Budget: 2400.00 USD
I currently own a Canon XSi with Battery grip, 55-250 IS, 18-55 IS (kit lenses), Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro USM, 430EX and some minor accessories. Will have 2400 dollars to spend this fall. I really like the idea of having more control over the camera so was looking at the following:
Then sell off my XSi and kit lenses and use the $ for some more equipment.
From what I have been reading even though 50D gives more control of the camera the image quality is essentially the same between the two bodies. Now beginning to wonder if I should keep the XSi and buy some REALLY nice glass (70-200 f/4 IS and a Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM) instead of the 50D body.
Any input from experianced users would be greatly appreciated as I am starting to drive myself nuts!
I'm gonna go with glass as being a good choice. That being said I'm gonna contradict myself and say that you should go ahead and look at a nice used 5d. Your getting a great FX camera with full control and it's gonna give you a huge quality difference compared to you XSI and therefore your 50D (I think, I'm coming from the Nikon camp, I'll let the Canon experts correct me if I'm wrong).
That would leave you with a bit of left over money for a nice lens.
PS everyone is gonna ask what you want to shoot so you might as well say now...
silverpony, 60D might be coming next month. Tamron 17-50 is a great lens and comes with a lens hood and I wouldn't call the Canon 17-50IS an improvement in terms of IQ. You gotta keep the 100mm macro. The XSi is a great little camera and unless you're strapped for cash, keep it as a second backup body you can sell the kit lenses.
The XSi is a good camera.
Buy glass before upgrading the body. The exception to this advice
is if you really want to move to a full frame sensor.
Used 5D bodies are around $1200 now. Otherwise, I'd stick with the XSi for a while.
Thanks for the replies....keep em coming! I shoot mostly Macro and wildlife. Looks like I might be better off getting the good glass and not worry about the body until this one breaks or go full frame in the future.
Doing lots of thinking. Right now this is what I am leaning towards. I really don't think I will be wanting FF any time soon, so:
50D on AMAZON.................999.00
Canon 70-200 f/4 IS USM.......999.00
Tamron 17-50 2.8..............400.00
Already have 100mm f2.8 macro USM
Sandisc Exteem III 16 gig 85.00
Total.........................2483.00
That should be a nice all around kit. This is what I will be selling. Any idea of what I should ask? The money generated by the below will go into my "Camera Kitty" for future use.
XSi about 7K clicks Like brand new
Optika Battery grip 1 month old
18-55 and 55-250 IS lenses Not used much at all. I do mostly Macro
Everything in original kit (cables, books, strap etc)
Charger
1 Canon and 3 aftermarket batteries
Remote switch (wired)
16 gig Sandisc SDHC card
4 gig Sandisc SDHC card
all lens caps(front and rear) and body cap.
All original boxes.
LowPro Slingshot AW 100.
if you are getting 50D kit, the Xsi is relatively redundant. Just sell that stuff and get a solid tripod, some shutter release and 580exII, then you are golden.
silverpony wrote:
Thanks for the replies....keep em coming! I shoot mostly Macro and wildlife. Looks like I might be better off getting the good glass and not worry about the body until this one breaks or go full frame in the future.
This is my line of thought. My Rebel XT is still doing just fine for me. No reason to replace it now as there's nothing on there that's truly disappointing me right now.
Reasons are.
Good glass rewards you and will stay with you for a long time.
But bodies come and go
I agree with your reason but it doesn't apply to all situation. If you feel your camera body is limiting you then the right choice is to upgrade the body.
n0b0 wrote:
I agree with your reason but it doesn't apply to all situation. If you feel your camera body is limiting you then the right choice is to upgrade the body.
Yeah sorry I wanted to go into a bit more depth but got side tracked.
OP has xsi which is a great camera that can hold its own in a lot of situations. only reason to upgrade it would be for the extra FPS and or the buffer depth (its the last one that lets the xsi down most).
Now if you have a goal you want to get to IE a new body and some good glass and cant get it all at once then buying the glass first and the body last will yeild better results than getting the body and sticking with not such good glass for a while.
So maybe I should change the rule to
Glass Glass Glass Glass Body Glass Glass Glass Glass Body......
Why not get that much vaunted 400 f/5.6 instead of a 50D? It will help your wildlife shots.
If you really need good AF and fps, then get a used 1Dmk2 or 2n. I dunno, I'm always for better AF/fps combo than latest and greatest sensor... But that's just me.
So to echo what everyone else is saying. Glass glass glass
What 'control' do you need? More useless bells and whistles and features and modes won't necessarily do anything for your photography. If you don't know EXACTLY what functions you need, you don't really need them! Maybe you are simply succumbing to feature anxiety?
If you feel you MUST buy something, get a lens or two and spend the rest on a trip to Yellowstone or some other pretty place.
