New Lens or New Camera

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david83

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David
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Hi All,

I am in a quandary about whether to buy a new camera or a new lens. My current set-up is a Canon 400D, kit lens and a Sigma 70-300 APO Macro (Great copy of this lens).

Now I want to further my nature photography and after years of using the Sigma I am ready to buy a better lens, the lens I am looking at is the Canon 400 F5.6. Now I was almost ready to buy the lens when for some reason I thought about a new body, a 550d, possibly a 60D

What do I do? Answers on a postcard please.... :shrug:
 
Do you find yourself limited by your current body?

Personally I would go with the better glass.
 
Normally i would say glass, and you could do with something a bit better if your serious about nature, but how about a second-hand 40D and some glass?
If your not bothered about video a used 40D shouldn't cost more than about £350 (i just sold mine for £300), if you were to also sell your 400D that will leave you some money to get a new lens as well.

The 40D is a great camera and would probably make life a bit easier as its more ergonomic, better IQ and just an all round nicer camera.


Just my opinion.
 
I don't find myself limited with the current body (at the moment) and I favouring the new glass rather than camera.

Dave - I was looking at posts for the 40D and 50D in the for sale section recently as it had crossed my mind. Had a hands on look at the 60D in a shop last week and was impressed by the look and feel of it. I might keep an eye out on the for sale section of the site.

Thanks

David
 
david83 said:
I don't find myself limited with the current body (at the moment) and I favouring the new glass rather than camera.

Dave - I was looking at posts for the 40D and 50D in the for sale section recently as it had crossed my mind. Had a hands on look at the 60D in a shop last week and was impressed by the look and feel of it. I might keep an eye out on the for sale section of the site.

Thanks

David
Click to expand...

I do think a lens will make the biggest difference, i just thought a better specified camera and a new lens would also be a good step forward, and the 40D is pretty cheap compared to the 60D (£400 + less)
It also seems a bit more robust and might be easier to operate when out in the cold and wearing cloves or with cold fingers(i've personally found this but it might just be me).
If shooting nature and using a tripod you would have the top LCD rather than having to turn on the rear LCD, it might help make setting up etc a bit easier, also Live view is quite handy as (IIR) you have a silent shooting mode. Its also slightly better weather sealed.

If you can only upgrade one thing then im with the others and say get the lens. Good glass always makes the biggest difference IME.
 
dave_bass5 said:
I do think a lens will make the biggest difference, i just thought a better specified camera and a new lens would also be a good step forward, and the 40D is pretty cheap compared to the 60D (£400 + less)
It also seems a bit more robust and might be easier to operate when out in the cold and wearing cloves or with cold fingers(i've personally found this but it might just be me).
If shooting nature and using a tripod you would have the top LCD rather than having to turn on the rear LCD, it might help make setting up etc a bit easier, also Live view is quite handy as (IIR) you have a silent shooting mode. Its also slightly better weather sealed.

If you can only upgrade one thing then im with the others and say get the lens. Good glass always makes the biggest difference IME.
Click to expand...

Totally agree that the 40d would be a real step up from the 400D, I made exactly that move myself and was very glad I did. The faster frame rate and better ISO performance are both a big help for wildlife, and I also felt that the images had more pop that the ones from the 400D. I still hold that the 40D is one of the best cameras that Canon have made I still love using mine. That said one of my best bird photos was taken with the 400D...

So lens first then body, and if you can get both you'll be well happy.
 
Thanks for the comments, I think my mind is made up, lens then body. I think the body should be possible this year and I'll keep my eye on the for sale forums in case any good ones come up. Whether I would hold on to the 400d or not when i upgrade is another question but I'm sure I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

A few weeks ago I was pondering which lens but I thought against posting a thread entitled 300 f4 + tc vs 400f5.6 vs 100-400 as there are plenty on here already about that :)

Thanks

David
 
david83 said:
A few weeks ago I was pondering which lens but I thought against posting a thread entitled 300 f4 + tc vs 400f5.6 vs 100-400 as there are plenty on here already about that :)
Click to expand...

It is a classic debate... I've owned all three options and all are very good and can give excellent results. The 400 f5.6 is probably the fastest focusing and has a slight edge in sharpness (though in real world shooting you don't really see it) - 300 f4 & tc gives you the option of taking off the tx when you need a faster lens, you also get IS and much better close focus - 100-400 gives IS, good close focus (much better than the 400 but not as close as the 300) and has the flexability of the big range of focal lengths. Work out which features will suit your shooting style and go for it, I can't imagine any of them will disapoint.
 
Thanks again for your help, good to get a view from someone with experience of all. I just need to decide where to buy from now......
 
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