What would you do?

Scuzi

Scuzi

Scuzi

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I sold all my gear about 6 months ago with the plan of getting a 5D and some new lenses in November when I was in the US. However, just before I left I heard rumours of a replacement for the 5D and held off. I wanted a full frame camera.

Now, I have just bought a Canon EOS 30 35mm SLR with a Sigma 24-70 f/2.8. It's a pleasure to use and to be honest I think it will fulfill my full frame fetish for now. There is one problem though - getting the pictures onto the computer isn't easy. I have to wait until I use a full film before I can send it off to the lab for processing where I can get them scanned onto CD. This is perfectly fine for the occasional shot but I want to be able to fiddle with shots as soon as I get in.

As it stands I have £800 (can stretch to a grand) and I have a few options:
1. Buy a Canon 5D body. Use it with the Sigma 24-70 until I have enough money to get more lenses.
2. Buy a second hand 30D body for about £400-ish. This leaves me about £400 for a lens - probably the 70-200mm f/4 L. This will get me back into digital as well as expand my lens collection.
3. Get a 20D for about £250-300, a 70-200f/4 L.
4. Stick with the film body and spend the £800 on lenses - probably 70-200mm f/4 L and a Sigma 12-24mm with the change going towards a film scanner or towards processing costs.

The 20/30D is a very tempting option as I can sell it as and when the 5D replacement comes out and shouldn't lose too much money on it. Having looked at eBay there aren't a great deal of them for sale and they seem to be going for more than they are worth on a lot of occasions.

As for the difference between the 20D and 30D. Is there much? How do they compare as far as image quality goes? I used a 400D before, would the 20D be on par or better than it?

What would you do? Any suggestions which I have not mentioned?

Thanks.
 
Like I said in the other thread.
Buy a 5D. Still worth their weight in gold.

Its all well and good buying into a film system but its not at all a temp solution.

Gear alone, a good scanner, like you said Filling up a roll of film at a fixed ASA rating.

I echo again the 5D. I want the 5D mark II and myself am still tempted by the current 5D.

Your used to full frame now. The choice really is obvious. Full frame is hard to give up!
 
I guess the best option is to buy a 5D and if you feel the need to upgrade to the new 5D then sell it the moment you hear its official.
 
I was afraid you'd say that :p

A second hand 5D seems to be going for ~£900-1000 on average. At this price I'd have to make do with the one lens for a few months at least which is what worries me about getting the 5D. Do you reckon the 5D will hold it's value for much longer or will it drop significantly in the coming months as it's replacement gets nearer?
 
The main advancement in the 30D are;

- bigger lcd
- spot metering
- more picture style options
- RGB histogram

The dvancement of 400D over 20D are;

- Anti Dust Cleaning
- 10mp
- more picture styles
- bigger LCD

If you plan on getting FF camera, I wouldn't bother with any DSLR atm, I'd just get a good compact for around £100-150.
 
Fstop11 said:
It will hold most of its value until the mark II is offical. Best to keep your ears peeled.

What lens are you stuck with?
Sigma 24 / 70?
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Aye, the 24-70mm f/2.8. It seems to be a good lens apart from the less than perfect AF.



nolimit said:
If you plan on getting FF camera, I wouldn't bother with any DSLR atm, I'd just get a good compact for around £100-150.
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What makes you say that?
 
Personally id get a 20D or a 30D, get some of the lenses you think you'll want over the next few months etc, get the lenses, wait for a bit of a drop on the 5D, then get that.

Its what im doing atm on the Nikon side, getting lenses i want, then going for the body :).
 
syke said:
Personally id get a 20D or a 30D, get some of the lenses you think you'll want over the next few months etc, get the lenses, wait for a bit of a drop on the 5D, then get that.

Its what im doing atm on the Nikon side, getting lenses i want, then going for the body :).
Click to expand...

If the 5D drops in price it will because of its replacement which is what Scuzi wants in the first place. He is basically wanting a camera for the mean time before the 5D II comes out.
 
Scuzi said:
What makes you say that?
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Since you held off buying 5D because of the possible replacement, keep the £800 for it and in the mean time get a compact camera. Since you have SLR camera whats the point in getting 20D/30D only to sell it again.

