Canon 7D vs 5D MKII?

OK, final question before I start actually taking some photos and stop pestering you guys. ;)

Is it worth getting something like the Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 VR for a camera such as the D5100? Overkill, or just making the most of it?

Being a bit impulsive, I started bidding on one the other day and only narrowly missed out on it. Some goit put in another £1.11 or so and my final bid didn't get through in time. It went for just over £900.

I was intensely annoyed - as is standard with eBay bidding :p - but then wondered if it's worth getting with the D5100 and as part of my first set of lenses.

I'm quite lucky in that the camera, 35mm 1.8 and 18-105mm are all being bought for me, so I haven't laid out any expense. Shall I leave it there, or go with the 70-200mm 2.8, or just get something not quite so 'pro' like the 70-300mm?

I promise I'll leave you alone eventually. ;)
 
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See how you get on with the other lenses first and then decide if you NEED the extra reach. Probably best off renting or using one of the lenses in a shop before buying such an expensive lens as you need to know it'll do exactly what you want and get some good use to justify the price. Personally, I doubt you'll take the 35mm off the 5100 body as the quality of the shots you can do with it are superb and its a great learning lens, teaching you composition, where as zooms tend to make photographers lazy.
 
alexthecheese said:
OK, final question before I start actually taking some photos and stop pestering you guys. ;)

Is it worth getting something like the Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 VR for a camera such as the D5100? Overkill, or just making the most of it?

Being a bit impulsive, I started bidding on one the other day and only narrowly missed out on it. Some goit put in another £1.11 or so and my final bid didn't get through in time. It went for just over £900.

I was intensely annoyed - as is standard with eBay bidding :p - but then wondered if it's worth getting with the D5100 and as part of my first set of lenses.

I'm quite lucky in that the camera, 35mm 1.8 and 18-105mm are all being bought for me, so I haven't laid out any expense. Shall I leave it there, or go with the 70-200mm 2.8, or just get something not quite so 'pro' like the 70-300mm?

I promise I'll leave you alone eventually. ;)
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See how you get on with what you'v got/getting. If you want to take it further, consider a used D700/D7000/D800 (depending on what you enjoy doing) and appropriate lenses.
 
James J said:
See how you get on with the other lenses first and then decide if you NEED the extra reach. Probably best off renting or using one of the lenses in a shop before buying such an expensive lens as you need to know it'll do exactly what you want and get some good use to justify the price. Personally, I doubt you'll take the 35mm off the 5100 body as the quality of the shots you can do with it are superb and its a great learning lens, teaching you composition, where as zooms tend to make photographers lazy.
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That entirely depend on what one likes to take a photo of. I have the 35mm 1.8 and agree that it is fantastic lens but I am considering selling it because i never use it. the focal length is not very exciting for my work and I prefer to use my 24-70 2.8 if I am working in those sort of lengths and need a fast aperture, otherwise I find the 16-85mm a much more practical lens, I love the 16mm end which allows me to frequently leave my 10-20mm behind to save wait in order to take either a 70-300mm f/5.6 or 70-200mm f2.8. having a look at my portfolio I use the Nikon 70-300 roughly 9 times more than the 35mm f/1.8 and the 70-200 5.5 times more.



A telephoto zoom lens was my first additional lens and it makes a lot of sense giving good options for portraits, landscapes, detailed architecture, PJ style street photography and of course wildlife.


And I would also strongly argue that although Zooms can make you lazy a prime lens can make you even lazier. And if you only own 1 prime lens then it wont teach you about composition because you end up at a fixed focal length without the ability to choose the appropriate focal length and the change in perspective. If you own an array of prime lenses and swap them over for every shot that need a different FL, then indeed it is more effort than having a zoom lens and maybe swapping only occasionally, but most people dont have many prime lenses and most people will rarely swap lenses to a more appropriate fl, hence a zoom lens can afford one many more possibility on composition and makes one think much harder about what the best fl, position and composition makes the best photo - this is much more challenging and more rewarding then simply moving closer or further with your feet and allows you to control perspective, bokeh and out of focus rendering with much more precision.
 
An Exception said:
See how you get on with what you'v got/getting. If you want to take it further, consider a used D700/D7000/D800 (depending on what you enjoy doing) and appropriate lenses.
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Except if the OP wants to try wildlife photography and suchlike where a 70-300mm would make a great invest and is equally useful on FF.
 
^^^
Has the Op even got his DSLR yet?
I'm merely suggesting he take his camera for a spin, see what he likes to shoot, before he spends a **** load of cash on this lenses.

The short answer is, the Op doesn't KNOW what to spend his money on, I just think it's wise to wait until he at least has an idea...
 
I get you point but you were suggesting things like considering a D80 when he hasn't even purchased his D5100 yet.

The OP should buy his camera and I think the kit 18-105 with the 35mm f1.8 is the best way to go,. After a few months then there is a high chance he will be interested in more reach, or wider and should buy an appropriate lens rather than worrying too mcuh about upgrading camera bodies.
 
^^^
Main reason to choose crop is due to cost factors. Wish I had started with a FF, but couldn't afford it. The main lesson I'V learned since then, is that photography kit is a money pit, and it's less of a money pit if you buy the best (or best you can likely afford). What's the saying? Buy right.. Buy once...

In that respect, if the Op can 'afford' & does actually want & needs more reach, he should indeed get a 70-200vrii, but not without actually knowing if this is going to be an important aspect of what he likes to shoot...
 
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An Exception said:
^^^
Main reason to choose crop is due to cost factors. Wish I had started with a FF, but couldn't afford it. The main lesson I'V learned since then, is that photography kit is a money pit, and it's less of a money pit if you buy the best (or best you can likely afford). What's the saying? Buy right.. Buy once...

In that respect, if the Op can 'afford' & does actually want & needs more reach, he should indeed get a 70-200vrii, but not without actually knowing if this is going to be an important aspect of what he likes to shoot...
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While I agree 100% with the buy cheap buy twice mantra that does not apply to 2 different products. I own both a 70-200VR and a 70-300VR and I use the 70-300 far more often than the 70-200. Just because something is expensive doesn't make it better.
 
Well I finally got my little D5100. :cool: :p

Only got the 35mm prime at the moment, but it does look to be a very snazzy little thing indeed. I'll have to take some photos and upload it to a flickr account as a thankyou for the advice you've given. ;)

Once I have the 18-105mm I will be a happy bunny indeed.
 
alexthecheese said:
Well I finally got my little D5100. :cool: :p

Only got the 35mm prime at the moment, but it does look to be a very snazzy little thing indeed. I'll have to take some photos and upload it to a flickr account as a thankyou for the advice you've given. ;)

Once I have the 18-105mm I will be a happy bunny indeed.
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Thats a great first lens as it'll teach you composition.
 
James J said:
Thats a great first lens as it'll teach you composition.
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No it wont teach composition because with only a single prime lens he has no way of learning about perspective. A zoom lens is much better for learning composition because you have choices of both changing position AND changing focal length.
 
Yes it would, also the Sigma is not a 2.8 aperture, I used to have the Sigma, and at wide focal lengths it back focuses like crazy, it's not worth the plastic and glass that was used to make it.
 
had a play today witha 7d and 5dmk2. cant fault either camera's tbh but for my needs i want a 7d + 5dmk2 rolled into one body.

guess that is what the 5dmk3 is lol
 
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