Glass or Body Upgrade?

GrittyShaker

GrittyShaker

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Scott
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Hi all,

I've got a little under £800 to spend on kit, and I'm not sure what to do with it. My current bag contains:
Gripped 1000D, 18-55mm kit lens, 70-300mm IS USM, Nifty Fifty, 430EX Speedlite.

A few options I'm considering are:

1. Upgrade to 50D, sell 1000D, buy 50mm f1.4, sell Nifty.
My 1000D lacks a few features that I would really like, the main contenders being a larger ISO range, not enough focus points for some situations, slow continuous shooting in RAW, and lack of spot metering. It's by no means unuseable, but just frustrates me on the odd occasion when one or all of those features would be beneficial. On the flipside, I realise my lenses are generally a bit rubbish, and there has been a suggestion that a body upgrade will just highlight the deficiencies of them.

2. Upgrade to 50D, keep 1000D as a spare body. Keep current selection of lenses.

3. Buy used 400mm f5.6 L.

4. Get a decent "walkabout" lens. Something like the 24-105 f4 L, perhaps. Sell kit lens.

5. Forget about the camera stuff, my rear bumper has needed a respray for over a year.

6...

If it's any help at all, I photograph all sorts of things, so I don't necessarily need something that's specifically good for portraits/landscapes/wildlife etc. Anything goes really.

I've got a feeling threads like this may well spiral out of control, and just leave my mind further boggled by choices. We'll see what happens.

:help:
 
Upgrade to 40d + buy 17-55 F2.8 is an option for you to consider.

You could always sell your 1000d as a kit on top of that and buy a UWA (ultra wide angle) with the money.
 
Having tried a friends 1000D recently, and being utterly disappointed with it, I'd say a 40 or 50d would be a very worthwhile upgrade, then glass.

As for keeping the 1000d for a back up body - unless you have money to spare, or are suggesting you're taking pics in a professional capacity and need an element of redundancy, why on earth would you need a backup body?
 
JackMcIntyre said:
Upgrade to 40d + buy 17-55 F2.8 is an option for you to consider.
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Hadn't cosidered a 40D. Cheers, I'll add it to the list of possibles. :thumbs:

I was considering a backup body because I've just got the 1000D back from repair after being without it for a month, and realising how much I missed not having use of a camera in the meantime. :(
 
Get yourself a minty second hand 40D, there been some scorchers on here for sale. ( £400 )

Sell the 1000D as a Kit and then use the money to buy a 24-105L second hand minty if needed.

Realise the 1000D did a job but it's not what you realy wanted when you got it :D
 
A body upgrade maybe the best thing. As stated by Jacky, a Canon 40D is a great upgrade from the 1000D. 40D is coming down in price and can get them under £400 nowadays. Then spend another £250 on a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 non vc. Great reviews and a great price. You will have more than enough to treat yourself to a bg-e2n for £85. :D
 
GrittyShaker said:
40D is looking to be the favourite so far. Thanks for the suggestions folks. :thumbs:

Right, Top Gear is on now. Back shortly...
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Watch it on catch up like I do, can relax a bit more as im not rushing around before it starts.
 
Keep 430EX, 70-300 IS. Flog rest and buy 40D + 17-55 f/2.8 IS.

Phil
 
Andy said:
A body upgrade maybe the best thing. As stated by Jacky, a Canon 40D is a great upgrade from the 1000D. 40D is coming down in price and can get them under £400 nowadays. Then spend another £250 on a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 non vc. Great reviews and a great price. You will have more than enough to treat yourself to a bg-e2n for £85. :D
Click to expand...

I just got outbid with 2 seconds to go on e-bay on a 40d Body - ended up selling for £352 - an absolute bargian if you ask me, I had it at £310 until 2 seconds to go.. If only e-bay became suddenly unresponsive for 2 seconds... :nuts:
 
I would normally go with glass is best BUT in your situation I think sell 1000D + kit lens and buy 40D then use all the rest of the money on the best lens you can get in the walk about range.
 
JackMcIntyre said:
Upgrade to 40d + buy 17-55 F2.8 is an option for you to consider.

You could always sell your 1000d as a kit on top of that and buy a UWA (ultra wide angle) with the money.
Click to expand...

