Upgrade time?

Which upgrade option would you choose?

  • Buy a used 5DII and sell my 5D

    Votes: 14 33.3%
  • Trade in my 5D for a new 5DII

    Votes: 16 38.1%
  • Buy a 7D and keep the other two

    Votes: 12 28.6%

  • Total voters
    42
  • Poll closed .

AliB

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Talking with the eminently sensible DiddyDave yesterday about upgrading bodies. NO! Not that kind of body dimwits, though the way I fall apart at fairly regular intervals these days perhaps it should be considered. But no it was camera bodies we were discussing. Belive it or not Nikon and Canon people can discuss such issues without trying to kill each other......

Anyway the reason for the post is to canvas for your considered opinions....

My quandry is this:-
I have a 1DsII and a 5D.

Both of them top out at about ISO 1600 although technically they will go to ISO 3200. The sensible conversation went something like...... "yeah but I don't shoot THAT many shots in semi dark but there have been a couple of weddings this year in pretty dim conditions where I would have liked better ISO, save me shooting at silly apertures" "Hmmm, my problem is that sometimes the little blighters move too fast and I can't get the shutter speed high enough to stop 'em" Those are the challenges and why a higher ISO is now appearing on the agenda.

So :-
I have a couple of alternative plans that I would appreciate your thoughts on.
1. Buy a 5DII used and sell my 5D privately
2. Trade in my 5D for a new 5DII
3, The curve ball, just buy a 7D, would give high ISO, movies and longer reach....and probably cheaper than 1. or 2. given the cracking price I got on one. :)
 
The question is (and I'm not a Canonite so I don't know the answer), is a 5D MkII worth nearly the price of a new 7d more than your used MkI?
 
Alison

I have a 1DsII and a 7D and I really don't think the 7D is for you. You've got used to the FF on 2 cameras and that's how they work. I think the only sensible option is to trade the 5D for a 5DII is some form or other.

Paul
 
I think you should go for the 5D II as it's still full frame. In fact a 5d1 and a 5dII would be a great combo wouldn't it?

All the best whatever you decide.
 
I would keep what you have and add the 7D
For the reason you gave

c3, The curve ball, just buy a 7D, would give high ISO, movies and longer reach....and probably cheaper than 1. or 2. given the cracking price I got on one.
 
The standard response for this kind of issue is to ask what kind of photography are you into?

If it's wildlife or sports, go for the 7D

If it's landscapes or portraits, go for the 5D mark 2

Based on your reference to weddings in dim light, I'd say you should go for the 5D mark 2
 
Hmmmm interesting :)

Yes I shoot mainly people and my longest lens would be the 70-200mm f2.8IS. I think that's one of the reasons I'm tempted by the 7D but then I really have to look closely at how I shoot and whether I really need any more "reach" however that is provided ;)

I'll take some time to look at the sums too.

I can source a 7D for close to £1100
A used 5DII can be got for about £1300 and I could get about £700 for my 5D. I'd budget £700 for the difference.
A new 5DII shop bought? The trade in difference would be £1300.

I guess the private buy and sale is the most logical :) but that 7D is a highly tempting little beast lol

Thanks for the input, it's not something I will do overnight and if I'm honest I think one of the blocks to me doing this is just how attached I am to my 5D :) HATE to see it go.
 
You've given these as two options -

1. Buy a 5DII used and sell my 5D privately
2. Trade in my 5D for a new 5DII

But why not sell the 5D privately and buy a new 5DII?

You'll get a pittance for trade in and with your reliance on this for work you'd kick yourself for not buying new to get a full warranty.
 
Upgrade to a 5dMark II I would say and sell the 5D. Also I would offer it a good home if you do decided to sell! :)
 
Good point well made :)

I have bought second hand before, I got the 1DsII second hand and I'm a member of Canon Professional Services so I can get repairs done quite quickly should the need arise. I can also borrow kit off mates in an emergency because we all have spares.

