Any suggestions on a new camera!

[inkista]

Originally Posted by jmarie-photography

I'm looking at buying a new camera, but not sure which one to get. I'm still new to photography and feel that I have outgrown the Rebel xti. I was thinking about the canon 5d or 7d. I know that there is quite a price difference in the two. Do I get the more expensive one or am I not ready for it?

If you need to ask, you're probably not ready. Sorry. One usually doesn't decide between the 5D and 7D on pricetag alone, but more along the lines of full-frame or crop-body; studio work or action photography. Just because a camera's more expensive doesn't necessarily mean it's a better tool for what you want to do.

My second question is, what lenses are you using? Because if you put the 18-55 IS onto a 7D and shoot wide open with bad handholding technique, chances are good you're still not going to get the crispness you desire. "Crispness" or sharpness can depend on a lot of things, many of which are technique. Here are the main questions I'd say you should pose yourself to see if it's the camera or your technique that needs work.

1. Do you know how to hold your camera properly?
2. What are three techniques for helping you handhold at a slower shutter speed?
3. Do you care about your breathing pattern when you click the shutter?
4. Do you post-process?
5. Do you know how to sharpen a photo in post-processing?
6. Do you know how to make Curves adjustments and why you'd use Curves instead of Levels?
7. Do you know how your shutter speed should be related to your focal length?
8. How do you tell a misfocus from motion blur?
9. Does IS help you with subject motion blur?
10. Why would you want to use a remote, timer, and/or mirror lock-up when taking a long exposure with a tripod?
11. What's the typical "sweet spot" aperture for a lens?
12. What are the different autofocus modes for?
13. Which of your autofocus points is cross-type, and why is it important?
14. If your autofocus is hunting, how do you help it lock on?

My personal advice would be to upgrade glass before the body. The glass will typically last you a helluva lot longer.