Spend my big budget...

EMA747

EMA747

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Andy
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Too much procrastination is resulting in me keeping thinking about what gear to get and is stopping me from actually getting anything and going out and shooting so I thought some comments from you good folk would maybe help me decide. :D

I have around £10,000 in the bank after selling some things and inheriting some money BUT I want to keep some back as general savings so my budget for gear would be around £7000-7500 I think but could be pushed up slightly if it was really really worth it.

I shoot travel/documentary travel, sports, and aviation mainly. Both ends of the gear spectrum so I doubt I'll be able to get a one-stop solution to both needs and I know there will probably be compromises to make.
I am also working on the possibility of going with an NGO organisation's expedition to India as their photographer so my gear would also need to cover that as well.
I also need something that does HD video as well.

I have owned and used most of Canons camera 7D-1DmkIV but I am leaning towards going with Nikon after actually using some Nikon cameras and various other small reasons. Having said that I am not totally opposed to going back to Canon if there is a clear reason to do so. Either way I am starting totally from scratch this time so need lenses and bodie(s).

I have been looking into D4, D800, D3s, 24-70, 70-200 lenses and can't decide which is the best option or if there are other things I should be considering.

So fire away with your suggestions, I will be grateful for all comments. :)
 
My immediate thoughts where IDmkIV/5D111/7D bodies, covering in order sports, travel/video work and a crop body for longer reach.

I'm not sure how that would translate to Nikon or how they are on video as the 5D has become a bit of an industry standard now, so there are a lot of aftermarket products aimed at the 5D range of camera's.
Maybe D4, D800e, D700.

Lens wise pretty sound choices but as you do aviation as well as sport a 400/2.8, 1.4 & 2 x convertors? also a 50mm or a 35mm prime (my brother loves his fast 35mm on his D90)

Don't forget to factor in cards, grips for any bodies that need them and at least 2 batteries per body.
 
1DmkIV and a 5DIII are certainly an option but quite an expensive one. I'm not sure I'd have much left out of £7000 for lenses.

A 400 f2.8 would be a dream lens but is way out of my budget at the moment sadly.
 
After being up virtually all night reading reviews (the joys of being unemployed!) I am seriously wondering if a 5D3 might do virtually all I want in one camera body. The only real downside seems to be the 6fps but I could add a used 7D body for some extra fps and 1.6x extra reach, and 7D bodies are pretty cheap now.

So out of £7000 that would leave around £4400 (or £3600 with 7D body) to splash on lenses. I'm not sure what lenses mind you. Some good primes could be tempting.
 
If you're now going to one body Andy, just get the D4 and a couple of lenses. Sorted. Now get out there and buy them and get shooting. :thumbs:


Kev.
 
Ignoring the Canon options for a second (only because I don't know much about them), if you were going with Nikon and wanted the two bodies, then personally I'd be tempted to look at a D800 and a used D3S. I can't help thinking that £5k on a D4 is swallowing a huge chunk of your budget for little gain over a D3S.

So for me, it would D800, D3S, 24-70 and 70-200 and maybe 2x III tele converter if you have any change.
 
It's your money fella. Spending 7k in this climate when unemployed seems nuts to me though.

Why not hire some gear first?
 
Agree with The23rd man. Buy 2x second hand D3 on ebay, some spare batteries a pile of memory cards,and keep the change in the bank.

They are pro cameras, weather sealed, built like a tanks, and last year did everything you ever wanted a camera to do. If you want to shoot video, get a video camera. New cameras just instantly depreciate, and don't make you a better photographer.

If you are going to work for a NGO in India, you wont want to be carting 7K of brand new shiny kit with you. The other advantage with this approach is you can sell them on eBay next year fro nearly the same amount, and move up a camera for very little extra outlay.
 
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Andy,

Please don't take this the wrong way but you've bought, and subsequently had to sell, more complete sets of high end kit than anyone I've ever seen; stills and HD video.

