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Archive 2008 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

brainiac
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p.2 #1 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Hey.Underpants wrote:
Get the lens. The 200/2 is a thing of beauty.

Hey Hey.Underpants, that's a great handle. First time I've seen you.

Sep 07, 2008 at 07:07 PM

nburwell
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p.2 #2 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Like you, I have both the 5D and 40D and I'm completely happy with both bodies. Regardless of whether this secret body is a 5D replacement, I still plan on sticking with my current set up. Thus, I would get the 200/2.

-Nick

Sep 07, 2008 at 11:49 PM

garyroach
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p.2 #3 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Go for the glass. You'll have many bodies in the time you'll have the lens.

BTW, nice problem to have.

Sep 08, 2008 at 12:58 AM

roberto1979
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p.2 #4 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Well, I'm thinking of selling an old Jeep I have and getting all of them, depending on the price of the new 5D.

Sep 08, 2008 at 09:39 PM

gberger
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p.2 #5 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Whether or not you go for this particular lens, better glass would be my answer.

Sep 08, 2008 at 09:42 PM

jerrykur
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p.2 #6 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

roberto1979 wrote:
Well this is just a hobby, so I really don't need any of the 3. I love both cameras, and the 200mm would mainly be for sports like the X Games. That's only a once a year deal though, but f/2 is actually used. I just have some extra money to spend, so something like that would be fun to have.

If you have an credit card or mortgage debt, partially funded 401K, etc I would pay first before I bought a 200/f2 for a once a year event. Operate like a pro and rent in that situation.

Sep 08, 2008 at 09:49 PM

CarMad
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p.2 #7 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Glass for me, I've said the same in other threads.

Some seem to be obsessed with the body but I want to here about some decent reasonable new L glass. Am I the only one?

Sep 08, 2008 at 10:06 PM

eosfun
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p.2 #8 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

I beg to differ from the majority. Even though I do agree that camerabodies in general are a negative asset, because they devaluate rapidly, even though good glass adds new creative possibilities and image quality over what you already have; my vote goes to a new body, since you would not ask if you really needed the 200/2.0 So, upgrade all of your lenses and buy the new high res body (not necessarily both new cameras). Remember that the high resolution body works behind all of your glass and you will get better pictures from all of them. If you want to play with the glass, since you mentioned it is just a hobby: rent it for some weekends. This will give much more EOSfun than the all eggs in one basket solution for the money burning a hole in your pocket.

Sep 08, 2008 at 10:30 PM

moondigger
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p.2 #9 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

While I would normally recommend the glass over a body, in this particular case I think you should adopt a different approach.

1. 200/2.8L
2. 85/1.8
3. Whatever new body you prefer -- most likely, the 5D replacement

The new body is likely to give you 1 stop (or more) better high-ISO performance, making the f/2 aperture on the 200/2 that much less necessary. In other words, you can get that stop out of the body rather than getting it from a 1 stop faster lens. You won't get the shallower DOF, true, but I think in this particular case you'll gain a lot more with the new body than you will with the lens.

Sep 08, 2008 at 10:57 PM

epphoto
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p.2 #10 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Vote for glass also !!!!

Sep 08, 2008 at 11:50 PM

roberto1979
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p.2 #11 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

jerrykur wrote:

If you have an credit card or mortgage debt, partially funded 401K, etc I would pay first before I bought a 200/f2 for a once a year event. Operate like a pro and rent in that situation.

Thanks for that comment. I have all my investments fully funded though, and I specifically set aside money each month of the year until the end that is just "play money".

I was kind of thinking the same thing about a new camera adding that extra stop of light. The good thing is that I can see what real world results people are getting from the cameras before I decide at the end of the year.

Sep 09, 2008 at 06:16 PM

dchao
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p.2 #12 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Get 1Ds Mk III - If you shoot X games, you will want a camera with the best AF (not counting Nikon).

Sep 09, 2008 at 08:46 PM

roberto1979
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p.2 #13 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Well then I'd only have one camera, and no new lens, AND an extra 3k in the hole. Not a bad idea though.....

