New Lens or Camera Upgrade ??

tonybassplayer

tonybassplayer

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I am thinking of selling some musical equipment that is no longer required giving me about £800 ish that I can spend on camera equipment. If I don't spend it it will just absorbed in to the house money and be lost forever and I just fancy a little treat.

I currently have a Canon 60D and the only "long" lens being a kit 55/250

I am quite getting into birds and my 55/250 is barely ok for average pictures in the garden.

My question is what would be the best use of the money ?

Upgrade to the 80D and keep saving for a Sigma 150/600 contemporary or purchase the sigma and keep saving for the 80D

My thoughts at the moment are to get the lens but just thought I would throw it open to the forum

Many thanks

Tony
 
Lens first, body upgrade second. The 60D is still a very capable camera but if you need the reach only a longer focal length will be a must.
 
Mintchocs said:
Lens first, body upgrade second. The 60D is still a very capable camera but if you need the reach only a longer focal length will be a must.
Click to expand...
This.
250 isn't enough if you're getting into birding.

So get the lens, then keep saving for the 5Dmk 4 or 1dx2 ;)
 
I did a small experiment yesterday.
I went to a large field and put into view from an 800mm lens (400mm + 2x ext) a frame left to right in landscape.
Knowing that while moving forward the height perspective would change a lot I ignored that and just kept as close as near possible the left and right markers at each focal length.
I focused at 800-600-400-300-200 and 100mm each time keeping the left and right markers to the view finders left/right side and ignoring the loss of ground and sky.
These two images show how far you need to travel to obtain the same left/right view.
There are white board markers on poles at each red square I highlighted.
This came about as a friend asked which lens he should get to go between his 18-55 kit and 100-400mm
At the time we were in a small room and I showed him in that kind of place he didn't need one.
Taking a shot at 100mm then stepping forward 3 standard steps (approx 4 ft) he got nigh on the same image with his 18-55 at the 55mm end.
However, outside is a different story and of course the further away you focus the larger the gaps between each focal length will be to achieve as close to the previous focal length and so on.
The point of this exercise was to see in this field anyway if you wanted a newer bigger zoom and to be able to fill your frame what was needed.
The image even from the 100mm focal point was still 40 yards away.
So to fill a frame with small birds usually requires cropping even with massive zooms but I suspect you already know this.
100-800 image.jpg 100-800.jpg
 
Last edited:
Decision made - going to go for the new lens and get the camera on my Xmas list

Many thanks

Tony
 
I bought that lens a few weeks ago, my first non-Canon lens for years. Early days but it is impressive. If you are planning to take BIF, you'll need a camera with a decent AF system.
 
Still a bit of a newbie to all this

Would the 60D class as having a decent AF system ?

Only really used it for static things since purchase using the centre point focusing (really need to read the manual lol)
 
I have never used a 60D so cannot comment. For static birds I'm sure it will be fine as is my 40D which is now used by one of my daughters. I have a 7D ii which has a very good AF system, I'm still learning its capabilities. The 5d mark iii and 1Dx are probably even better but cost a lot more. Technique plays a large part, only wish mine was a lot better.
 
tonybassplayer said:
Decision made - going to go for the new lens and get the camera on my Xmas list

Many thanks

Tony
Click to expand...

Yes, this is what I'd do, the 60D is a great camera and very capable - I'd treat yourself to a new very good lens and go from there...
 
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