p.1 #1 · Best upgrade - best benifit - Body or Lens?
OK so ive had my starter kit for about 2 years now
Canon EOS Rebel XS Digital SLR
EFS 55-250mm Telelens
EFS 18-55mm lens
I am mostly taking sports action shot or being out in the wild snapping wildlife and such
What would I benefit from upgrading first, Camera body or lenses
I am looking for Zoom Lenses and im not sure if I should go with Sigma or Canon but then again not sure if I should get another body first and "how big should my upgrade be
Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS
Sigma 50-500mm f4-6.3 EX APO RF HSM
Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM (twice as expensive as the SIGMA is it worth it its only 300 too?)
I have no experience with Sigma nor other zoom lenses, is there a better choice that would fit the Rebel or should I just continue to save up and buy Canon?
BODY, should I change body before I go for lenses?
what body should I get, would there be any major benefits to get like a T3 or should I take the bigger jump up to a EOS 60d or a 7D (about my price range, same with lenses $1500)
p.1 #3 · Best upgrade - best benifit - Body or Lens?
Well, are you looking for something longer? (My take, based on the lenses you listed) Or something with a wider aperture, or something with better image quality? Most lenses will hold their value better than most bodies, plus you can save by buying refurbished from Canon or used here on the buy/sell board.
Basically, do you have a feel for whether the lens or the body is failing to deliver what you want? You've held on to your kit for long enough that I think either lenses or bodies would open up your capabilities a lot.
p.1 #4 · Best upgrade - best benifit - Body or Lens?
I guess what im looking at is something that will help me in a lower light scenario, my pictures gets really grainy when using ISO 1600 on the Rebel XS with my zoom lens.
would I benefit from the newer digic imageprocessor in the other bodies or will my pictures still be grainy with a newer lenst (the DigicIV can use a way higher ISO, does that result in even MORE grain or is it better at processing the low light)
p.1 #5 · Best upgrade - best benifit - Body or Lens?
Typically lenses are a better investment as they retain their value unlike bodies which drop in value once the "newer, better" replacement comes out, however, looking at your current situation (and knowing you want to take better low light photos) you're really being limited by both your camera body (max iso of 1600) and your lenses (all max at f/3.5+). Knowing your budget would help us give you the best recommendation.
Also, does your low light shooting warrant the need for longer focal lengths? The Canon 50 f/1.8 is rather inexpensive (~$120 new) and would give you a better option for low light shooting compared to your current lenses. This could solve your problem assuming that the 50mm focal length works for you.
p.1 #6 · Best upgrade - best benifit - Body or Lens?
my budget as of right now is about $1000-1500 and I need Focal 200+ since its used from a distance taking sport actions shots
the VERY low ISO is one thing that I keep pondering if a new body would help with aned a newer DIGIC image processor
the 50mm focal would help some of the issues, but I would need to crop alot and lowering the resulution of my picture, I have thought about it, since it is fairly cheap
You can address low light shooting either by getting a better sensor (which will produce less grain at high ISOs) or by getting a "faster" lens (wider maximum aperture/lower f/stop). A refurb T3i body with no lens is $560 from Canon directly. You might be able to pick one up for even less on the buy/sell boards here and have more $$ leftover for a new lens. You can get a 200mm f/2.8 L for around $800 new and $600 used. If you go for a slightly older body (maybe T2i), you can even squeeze one of the 70-200 zooms in and come in under $1500. One of the better zoom lenses or primes will really out shine your current EF-s zoom lens.
p.1 #9 · Best upgrade - best benifit - Body or Lens?
Thank you Kenbennedy ill look that over
Gosemang, the 800 is really the only usable ISO setting unless you are in BRIGHT sunshine the 1600 will turn grainy and the grains are blue/greyish and can be fixed with software but its annoying to do on 100+ photos at every game im at
p.1 #10 · Best upgrade - best benifit - Body or Lens?
I think you can do a number of things here - upgrading both your lens and your camera to help you in low light situations.
I would go ahead and sell your camera body and the 55-250 lens. Keep the 18-55.
The sale of that body and that lens should generate you around 350 to 400 dollars. Now your budget can be pushed to 1900 or so dollars.
With those funds, I'd purchase a 60D as your main camera. This camera will give you better high ISO performance. It can also shoot video, has an articulating screen, has better autofocus and a number of other features that your current XS is lacking.
That body used will cost you around 750.00 (give or take), Your current 18-55 lens will work on that body and give you nice images too. You can upgrade that lens when you hit it's limits like you have with the telephoto.
