Is another body the best option?

captures.in.time

captures.in.time

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Hi all!

I curently have a Canon EOS5d Mk1... which I consider to be the perfect camera for me as im used to the 35mm format being a photographer who learnt using film over 20 years ago!

I couple the camera at the moment with a 24-105mm L which is a cracking walkabout lens and i'm really happy with it!

In future I want to get a 17-40mm L as I love my landscapes and find the 24mm sometimes just a bit limiting... however it's my telephoto coverage which i'm on to ask your advice about.

I def want to do more telephoto stuff... nothing to fancy but i'd like to have a better lens than I have at the moment with at least the same 300mm focal range. At the mo I have a very dated 75-300mm IS lens... the first one canon did as IS but it's old and slow and i'm not happy with it. I got it originally for my last film camera an EOS3.

I really fancy the much talked about 70-200 L lens... all reports say its cracking... and I like the f4 version for a few reasons... the first being I dont think I need the f2.8... and the second being the weight factor... I would use it travelling and weight restrictions on flights are a pest... also its a bit less of a beast to walk around with!

but the 70-200mm f4 IS which is the one I think i'd go for would not give me the 300mm range i'd like for telephoto stuff... then my wife suggested how about getting the 70-200mm but then for telephoto stuff where I need the 300mm get a crop sensor body like a 450d... efectively giving me a 112-320mm lens...

Is this a good idea?

I'm put off the other canon 100-300mm ranges of zooms as they tend to not get good reviews... also I think this might give me a great variety of choice with my kit... and also a slightly smaller camera where I maybe dont want to carry the 5d.. or be a bit less conspicuous...

Money is of course another factor... A 300mm prime would be nice... but maybe i'd find it limiting... and I wont use it that much ad would prefer a zoom. but the 28-300mm is to much of a monster for what I want...

So what are peoples thoughts? Would the 70-200mm on a 450d be ok for shooting the odd safari or bird in the garden...
 
or would a 1.4 extender be a better option... does that go with a EOS5 and the 70-200mm IS L
 
1.4x works quite well, but it then becomes f/5.6. It might not be such a problem if you have IS.

Crop body is another option, but you would hate 450D as much as you like 5D. It is uncomfortably small with a tiny viewfinder. 7D or 40D as a cheaper option sounds much better in that respect. In fact 7D will give you enormous magnification with 18MP and 1.6x.
 
daugirdas said:
Crop body is another option, but you would hate 450D as much as you like 5D. It is uncomfortably small with a tiny viewfinder.
Click to expand...

The viewfinder on a crop sensor will of course be smaller than a full frame, and I don't find the 450D 'uncomfortably' small, and I suspect neither do the millions of other people that own one.
 
Possibly a 100-400?
It's just a thought, I don't actually have one. I went for the 300mm f/4 and a 1.4x TC but I do tend to prefer primes. But certailny the 100-400 would give you the reach you're after. Maybe not quite as fast as you'd like but certainly useable.
 
I can't see the point in buying another camera body when you have a perfectly good one already (I have one, so I'm biased).

My solution to my longer telephoto needs has been to go with a 200L prime lens and 1.4x

It's compact, subtle (black, rather than white), reasonably light and fast at f2.8 When you add the 1.4x it becomes approx a 280mm f4 lens.

The image quality is fantastic. Obviously not having a zoom is less convenient, but when I had a 70-200 f4, I was always using it at the long end anyway.

The 135L/1.4x combo is good also, but the addition of the 1.4x doesn't make a huge difference to the reach in this instance.

Worth considering though.
Graham
 
trencheel303 said:
The viewfinder on a crop sensor will of course be smaller than a full frame, and I don't find the 450D 'uncomfortably' small, and I suspect neither do the millions of other people that own one.
Click to expand...

thats cos you've never used anything better, my 5dII has a nicer viewfinder than my 50d did and that blew my 450d away

what do you do at 300mm?
the 200 prime and tc idea is a good one I feel because it gives you long and really long, while the 24-105 covers quite long

I'd quite like to pick up a 200L and 135L and move to being all prime for that reason but it won't happen short term
 
Thanks guys for the views... weight and flexability are big issues for me... From what people are saying the 70-200mm seems to be a good option... so lets fix that and its now more a question of second body or 1.4x teleconverter.

The 100-400mm lens is a monster for me as I'd never need it so much to merit such a dedicated telephoto lens... also I'm thinking weight wise id think it was a tat on the cumbersome and bulky side... also is it not a push pull zoom... ive never used one but not sure i like the idea of it?

My wife already has a 450d and i quite like it... the viewfinder is smaller... but not that i'd say i hate it... also the smaller camera actually apeals to me for when i want to have a bit lighter weight kit... family events or weddings for example... still want slr flexability but a much more managable ... less i'm a photographer sort of machine... do you get me?

7d sounds a good idea but must admit to knowing not a lot about the camera... will go off and have a spy today!

And finally... I dont think primes would suit me... I think the only prime I might buy eventually when I have the cash is maybe a 50mm 1.4 and a macro lens eventually too... but way in the future!

M
 
I think your needs would be pretty well matched with the latest 70-300mm IS which gets very good reviews, unless that is you have L lens itus and a problem with pixel peeping! Combine the 70-300mm with a crop body and you've got plenty of reach!
 
that is true and I may go for that option... i'd sorta discounted the 70-300mm because of my experiance with the old 75-300 I have.... I dont have L lens itus... but i do yearn for the 70-200mm as it does seem like its a great all rounder lens and would suit a lot of my needs... but your right the 75-300mm on a crop body apeals too in terms of shooting at extreme telephoto...
 
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