Which Canon should I buy?

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So after a few months out I'm getting back into DSLR photography and in need of a new Canon.

Been into photography on and off for 10 years now so know the ins and outs although very rusty, sure it'll all come running back to me though!

I have always had 450D's in the past which I was happy with, current choices are as follows -

Budget is around £600 for the body, grip and a decent lens (almost definitely a 50mm prime 1.4 as I loved the 1.8 I used to have)

450D - Keep it simple
550D - Slightly updated version of the above
650D - Again updated

or

a 5D MK1? I've always wanted to go full frame however have never done it.

Any advice on the above? I suppose my main question is should I get an XXXD or a 5D? And if it's an XXXD which one?!
 
The 5D. Just because I would rather own one than the other options without even worrying about the technicalities!
 
ernesto said:
The 5D. Just because I would rather own one than the other options without even worrying about the technicalities!
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What price should I expect to pay for a 5D Mk1 do you think roughly? Any known problems with them? Read about the mirror or something?

Nawty said:
Why rule out an XXD?
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Very good point, I haven't ruled out anything to be honest, only specific requirement is it must be Canon!
 
I'd go 50D Or something 2nd hand if necessary
the reason being is that you get the better build and the huge wheel on the back which I love on canons
5D is lovely but lenses are cheaper and more varied if you go EF-S.
On a FF model I'd only want to put primes or L glass (or similar) on one to get the most out of it
cropped sensors opens you up to lovely f2.8 goodness on a budget
 
+1 for the 50D its a great camera and you can get them used for about £300
 
I had a 500D and have lined up a buyer for it but it was a nice camera, switched over to Nikon though. In the future I wouldnt hesitate to go back to Canon but when I was looking to upgrade according to KR (not the most reliable source but hes reviewed nearly everything) theres not much difference between the 400D, 450D, 500D, 550D or 600D (I personally find it hard to believe but still!) he said this about the 600D:
For still photos, which are my primary focus, this Rebel T4i isn't much different from my Rebel XTi from 2006
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I was looking at the 50D when I bought my 500D but simply couldnt stretch that for in terms of budget (I was a beginner at the time) so I think the 50D would get my vote!
 
Personally I would look at used equipment, you'll get more for your $$$.

As for a camera body, its personal choice, if you were happy with the smaller compact XXXD bodies, then continue with them, but the XXD bodies offer the next step up and then the 5D is another step up again. Depends whether you like the auto modes or would rather have a more pro camera.

A 50mm f1.4 (used) will set you back about £200-240, so that leave you with £360-400 for the camera body.

So you canon option's are 450D, 500D, 40D, 600D or 50D.

5D is in the £400-500 range, so if you want the 50mm f1.4 then you would have to increase your budget.

It depends what you want to photograph, if you want to photograph moving subjects, the autofocus on the 5D ain't the best, but then again if you want low light or wide angle then full frame is the way to go. Or if you like wildlife, perhaps the crop factor of a small sensor camera will provide you with more benefits.

At the end of the day, its personal choice and its what suits you for your budget.
 
there's not a lot of difference between a 40d and the 50d apart from the pixel count but in your hand using either one it's hard to tell which one is which
image quality is pretty much the same too in fact some say the 40d can resolve more detail but i think that is subjective

just a thought in case you come across a cheap 40d
 
I have the 50D and I can do everything I want with it. Macro, sports, cars,bikes,landscape the list is endless.

For the money you get a great camera with lots of potential,
 
I've had a 40d for the past couple of years and just bought a 5Dc. I use it with a couple of primes including a 50mm 1.4 and absolutely love it.

It just seems more 'organic' than the 40d. The images are crisper, they seem more alive somehow. I loved my 40d, but that love has been surpassed by the 5Dc. I was concerned before I bought it about the rear screen size and such stuff but to be honest I've found no issues at all with it.

You do have to think a little more with the 5, such as ISO for example (no auto ISO like the 40d), but on the whole I'd certainly recommend the 5Dc.
 
Go for a 50D. Awesome sensor in it and lovely to hold.

Get a low mileage one and you'll be set.
 
Go for a xxD body if you are going to be shooting wildlife or with an f/2.8 zoom (which is much cheaper). Wouldn't bother with a 50/1.4 on it though unless you want to shoot portraits...the effective field of view is more like that of a traditional 80mm lens...quite restrictive. You'd be better off with a 30/1.4 or 35/2.

I've owned a 10D/20D/30D/40D/60D and the original 5D gives much nicer image quality, pair it with a 50/1.8 or 50/1.4 and you've got a nice setup if you don't need the f/2.8 zoom or crop factor for wildlife.
 
cosmicma said:
there's not a lot of difference between a 40d and the 50d apart from the pixel count but in your hand using either one it's hard to tell which one is which
image quality is pretty much the same too in fact some say the 40d can resolve more detail but i think that is subjective

just a thought in case you come across a cheap 40d
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This is an argument often touted by people who don't know, based on some incorrect assumptions and tests when the 50d first came out. I've got both, the 50d is much better in High ISO noise, general image quality and overall performance. If you do consider one then there are a few settings to ensure the best from it. The is a 50d owners thread on here that explains there.
 
Are you are really going to make your purchase based on a couple of peoples input on a forum?

Still the 5D for me by the way :)
 
If you can save up to at least £800 then you can get 7D, why not try to find a used 7D, this will be better than those xxxD models, maybe 5D1 is a full frame but it is old fashioned now, check out 1DsII if you can get or used 5DII, i found a new 5DII for about £1100, that is a bargain, before you spend £600 on something just wait and think again if you want to get anything better, you don't know what you will lose if you buy now and sell later to buy again, think wisely.
 
Also, wish if you were in my country, then i will give you my 5D1 for that £600, i have all the items and the box itself too, i didn't use it too much since i got 1Ds2 with it at the same time, in very good to excellent, i have also 30D in very good nearly excellent condition due to not much using since getting 1D MarkIIn after it.
 
If it helps at all...

I've had 300D, 10D, 20D, 5D, GF1 and G1 and the best image quality I get is from the 5D.

However, I think that the actual differences in image quality at low to middling ISO's are really minimal and that it's only when you push things to the limits that differences really show up. If most of your shooting is at low to middling ISO's or even ISO 1600 and you mostly produce whole images or light crops for screen viewing or printing at A3 and smaller and if you can avoid obsessive pixel peeping I don't think there's a massive difference in any of the DSLR/CSC I've used at low to middling ISO's after shots have been processed to get the best out of them. For example my G1 produces images that the vast majority of people would never be able to pick out if hidden in a pile of 5D images.

So, in your place I'd think carefully before investing in a new camera and what exectly you want to achieve.
 
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DizMatt said:
I'd go 50D Or something 2nd hand if necessary
the reason being is that you get the better build and the huge wheel on the back which I love on canons
5D is lovely but lenses are cheaper and more varied if you go EF-S.On a FF model I'd only want to put primes or L glass (or similar) on one to get the most out of it
cropped sensors opens you up to lovely f2.8 goodness on a budget
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Personally I think that going for good lenses and using them on an existing camera makes more sense than buying a "better" body and putting a cheap lens on it. Although to be fair, my 5D takes nice pictures when I use cheapo Zuiko lenses on it :D
 
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