I need help, what to do?

dubzter

dubzter

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Name
Alan
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I'm having real problems getting anything straight in my head, I'm going round and round in circles and could do with a nudge to help me make a decision.

So I'm going to be getting a wee bonus in the next 2 weeks and want to spend on camera gear. It's only around £400 so my choices are limited. My camera bag as it stands just now consists of

  • Canon EOS 450d
  • Canon BG-E5 Battery Grip (plus 2 additional 3rd party batteries)
  • EF-S 18-55 f3.5-5.6 IS
  • EF 50mm f1.8
  • EF-S 55-250 f4-5.6 IS
  • Speedlight 430 EXII
  • Yongnuo YN-460II
  • Yongnuo RF-603C Wireless Flash Triggers

I had thought about going for a Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 EX DC HSM because I enjoy my landscape photography but I really want to upgrade rather than buy additional. So thinking about that do I replace the kit lens with a second hand 17-55 f2.8 or look for a sigma/tamron version. Then I though why not sell my 450d and grip and use the money to buy a 60d.

I know I should be investing in glass but find that I quite often take photos in the evening/dark (night landscape, stars and aurora etc) and could use the better iso of the 60d.

Are there any other options you think I should consider?

If it was you what would you do?

Cheers folks.
 
Difficult to answer because we all have different needs and wants, plus what looks like a good plan today may quite literally change with the weather next week.

If I was in your position just now I'd be upgrading the camera.

Please be clear though, that is what I would do, I am not saying it is what you should do, only you can decide that.
 
Think about what part of your kit is holding you back. If no part of it is then save the money until you come up against that barrier.
 
Al Brum said:
Difficult to answer because we all have different needs and wants, plus what looks like a good plan today may quite literally change with the weather next week.

If I was in your position just now I'd be upgrading the camera.

Please be clear though, that is what I would do, I am not saying it is what you should do, only you can decide that.
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This is what I'm leaning towards

menthel said:
Think about what part of your kit is holding you back. If no part of it is then save the money until you come up against that barrier.
Click to expand...

That's one of the problems Jim, I recently attended a rally (dark wet forest) and found that I had to push to iso 1600 on the 450d and even then it was struggling to get the shutter speed I wanted also it did introduce a lot of noise, so do I go for a faster lens but reducing the depth of field or go for the 60d with higher iso settings and hopefully better noise handling.
 
dubzter said:
That's one of the problems Jim, I recently attended a rally (dark wet forest) and found that I had to push to iso 1600 on the 450d and even then it was struggling to get the shutter speed I wanted also it did introduce a lot of noise, so do I go for a faster lens but reducing the depth of field or go for the 60d with higher iso settings and hopefully better noise handling.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have isolated where your kit is letting you down. Perhaps hire a faster lens first and see if the 450D copes with that? I do think it likely that it won't help and as you have said, you will need to upgrade to a camera with better high ISO capabilities. The 60D or 7D spring to mind with what you are doing.
 
I've got a 5D3 and a backup 60D, and from reading your dilemma I'd have to agree with a new body. The 60D is a good performer at ISO 1600 and very reasonable up to 3200. You should be able to find a good one if you sell the 450D and put it together with your bonus.
I've just took some macro shots at ISO 1600 and had to up the shutter speed to 1/800 @ f7.1 on my 100 f2.8 L macro and it's still very sharp with no noticeable noise, even when over exposed to check.
 
I would say no as its the ISO that is holding you back. The 60D has the same sensor as the 7d, the one in the 50d is older and handles higher ISO less well.
 
markmullen said:
Is your kit holding you back?

If I were you I'd spend the money on a landscape course, I went on the Joe Cornish workshop, gained far more from it than I would have done spending £250 on kit.
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Thanks for the input Mark, I would like to go on a Joe Cornish or Colin Prior course but feel that I need more time experimenting on my own before I would commit to something like that. Also living where I do would make a £250 course more like £500 by the time I include travel etc.

I have a number of his books and love his work.
 
I think you've made a good choice, it will allow you to develop your skills all the way now, if you need to upgrade again it will be your lenses because the camera is very capable indeed.
 
Al Brum said:
I think you've made a good choice, it will allow you to develop your skills all the way now, if you need to upgrade again it will be your lenses because the camera is very capable indeed.
Click to expand...

Cheers Al, can't wait for it to arrive, I'm pretty excited. Need to offload my 450d now to offset the cost though, got a quote from MPB but hopefully sell it locally at my Camera Club.
 
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