I had not really considered that route so thank you for pointing it out to me, I may have to go and investigate the fourth option. :)
 
I sold my 5d for the 5d2

it was such a tough choice between the 1dmk3 the 5d2 and the 7d, in the end i went 5d2 but i've voted for the 7d in this poll.....why, well it's simple

The high iso performance is similar to the 5d2
the AF is better
It's cheaper
It has a wireless flash controller

So, why did I choose the 5d?
The focal lengths of my lenses have evolved around full frame and it'd be a fortune to have to change it round again. And I don't like the silver ring around the big wheel on the back :D
 
er
dispose of the 1DsII to fund the 5D II
 
Ahhh now I won't do that because I do sometimes shoot on building sites and that's the home of the 1Ds. Built like a tank, not bothered by vast quantities of concrete dust and the AF is just unreal!

Sorry should have memtioned that but that's why it's not going anywhere. :)
 
Ahhh now I won't do that because I do sometimes shoot on building sites and that's the home of the 1Ds. Built like a tank, not bothered by vast quantities of concrete dust and the AF is just unreal!

Sorry should have memtioned that but that's why it's not going anywhere. :)

in that case just buy the 5DII
you know you want to! :nuts:
 
Just buy a D3s :)

Sorry, but I'm sure you knew some childish person, like me, would chip in :naughty:

lol chip in all you like but 2 Nikon bodies, 8 lenses and 2 flashes are not anywhere near my upgrade budget. Now if Nikon wanted to come along and buy up £10K of Canon kit and completely resupply me...................but.....

I HATE the grip on the D3, I have small hands and I can't control a D3 with one hand so it makes it pretty much unuseable to me ergonomically. Which is exactly why we always tell people to go and handle their prospective purchase first.
 
I HATE the grip on the D3, I have small hands and I can't control a D3 with one hand so it makes it pretty much unuseable to me ergonomically. Which is exactly why we always tell people to go and handle their prospective purchase first.


I find that interesting as it was one of the main reasons I decided against the 1D :eek: On the 5 I can pretty much change everything one handed in the dark.
 
Shoot auto and you don't have to worry about nobs and dials :p :coat:
 
You don't need anothe digital camera to get the extra shots, just start shooting weddings with the x-pan you have on loan.
 
lol@ the X-Pan!

Can you get film that goes to ISO 12.000 ish ....................?

To DF, I can handle the 1Ds OK although after a day with it my wrists know all about it. The D3 grip is slightly squarer than the more rounded 1Ds although they are not amillion miles away size wise the more rounded 1Ds makes all the difference to me.
 
lol@ the X-Pan!

Can you get film that goes to ISO 12.000 ish ....................?

To DF, I can handly the 1Ds OK although after a day with it my wrists know all about it. The D3 grip is slightly squarer than the more rounded 1Ds although they are not amillion miles away size wise the more rounded 1Ds makes all the difference to me.

yeah push delta 3200, I've only gone to 6400 so far (no scanner sorry) but ilford give times for 12,800 :D
 
The 5DII would seem to be the best solution from your supplied options but why not give some thought to a 1DIII.....very clean high up the scale and would give the little stretch (that you feel may be beneficial) to your lenses and should certainly outlive the other two on building sites.

Bob
 
Seel the 5D for £600 to £700 depending on condition.

Put that towards a new 5Dii.

I would have 2 FF bodies, it makes much more sense in the field.
 
I've had my 7D for a while now and for me it's a cracking camera. I've no doubt it will do service admirably as a wedding camera - it produces 51mb (8 bit) tiff files straight from the raw file, so big files with lots of detail and image library ready. If you output the tiff file to a 16 bit editor - you'd get 102mb files with enormous potential for fine detail.

