Whereas before my gear upgrades seemed pretty obvious, I've hit a point where I'm not sure which path to take. To give you an idea of what I shoot, I've been taking mostly portraits lately and have begun learning and shooting wedding photography. I've done very little sports/wildlife shooting, and while I did really enjoy what I have done with it, I won't being doing it regularly anytime soon.
My gear list:
Canon 350D (Rebel XT) with BG-E3 battery grip.
I've considered the 30D or the 5D. The 30D doesn't seem a tremendous jump from my XT, but the feel of the camera is definitely more desirable than the XT and is also cheaper than the 5D, but I don't want to upgrade to the 30D if I'm going to have to upgrade it that much sooner. I hear talk about successors to one or both cameras, but I also don't want to wait 6-12 more months if a new body is my next purchase.
That being said, would you upgrade the body first, and if so, to what? Or would you upgrade glass first, and again, what would you get/replace?
TIA,
Mike
Edited by aplacidnoise on Aug 15, 2007 at 01:26 PM GMT
The 40D will be coming out here in the US on Sept. 2nd if that is an option you would like to look at. Also a really nice option I bought to make my 400D feel more like a "real" camera was the battery grip. It balances out the camera especially well with large glass such as your sigma 70-200 f/2.8. I also like the idea of having two batteries as when I go out shooting it is for longer periods of time.
romesdsanthem wrote:
The 40D will be coming out here in the US on Sept. 2nd if that is an option you would like to look at. Also a really nice option I bought to make my 400D feel more like a "real" camera was the battery grip. It balances out the camera especially well with large glass such as your sigma 70-200 f/2.8. I also like the idea of having two batteries as when I go out shooting it is for longer periods of time.
Just my two cents.
Kurt
Just edited my original to include that I do use the battery grip with my XT as well.
I hadn't heard that the 40D has a confirmed date now. Do you have a link to an official posting/article about that? If that's true, I will definitely keep that in the running.
Randy Smith wrote:
The "rumor" of the 40D date is a thread over 110 pages long right now. There are some very educated guesses, but noone knows for sure.
I've read through bits and pieces of it, and it's just too big to be of much use right now, especially with no confirmed information.
KFG1:
If you happy with your XT go for lenses, maybe an 85 /1.8 or 35L? Or maybe get a tripod?
It is a good little camera, but I just feel it's lacking at this point. The 85mm 1.8 is one lens I've considered and keep hearing great things about. I do have a tripod and monopod, cheap ones, though.
personally, since you already have the Rebel, I wouldn't bother with a minor body upgrade now. The 5D would be a big upgrade IMO and would consider that. As to lenses, you have what looks like a very good versatile kit to me. For weddings, maybe consider a Tamron 28-75 or 24-70L, personally I find my 24-70L ideal for this on a cropped camera and could probably get by with the less wide 28-75.
mh2000 wrote:
personally, since you already have the Rebel, I wouldn't bother with a minor body upgrade now. The 5D would be a big upgrade IMO and would consider that. As to lenses, you have what looks like a very good versatile kit to me. For weddings, maybe consider a Tamron 28-75 or 24-70L, personally I find my 24-70L ideal for this on a cropped camera and could probably get by with the less wide 28-75.
I agree. Seems like a lot of portrait / wedding photographers have migrated to the 5D. Really don't see where upgrading to a 30D ( 40D ) would be that much of an improvement over what you have today.
mh2000 wrote:
personally, since you already have the Rebel, I wouldn't bother with a minor body upgrade now. The 5D would be a big upgrade IMO and would consider that. As to lenses, you have what looks like a very good versatile kit to me. For weddings, maybe consider a Tamron 28-75 or 24-70L, personally I find my 24-70L ideal for this on a cropped camera and could probably get by with the less wide 28-75.
I second this recommendation. Possible sell the 17-35 you have and get the Tamron 17-50 2.8.
chez wrote:
I agree. Seems like a lot of portrait / wedding photographers have migrated to the 5D. Really don't see where upgrading to a 30D ( 40D ) would be that much of an improvement over what you have today.
Definitely makes sense. The next question, then, would be: body first, or glass? Ultimately both will happen at some point.
If you are considering the up-coming 40D + grip that will put you close the price of a used 5D. The 30D currently and especially after the release of the 40D is a good bargain. Your lens selection appears good for what you are shooting. For you, I'm guessing that upgrading the body for improved AF will be a good step especially when you're using lenses with real low stops. With improved AF you going to have a lot more keepers where as getting more glass isn't going to help you in this area. In addition a newer body is going to have better performance in the higher ISO which is also going to get you something extra lenses won't.
aplacidnoise wrote:
I've read through bits and pieces of it, and it's just too big to be of much use right now, especially with no confirmed information.
It is a good little camera, but I just feel it's lacking at this point. The 85mm 1.8 is one lens I've considered and keep hearing great things about. I do have a tripod and monopod, cheap ones, though.
I can think of no better place to throw money than into a good tripod and ballhead. Cheap tripods and heads have given me more problems--both in terms of image quality and just plain pain-in-the-butt hassles--than what I've ever gained through any combination of bodies and lenses. I do shoot mostly landscape, where a solid setup under all kinds of conditions is essential, but I've done some studio and on-site portraiture too...just not having to worry about my set up and gear has been worth what I've spent on a decent tripod and head.
Mike wrote: "I've been taking mostly portraits lately and have begun learning and shooting wedding photography."
I'd really think hard about swapping that Sigma 70-200/2.8 for a Canon 70-200/2.8 IS.
Natural light and indoor shooting sometimes means low light and longer Tv - IS can be a big helper there. Might be a good idea to spend some time on the wedding forums to see what they are using for glass.
EDIT: I should add that if you are shooting weddings for money, then you NEED a back up body.
dan wrote:
EDIT: I should add that if you are shooting weddings for money, then you NEED a back up body.
You read my mind on this one. I don't and won't shoot weddings. However, if I did, I'd always have a backup body, a backup of my primary lens, a backup flash, and a crap ton of batteries. Hell hath no fury like a bride scorned, let alone one with no wedding photos.
Logically speaking, if you don't find there's anything wrong with your XT, I'd suggest you keep shooting it and get more or better glass instead. However, this is coming from a person who switched from the original Rebel to a 10D when I didn't find the Rebel lacking. But it's a one way street, and I'm not looking back.
But it's a one way street, and I'm not looking back. 