If you don't instantly know which kit you need at this stage of your photography, then I'd question whether you are ready to spend that much money yet again!

I slightly suspect that you are more in love with researching, planning and buying kit, than with the actual process of taking photographs itself.

How about an alternative...

...put the majority of your money into a savings account and buy a decent carry round, like a second hand Fuji X100/X10 or Sony Nex-7. Firstly those cameras will force you to think more about the photos that you're going to take (either of them could produce decent shots from your subject list- just not the obvious ones) and secondly it would encourage you to discover whether you actually want to be a photographer.

Yes the idea will cost you some money (sub £1,000), but it'll be fraction of the amount that you must have lost buying in and out over the past couple of years!

Sorry go sound harsh, but I really think that you need to evaluate your choices properly.

As for kit, if you really must buy again, then I'd go for:
5DIII
7D
24-70, or more likely 24-105 (better for travel/GS shots and especially video)
70-200 MkII
100-400 or 400/5.6

I reckon that you should be able to source that lot for roughly £6,300 by buying carefully new and good quality used, giving room for accessories where necessary.
 
DemiLion said:
Andy,

Please don't take this the wrong way but you've bought, and subsequently had to sell, more complete sets of high end kit than anyone I've ever seen; stills and HD video.

If you don't instantly know which kit you need at this stage of your photography, then I'd question whether you are ready to spend that much money yet again!

I slightly suspect that you are more in love with researching, planning and buying kit, than with the actual process of taking photographs itself.

How about an alternative...

...put the majority of your money into a savings account and buy a decent carry round, like a second hand Fuji X100/X10 or Sony Nex-7. Firstly those cameras will force you to think more about the photos that you're going to take (either of them could produce decent shots from your subject list- just not the obvious ones) and secondly it would encourage you to discover whether you actually want to be a photographer.

Yes the idea will cost you some money (sub £1,000), but it'll be fraction of the amount that you must have lost buying in and out over the past couple of years!

Sorry go sound harsh, but I really think that you need to evaluate your choices properly.

As for kit, if you really must buy again, then I'd go for:
5DIII
7D
24-70, or more likely 24-105 (better for travel/GS shots and especially video)
70-200 MkII
100-400 or 400/5.6

I reckon that you should be able to source that lot for roughly £6,300 by buying carefully new and good quality used, giving room for accessories where necessary.
Click to expand...

Excellent post Mark.

Andy
 
DemiLion said:
Andy,

Please don't take this the wrong way but you've bought, and subsequently had to sell, more complete sets of high end kit than anyone I've ever seen; stills and HD video.

If you don't instantly know which kit you need at this stage of your photography, then I'd question whether you are ready to spend that much money yet again!

I slightly suspect that you are more in love with researching, planning and buying kit, than with the actual process of taking photographs itself.

How about an alternative...

...put the majority of your money into a savings account and buy a decent carry round, like a second hand Fuji X100/X10 or Sony Nex-7. Firstly those cameras will force you to think more about the photos that you're going to take (either of them could produce decent shots from your subject list- just not the obvious ones) and secondly it would encourage you to discover whether you actually want to be a photographer.

Yes the idea will cost you some money (sub £1,000), but it'll be fraction of the amount that you must have lost buying in and out over the past couple of years!

Sorry go sound harsh, but I really think that you need to evaluate your choices properly.

As for kit, if you really must buy again, then I'd go for:
5DIII
7D
24-70, or more likely 24-105 (better for travel/GS shots and especially video)
70-200 MkII
100-400 or 400/5.6

I reckon that you should be able to source that lot for roughly £6,300 by buying carefully new and good quality used, giving room for accessories where necessary.
Click to expand...

+1 fully agree.

Couldn't have put it better myself. Going by the classified's you are wanting a 1Dmk4 and a 5Dmk3, your money at the end of the day.
 
Richard King said:
Agree with The23rd man. Buy 2x second hand D3 on ebay, some spare batteries a pile of memory cards,and keep the change in the bank.

