Upgrade from 450D

Phoen1x · 23 Jun 2014 at 16:31

I am thinking of upgrading and am wondering what is a sensible increment without breaking the bank? Body only shouldn't be a problem as long as it is Canon. I wouldn't want to spend more than a few hundred quid but would like to see an uplift in image quality.

Uses are mainly architectural and landscape with a little bit of street, so I am mainly interested in detail.

Ta!

howler · 23 Jun 2014 at 16:35

What lenses are you currently using? You're probably going to see more benefit from better lenses over a body

Phoen1x · 23 Jun 2014 at 16:39

howler said:
What lenses are you currently using? You're probably going to see more benefit from better lenses over a body

At the moment only the kit lens and a nifty fifty 1.8. I got the 450 cheap a few years ago and presumed that a newer body was the way forward.

Any advice for a good lens within the £200 range then, perhaps to replace the kit 18-55?

howler · 23 Jun 2014 at 16:41

At that price take a look at the Tamron 17-50 F2.8, a cracking lens

Janesy B · 23 Jun 2014 at 17:25

The non VC version of that lens is cheaper and better optically. I had one on my 550D and it was an improvement over the kit lens. Having a wider aperture means you can overcome issues with low light as well.

I replaced my 550D with a 70D and using the same lenses there isn't a vast difference in IQ in good light, although I can get usable files at ISO 1600 where my 550D would fall on it's behind at 400.

2Thumbs · 23 Jun 2014 at 19:03

Janesy B said:
The non VC version of that lens is cheaper and better optically. I had one on my 550D and it was an improvement over the kit lens. Having a wider aperture means you can overcome issues with low light as well.

I replaced my 550D with a 70D and using the same lenses there isn't a vast difference in IQ in good light, although I can get usable files at ISO 1600 where my 550D would fall on it's behind at 400.

You must have had a serious issue with that 550D of yours then, considering they both share the same sensor.

OP, if you're not finding an issue with noise, or any technical ability of the camera; lenses are always the way to go. The Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 non-VC is fantastic. Or if you wanted to go wider than kit length I can recommend a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 also.

Phal · 23 Jun 2014 at 20:43

2Thumbs said:
You must have had a serious issue with that 550D of yours then, considering they both share the same sensor.

Not exactly the same is it

It's not a massive jump in IQ quality that's for sure but it's definitely not the same!

As said already, a new body won't get you much of an improvement in picture quality and definitely not for that budget. A new lens is definitely the way to go. You just need to decide whether you just want a better lens to replace your current one or to have something longer/shorter etc.

Amp34 · 23 Jun 2014 at 22:37

Have a look at the Sigma 17-70 OS, I think it cane had for about that much (certainly second hand anyway). My GF currently has it - the new one - and it's very nice. Personally I prefer it over the Tamron 17-50 which just didn't feel like an upgrade from the Kit lens.

You do lose a bit of light as its an f/2.8-f/4 but it has more range and is overall a better lens than the Tamron IMO.

On the other hand the 450D is fairly old now. I swapped from a 400D to a D7000 about two years ago and the quality difference was night and day, especially noise handling, which was one of the bug bears of the 400D.

=XDC=FluphyBunny · 23 Jun 2014 at 23:50

I would hope a d7000 was a good upgrade!

2Thumbs · 24 Jun 2014 at 00:35

Phal said:
Not exactly the same is it It's not a massive jump in IQ quality that's for sure but it's definitely not the same!

I refer you to DxO Mark:

http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Comp...on-EOS-550D-versus-Canon-EOS-7D___895_645_619

No difference you'd be able to make out with the naked eye.

I had a 20D that became terrible after 400 ISO. I dropped it.

Janesy B · 24 Jun 2014 at 08:53

2Thumbs said:
You must have had a serious issue with that 550D of yours then, considering they both share the same sensor.

They don't have the same sensor, because the 550D doesn't have sensor based phase detection AF and even if they did have the same sensor the image processor will be better. I am just going on my own experience. If I upgraded to the 70D for IQ alone I would have been disappointed but I wanted the top LCD, faster burst and better AF so that's made the upgrade worthwhile. I got a bigger jump on IQ when I bought better lenses.

Amp34 · 24 Jun 2014 at 10:22

=XDC=FluphyBunny said:
I would hope a d7000 was a good upgrade!

Well yes. It's a significantly younger camera for one. Which was the point.

I'll admit I actually picked it over the 7D as it was smaller so different to the beginner cameras but still, the major difference was age.

Phal · 24 Jun 2014 at 12:24

2Thumbs said:
I refer you to DxO Mark:

http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Comp...on-EOS-550D-versus-Canon-EOS-7D___895_645_619

No difference you'd be able to make out with the naked eye.

I had a 20D that became terrible after 400 ISO. I dropped it.

And I refer you to the rest of the specs...

70D has a 20MP sensor with continuous video AF whereas the 550d does not! You're correct in saying that there isn't much different in IQ where the low ISO shots are concerned and that's the case for most crop sensor Canon DSLRs of the last 5 years or something silly but saying it's the same sensor just isn't correct

Phal · 24 Jun 2014 at 12:25

Janesy B said:
They don't have the same sensor, because the 550D doesn't have sensor based phase detection AF and even if they did have the same sensor the image processor will be better. I am just going on my own experience. If I upgraded to the 70D for IQ alone I would have been disappointed but I wanted the top LCD, faster burst and better AF so that's made the upgrade worthwhile. I got a bigger jump on IQ when I bought better lenses.

Pretty much the same reasons for my upgrade from a 650d! AF + Burst rate and the little extra resolution doesn't go amiss either.