Guidance, suggestions or plain old recommendation please

DonBonzo

DonBonzo

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Tim (or Teejay)
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Hi

I'm considering an upgrade to my existing equipment, and am no closer to making a decision than when I started reading about the various models and options, so looking for some advice or recommendations please.

For starters, here's what I have at the moment :

Canon 40D

EF 100-400 f/4-5.6 L IS USM : Used for Wildlife and Aviation (most used)

EF 16-35 f/2.8 L II USM : Landscapes and indoor work

EF-S 17-85 f/4-5.6 IS (Kit lens, came with camera) : In studio for imaging picture frames (I'm a picture framer)

Speedlite 580EX

The options I have are seemingly endless :

  • Spend every last penny on a new 1DMkIV (and risk the wrath of SWMBO due to lack of holiday, eating bread and gruel etc)
  • Buy a new 7D and invest in a new lens (I'd like a decent macro for flowers/insects etc)
  • Buy a new OR 2nd hand 5D Mk 2 (but would the fps rate detract from my flight shots?)
  • Buy a 2nd hand 1D Mk III (or has tech moved on too much these days)
  • Wait (5D Mk3 rumours)

So- if you were in my position, which body would you go for, and which lens(es) would you want to complement those I have already? (I'd also like a 1.4x or 2x extender for the 100-400, but only if the new body could handle the higher ISOs required to push the AF aperture requirements (if that makes sense)

Thanks in advance

Tim
 
What do you think your current equipment isn't doing for you?

If I were you I'd upgrade the 17-85. I have it as my walkabout lens on my 40D, but whenever I get a chance I borrow a 15-85 from the cupboard here at LensesForHire. The 15-85 is a much better lens: better built, sharper, has better IS, and - importantly for me - distorts less. I would imagine the lower distortion would be useful for you too.

But it's not obvious to me what else would be useful to you, unless you say something about your priorities.

PS Welcome to TP!
 
What is it you mainly want to get out of this that the 40D can't do as you have a pretty good setup there?

Using a 1.4x TC on the 100-400mm limits the body choice to a 1D body so you can maintaining AF. All the rest only AF with lenses up to f5.6. As soon as you go with a 2x TC none of them will AF.

For macro just getting a nice lens will be great with the 40D.

The 5D and 5DmkII are not fast at continuous shooting 3fps on the 5D and is it 4.6fps on the 5DmkII (can't remember).

The 1DmkIII would be great for aviation but don't forget that you will have a wider field of view with the same lenses compared to the 40D.
 
StewartR said:
What do you think your current equipment isn't doing for you?

PS Welcome to TP!
Click to expand...

That's a great question, as it's so difficult to put a finger on. In the main, I find it difficult to get the 40D to hold focus on fast moving targets at airshows (but that's likely as much to do with the level of my panning ability as to any limitation of the gear!), and getting pin-sharp images of small birds at full reach with the 100-400 is also tricky without resorting to tripod and cable release. Not a problem in decent light with no wind, but in our usual meteorological conditions in East Yorkshire it can be a problem, hence the desire for an extender.

Tim

<Edit> I have no issues regarding landscapes or other photography using either the 17-85 EF-S lens (which would probably end up being permanently attached to the 40D at work in the gallery/studio for the most part), or the truly outstanding 16-35 'L' series lens.
 
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The way forward isn't clear, because you seem to have quite a capable outfit. Any problems could well be technqiue related, as you say, and if so a new camera probably won't change that. Check the AF options on your 40D.

Full frame 5D2 or 1D series is not a good way forward because of your reach issues, and neither is an extender as you'll lose AF on anything except a 1-series camera. Long lens photography is never cheap or easy.

You affection for the 17-85 is strange considering none of your picture frames can come out square ;) And I'm unclear about the 16-35 too. Personally I'd get a 17-55 2.8 and sell them both, or get the 15-85 that Stewart mentioned.

What I would say is a) decide on the camera first, which means either stick with the 40D or get a 7D) and b) change everything else one thing at a time and give it a try before buying more.
 
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If there isn't anything standing out as restricting you at the moment I'd say just get the macro lens you want and go from there.
 
In terms of lenses, I'd be tempted to release some of the cash at the wide end as it seems not to be your priority. How often do you really need f2.8 for your wide zoom? Not for landscapes, but maybe for indoor work? Perhaps you could swap it out for one of the other (slower) wide zooms, some of which are very capable.
 
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