They are pro cameras, weather sealed, built like a tanks, and last year did everything you ever wanted a camera to do. If you want to shoot video, get a video camera. New cameras just instantly depreciate, and don't make you a better photographer.

If you are going to work for a NGO in India, you wont want to be carting 7K of brand new shiny kit with you. The other advantage with this approach is you can sell them on eBay next year fro nearly the same amount, and move up a camera for very little extra outlay.
Click to expand...

This makes perfect sense to me. Two pro bodies provides you with a backup and leaves a lot of money for lenses. The D3s isn't going to offer much more over the D3 for your needs and the D4 is a budget killer and being so new there could be unknown problems that you may only discover whilst out in India. I'm sure Arkady used a D3 whilst photographing in sand covered warzone conditions, that speaks for itself!

You can also get excellent HD camcorders for under £1,000 that are not bulky.
 
Sony A77. Cheap as chips relatively. High fps. 22mp. Weather sealed. In body stabilisation so no need to repeatedly buy stabilised lenses. HD video. Same sensor as Nikons generally use. Will do everything you need it to do rather than everything you dream of it doing. Also there is an FF body due in September so for FF goodness you'd be covered. For better lowlight right now you'd need to find an A580. That is similar in spec to a D7000 but squeakier build wise.

Sony always do bang for buck. If you're unemployed, bang for buck is where you need to be looking!
 
DemiLion said:
Andy,

Please don't take this the wrong way but you've bought, and subsequently had to sell, more complete sets of high end kit than anyone I've ever seen; stills and HD video.

If you don't instantly know which kit you need at this stage of your photography, then I'd question whether you are ready to spend that much money yet again!

I slightly suspect that you are more in love with researching, planning and buying kit, than with the actual process of taking photographs itself.

How about an alternative...

...put the majority of your money into a savings account and buy a decent carry round, like a second hand Fuji X100/X10 or Sony Nex-7. Firstly those cameras will force you to think more about the photos that you're going to take (either of them could produce decent shots from your subject list- just not the obvious ones) and secondly it would encourage you to discover whether you actually want to be a photographer.

Yes the idea will cost you some money (sub £1,000), but it'll be fraction of the amount that you must have lost buying in and out over the past couple of years!

Sorry go sound harsh, but I really think that you need to evaluate your choices properly.

As for kit, if you really must buy again, then I'd go for:
5DIII
7D
24-70, or more likely 24-105 (better for travel/GS shots and especially video)
70-200 MkII
100-400 or 400/5.6

I reckon that you should be able to source that lot for roughly £6,300 by buying carefully new and good quality used, giving room for accessories where necessary.
Click to expand...
I have to thank you for being honest and writing such a great reply. :thumbs: Like you say I have bought and sold a lot of gear over the years sometime selling for the right reasons but quite often not. I always seem to find myself trying to cover every eventuality when looking for new gear. If I buy camera A it won't do something as well as camera B so ummm maybe I'll buy one that does both, oh but then I'll need some killer lenses, and before you know it the kit you lust after is going to cost well into the thousands.
Having owned some of the top end Canon gear it's sometime hard to go back to lesser equipment but in all honest looking back to my first DSLR I have probably had the most fun with my 400D and 7D bodies because they are not pro spec so I just shot for fun and enjoyed it. In fact some of my best shots have come off those cameras and my GF2. Even though they are not so crispy sharp at 100% etc I am still satisfied with them.

But then I have this issue of the trip to India possibly happening. For that I would need some better equipment because they want a professional job done with images they can use in magazines and the usual promotional material these people produce. I don't think I would get away with rocking up with a 7D and a compact.

If there was some kind of clear path to making a career in the types of photography I do then I would have no problem buying top end gear again but there is a voice at the back of my head screaming "these days the work prospects are poor so don't blow loads of cash on chasing a dream that probably won't happen".

