Upgrade body? Upgrade glass? Or save my money?

*Babs

*Babs

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Babs
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My camera fund is looking relatively healthy at the moment thanks to a mammoth eBay session to clear out all my other junk! :D

So the question is ... what should I spend it on?

Option 1:
Upgrade my 2nd hand Canon 350d which I got 6 months ago to a new Canon 60d. I am finding my 350 a little restricting in low light (which I enjoy shooting) and find the pics a little noisy. Plus the higher fps would be nice.

Option 2:
Upgrade some of my lenses. I currently have a 50mm f/1.4, the 17-55mm kit lens, Tamron 70-300mm and a Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5. I am pretty happy with my lenses and don't feel I need any others at the moment.

Option 3:
Save it :'( Wait until my knowledge increases and save the cash for other bits and pieces I may need in the future (a.k.a the boring option :lol: )



Any thoughts or views?
 
Usually the answer is Glass, however you seem to have quality lenses already.

Unless you were gonna add a Canon 70-200 to replace the Tamron, I might say time for a body upgrade.
 
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*Babs said:
My camera fund is looking relatively healthy at the moment thanks to a mammoth eBay session to clear out all my other junk! :D

So the question is ... what should I spend it on?

Option 1:
Upgrade my 2nd hand Canon 350d which I got 6 months ago to a new Canon 60d. I am finding my 350 a little restricting in low light (which I enjoy shooting) and find the pics a little noisy. Plus the higher fps would be nice.

Option 2:
Upgrade some of my lenses. I currently have a 50mm f/1.4, the 17-55mm kit lens, Tamron 70-300mm and a Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5. I am pretty happy with my lenses and don't feel I need any others at the moment.

Option 3:
Save it :'( Wait until my knowledge increases and save the cash for other bits and pieces I may need in the future (a.k.a the boring option :lol: )



Any thoughts or views?
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Seems obvious don't it. Option 2 claims you are happy with lenses so no need to buy others. Option 1 says you need the new body for low light shooting. You've answered your own question ;)

By the way have a look at a second hand 40D/50D which will be better in low light and cheaper than the 60D and then upgrade to a 60D or 70D (if available in the future) when you need it in the future.
 
I would second upgrading to a 40/50D, I just upgraded from a 300d to the 40d and the quality is noticeable. I looked at the 60d but for the price I couldn't really see the benefit,
 
Thanks both. I'll have a look at those bodies too. I really don't need the lenses at the moment and although I'm sure there's more I'll want / need in the future I don't know what that is yet! ;)
 
I went from a 450D to a 60D... I had all the glass and really saw the differences! The added functionality was a great learning progress also.

Am now at the stage of moving to FF 5DMKII...

The 60D is a great step but depends on your budget of course :)
 
Another vote here for a 40/50D. The 40D was the best purchase I ever made. Buy a 2nd hand body and you will have some cash left over to keep for when you decide you do need some more glass :)

Or what about investing in some other equipment? A decent flash or tripod perhaps.
 
If you are not interested in video then I would suggest a S/h 50D would be the way to go and whilst you say you are happy with your glass I would suggest that as you increase your resolution with a better body you may well need to look at a better alternative to the kit lens.

This would also allow you to sell your 350D with the kit lens to raise some money towards your upgrade.
 
40D would be a good upgrade! As said, it will leave you some pennies left over to lay your hands on more toys :)
 
EdBray said:
If you are not interested in video then I would suggest a S/h 50D would be the way to go and whilst you say you are happy with your glass I would suggest that as you increase your resolution with a better body you may well need to look at a better alternative to the kit lens.
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Thanks all.

Am not interested in video at all, so it looks like the 40d or 50d would be the way to go.

You make a good point about my kit lens too. It's definitely my "weakest" lens.
 
Do you have the 18-55mm kit lens? The 17-55mm couldn't really be classed as a kit lens. I agree with the body upgrade probably being the way to go, the 350D is a bit long in the tooth now.
 
Laudrup said:
Do you have the 18-55mm kit lens? The 17-55mm couldn't really be classed as a kit lens. I agree with the body upgrade probably being the way to go, the 350D is a bit long in the tooth now.
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Oops. Yep! Typo. I have the 18-55mm!
 
