2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

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

jvarszegi
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p.2 #1 · 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.

No problem with spending a large amount on your hobby, but IMO dropping the whole load of $5300 on the 200L IS would not maximize your fun for the money.

Edited on Sep 07, 2008 at 06:43 PM

Sep 07, 2008 at 06:43 PM

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

I think you will use the 200/2 less than you think. But if you only keep it a year it will be a $500 "rental". That's not too bad. I buy lenses I know I will probably only keep a year or two.

Sep 07, 2008 at 06:47 PM

roberto1979
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p.2 #3 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

Well the 200 1.8 is 20ish years old, so I'm sure I'll use it plenty in that time to justify it. At this point in time, the only other lens I'd like to have is an 85 1.8, so that's pretty cheap.

Sep 07, 2008 at 06:53 PM

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

glass

Sep 07, 2008 at 06:54 PM

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

Get the lens. The 200/2 is a thing of beauty.

Sep 07, 2008 at 06:56 PM

brainiac
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p.2 #6 · 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 #7 · 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 #8 · 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 #9 · 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 #10 · 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 #11 · 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 #12 · 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 #13 · 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 #14 · 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 #15 · 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 #16 · 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 #17 · 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 #18 · 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 #19 · 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 #20 · 2 new cameras, or 1 new lens?

get fast glass your bodies are fine

Sep 10, 2008 at 02:50 AM

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