So there we are, cards on the table from me. If it wasn't for the potential India trip and the dream of making a career out out of it then I would probably get an Olympus OMD (love that camera). Should I just do that or splash the cash. :thinking:
 
If that trip to India is a still only in the potential stages I think you should wait. Mark's post really sums things up nicely, and you're already doubting yourself over spending the money. If you hold off for a while you can choose the kit at a later stage when you know whether the India trip is going to happen or not. I'm sure the same cameras will still be available later on if you decide you want to go for them, and the last thing you want is to spend all this dosh and then have things go pear shaped forcing you to sell it all again.
 
EMA747 said:
But then I have this issue of the trip to India possibly happening. For that I would need some better equipment because they want a professional job done with images they can use in magazines and the usual promotional material these people produce. I don't think I would get away with rocking up with a 7D and a compact.
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Take a step back, and wonder what your predecessors used

http://www.roger-koeppe.com/ is an example of a pro working in India for a NGO

There are photo's and a kit list on the site

See also http://karlgrobl.com/blog/ - he has been round the world a few times, and points out the bloody obvious about shiny cameras, gear, and the need for good cases etc..

Im going to re-itterate a point I am always making.. it is the person behind the camera that makes or breaks the image, I would be happy to shoot in India with any pro camera with a decent battery life. What is important are the practical things in these environments.. Battery life, how long to charge a battery, how many images on a card, weather/dust proofing, resiliency to abuse yada yada.. and other practical things - like casings, straps, comfort, ease of use. Every camera since the D70 is good enough in terms of image quality, it is however the "PRO" backs (in practical terms) that really cut the mustard when the environment is tough
 
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Mandoo said:
If that trip to India is a still only in the potential stages I think you should wait. Mark's post really sums things up nicely, and you're already doubting yourself over spending the money. If you hold off for a while you can choose the kit at a later stage when you know whether the India trip is going to happen or not. I'm sure the same cameras will still be available later on if you decide you want to go for them, and the last thing you want is to spend all this dosh and then have things go pear shaped forcing you to sell it all again.
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:plusone:

As you say, it is only a possibility. Seems crazy to me to spend all the money if it is not a certainty. If you spend the money and it doesn't happen you will probably end up selling it all again and be a grand or two out of pocket.
 
I think the OP has a bad case of GAS :D

The fuji x100 is a corker. Damian Lovegrove has been using one to shoot portraits for the BBC. You really wouldn't realise that they weren't shot with a dslr.
 
With the 2nd hand prices of the D700 it has got to have a look in somewhere, even just as a more "compact" option over a D3? A D3 and a D700 would get a look in if it was my decision (if only i could spend £7k on gear at the moment), with plenty left over for lovely glass.
 
Andy

Some good suggestions and discussion.

I couldn't help notice the irony under your usename though :naughty:
 
If you do aviation a second hand 1DMKIV, Imported 300mm f/2.8 L IS II and 1.4x/2x MKIII extenders is the way to go. That should set you back some £8K. It is slightly more than your budget, but and FWIW, I have the 300mm MKII and it is sharp as a razor blade wide open. It also performs superbly with both MKIII extenders.


**EDIT**
Having had a good read though the whole thread and your classified adds ( I purchased my 2XMKIII from you). I fully agree with Mark (DemiLion). Take a step back and really think about what is it that you want to do with your photography hobby/aspirations.
 
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DemiLion said:
Andy,

Please don't take this the wrong way but you've bought, and subsequently had to sell, more complete sets of high end kit than anyone I've ever seen; stills and HD video.

If you don't instantly know which kit you need at this stage of your photography, then I'd question whether you are ready to spend that much money yet again!

I slightly suspect that you are more in love with researching, planning and buying kit, than with the actual process of taking photographs itself.

How about an alternative...

...put the majority of your money into a savings account and buy a decent carry round, like a second hand Fuji X100/X10 or Sony Nex-7. Firstly those cameras will force you to think more about the photos that you're going to take (either of them could produce decent shots from your subject list- just not the obvious ones) and secondly it would encourage you to discover whether you actually want to be a photographer.