Thanks :)

I actually have a friend who may be interested in the body and lens and I've offered her first refusal if (when!) I decide to sell. But I'll look on here if she doesn't want it.
 
Hi,
No worries,
By the way have you thought about the Canon 550D cracking camera and should not be that Expensive.

Regards.
 
[devils advocate mode on]

You posed those questions rather subjectively didn't you? Your heart says 'new body' and you worded to questions to lead others to come to the conclusion you wanted to hear, you clever minx you! :D

The obvious sensible (ie boring) advice you already know as you posted it in your third question - and wrote it off as a boring option. Wait until you KNOW what you want and need. Clearly you do have a little doubt otherwise you wouldn't have asked what to do here.

Are you into strobist stuff, do you have flashes, radio triggers/wires, stands for off camera stuff. Would you want a better tripod or better outdoor gear? Do you have the supplementary equipment that would better your current ability, stuff that you DON'T have now. You have an adequate body that allows you to take pictures now. Consider the stuff that you don't have and would want/need. Is there anything that you could add to your bag now?

Consider completing your collection, before you start to replace items within it, would be my advice.

[/devils advocate mode off]
 
vixmix said:
You posed those questions rather subjectively didn't you? Your heart says 'new body' and you worded to questions to lead others to come to the conclusion you wanted to hear, you clever minx you! :D
Click to expand...

I knew someone would spot my cunning plan :D


vixmix said:
Consider completing your collection, before you start to replace items within it, would be my advice.
Click to expand...

*Sticks fingers in ears and sings LA-LA-LA-LA-LA*

:D
 
mastertrinity said:
Seems obvious don't it. Option 2 claims you are happy with lenses so no need to buy others. Option 1 says you need the new body for low light shooting. You've answered your own question ;)

By the way have a look at a second hand 40D/50D which will be better in low light and cheaper than the 60D and then upgrade to a 60D or 70D (if available in the future) when you need it in the future.
Click to expand...

me15 said:
Another vote here for a 40/50D. The 40D was the best purchase I ever made. Buy a 2nd hand body and you will have some cash left over to keep for when you decide you do need some more glass :)

Or what about investing in some other equipment? A decent flash or tripod perhaps.
Click to expand...

EdBray said:
If you are not interested in video then I would suggest a S/h 50D would be the way to go and whilst you say you are happy with your glass I would suggest that as you increase your resolution with a better body you may well need to look at a better alternative to the kit lens.

This would also allow you to sell your 350D with the kit lens to raise some money towards your upgrade.
Click to expand...

I'm going to disagree with all of the above and not recommend the 50D for low light photography. I used to have one and while it was ok at ISO 1600, ISO 3200 was quite bad with noticeable banding even when resized for web use.

I find the 550D that I use much better for high ISO noise/low light use, I'll happily use ISO 3200 and even go to ISO 6400 or ISO 12800 if I need to and get pictures that are banding free. If you are happy with the rebel style body the new 600D would probably suit you very well as it features the same sensor and apart from all the extra "fluff" it also includes wireless flash control if you want to get into off camera flash.

If you prefer the bigger body then the 60D or why not even go for a 7D if you can stretch that far. A 50D will probably be better than your 350D in the high ISO department but there are better options for the money.
 
I went from a 350d to 50d it was a big step up, I'm happy with my choice. The screen and view finder are so much better. Better ISO handling, better AF, better build. I found no negatives in the switch.

I would also have a look for a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 they are a great buy at the price to replace the 18-55 kit lens.

Also a Canon 70-200 F4 would give you an improvment over your current zoom.

What do you take photos of?
 
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Thanks all :)

I have just done a deal with another TPer for their 40d (I don't hang around :D ). I read the reviews on the 40d versus the 50d and felt it was the better for me.

I don't think I'm quite ready to handle a 7D just yet ;)

Thanks for the lens advice too. All being well I will have some cash left to play with and I have someone interested in my 350d with kit lens, so I'll definitely be looking at replacing it.

Who knew a lifetime of hoarding "really useful things I no longer use" could feed my 'tog addiction!!
 
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