What to upgrade first, lens or body?

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martin73

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Martin
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Hi, I'm currently using a Canon 550d with a Canon 100-400 zoom for wildlife and I'm after an upgrade but I do not know what to upgrade first.

I suspect I shall go for a Canon 1dx for the body and an ef500 f4 ii lens, but what first is my pondering as I do not have the ££££s right now to do both.

I'd like new body for better focus and fps rate and to have the ability to shoot at higher iso, but I'd also like new lens for more reach.

So, do I change body to 1dx and use ef100-400 lens for a year or so,,,, or keep the 550d and get an ef500 f4 ii lens and use 1.4tc?

Im sort of being drawn to keeping my lovely little 550d and going for the lens.

Any thoughts?
 
I think that's the sensible way to go about a gradual upgrade! Bodies tend to be superseeded by new ones rather more frequently than lenses so prices drop faster. The lens is unlikely to drop much in the next few months (2nd hand) but the D1x probably will.
 
I'd go down the lens route and if you fancy a body still maybe compromise and get something like a 7d and sell the 550d to help fund it, which should tick a couple of extra boxes for you and if you bought second hand probably would be a fairly low outlay with selling the 550d.
 
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Hi, thanks for your thoughts on this guys,, you have made a few points I hadn't thought about cheers :thumbs:
 
You say that you can buy one item now then the next in a year or so, your fairly happy with your current 550D.

Then I'd get the lens now, then see what bodies are available in 12 months, there certainly will not be a EF 500 III, but there could be several new bodies by the time your ready to buy.
 
Hi, on the whole I'm happy with the 550d yes, have managed some pretty decent shots with it and the 400zoom, there just one or two little things that would be nice to have, above all, the most important thing really is more reach and better quality picture that I hope will come from the lens more than a new body?
 
What is causing you to miss shots ?

If its that you need a longer lens then go for the lens.
If its that the AF doesn't always lock on to the subject or shutter isn't quick enough go for the body.

If you do go for the lens first it might be worth checking out that AF will still be okay - I know AF performance degrades when using TC's, no good having a very nice lens if the AF is compromised.
 
purplbutrfly said:
I'd go the lens route. The value and technology of a lens is much more stable than the body.
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Hi, thanks for your time, I think lens is the way to go having thought about it all day. Fingers crossed that by this time tomorrow I should have one,,,, gulp......

Phil Young said:
Why not the best if both worlds; 5D3 + lens?
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How do there and thanks for your thoughts,,, I think if I went for both right now I'd be on beans on toast or bread and dripping for far too many months :D

Craft said:
What is causing you to miss shots ?

If its that you need a longer lens then go for the lens.
If its that the AF doesn't always lock on to the subject or shutter isn't quick enough go for the body.

If you do go for the lens first it might be worth checking out that AF will still be okay - I know AF performance degrades when using TC's, no good having a very nice lens if the AF is compromised.
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Hi,,, what's causing the miss of shots, well,,,,
I think it's mainly the lack of fps and/or buffer size, it's not a huge issue as I have learnt some to work around this, it would just be a nice thing to have at somepoint really. I think in reality, I can actually live with my few little niggles with my body, most important thing right now is reach and picture quality, don't get me wrong, the 400 zoom is great really happy with it and won't be selling it. With regard to AF issues, I am lead to believe that an f4 lens with a 1.4x tc will retain autofocus on my 550d, how well? again I have been lead to believe it's fine.
 
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