What I was thinking without typing.

You'll have the equivelant of a 27 to 88mm by full frame standards. A nice range.
Alternatively, considering the price of the 17-55 being so similar to a 24-105L you might as well buy that giving you 35-160mm.

So a used 24-105L = £600
A used 40D £400

You've only got to get £200 for the 1000D
 
OK, I can watch Top Gear and post here, it seems.

Really don't want to sell the Nifty Phil, unless I'm replacing it with the f1.4. I love it too much. :)

I think I'm onto a winner with the 40D here. Cheers for all the suggestions. :thumbs:
 
GrittyShaker said:
OK, I can watch Top Gear and post here, it seems.

Really don't want to sell the Nifty Phil, unless I'm replacing it with the f1.4. I love it too much. :)

I think I'm onto a winner with the 40D here. Cheers for all the suggestions. :thumbs:
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As far as the 40d goes compared to the 1000d - its a million miles better.

I was in a large superstore retailer based upon the name of a popular indian dish on saturday trying out a 50d (the only bloody camera i could get my hands on, no 40's anywhere). With the guy nervously twitching every time i moved the Sigma 120-400 he had on there (for some bizarre reason, i'd rather have a kit lens for a decent comparison) I can say it was fantastic, even though all I did was take a few shots on auto before he demanded it back.

The 50d = the same body as the 40d, so in terms of handling at least its an exceptional build, the image quality is great too - print comparisons of the both that I was shown at college had me stumped to say which was which.
 
GrittyShaker said:
You've sold it well Jack. ;) The money will be in my account next week, so I'll start looking then. :thumbs:

BTW, I'm just up the road from you in Norton. :)
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Ah Norton is a place that holds not-so-fond memories for me. (where my ex lives - paha)

Get down to "Balti's" at teesside park and try the 50d.
 
JackMcIntyre said:
I just got outbid with 2 seconds to go on e-bay on a 40d Body - ended up selling for £352 - an absolute bargian if you ask me, I had it at £310 until 2 seconds to go.. If only e-bay became suddenly unresponsive for 2 seconds... :nuts:
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Happened to me when I was after my 40D, 3 times in fact. Outbidded at 10 seconds the first time, and the other 2 where within the last 3 seconds. Awful feeling.

The way I got mine was to bid with 10 seconds to go. :) £310 thats a bargain though, £352 is! Seen 30D's go for that price. :)
 
JackMcIntyre said:
Ah Norton is a place that holds not-so-fond memories for me. (where my ex lives - paha)

Get down to "Balti's" at teesside park and try the 50d.
Click to expand...

I work in the Boro, so I might just have a stroll to Jessops on my lunch hour tomorrow.

I've got an ex in Boro, one in Billingham, and a couple in Yarm. Norton is the safest place for me. :D
 
GrittyShaker said:
I work in the Boro, so I might just have a stroll to Jessops on my lunch hour tomorrow.

I've got an ex in Boro, one in Billingham, and a couple in Yarm. Norton is the safest place for me. :D
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Jassips had none and RGB 2 doors down also had none - you might get lucky though, its worth a stroll down I guess.
 
JackMcIntyre said:
I just got outbid with 2 seconds to go on e-bay on a 40d Body - ended up selling for £352 - an absolute bargian if you ask me, I had it at £310 until 2 seconds to go.. If only e-bay became suddenly unresponsive for 2 seconds... :nuts:
Click to expand...


Andy said:
Happened to me when I was after my 40D, 3 times in fact. Outbidded at 10 seconds the first time, and the other 2 where within the last 3 seconds. Awful feeling.

The way I got mine was to bid with 10 seconds to go. :) £310 thats a bargain though, £352 is! Seen 30D's go for that price. :)
Click to expand...

You need to use an auction sniper then - that's probably what the people who beat you were doing.
 
Andy said:
Happened to me when I was after my 40D, 3 times in fact. Outbidded at 10 seconds the first time, and the other 2 where within the last 3 seconds. Awful feeling.

