Should I buy... new body or lens?

teddyt72

teddyt72

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Eddie
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Hi all,

So I've got a bit of money to spend (~£500) and I'm trying to decide whether I should upgrade my body or lens.

So I've currently got a 350D and a sigma 17-70mm as my walkabout (also have 70-300mm IS and a nifty 50). I'm torn between upgrading to a 40D or getting an L walkaround (either 17-40mm, 24-105 or 24-70)

I'm sure you'll want to ask what's wrong with my current setup. Well I love the 70-300 in terms of image quality (a hidden L lens, some say apparently). And I feel the Sigma doesn't quite do it for me, so that might make you conclude that I should upgrade the lens. But I also feel the 350D is getting a bit old and perhaps an L lens would be beyond the 350D, making it a waste of money.

I guess eventually I'll do both, but I can only do one now. So which would I get the most benefit from? I do all sorts of photography, but live in London so tend to concentrate on street/ urban stuff.

Thanks in advance,
Eddie.
 
I'd say new lens, especially the 24-70 as it's meant to be a cracker, not that I've had the privilege of using one :bang: With its maximum aperture of f/2.8, it'll be good in low light :woot:

If you're doing high ISO work, then the 350D won't really cut the mustard but for normal daytime shooting then the 350D should be more than adequate with a decent lens..

A lens will always outlast bodies, and as you say, you can always upgrade the body at a later date to get even more benefit.

You should get some cracking results with the 350D and L glass :)

Hope this helps :)
 
Thanks for the input so far. Malla1962, is there any particular reason why you would go for the body?
 
teddyt72 said:
But I also feel the 350D is getting a bit old and perhaps an L lens would be beyond the 350D, making it a waste of money.
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Sorry, but I disagree.

If there are specific reasons why you feel the 350D is holding you back (eg high ISO performance or faster continuous shooting speed or faster AF) then by all means upgrade the body. But I haven't heard anything to suggest that's the case.

As long as you're shooting in conditions where the 350D can cope, the 350D with a good lens will give you better images than a 40D with a less-good lens.
 
Agree with Stewart, what conditions do you shoot?
 
you need to ask your self what is holding you back. is it the range of your lenses- doyou needs faster glass on longer reach etc... If its the bosy as well which is more inportant to get resolved first.
Generally its glass over body. but to upgrade on you telephoto lens, you are going to be talking more money than you have. (apart from 70-200 f/4)
Your 17-70 is a good lens - i use it all the time. i cant justify the upgrade to the 24-70 f/2.8 as i will miss the wide end and that means another £400 on a wide angle lens.
 
I went from a 300D to a 30D and it made much better use of the glass I already had.

My "keeper" ratio at least doubled :)
 
First thing i would do if you are not sure is hire the lens you are thinking of buying, only that will give you the answer....
 
Is a hard one, I went from the 350D to 40D, and yes It was an improvment for me, but I tend to use higher ISO sometimes for wildlife shots, if there is nothing realy holding you back on the 350 I would say stick with it and buy some L Galss, I also have the 24-70 2.8 and it is a great lens, hope this helps.
 
In poor light, used with a tripod, the 350D should be fine with an ISO of up to say 400.

Handheld, that's a different matter as you'll need to bump up the ISO to increase the shutter speed to prevent motion blur. With the 350D being a relatively old camera, noise will be introduced far sooner than the latest cameras.

If you did get a fast lens like the 24-70 f2.8, this will help to give you a faster shutter speed as possible in poor light (because the lower f number means the more light will enter the camera's sensor), whilst retaining a fairly fast ISO, so noise should be minimised...

I'd say that if you do intend to keep and use the 350D in poor light, then a f2.8 lens is a must. If you do most of your shooting in respectable light or on a tripod in poor light, then the 350D will be more than fine with an L lens, as others have suggested above :)

If you'd like to print at larger than A4, then the resolution of the 350D (8 megapixels IIRC) will not be enough so if this scenario applies to you, then you'd need a higher resolution body - 10 megapixels or higher
 
of course printing depends on viewing distance. I've been very pleased with some A3 work from my old 350D.

I normally say lens first, then body unless its the body that is holding you back. If you bought a new body, your old body could be sold and money put towards a new lens.
 
I am in the same position in that at higher ISO the 350D does let me down,however on Saturday I was out with a couple of other TOG's who also have 350D's but better glass and as a result I think I am going to go for the glass rather than the new body.The only time I use the higher ISO is for football in the winter otherwise 400 ISO is my top setting so think I will benefit from better glass rather than the new body
 
Thanks Stuart, sound reasoning.

Sorry Mr stabbings, what do you mean by conditions?

33L – I think it’s the quality of the photos I get from the 350D and 17-70. The quality of image produced from the 70-300 (and nifty fifty actually) is much better IMO. So I guess that means I’m decided on a new lens!!

Thanks Captain penguin, i’m definitely decided on the lens.

So yes mak1, rental is definitely on the cards, just need to whittle the short list down....
I guess it’s between the 24-70 2.8 and the new 17-55 2.8 which people seem to be raving about (I’m trying not to be drawn away from this lens just ‘cos it’s not an L...) I can’t decide whether I’d miss the wide end the 24-70 is missing so I think I’ll rent both and see what I prefer, unfortunately this adds ~£80 to the price :(

I would say the 17-40 L could be the answer, but I’m not sure about the F4 max aperture.

God, why is this so hard!!!
Thanks again for the replies :)
 
I've just swapped a 350D after 3 + years of good service for a 40D. The reason I changed was that I'd at last started to take more decisions myself and that the 40D was much easier to use. Can't say yet whether the quality of results is better but the files I upload to the PC are certainly better exposed. I could I admit have got the same results with the 350 but with slightly more effort as the 3" screen and additional controls make adjustment just that much easier. From my point of view the swop was well worth while with the only minus being the considerable extra weight and bulk of the 40. Good luck with whatever route you take.
 
God, why is this so hard!!!
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Yeah i find that there is never the right lens that I want for my budget.

I have the 40d (my 1st DSLR) and it's a damn good camera. My dad has the 350d and he gets some cracking shots, probably because he knows how to use it properly. I'm not suggesting you don't but if it were me I would get the Canon 17-40 'L' lens, use that and while I'm doing my very best to get great shots, save up for a 40d.

My nephew got the Canon 17-40 'L' for Xmas and he is seriously in love!!! He want's to do photography for a living and is currently at college studying photography. He can't rate it enough. He has it permanantly attached to his 40d.

Do shops let you try a lens on your camera in store? You could take a few pix and see what they look like on your PC compared to your other lenses. Bit cheeky but may work :naughty:

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Thanks Andy :-) does he find the f4 restrictive in anyway? I must admit I'm tempted, partly due to the very reasonable price tag for an "L" lens
 
Thanks Andy :-) does he find the f4 restrictive in anyway? I must admit I'm tempted, partly due to the very reasonable price tag for an "L" lens
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He only got it for xmas and i haven't seen him since to see what it's lacking. He just keeps saying how good it is. I'm seeing him all afternoon on Sunday so i'll ask him then.

I think for how much it costs it's amazing value for money.
 
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