Purchase advice on kit

[bpooltalkphoto]

Sorry for this long post and I know maybe this has been asked a 1000 times but I've got a bit of a purchase dilemma.

My position is I've done two 3 weddings last year with a friend, done a few portrait shoots, some sports stuff and have more things booked in for this year, including another wedding and a family portrait shoot. I'm also actively advertising for more weddings in the press and at wedding venues and have a website and facebook page up and running.

With all this in mind I'd like to hear peoples advice on moving forward kit wise, specifically camera body and lenses. At the moment I'm getting by with a Canon 60D with 17-55 2.8 IS and a 50mm 1.8 with a 430EXii Flash. I also have plenty of extra stuff like reflectors, diffusers, two umbrellas and stands, large softbox, etc... tons of memory cards too.

I have rented plenty of lenses in the past for specific events like the 70-200 2.8 IS II and have been amazed by its performance on my 60D, very quick and sharp, fantastic piece of kit, just very exspensive to buy even used. I have also tried the version one of this lens but was suprised how poor it was compared to version two, very soft at longer focal lengths, didn't have very many keepers.

So I now have a budget to upgrade my kit, but it is limited and I have to be realistic about what I can afford. So I have been looking at a few options. Tell me if you think I'm crazy!

Stay crop for now...
Buy new Sigma 70-200 f2.8 OS, far cheaper option to the canon, I can get it for less than the f4 canon version.
Buy used Canon 10-22 for superwide venue/group shots
Buy used 40D/550D/60D as back up
Buy new Youngyou 565ex, more powerful flash, cheaper than the 580EX2

Go FF...
Buy used 5dmk2 body
Buy used 24-105 IS
Buy another flash

This is my choice really, use the money to buy more EF/EFs lenses for my existing body or spend it on a FF body without much or any left over for lenses, HELP!

Thanks in advance guys!

 

[pete.rush]

I can't comment from personal experience as I've never done a wedding or intend to, but if I was to venture in wedding photography, then I would definitely look at full frame and second body (the reason, easily handles low light situations miles better than the xxD or xxxD range of cameras). Second some decent fast glass, minimum f2.8 so a combination like the 70-200mm f2.8 IS MKII and a 24-70mm f2.8 and a couple of prime lenses like 24mm or 35mm and 135mm but until I got a regular money stream I would probably hire rather than buy.

 

[Dave *]

The major thing that jumps out with both options is, ONE body?

It's been a while since I photographed weddings but back then it was considered sensible to have a minimum of 2 bodies, I suppose with all the technological advances camera bodies don't break down anymore...or do they?

So, option 3, keep the 60D and buy the 5D as well, or option 4, 2 x crops or 2 x FF (if you don't want the EF/EF-s complication).

And at least 2 flash units as well would be good.

 

[Nod]

Since you seem to be contemplating FF, avoid buying any more EF-S lenses - you'll only need to sell them (probably at a loss) if you go purely FF. Unlike Dave in post #3, I would probably run an FF and a crop side by side with one set of lenses shared between them - FF lenses work great on crop bodies and both size sensors have their advantages. There are superwide options available for FF (or there is at least one!), the Sigma 12-24. Not as wide as the 10-22 some will say. Actually, it's wider (or has the potential to be so!). It's an FF lens so has the AoV of a 12-24 (on FF) while the 10-22 is crop only which gives an AoV equivalent to 16-35.2 (on FF) and 4mm at those short lengths is quite a difference!

IMO, 2 bodies is a good idea - brown smelly stuff can (and does) happen (usually at the worst possible time) so it's always worth having an escape route just in case.

As always regarding Sigma lenses, try the actual lens you're looking to buy - there are plenty of reports of QC issues (and some of the reports are from people who have experienced the problem first hand!)

 

[Milkfloat]

As helpful as the posts are above, it seems that there is a budget involved that won't stretch to a 60D and the 5D. Maybe keeping the 60D and renting a 5D for each wedding would be the way to go until capital can be built up to purchase one outright.

 

[Dave *]

. Unlike Dave in post #3, I would probably run an FF and a crop side by side with one set of lenses shared between them

IMO, 2 bodies is a good idea - brown smelly stuff can (and does) happen (usually at the worst possible time) so it's always worth having an escape route just in case.

You misunderstand me Nod, my preferred option would be my option 3 as well, ie keep the 60D and look for a reasonably priced 5D to complement it.

I can see having a FF and a crop as an advantage, and only mentioned 2 x FF or 2 x crop if the OP didn't like the idea of FF/crop mix for some reason.