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 p.1 #17 · Is the 7D to much for me? | |
Nikko,
Buying used is fine, just do some research.
With camera bodies, you want to be aware of actuations and repair history. Also, ask if there are any defects or damage. You'd be amazed at how many times there are and the seller doesn't mention them (particularly on eBay). Beyond that, I generally judge bodies by their cosmetic condition. You can bet that a 30D that has been babied enough to look good on the outside is probably still good on the inside. Conversely, one that appears to have been used in a war zone is probably filled with dust and may have loose components. I've purchased three camera bodies used and never had a problem. The worst issue I've faced was a bit of dust on the sensor, which was easy to remove with a rocket blower.
These days, I only purchase my lenses used. I don't see any reason to buy them new. You can buy a used lens at a good deal and sell it without a loss if you don't like it. With lenses, ask about the date code (only the nicer Canon lenses have them), and the optical and mechanical quality of the lens. Ask for pictures if none are provided. Once again, someone who's kept their lens looking nice cosmetically has probably treated it well generally. I'm wary of ones that have battle scars but supposedly work well. Also, someone who's saved all of the original packaging and such may be slightly more reliable, but that's not always true.
As for the gear you're considering purchasing, I would recommend getting at least a 40D. I owned a 30D, and I remember the 40D looking like a nice improvement. I also had a 400D, and the 30D, lower pixel count and all, is significantly better. It meters much better, is nicer to hold, works faster, and has vastly superior AF (in my experience). The 40D is even better. A LOT of 30Ds were sold when it came out. I don't think the same was true with the 50D. Also, if you have the money, the 7D looks fantastic. It's clearly a significant step up from the 40D, and offers a lot more than video improvements (flash commander, much more sophisticated AF, better high ISO performance, micro-focus adjust, etc.). It's good not to waste money on a body you don't need, BUT, I guarantee you, if you really want a 7D, and you buy a 40D, you'll end up selling the 40D to upgrade sooner rather than later, and when you do, you'll probably lose money and you could have had the 7D to begin with. That said, if you can handle having less than the latest and greatest features, then there's a lot to be said for owning last year's camera. You can save a lot of money that way, and your body will depreciate far less.
Personally, I upgraded from a 30D to a 5D. If image quality is more important to you than feature set and speed, then you should really consider the 5D. You can pick them up for about $1200 on buy/sell, and they're still amazing. They offer better high ISO performance, per pixel sharpness, depth of field, etc. than any APS-C camera. The 5D would be well suited to the type of photography you said you enjoy.
As for lenses, if you want to stick to APS-C cams, the 17-55 f/2.8 IS is a must. I still miss it, and I have some really nice glass (16-35 IIL, 24-105 ISL, 70-200 2.8 ISL, 35L, 50L, 85L, 50 1.4). You can get some fantastic deals on it used, just look for a copy without internal dust (a problem with some copies).
I think an ultra-wide zoom is a no-brainer, so either the 10-22 for APS-C, or the 17-40/16-35 II for FF.
All of the 70-200 zooms are great. If you can afford it, IS is really nice to have at longer focal lengths.
If you have to decide between zooms and primes, I would start with mostly zooms, and maybe add one general purpose prime for low light (e.g., 50 1.4). It's easy to get caught up with the great IQ of primes, but there's no replacing a zoom for convenience when you don't have time to set up the shot (e.g., weddings).
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