The compact will be handy in the future.
 
I'd get a 20D (no point in the 30D) - use it until the 5D replacement comes along. You should be able to sell the 20D and not lose much money.

One question, what is the "full frame fetish"? What advantages does it bring over the obvious cropping (than can be compensated for with different lens choice).

nolimit said:
Since you have SLR camera whats the point in getting 20D/30D only to sell it again.
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To use it in the mean time and not lose much money reselling it.
 
This is what I thought people would say.
Full frame is looked at as the devil and people love the cropped factor camreas because the user THINKS he/she is getting more zoom when your getting nothing extra at all (only a loss)

If someone really cares deeply about creating brilliant photography then one of their main concerns should be the overall quality of the viewfinder!

Full frame gives you
1. 100% coverage of what your photographing (meaining nothing is captured outside what you frame!)
2. Its large, VERY large and its bright! Seeing as this is ths display your eye reads when taking photos its good to know that your looking into a big bright view finder
3. Full frame means you are using the full extent of the lens. 24mm is 24mm and 100mm is 100mm. These lenses have been designed at this focal length because decades of photography has told us this, meaning your lens can be put to a more practical purpose.

Just to name a few. Not to mention how powerful and fantastic the 5D is and will be for many more years to come.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone, it is much appreciated.
After much deliberation over where I want to go with photography over the next few months and due to certain events coming up soon I decided on the following course of action. I have purchased a Canon 20D body and a Canon 100-400mm L IS. The body should be with me early next week and the lens should arrive the following week.

This will get me going in the meantime. Had I bought a 5D, I would not have been able to afford the lens. When the 5D replacement arrives, I'll be able to get it and I'll have hte 20D as a second digital body with the EOS 30 as the third body. This should serve me well.

Again, thanks for the advice :)
 
You have done what i'd suggest. buy a cheaper body for now as the lens will always be used
at a later date when you have the body you want :)

Andy
 
Nice one
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I've used a 20D and 100-400 for almost 4 years and it's a great combination.
 
i'd be interested to know how much you end up using the film camera now you have the dslr.

my film camera hasn't completed a roll of film in over 4 months... I only use it for B+W, and I do everything at home with that. I just don't seem to want to be elbow deep in chemicals in the cold cellar at the moment.
 
Why not learn to develop your own film, it's very easy and it's very cheap in comparison to paying lab fees, you don't need a darkroom. Buy yourself a neg scanner and job's a good un'. I sold all my 35mm film gear but still shoot and develop my own medium format film.

Can't say I'm a big fan of the 5D really
 
aztechnology said:
i'd be interested to know how much you end up using the film camera now you have the dslr.

my film camera hasn't completed a roll of film in over 4 months... I only use it for B+W, and I do everything at home with that. I just don't seem to want to be elbow deep in chemicals in the cold cellar at the moment.
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When I had the EOS 30 and 400D, I used them side by side when out and about shooting, especially when most of my shots were off the cuff in crowds and whatnot. I had the 17-40 f4L on the EOS 30 and the 70-200 f4L on the 400D. It was a great combo as I had very wide angle if I needed it and a decent amount of telephoto.
A second digital body would have been perfect but I was happy enough working with the film body.



fat_wife said:
Why not learn to develop your own film, it's very easy and it's very cheap in comparison to paying lab fees, you don't need a darkroom. Buy yourself a neg scanner and job's a good un'. I sold all my 35mm film gear but still shoot and develop my own medium format film.
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I'm a bit stuck for room and have absolutely no idea about where to start. I'd love to give it a try but I reckon after a few goes I'd get fed up and send the negatives off to a lab!


fat_wife said:
Can't say I'm a big fan of the 5D really
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Whyso? A lot of people seem to think it fills it's space in the market very well.
 
Congrats on the purchase, the 20D is a very capable camera and should tide you over well.

A used 5D is still a sound investment just now for say £900 as I really doubt you'd lose too much if you were to sell it on if a successor was announced.

The way I see it, if a 5D successor does come along its spec is either going to be a spectacular upgrade or slightly more predictable (i.e. live view, dust removal, Digic III, 14bit etc.)

Either way, I really doubt it'll come in at less than £1500 if it arrives in 2008
 
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