Upgrade Lens or Body First

donald

donald

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,315
Name
let me think....Donald
Edit My Images
Yes
Currently I have a 20D with my main lens a Sigma 17-70. Over the next 2 years I plan to move to a 50D and a 24-105L. I can only afford one of them this year - should I upgrade the body first or the lens?
 
Lens first .


Dave.
 
Agree lens first, the technology on cameras changes so often but the lens will be good for longer. Lenses keep value better as well for the same reasons.
 
Lens

You will see a difference going to the 24-105 even on the same body rather than sticking with your current lens and moving to a 50D, especially going to an L !
 
Usually I'd say lens everytime - but as you have a 20D I'd say it depends on how well your 20D is performing. We had one of the faulty 20D cameras that had soft focus problems, so it just wasn't worth carrying on working with from a professional perspective. We upgraded the camera in that case.

So, how well is your 20D performing? Is it one of the known to be faulty ones? If so, camera, otherwise, lens.
 
Thanks guys glad I asked - I was leaning towards the body first but I can follow the logic of lens.

I have a pair of 20D's both quite elderly now but on the whole performing ok. I have no real complaints about the sharpness although the shutter release button on one is only working intermittently but thats no big problem as it has a grip on it all the time.

This is what I photograph 90% of the time

 
i assume lens
once you have your body requirements set...what else is there to improve on except in the case of digital extra electronics and high fidelity video..
 
Lens, the 24-105 f4 is a great bit of glass and as above the difference will show.

Imagine if you upgraded the body and then realised in a year's time how much you had been missing out on in the optics department. Besides, by then the 50D will probably have been replaced or7D prices will have come down some more!
 
lens for me too...the 20d is a good, capable camera, the 50d is good, but the glass is moeny better spent...
 
Has to be the lens mate. You will want to see noticeable improvement from your cash. You will get this more with the lens upgrade.
 
I would advice the lens too. The 24-105mm f/4 L is some really good glass mate, and it will improve your results dramatically. The EOS 20D is not a bad camera at all and I agree with others, that it is worth waiting to see how the 7Ds prices are looking and maybe wait to see what new Canon comes up with.

Good Luck with your choices ;)
 
I'm facing a similar existentialist dilemma and I'm going for the lens first.
 
:plusone:

"Cheap" lens + good body = dissapointing results.

"Cheap" body + good lens = good results
(well, as long as there's some degree of skill involved, you remember to take the lens cap off etc etc ;) )

Simples :D
 
chris321 said:
:plusone:
(well, as long as there's some degree of skill involved, you remember to take the lens cap off etc etc ;) )

Simples :D
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone for the replies. Lens it is, should have the money in a couple of months.

Skill - little but getting better, never had a problem removing the lens cap but have forgotten to put in a memory card once and not realised for ages:cuckoo:
 
donald said:
Currently I have a 20D with my main lens a Sigma 17-70. Over the next 2 years I plan to move to a 50D and a 24-105L. I can only afford one of them this year - should I upgrade the body first or the lens?
Click to expand...

I'd get a new body first - find a 40D if you can. its a great upgrade cheaper and better than the 50D. 24-105 is a great lens on a crop body if you have a wider lens to go with it. personally I'd go with the body its the route I've always taken
 
Its an interesting idea to go for a 40D rather than a 50D, that would speed up the 2nd half of the buying (especially as saving is NOT my strongpoint) but, for now, I am sold on the idea of the lens first.
 
I was using a 20D when I got my 24-105.
It completely changed things for me; the difference was so great I could tell which lens had been used just by looking at an A4 print.

I'm still using my 24-105 but have upgraded to a 5DII :D
Get the lens and see where your photography is in a years time; you may decide to skip the 40D/50D and jump straight to a 7D/5D/5DII........
 
Lens. Since I started buying good glass I've lost all interest in bodies - I replace bodies when I break em or they die.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top