Sep 09, 2008 at 10:04 PM

craigy
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p.2 #14 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Don't mean to sound rude here, but have you shot 200mm f/2 and do you have a need for that shallow a DOF?

A 70-200 f/2.8 gives you access to the advanced focus points on your camera. The 50D is supposed to have excellent focus ability.

I would come back and ask this question again after Photokina, when we know the specs and price of Canon's latest body.

Craig.

Sep 09, 2008 at 10:49 PM

sivrajbm
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p.2 #15 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

get fast glass your bodies are fine

Sep 10, 2008 at 02:50 AM

John Ferguson
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p.2 #16 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Considering your profile shows you already own a 135L, I would buy the 5DII in your shoes.

Sep 10, 2008 at 03:33 AM

PetKal
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p.2 #17 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

I also believe that one is better off funneling more money into lenses than into camera bodies......that is, provided that the lenses offer an appropriate use value.

However, the 200 f/2 IS is one exceedingly expensive lens. There are significantly more practical and cheaper ways to get high quality and fast 200mm. As mentioned before, there is 200 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8. Even the old 200 f/1.8 could be found for much less money. Need more shutter speed ? How does ISO 12800 grab ya ?

However, if you must have it, hey, we don't mind.

Sep 10, 2008 at 03:41 AM

roberto1979
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p.2 #18 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Ok, I sold my 40D while I'm here in Europe. Prices are so expensive here I made out, and my friend made out really well. I'll possibly sell the 5D while I'm here too, and then I decided to dump a mountain bike as well. Depending on the price of the new 5D, I'll only need to come up with another $400 or so. Problem solved!

Sep 13, 2008 at 09:46 PM

globalkiwi
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p.2 #19 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Hmmm ... so you decided to go for the new 5D body? I didn't do an exact count but a quick squiz through this thread gave me the impression of opinion being heavily in favor of the lenses!

Was your OP a slightly rhetorical question or did you find the lure of an unknown new body just too much to resist?

Edited on Sep 13, 2008 at 10:10 PM · View previous versions

Sep 13, 2008 at 10:08 PM

roberto1979
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p.2 #20 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

No, i'm selling the bike and my 5D to finance the new 5D, leaving the cash I originally had set aside for the lens, still intact.

Sep 13, 2008 at 10:23 PM

Rijsberman
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p.2 #21 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

glass.
always.

well almost.

Sep 13, 2008 at 10:25 PM

globalkiwi
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p.2 #22 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Ah-ha, I see. Hopefully a double winner (depending on what/if Canon releases to replace the camera you just sold).

Sep 13, 2008 at 10:25 PM

EvilZardoz
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p.2 #23 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Glass.

It will hold its value more, too, so if you don't use the lens much in a year, you can sell it and pick up the 1D's replacement and still come out ahead...

But what do you need to grab the shot? If you're into high ISO, then the 5D's replacement might be a good move - but from every sample I've seen, the 200 f/2 is tack sharp wide open with IS as well. If nothing you are shooting really demands the newer features of the 5D's replacement (and thing hard, do you REALLY need all those extra features when your 40D and 5D can still snap a great shot as well?).

The 40D is still a great camera - it might be worth selling that and getting the 50D if the higher ISO is something worthwhile for you.
The 200 f/2L IS is probably going to be more expensive... but

Sep 14, 2008 at 05:01 AM

philber
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p.2 #24 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

You have been given all possible options: buy the glass, upgrade the bodies, swap some glass and do both. I would simply like to say: when the new bodies are out, look at the pics and reviews. If you can, borrow them and go shoot some pics. You will know what's right by then. A camera body does 3 things for you: the IQ, the pics it lets you take, the feel. If after shooting you still don't know if you want either or both of them, you'll have your answer too. I know that that is how I will decide what to do with my 40D: take 50D and 5DII out for a spin, and then make large prints. Decision will be clear by then.

Sep 14, 2008 at 05:30 AM

Keegan Bursaw
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p.2 #25 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Glass. You'll love it!

Sep 14, 2008 at 09:41 PM


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