New body or new lens?

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Cobbler72

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I am in a lucky position to have £400 to spend on a present, I must have a present, I can’t have the cash and so I have decided I might upgrade my photographic equipment.

The question I would like help with, is do I spend the money on upgrading my camera body or on upgrading my lenses?

I currently have a Canon 350D and the following Canon lenses:

18-55mm f3.5 / 5.6 (kit lens)
50mm f1.8
28-80mm f3.5 / 5.6 (kit lens from an EOS 500 from 16 years ago)
75-300mm f4 / 5.6 (Bought with above)

I enjoy landscape, sports and portrait photography.

Can anyone give me any advice on where the money would be best spent and suggest any new bodies/lenses that I might consider?

Any help and comments would be gratefully received.
 
Oooh! Spending other peoples money is fun!:)

Assuming that you are reasonably happy with your current camera and lenses I personally would go for a lens rather than a new camera so I'd look at a wide especially as my most used zoom is a 12-24mm.

Other than a wide the only thing that seems to be missing (although meaning no offence some of your lenses are maybe a little short of the best available these days) is a macro so maybe you might think about one to take you in a new direction? Just a thought.:)
 
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I would get your present in the form of new glass rather than a new body. :)
 
New glass was my gut feeling but wanted a 2nd opinion from those who know more than me.

No offence taken "woof woof" I know my lenses are not what they might be. Not keen on wide lens - I think I'd rather improve on what I have if I can although I will look into a macro if I can't do that.

Any ideas of what I might go for to replace what I have and get good value for my (someone elses!) money?
 
£400 won't get you much in the way of fast telephoto lenses for your sports but you could sell the 50/1.8 and get second hand 50/1.4 and 85/1.8 which are great for portraits and the 85mm is good for indoor sports. Or maybe a wide-angle prime instead of the 50/1.4 and keep the f1.8 version.
 
I think I would buy glass with your budget

a lot depends on what lens you use most I guess?

I would be looking at one these lens:

17-50 tamron f 2.8 (to replace your 18-55)
10-20 sigma
90 marco Tamron f2.8
70-200 canon F4 (to replace your 75-300)

Or maybe a flash 430ex mkii

If you can buy 2nd hand you might be able to get 2 new toys.
 
Cobbler72 said:
New glass was my gut feeling but wanted a 2nd opinion from those who know more than me.

No offence taken "woof woof" I know my lenses are not what they might be. Not keen on wide lens - I think I'd rather improve on what I have if I can although I will look into a macro if I can't do that.

Any ideas of what I might go for to replace what I have and get good value for my (someone elses!) money?
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I'd agree with the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8. I have one and I think it'd be a step up from the 18-55mm and 28-80mm that you have. If you still have the film camera I'd think about keeping the 28-80mm but I think I'd sell the 18-55mm as the 17-50mm f2.8 is the better option and you might as well have some cash towards your next new toy.
 
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Try and find a used 70-200 f4 L. It's a real step up.
 
Defo go for a lens.
Either tammy 17 -50 F2.8 or Sigma 70 - 200 F2.8 (2nd hand) would be worthy investments IMHO
 
I'm nikon but hey dont let that put you off. You like landscapes, have a look at the tokina 11-16 f2.8
Its around the 400 ukp mark new (perhaps a little more) and is a great lens. I think flickr has examples and there are a few on the flickr link beneath (when I have used it) there is a set on there for tokina.

:)
 
Thanks for all the advice on the glass - it certainly gives me something to ponder.

As a matter of interest, if I was to invest in a replacement body too - how much would I need spend to notice a significant difference to my 350D i.e. what models would I need to consider.

For example, if I were to go for one or more of the lenses mentioned (i.e. of that quality), what quality body would compliment them?
 
I moved from a 350d to and 50d and I'm very happy with the improvment in image, build, screen quailty and function.

I still would like a 7d or 5dmkii at some point when funds allow.

What sort of budget do you have in mind? as it will help others offer you options in your budget range.
 
from a 350D I'd be looking at moving to at least a 40D, maybe a 50D. Excellent condition 40Ds can be picked up for less than £400.

However with your current crop of lenses I'd be looking at them first.
 
Thanks. Not really got a budget in mind at this time. I am really trying to come at it from the other angle and find out what I would have to spend for it to make a noticable difference.

It seems like my original question was answered with a resounding "buy new glass". I am curious and am wondering how much it would take to move up another level if for e.g. I got the Canon 70-20mm F4 that some suggest.

It seems that would make a huge difference but then would a new body too make a further significant difference or not? And if so - what do I have to spend to get there.

[Posted in reply to tris101 before I read above]
 
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There is a large choice of body's which will offer you an improvment, myself I would be looking at one of these:

Canon 50d (£440-500)
Canon 7D (£850-930)

Canon 5D (£530-600)
Canon 5D MkII (1250+)

Your body will sell for around £130-160 on ebay looking at old listings. The prices above are again ebay sold prices as a guide.

