What’s Your Preference?

LCB1229 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-29-2011, 03:21 AM

I've been doing photography for about two years now. I've been learning on a Canon Rebel XSi. The lenses I currently have are the 18-55mm (kit lens), a 50mm 1.4, and a 70-300mm 4-5.6. I feel like I am ready to take my photography to the next level and I don't know if I should upgrade to a new camera or a new lens. The camera I am looking at is the Canon EOS 7D. Other forums I have read seem to advise on spending money on quality lenses as the camera bodies won't make as much difference. Any opinions?

RichardTaylor · #2 (**permalink**) 10-29-2011, 03:49 AM

Specifically, how do you find your existing camera and/or lens limiting your photography?
What do you want to shoot in the future that you can't shoot now?

ccting · #3 (**permalink**) 10-29-2011, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCB1229

I've been doing photography for about two years now. I've been learning on a Canon Rebel XSi. The lenses I currently have are the 18-55mm (kit lens), a 50mm 1.4, and a 70-300mm 4-5.6. I feel like I am ready to take my photography to the next level and I don't know if I should upgrade to a new camera or a new lens. The camera I am looking at is the Canon EOS 7D. Other forums I have read seem to advise on spending money on quality lenses as the camera bodies won't make as much difference. Any opinions?

LOL, i was same as you, tempted to buy lenses. I fought my own mind saying "don't buy don't buy - you can't improve your photography skillset by just upgrading the lenses. It just waste of money because I am not professional.". If buying more advance camera and lenses will help me capture MUCH better photos, then I will go ahead. But, the fact is very dissapointing - it depends on you yourself... Finally, after a few months, I finally don't have any intention to buy any other len other than my vr kit len 18-55mm.

For me, it is best for you to buy speedlight if you don't have one, tripod, lightstand, remote flash triger to learn about the lighting. You have more than enough lenses (at least for me), it is time for you to buy other things .. Believe, most of friends up here, shot with extreme cheap non-DLSR compact cameras / mobile phones able to capture much better photos than me, who owns quite a nice DSLR and len. Look at the 5 most basic cheap things to buy, from this website blog

A@EPOCH · #4 (**permalink**) 10-29-2011, 02:53 PM

Rich is exactly right, once you find out what is limiting you with your current body... I upgraded from the XSi to the 50D for image quality and slightly improved high iso performance, then moved from the 50D to the 5Dc for it full frame capacities. So it really just depends...

veritasimagery · #5 (**permalink**) 10-30-2011, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccting

LOL, i was same as you, tempted to buy lenses. I fought my own mind saying "don't buy don't buy - you can't improve your photography skillset by just upgrading the lenses. It just waste of money because I am not professional.". If buying more advance camera and lenses will help me capture MUCH better photos, then I will go ahead. But, the fact is very dissapointing - it depends on you yourself... Finally, after a few months, I finally don't have any intention to buy any other len other than my vr kit len 18-55mm.

This is not completely true. Yes, improving your skills and understanding of your camera make a huge difference in your ability to create good images. But, the inexpensive lenses use inexpensive (and therefore, less clear) glass and use less expensive motors for AF. Often times, you can see a great difference in simply upgrading glass. Your images can turn out sharper. Your focus speeds increase and your apertures can also increase. It is NEVER a waste of money to upgrade glass if you are serious about your photography.

There are also advantages to upgrading camera bodies, mainly upgraded features. If you upgrade to anything newer you will be gaining in sensor abilities. The more professional cameras will also give you increased shutter speeds, more control over camera operations, remote flash capabilities, increased shutter actuations, increased number of AF points and therefore better AF possibilities, and better shock and weather protection.

All that said, many of us will over-run our kit lenses abilities before we do our camera bodies. That is why the rule of thumb has been to invest in upgraded glass before upgrading the camera.

SAD · #6 (**permalink**) 10-30-2011, 06:24 PM

Hi
I have just joined today and am not sure if that is the correct way of posting.

I have been doing photography for the last 5 years with Canon EOS 350. I would like to upgrade it but for more functionality and especially panorama/photostitch setting. Can you advise on a Canon SLR that can do that please?

Thanks

gturner · #7 (**permalink**) 10-30-2011, 07:04 PM

The jump in technology from a 350D to a 7D or 5Dmkii or even the 600D is remarkable.
That said, if you don't know how to use the functions of the older model, haivng the newer model is going to fix that.

More resolution, massively better ISO, faster write speeds and frame rates... those are all the things money can get you. Good photos still come from the person pulling the trigger.

Glass vs Lens - We almost always say glass, but if your camera is very older or gives you noise over 400 ISO, get the body first. IMO.