This will still leave you with plenty of funds to get a telephoto lens. The 70-200mm f/2.8 Non IS will run you around 1000 used. For sports, if 200mm is enough, this lens is still at the top of it's field (save for the new IS version II that costs around 2k)
If 200mm isn't enough, you're looking at a couple options
300mm f/4 IS (950 or so)
100-400 (might have to look a bit, but you can find them for 1150 or so which is still in your budget)
70-300L (this is probably just outside of your budget at 1300 or so used).
With the $$ you have, you have quite a few options.
p.1 #11 · Best upgrade - best benifit - Body or Lens?
I agree with jasonpatrick, a comprimise of camera and lens should help you greatly. For lenses I'd choose the 70-200 f2.8 if sports is a priority or the 300 f4 if wildlife is more your thing. Keeping to the non IS versions should keep you within your budget.
I'd also consider a second hand Sigma 120-300 f2.8 as an all rounder if you only upgraded the lens, but this option might be a little pricey.
p.1 #13 · Best upgrade - best benifit - Body or Lens?
doing sports and wildlife the 7D will wipe the walls with the t3i due to the fps and the AF system. you can pick up a used 7d right now for like $1k.
if you do as jasonpatrick said and sell your current body and telephoto, that would leave you just about enough to buy that $1000 used 70-200 f/2.8 non-IS
p.1 #14 · Best upgrade - best benifit - Body or Lens?
hmm 60D havnt even considered that. (I might want to keep the old one since my 12 year old is starting to show interest in Photography) and its always nice to have a backup
p.1 #16 · Best upgrade - best benifit - Body or Lens?
I am pondering if for now I would do OK with upgrading the body only as I have 2 usable lenses and maybe spending a little more on the body
I can take descent photo's with it as is, but the drive is a key factor too when taking actions shots..
man this is not easy to just jump on... I guess im leaning towards 60d or 7D I know there is a huge difference in price and they are sorta the same camera except the few different things
p.1 #17 · Best upgrade - best benifit - Body or Lens?
goosemang wrote:
doing sports and wildlife the 7D will wipe the walls with the t3i due to the fps and the AF system. you can pick up a used 7d right now for like $1k.
if you do as jasonpatrick said and sell your current body and telephoto, that would leave you just about enough to buy that $1000 used 70-200 f/2.8 non-IS
that'd be a pretty serious step up
For shooting birds from a kayak, I mainly carry the 7D, 70-200 2.8, and the 1.4X extender. I'd recommend the 7D and 70-200 2.8 combo, as well and keep your 18-55IS for wide. Later pick up a 1.4X extender, and even later still the 2X extender.
p.1 #18 · Best upgrade - best benifit - Body or Lens?
You asked which upgrade will give you the most benefit. That depends on the problems you are having. It sounds like your biggest complaint is noise at the high ISO settings you are using. So I see two possible solutions:
1) Upgrade to a body with less noise at the required ISO settings. OR
2) Upgrade to a lens with a bigger aperture which allows for lower ISO settings.
If you go with option 1, then any of the newer bodies that have been mentioned will help with your noise to varying degrees. Some (like the 60D and especially the 7D) will give the added benefit of better AF as well. Problem solved. Unless you also need more focal length.
If you go with option 2, you could look at something like the 70-200 f/2.8. You will gain two stops of ISO. Would you be happy at ISO 400 (instead of 1600)? I think that ought to be absolutely fine on your XS. You lose a little bit of focal length. So if 200mm is acceptable, than I think that is the best solution. Note that you can also use a 1.4x teleconverter to get back up to 280mm but it will cost you one stop of light, bumping your ISO back up.
But if you also need more focal length, then you are in a bit of a bind. The 100-400 is a good option, except you don't gain much aperture. You might gain some at 250mm, but you are back to 5.6 if you want to use that added focal length. You can't get above 200mm with an aperture less than 5.6 without spending a lot of money. Maybe the 300/4, but that doesn't gain you much FL.
p.1 #19 · Best upgrade - best benifit - Body or Lens?
thomashammer78 wrote:
I am pondering if for now I would do OK with upgrading the body only as I have 2 usable lenses and maybe spending a little more on the body
I can take descent photo's with it as is, but the drive is a key factor too when taking actions shots..
man this is not easy to just jump on... I guess im leaning towards 60d or 7D I know there is a huge difference in price and they are sorta the same camera except the few different things
For used or refurb (search canon loyalty program) there is only about a $300 difference between the 7D and 60D. I'D really recommend you bite the bullit and hold out for the 7D. Then your camera won't be your limiting factor for a long time.