So it will come down to budget and what you are going to use it for. The 50d and 7d are crop sensors and are both fast, very good for wildlife, sports and still good for portraits etc.

Canon 5D are full frame and need glass to match, they are slower but image quality is very good. best suited for portraits and landscapes but can still be good for wildlife and sports with the right lens.

Look at some review of thes body's

The Canon 70-200 F4 is a very nice sharp lens.

I think I would buy a tamron 17-50 f2.8 next unless you are going to move to full frame.
 
I would get a 40D. Sell the 350D and use the left over money to get a lens. Works out both ways!
 
With the exception of the 28-80 I had the same camera and set of lens you have only a few months ago, I changed to the 40D, a tamron 17-50 2.8 and the canon 55-250 IS and have found a big improvement. I use the camera in low light a lot for which the 40D and the 2.8 lens really is a massive step up from the 350D and kit lens.

I bought my lens new from ebay and with a bit of shopping around saved a lot of money, for example the tamron I got for £225 compared to jessops £325 and a second hand price on the forums of £240.
With a bit of time spent looking for good deals theirs no reason u couldn't upgrade both the body and lens.
 
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futureal33 said:
Then buy the Tamron 17-50 2.8 lens - unless you want IS then maybe even consider just upgrading your kit lens to the newer 18-55 IS kit lens..
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I was going to suggest just this.

I wouldn't bother upgrading the body. Fair do's it's getting on a bit technology wise, but if you don't find a problem with it's results then I say keep it.

Glass over body any day of the week.
 
2Thumbs said:
I was going to suggest just this.

I wouldn't bother upgrading the body. Fair do's it's getting on a bit technology wise, but if you don't find a problem with it's results then I say keep it.

Glass over body any day of the week.
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Id agree if you arent doing much low light shooting as for everything else my 350D was fine, but the diffrence is remarkable when you increase the ISO on the 40D compared to the 350D.
 
Indeed, the 40d is fantastic for noise handling. IMO it has the mega pixel sweet spot.
 
I started this thread back some months ago with...

----------------------------------

I am in a lucky position to have £400 to spend on a present, I must have a present, I can’t have the cash and so I have decided I might upgrade my photographic equipment.

The question I would like help with, is do I spend the money on upgrading my camera body or on upgrading my lenses?

I currently have a Canon 350D and the following Canon lenses:

18-55mm f3.5 / 5.6 (kit lens)
50mm f1.8
28-80mm f3.5 / 5.6 (kit lens from an EOS 500 from 16 years ago)
75-300mm f4 / 5.6 (Bought with above)

I enjoy landscape, sports and portrait photography.

Can anyone give me any advice on where the money would be best spent and suggest any new bodies/lenses that I might consider?

Any help and comments would be gratefully received.

-----------------------------------------

Today was the day I was offered the present although it is actually £350

I am still undecided what to do but I am leaning towards the Tamron 17-50 2.8 lens that several of you suggested. Since 6 months have passed (I was a little ahead of myself!) is this still the best choice in its field?

Is this the one you mention (Amazon £329)?

Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR VC Di II LD Aspherical (IF) (Canon Mount)

The other lens some mentioned I believe is

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM Lens (Amazon £500)

I am tempted by that although is it worth paying more and get IS?

Any comments or alternative ways I could spend the £350 based on the earlier suggestions will be appreciated. I basically want to buy something that will give me the biggest wow factor when comparing it against my current kit.

Thanks.
 
The 70-200mm is a great lens. But I would say that as I'm selling my old one. lol. Definitely took all my best pics with that lens, although my only other one was the kit lens.

If it was me though, I would go for a new body as the 350d is really quite old now and the newer bodies have a lot of improvements (not that they will necessarily make your photography better though). Compared my 500d to my friends 400d and his was just horrible to use.
 
Thanks. I had stopped considering a new body as the majority sugested glass over body.

I would love a Canon 60d but at £800ish they are a bit pricy. An option could be to buy one at Jessops and pay the difference in Tescos tokens (2x value) effectively getting it for about £575.

However I get the impression that I would be wasting my money with the current lenses I have?
 
350d is already outresolving your glass.

My first advise would be to sell them all; you can keep 50mm f/1.8 if you are happy with it - I wasn't. This would increase your budget a bit.

Then you can go on a shopping spree. I would agree that Tamron 17-50mm is a very decent lens to start with. You could save a bit by buying second hand. Then you may just about squeeze out the 70-200mm f/4, again used. Just be careful and sensible when picking the listings.

You could always get a body later, for Christmas perhaps. 40D would be a nice step up, and relatively affordable one. You need good glass first, though.
 
Thanks. Whilst I'd love to do what you suggest, and may do in the long run, would buying the lens suggested still be a good idea? Would it work well with both the old body and any possible new one later on?

My short term 'problem' is to pick something to spend £350 on. I have to do this shortly.
 
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