The way I got mine was to bid with 10 seconds to go. :) £310 thats a bargain though, £352 is! Seen 30D's go for that price. :)
Click to expand...
Use bidnapping software guys. Find your camera, decide what you want to pay, let the software bid for you with 5 seconds to go while you take it easy miles away. :)
 
As has been said often it's difficult, impossible maybe, to tell what shot was taken with what camera so I'd replace the kit lens with a quality 17-50mm f2.8 and the 50mm f1.8 with a f1.4. But that's just me. You want more focus points, faster continuous shooting, spot metering and a greater ISO range.

As I'm not helping I'll stop now.:)

Nice to see more Teessiders, I'm in Normanby. We'll have to do a mini meet one day.
 
I'd go with either 5 or 1.

I love photography but I love my truck too, having two hobbies and one job just doesn't work. :wall:

Plus side of a body upgrade IMO would be; 50d is larger and nicer to handle (IMO), more focus points, lot more FPS, your lenses will still work but the 50mm 1.4 is an excellent lens for low light especially.

Plus side of bumper; your car will look a lot better and it won't niggle you every time you look at it. Maybe you could do this and factor in some used camera equipment too, best of both worlds?
 
I'm not completely sold on the car repair idea, just because I'm not really one for keeping the car looking its best. If it was a mechanical issue then that would take precedence, as what matters most to me above all else is that I can have fun driving it. Mind you, the Japanese Auto Extravaganza is in a couple of months, and I could do with it looking nice on the club stand. :thinking:

I think I'll get myself a 40D, sell the 1000D, and then go from there. I've got plenty of good suggestions for me to ponder over. :)
 
I'm almost entirely certain that my next purchase will be a Tamron 17-50 f2.8. Quite a bit cheaper than the Canon 17-55, but gets great reviews. I'll make a final decision once I've sold the 1000D.
 
Yep. "Excellent condition" my arse. It arrived yesterday, and looks like someone has had a go at it with a screwdriver. The back is hanging off it, and the metal casing is cracked where it's been prised away from the main body. I've posted it back for a refund today.
 
You are not having much luck lately mate.
Hang in there.

Let me know when you have one and we will get out and test drive it.:thumbs:
 
Ebay really is getting worse :cuckoo: at least if people are gonna sell damaged goods mark it as such!!!
 
GrittyShaker said:
Yep. "Excellent condition" my arse. It arrived yesterday, and looks like someone has had a go at it with a screwdriver. The back is hanging off it, and the metal casing is cracked where it's been prised away from the main body. I've posted it back for a refund today.
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That's terrible, and I was just thinking about venturing back to ebay, think I'll just stick to buying and selling on here upon mature reflection!

I hope it all gets sorted, the 40D will do you very nicely (sooooo much nicer to hold than the xxxD series I found). Any ideas what to spend the rest of the cash on?

Hope it all gets sorted :thumbs:

Chris
 
I've got a Sigma 10-20 on loan from a friend at the moment, for as long as I want, so I don't need one of those just yet. :)

I should have done some research into the seller a bit more. After discovering the damage I spotted this site someone has linked to in Out of Focus:
http://comica.co.uk/alldigital0869.htm
It's a long, but quite interesting, and rather disgusting read.

My camera is from the same seller, and the experience so far has been identical, even down to the return email being quoted word for word. The description said "excellent condition" and "fully functional" etc. It may be functional, but the thing is falling to bits! Pretty disappointing, but the main thing is that I get my £400 back, preferably with the £8.50 delivery cost on top, which I've stated I want back. If not I'll open a dispute.

I'm actually toying with the idea of using the rest of the money for something non-photography related. I'm not going to rush into anything now though. I'll try and be patient and wait for the right camera to turn up, then have a think about the rest of the cash.

Thanks for the comments folks. :)
 
Too late now! I've already returned it. After looking at the Ebay listing though, it is visible in some of the photos. My fault for not inspecting them in enough detail, but it really isn't that noticeable until you know it's there. :(

Anyway, I've just taken the plunge on a 50D in the for sale section, as it was going for a good price. Now fingers crossed my refund goes without a hitch. I need to learn a little restraint sometimes, I think. :lol:
 
:eek:
ebay can be hit or miss when it comes to cameras,

I would say upgrade the glass first and the body second

best of luck getting it sorted :thumbs:
 
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