Yes the idea will cost you some money (sub £1,000), but it'll be fraction of the amount that you must have lost buying in and out over the past couple of years!

Sorry go sound harsh, but I really think that you need to evaluate your choices properly.

As for kit, if you really must buy again, then I'd go for:
5DIII
7D
24-70, or more likely 24-105 (better for travel/GS shots and especially video)
70-200 MkII
100-400 or 400/5.6

I reckon that you should be able to source that lot for roughly £6,300 by buying carefully new and good quality used, giving room for accessories where necessary.
Click to expand...

Excellent response. I'd suggest 1D mkII as they hardly cost anything and still look business out in the street. There is plenty of good affordable glass like 70-200mm f/4 to get snapping. Quite frankly, the most important screw is the one behind the camera, and that doesn't normally come from the shop.
 
EMA747 said:
But then I have this issue of the trip to India possibly happening. For that I would need some better equipment because they want a professional job done with images they can use in magazines and the usual promotional material these people produce. I don't think I would get away with rocking up with a 7D and a compact.
Click to expand...

Just as an aside I have been shooting travel portraiture and working with NGOs for the last 2.5months in Myanmar and the Thai border using the humble D7000. Like everyone has said its not the camera, it's the photographer. Even if I could afford a D3s or D4 I don't think I would get one for travel work because they are just so big and heavy. If I was you I would be looking at a smaller body like the D700 where I could use the grip if necessary for sports but keep it compact for travel. With my two D7000s, lenses, video and audio kit, tripod and monopod my gear bag is over 10kg, if I swapped the D7000s for D3s and the wide angle for a full frame option I would be looking closer to 12kg and that's a serious weight to be lugging on the back of motorbikes, pickups, on trains etc when travelling in places like India.
 
jacob12_1993 said:
Just as an aside I have been shooting travel portraiture and working with NGOs for the last 2.5months in Myanmar and the Thai border using the humble D7000. Like everyone has said its not the camera, it's the photographer. Even if I could afford a D3s or D4 I don't think I would get one for travel work because they are just so big and heavy. If I was you I would be looking at a smaller body like the D700 where I could use the grip if necessary for sports but keep it compact for travel. With my two D7000s, lenses, video and audio kit, tripod and monopod my gear bag is over 10kg, if I swapped the D7000s for D3s and the wide angle for a full frame option I would be looking closer to 12kg and that's a serious weight to be lugging on the back of motorbikes, pickups, on trains etc when travelling in places like India.
Click to expand...
I have read with interest your recent posts from you travels and you are producing some amazing images. The fact that you are using the D7000 makes them seem even more special in a way. :thumbs:
 
EMA747 said:
I have read with interest your recent posts from you travels and you are producing some amazing images. The fact that you are using the D7000 makes them seem even more special in a way. :thumbs:
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Thanks, if I am perfectly honest I don't think it makes a huge difference what camera you use nowadays. Technically the image quality of any camera is good enough for all but the top high end commercial work and anything from a D7000 upwards has decent handling/two LCDs/focus motor etc. The only reasons I would consider shooting full frame (when I can afford too) would be better iso (I seem to find myself shooting in dark places ALL the time) and the depth of field in a similar sized body. That's why I'm more interested in the rumored D600 which will be an affordable full frame camera and which will, by the looks of things be between D7000 and D800 size nice small and light.

My D7000 doesn't have full weather sealing but it has been full soaked about 5-6 times in the 14 months I have had it and it's still going strong so the build quality is suitable for all but the very extreme climates i.e Antarctica :lol: So far I have only had one D7000 body die and that was from a pressure fire hose and I don't think even a top-end pro cam would survive that :p I have taken it into the jungle here, on small boats along rivers, hanging out the side of a bus, to a garbage dump, in monsoon rains (knee deep in water in about 20mins :bonk:), to a refugee camp all shooting stills, video and audio.