The downside for you is that Canon have put a lot of reseasrch into the handling of this camera, and I think they've got it dead right, but it will be markedly different when you swap from your 1DS to the 7D on the fly. I already get confused swapping from the 7D to the 50D just on placement of buttons and added buttons and functionality of them on the 7D

It may not be a deal breaker for you as your 5D and 1DS2 are very different in handling and controls anyway, but something to consider?
 
lol chip in all you like but 2 Nikon bodies, 8 lenses and 2 flashes are not anywhere near my upgrade budget. Now if Nikon wanted to come along and buy up £10K of Canon kit and completely resupply me...................but.....

I HATE the grip on the D3, I have small hands and I can't control a D3 with one hand so it makes it pretty much unuseable to me ergonomically. Which is exactly why we always tell people to go and handle their prospective purchase first.

Have you asked them?
They're still doing the discounted 'upgrade' from canon to Nikon systems for Pro's...
You might qualify being a SWPP member...err...:thinking:

Sorry...seriously...drop them an email - you never know.

I already have D3 and D3x bodies - and I'll be using them when I get 'out' next year.
I looked at the D3s and may buy one for indoor Sports if enough of that kind of work looks likely in my next incarnation - use the D3x for portraits and groups; the D3 for short lens work and keep the '3s for the 70-200 and ultra low-light work...

I know there's an opening for a decent ice-hockey phot in my Home Town as the images the incumbent produces are terrible...
 
They are still offering swap deals but their not as good as 12-18 months ago, and it depends on who you wokr for.

Action Images guy i know had 1D MKIII 1DMKIIn 24-70 F/2.8 L 135 F/2 L, 400MM F/2.8 L and 2 580 EX MKII

He got D3, Gripped D300s 400mm f/2.8. The new 70-200 and a 24-70 with two flash guns for 2,500 :nuts:

For me to swap 2 MKIII, 400 f/2.8, 135 F/2 16-35 f/2.8 and 580EX MKII would have cost me 6,000 :(

for me to switch
 
Oh thanks Bob, make it even more complicated......... :) lol

I think I'm comfortable with one brute and one smaller camera, there are occasions where I shoot one handed and it's usually with the 5D because being smaller and lighter I have more control over it. Although I have thought about a 1D3 as a longer term option for the 1DsII but then decided that the 1DsII is exactly the right tool for that job right now :)

The 5DII is looking like the most sensible option right now.

I'd postulate, (that's not a bad word for 7am!) that a move to Nikon would be either very expensive or leave me with a lot less kit :) I currently have 2 bodies, 4 zooms and 4 primes and I could probably lose the primes with higher ISO bodies but then.......I LIKE :)

And just for Rob..............I've resigned! lol BIPP or MPA in the New Year :)
 
Just added up what I would need from Nikon using Calumet prices :)

1x D3 with 14-24mm, 1x D700 with 70-200mm, one 24-70mm one 50mm f1.4, one 60mm macro and 2x SB900................£10,679.

That's a little less than I currently have in that I sacrificed the 35mm f2 and 85mm f1.8 on the basis that I generally use them when in low light and the higher ISO would compensate for that.

I wonder if I can swap over for the similar budget of £1300 :)

Oh Lord, I'd have to learn it all over again but I will ask the question :)
 
Warehouse Express are a few quid cheaper than Calumet, but I hear you...
I'm glad I'm not having to start from scratch next year - it'd break me...
I have a D3x, 2/3 of a D3 (lol) and all the lenses and accessories already...
Like I said, I'll go for either a second (2nd-hand) D3 or a D3s body depending on what work looks likely to come my way...
 
Letter off to Nikon this morning. :)

I have no brand loyalty, my camera is a tool so I have asked them to give me a price on converting to the kit above :)

Now, let's wait for the postie lol
 
Great plan Ali. I've certainly heard a lot about Nikon buying Canon pros but don't actually know one who's done it. Good luck - the D3 will give you so many more options if you do go that route.
 
Well, I figure I should explore all the options open to me before I make this purchase because whatever I buy now will be IT for the next 2-3 years until the 1Ds will be due for replacement.
 
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