Wanting to Upgrade Camera Body and Lenses

[NewGirl13]

I've been shooting with a 450D for the past 3 years and the lenses I have right now are the kit lens (18-55mm), 50mm 1.8, 10-22mm and the 70-300mm.

I mentioned in a previous thread that I was wanting to upgrade my camera body to a Canon 5D Mark II, for hobby I like doing landscape work, but professionally I will be doing more boudior, maternity and newborn shoots.The 5D is a bit out of my price range and since I've been shooting with my 450 for several years and have used it a lot, I'm a bit nervous that it's going to give out on me before I can save up for the Mark II. I thought about upgrading to the 40D and buying a few new lenses, the 24-70 2.8 and the 85 1.8 and shooting with those until I can save up for the 5D. Someone also mentioned the 7D, and although I shoot some wildlife, it's mostly for fun and I wasn't sure the 7D was really something I needed.

Anyway, I just wanted to know for what I wanted to do with my photography if the two lenses I mentioned would the best bet. I've heard people talk about the 70-200, but because I don't plan on doing wedding photography, I didn't think it was really something I needed.

Thoughts?

[Krusty79]

If you are planning to go full frame, I'd be hesitant to invest any more $ into EF-S lenses unless you are planning to keep both bodies.

I hope inkista or one of the other experts can give you more advice...

[inkista]

I'm not a pro, and I'm certainly no expert. Just a hobbyist who owns L lenses.

Originally Posted by NewGirl13

.... I mentioned in a previous thread that I was wanting to upgrade my camera body to a Canon 5D Mark II, for hobby I like doing landscape work, but professionally I will be doing more boudior, maternity and newborn shoots.The 5D is a bit out of my price range and since I've been shooting with my 450 for several years and have used it a lot, I'm a bit nervous that it's going to give out on me before I can save up for the Mark II. ...

It would mean taking a chance on an older body, but have you considered looking for a used 5D "classic" (Mark I)? You don't mention a need for super-high resolution or video, and the 5D goes for around $1100 these days. You could then save up for a 5Diii, or wait for used 5Diis to come down in price.

I thought about upgrading to the 40D and buying a few new lenses, the 24-70 2.8 and the 85 1.8 and shooting with those until I can save up for the 5D.

This also seems like a good solid plan. One of the reasons moving to a 5Dii was so much fun for me was that I already owned the 24-105 f/4L IS USM. Getting the glass before the body makes the transition quite a bit easier. And both of the lenses you've chosen are beautiful on full-frame.

One lens you may not have considered (might be too long) is the EF 135mm f/2L USM. It's the center of the 70-200 range, and a stop faster at f/2. And on full-frame, it acts like 85mm would on a crop. The bokeh it renders is probably among the best of the Canon glass out there, and at roughly $1k, it's not as spendy as the 35L, 50L, or 85L.

The other lens to consider from the 85/1.8 is the EF 100mm f/2 USM. It's the identical cousin to the 85/1.8, and gives you a bit more reach, and a little more background blur, while being only 1/3 of a stop slower. Same price, same performance, both optically and in terms of autofocus.

50mm and 85mm are awfully close together, so if you don't plan on ditching the thrifty fifty, you may want to consider if perhaps a bit more spacing between the two lens would be helpful or not to the way you shoot. And that everything is going to seem shorter when you hit full frame.