New Camera Body Dilemma

[agresbach]

Looking for some feedback on deciding between a Canon 50D and a 7D
I currently have a 350D , 50mm 1.8 and 55-250 IS.
the 350D has worked great but really lookin to upgrade to a body that can handle higher ISO ranges (really cant trust my 350D any higher than 200 or 400 sadly) and something w/ higher resolution for those times when you have no choice but to crop (i know getting better at framing BEFORE the shot is a better overall way to avoid this but it happens).

my budgets at the highest is probably $1200-1400. i've been considering the 50D w/ the 28-135 IS lens that i can get for around $1100 or waiting to see if the 7D drops in price at all and save a little longer and get that w/ body only.

so i guess my question comes down to is does the 7D handle higher ISO ranges that much better than the 50 (among the other upgrades it brings that arent as big of a concern to me)? also, i need to look into if the 28-135 is decent or not (entry level IS i know but slowly building my equip).
thank you for the help!

Edit: digging around a little more and considering maybe now the 50d body and instead of the 28-135 f/3.5-5.6, picking up a Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8. anyone have experience w/ this Tamron lens? the constant 2.8 is very intriguing for portrait work i'm thinking

[FormElement]

My understanding, from what I have read, is that the 50 D and the 7D are almost the same in high ISO noise. You can push both to 1600 and get useable images. The 7D with the higher pixel density will produce somewhat better images, even with the same noise level.

I own the 28-135, and it would probably be a good add-on for you. It's a very good lens at that price point (especially as a kit lens). I'm surprised you have nothing on the wide end (18mm or wider for the crop sensor), but maybe you don't need to shoot wide for your style.

[agresbach]

Originally Posted by FormElement

My understanding, from what I have read, is that the 50 D and the 7D are almost the same in high ISO noise. You can push both to 1600 and get useable images. The 7D with the higher pixel density will produce somewhat better images, even with the same noise level.

I own the 28-135, and it would probably be a good add-on for you. It's a very good lens at that price point (especially as a kit lens). I'm surprised you have nothing on the wide end (18mm or wider for the crop sensor), but maybe you don't need to shoot wide for your style.

that sounds about what i've read comparing the iso noise w/ the 2 of them. which camera do you have? i dont know anyone w/ either body so was hoping for some hands on feedback.
so you like the 28-135 then? ya you know i go back and forth w/ wanting a wider angle lens but i'm mostly shooting smaller sized portraits and kids so havent had the need yet (my 50 has done decent actually). does the 28-135 give you sharp shots? the HD video and wireless speedlight handling of the 7d is intriguing but not deal breakers for me i guess. i'm learning towards the 50 and lens but had a couple people i work with pushing me to the 7 so just gathering opinions

[sybren]

I have a 350D, and I found the 50D not innovative enough to pay such an amount of money for it. The 7D really is on my wish list, as it adds so much. The key features to upgrade to the 7D (apart from higher resolution and less noise) are:

• Built-in speedlite master. This allows me to take my 580EX-II off-camera, giving me 33% more off-camera strobes (I also have two 430EX's).
• 100% view finder coverage.
• Built-in artificial horizon.

[agresbach]

Originally Posted by sybren

I have a 350D, and I found the 50D not innovative enough to pay such an amount of money for it. The 7D really is on my wish list, as it adds so much. The key features to upgrade to the 7D (apart from higher resolution and less noise) are:

• Built-in speedlite master. This allows me to take my 580EX-II off-camera, giving me 33% more off-camera strobes (I also have two 430EX's).
• 100% view finder coverage.
• Built-in artificial horizon.

thanks for your input!
i guess i'm just kind of torn........now is the noise THAT much better on the 7 compared to the 50? some sample tests i've seen on other sites seem to be pretty comparable. High ISO performance is one of the top factors i'm looking at.
I did have a chance to stop by Best Buy on lunch yesterday to play with both a bit. Both seem light years better than my 350 but I will say the 7's 100% view coverage is pretty damn impressive! i wouldntve thought the difference between the 95% and 100 comparing the 2 would seem to significant but it really is.
the wireless triggering is appealing too but i do have a 16ft hot shoe cable that works pretty well so i can manage with that if i have to (obviously wireless w/out having to get a radio popper is ideal though)

so I think what it comes down to for me is just how significant is the noise performance between the 2. If its minimal (for example, if you can go up to 3200 safely on the 7 compared to 1600 on the 50) thats not that huge a thing for me since i like to stay below that if i can w/ portraits, i could go w/ the 50 and afford to pick up that Tamron 2.8 lens (i'd love to think i could save for the canon 24-70L but that really would take quite a while to save for (eventually its on my radar though).

The other factor is the 7D is retailing at $1699 right now. if anyones experience w/ canons new bodys, how long do they tend to stay at the initial retail price before any kind of drop? (it would make it a lot easier to swallow if it was in the $1500 range (but thats quite a drop in price i wouldnt image would happen for at least a year)

thanks again!

[OsmosisStudios]

I would definitely see if you could stretch to the 7D. That's going to the best bang/buck combo.

[agresbach]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

I would definitely see if you could stretch to the 7D. That's going to the best bang/buck combo.

thanks for the tip! i really would like to go w/ the 7 but the price currently just is too high for my budget. dont know if you're a canon or nikon guy but in your experience after a new body is released, how long do they typically stay at that initial retail price (7d currently at $1699) before they drop a bit? just kind of weighing how long it might take to drop to the $1500 range

[cheap]

Forget about 50D! It is history.

A friend of mine already shooting 6400 with his 7D. Unless you like to join others capturing 'creative blur' with slow shutter speed when their cameras lack low noise high ISO.

Just save and wait for price break.

[OsmosisStudios]

Im a Nikon guy, but the trend is similar regardless.

Canonites are expecting an announced 60D sometime in the coming 12 months: I would expect the 7D to drop a bit in that time, but not much. Bodies tend to only drop in price near the very end of their life cycles and once they are discontinued. Lenses, on the other hand, tend to maintain value.

[sybren]

Originally Posted by agresbach

is the noise THAT much better on the 7 compared to the 50?

No idea. I mentioned it because it's THAT much better compared to the 350D ;-)

The other factor is the 7D is retailing at $1699 right now. if anyones experience w/ canons new bodys, how long do they tend to stay at the initial retail price before any kind of drop?

When the 7D was released it was priced at over €1500, now it's for sale around €1350, so it's already dropped in price. Not sure how that drop is going to continue, though.