However like others have said, seriously consider whether you want to be spending all that money at the moment. If you are looking at shooting video, the accessories needed to shoot comfortably and record decent audio will probably set you back 'at least' £1k.
 
Very interesting thread guys. I really like how honesty took front stage even at the possible expense of hurting feeling. In the end it came down to giving the very best advise no matter what expense. That is why I like this forum so much, you can always count on good solid advise from experienced people that share your passion for photography.

Great work gentleman.
 
Hold-on-there..Patience is a virtue.

And my favourite...'Buy in haste repent at leisure'
 
use 2k for a 7d plus a L lens of your choice and then another 2k for a nice holiday abroad somewhere with breathtaking scenaries and save the rest.
 
Richard King said:
..... I would be happy to shoot in India with any pro camera with a decent battery life. .....
Click to expand...

e.g. the EN-EL4a - an amazing battery - rated at 4400 shots per charge. If I went to India that's the battery I'd take. I've never managed to flatten one yet in a single day.
 
jacob12_1993 said:
Thanks, if I am perfectly honest I don't think it makes a huge difference what camera you use nowadays. Technically the image quality of any camera is good enough for all but the top high end commercial work and anything from a D7000 upwards has decent handling/two LCDs/focus motor etc. The only reasons I would consider shooting full frame (when I can afford too) would be better iso (I seem to find myself shooting in dark places ALL the time) and the depth of field in a similar sized body. That's why I'm more interested in the rumored D600 which will be an affordable full frame camera and which will, by the looks of things be between D7000 and D800 size nice small and light.

My D7000 doesn't have full weather sealing but it has been full soaked about 5-6 times in the 14 months I have had it and it's still going strong so the build quality is suitable for all but the very extreme climates i.e Antarctica :lol: So far I have only had one D7000 body die and that was from a pressure fire hose and I don't think even a top-end pro cam would survive that :p I have taken it into the jungle here, on small boats along rivers, hanging out the side of a bus, to a garbage dump, in monsoon rains (knee deep in water in about 20mins :bonk:), to a refugee camp all shooting stills, video and audio.

However like others have said, seriously consider whether you want to be spending all that money at the moment. If you are looking at shooting video, the accessories needed to shoot comfortably and record decent audio will probably set you back 'at least' £1k.
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Having been following your blog you seem to be putting your gear though the same kind of situations I might find in India and your gear is coping well by the sounds of it.
I am also interested in the D600. If it's between the D7000 and D800 then that would be perfect. I think the D800 maybe has too large file sizes to be practical as a travel camera because of the need to have loads of backup devices.
I agree with you about being able to pick pretty much any camera from a D7000 and up to shoot really good images. I do however wonder if a client would see it that way. In all honesty I really think M4/3, especially the latest like the OMD are ideal for travel but I'm not sure a client would be too impressed if you rocked up with one rather than a big DSLR. Hopefully in time clients will look past the size of your gear (:D) and trust the photographer knows what equipment is needed to get the required shots. I was reading the other day about a pro photographer in Hong Kong who tried the OMD on a watch commercial shoot and said if it wasn't for clients wanting a more impressive looking camera then he would very seriously consider going M4/3 for 99% of his pro work!
 
shaylou said:
Very interesting thread guys. I really like how honesty took front stage even at the possible expense of hurting feeling. In the end it came down to giving the very best advise no matter what expense. That is why I like this forum so much, you can always count on good solid advise from experienced people that share your passion for photography.

Great work gentleman.
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Very much agree with you. I value the honest advice. Being told to hold off blowing loads of cash is the kind of thing you get on a forum but would be very unlikely to get if you walked in to a shop with a £10,000 wad of notes! :p
 
I've been known to buy and sell the odd bit of kit - had a D700, D3, 1D Mark III, 5D Mark II, X100, X1, and lots of nice associated lenses. Don't have any of that now.

I had no career aspirations, and even if I did I think the sheer number of people doing this now means that it's so hard, and is probably who you know rather than what you know and what you have (to an extent).

