New gear for £1200...

M

mrthingyx

Messages
228
Edit My Images
Yes
Having had a bit of luck at work, I know have a fun amount of money to play with. But what does it go on?

I'm a Canon 20D user with a nifty fifty and 550ex. I've recently discovered that it's front focusing by around 4cm over 2.5m... I shoot sports and active kids.

So...

1) Canon 1D mk3. I've used a 5D mk2 and found that it does struggle to focus when I've needed it...

2) Canon 7D... As above.

3) Sell my Canon gear and go for a Nikon D700...

4) Canon 85mm f1.2... Which wouldn't solve the focusing issue.
 
Either ...

1) Get your camera repaired, spend a lot less than you think and splurge the remainder on really good glass

or

2) Go to your local big camera shop and have a go on all the cameras you'd like to change yours for, then go for the one you find most comfortable. If they won't take your camera in part-ex, stick it on the bay.

Either way, job's a good 'un. :)
 
2nd hand 40d,new 85mm 1.8 and a new canon 17-40L total £1200 please sir!
 
manualfocus-g said:
Are you sure it's not the lens that's duff?
Click to expand...

I've only recently noticed the problem, as I'm sure it hasn't been doing it before, even though I know I'm not the greatest shooter in the world... Had the lens for nearly 2 years without apparent issue...
 
mrthingyx said:
I've only recently noticed the problem, as I'm sure it hasn't been doing it before, even though I know I'm not the greatest shooter in the world... Had the lens for nearly 2 years without apparent issue...
Click to expand...


an £80 lens will not last ages,my money goes on it being the lens.
 
As much as I want to say go D700, with the sale of your current kit and the extra money, you'll be able to get a S/H D700 and not much else.

As such, I think Snigg has the best idea so far.
 
What about a 1D mk2 or the N version, cracking camera, cheap so would leave cash for a 70-200 f4 and another lens. I found the 8mp plenty for A3 plus prints...
 
Mmmm...

As much as I'd love the 85mm f1.2L, it would be somewhat pointless as it's not my most commonly used focal length.

I could probably get a D700 s/h and put some reasonable glass in front of it, but I'd have to relearn a new system and not be much better off from a flexibility perspective (crop factor removed, of course) than with my current setup...

The Canon 1d Mk3 is more interesting because I wouldn't have to faff with my existing gear, even if it gets its posterior handed to it by the D700 in quite a few areas for the same kind of money (assuming I'd have to buy a new lens, anyway)...

I don't think getting a 40D would be that much of an upgrade for me to satisfy my man toy urges so will probably just stick with some nice glass to put in front of the 20D and go from there...

Can probably get some nice primes for £1200 to mitigate the not-so-great-anymore low light performance of the 20D...

Thanks for the advice - it's interesting to see what people think. I was (and still am) sorely tempted to go for a D700, though...
 
If you shoot sports, and for a general purpose setup, f2.8's where it's at ;)

nikon d300 (£600)
tamron 17-50 2.8 (200)
sigma or nikon 70/80-200 2.8 for sports (500)
50mm 1.8 (85)
sb600 (150)

d300's have the same fantastic autofocus system as the D700 and D3, good high iso performance, AND they're dirt cheap 2nd hand at the moment...
 
Last edited:
The Tamron 17-50 2.8 is a great lens. Plenty of D300 about at 600 as per the above posters comments. Alot of camera for the money too.
 
I'd second the 40D, relatively cheap against the D700 with a 6.5 F/s rate which still is great for sports.

Depending on your needs I'd be tempted to look at the 24-70 2.8L going to be a bit tighter on the crop body but if your looking at the 85 1.2 I'm guessing it shouldn't be a problem.

It really is a stonking lens!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top