairly even spread between 90mm-200mm.

An 18mm-85mm lens would seem and obvious choice but I'm guessing if I was looking to go ff at some point the 24mm-105mm F4L might be a good approach........

Just realised I've gone full circle and back to the conclusion of my original post....
 
TBH I wouldn't consider the 60D. A used 50D, 5D Mk1 or a 550D would be a better buy, in fact the used 5D would probably be my move if I were in your position. I know you may lose some distance, but why not keep your 400D for when you need it ?

The 50D or 550D would be a good compromise. My brother has the 550 and it produces some great images. I would however have a really good think about your lens line up and consider moving on the Sigma 150-500 if you don't really get much use from it and use the money to fund something that you will get a lot more use out of. You can always hire a lens for a one off use if necessary.

Steve
 
Jelster, for what I could get for the 400D and/or 150-500 I probably wouldn't looking at selling either as they'd be of more value to me for those "just in case" scenarios. I live less than 50 yards from a cricket pitch that my local team uses so the larger lens is a nice to have ;) but ultimately the pictures don't need to be completely top-notch.
 
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