Now using a D7000 with a single lens, the 35/1.8 AF-S G. Really lovely combination. Plus I have an EM-5, which really is brilliant in my opinion. If I want to do some video, I plonk a Rode Videomic Pro on the cam and off we go.

I think you should just keep most of the money, and get the above, or similar.
 
jonneymendoza said:
use 2k for a 7d plus a L lens of your choice and then another 2k for a nice holiday abroad somewhere with breathtaking scenaries and save the rest.
Click to expand...
I was thinking of doing that but with an Olympus OMD because by all accounts it seems to perform at least if not better than a 7D and I already have some Panny M4/3 and Olympus OM lenses so I wouldn't really need to blow more cash on lenses.
 
EMA747 said:
Having been following your blog you seem to be putting your gear though the same kind of situations I might find in India and your gear is coping well by the sounds of it.
I am also interested in the D600. If it's between the D7000 and D800 then that would be perfect. I think the D800 maybe has too large file sizes to be practical as a travel camera because of the need to have loads of backup devices.
I agree with you about being able to pick pretty much any camera from a D7000 and up to shoot really good images. I do however wonder if a client would see it that way. In all honesty I really think M4/3, especially the latest like the OMD are ideal for travel but I'm not sure a client would be too impressed if you rocked up with one rather than a big DSLR. Hopefully in time clients will look past the size of your gear (:D) and trust the photographer knows what equipment is needed to get the required shots. I was reading the other day about a pro photographer in Hong Kong who tried the OMD on a watch commercial shoot and said if it wasn't for clients wanting a more impressive looking camera then he would very seriously consider going M4/3 for 99% of his pro work!
Click to expand...

I think the client thing is only true for the smallest cameras, I actually had a situation where an NGO let me document them by the fact my gear was 'pro' gear, in fact it was just a gripped D7000 which according to Nikon is just a consumer camera.
I'm not sure there would be too much of an issue with D800 file sizes because all portable hard drives are the same physical size so whether you have a 160gb 2.5" or 1tb 2.5" makes no difference. The only issue for me would be the cost of long term storage solutions as the cost of hard drives would mount up.
 
How about a Fuji X-Pro 1. Looks to have outstanding image quality, built like a tank, basically like an M9 for a quarter the cost. Just a thought.

Andy
 
EMA747 said:
I was thinking of doing that but with an Olympus OMD because by all accounts it seems to perform at least if not better than a 7D and I already have some Panny M4/3 and Olympus OM lenses so I wouldn't really need to blow more cash on lenses.
Click to expand...

yea do it. not only would u get decent gear but u will get to go to a place to actally use that gear in a once in a lifetime deal and still have more then half of your budget left.

if i had 10k thrown at me i would defiantly use some of it for something.
 
I have empathy for the op. i am exactly like that with Guitars,sold and regretted lovely guitars,then spent again later, i hope you get the right kit.
 
I went to have a play with a few cameras whist waiting for the Queen to show up in Nottingham yesterday which has thrown up some fresh questions!

I have a go with a 5DmkIII Jacobs has in stock and I was mighty impressed. It seemed to do nearly all I want with the only exceptions being the ruggedness/feel of a pro body and it's slightly low fps for sports. Oh and the price (although Kerso has them a lot cheaper than highstreet prices).
It seems like the 5D3 is a lot better than the 7D but at the same time it's more than twice the price. In other words for the price of the 5D3 I could have a 7D and have around £1700 for lenses. A 7D with a few lenses would be say around £3000 but a 5D3 with lenses more like £5K+. Is the 5D3 worth that much more? I have owned a 7D and it was great with one exception - ISO. Even at 100 it had a lot of noise for my liking and I didn't feel that comfortable pushing more than around 1600.

Then there is the issue that from the reviews I have read the Olympus OMD is better IQ than the 7D BUT if wouldn't be any good for sports or aviation. On the other hand it would be better than the 7D for travel because of it's size.

Why do there have to be so many choices!
 
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