What body for >me< ?

JackMcIntyre

JackMcIntyre

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Jack McIntyre
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This is a little different, I don't care about the pixel count or the 1% drop off in corner aberations between x and x focal lengths when looking at a 45 degree angle towards the source of light.

I want to know what body would be the best for me, for what I do and how I shoot.

I love landscape photography, I'd love a full frame sensor, however I'm also into wildlife and sports - so my measly 70-200 wouldn't reach.

I'm looking to go pro (events, portraits, studio..etc) after I finish college (v.soon after i've finished a job over summer to accumulate some funds) so need something of the best build quality and photo quality.

I'm open to all options except of course anything that isn't Canon
Thanks for your help.
 
You could get a secondhand 1DMkII if you look around or maybe a 40D, grip and have a bit of change.
 
The problem is, landscape and wildlife/sports require very different properties....

£600 won't get you very far if you want to go full frame to be honest, even the older 5D is more than that, and if you'll need a longer lens as well you're probably looking at doubling your budget!

I'd suggest maybe a 40D or 50D? Perhaps not as big a jump as you're looking at, but with budget in mind it's the sensible choice. Build quality is in another league compared to the xxxD range, and while not suited to landscape quite as well as a full-frame sensor, they're ideal for sport and wildlife, events etc.

Chris
 
chris321 said:
The problem is, landscape and wildlife/sports require very different properties....

£600 won't get you very far if you want to go full frame to be honest, even the older 5D is more than that, and if you'll need a longer lens as well you're probably looking at doubling your budget!

I'd suggest maybe a 40D or 50D? Perhaps not as big a jump as you're looking at, but with budget in mind it's the sensible choice. Build quality is in another league compared to the xxxD range, and while not suited to landscape quite as well as a full-frame sensor, they're ideal for sport and wildlife, events etc.

Chris
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I've been told by many to persue landscape as purely a hobby, so it would make sense starting out to not buy a full frame and render myself part-useless for events and all.

I've been watching 40d's on Ebay and had a look in my local shop where they tend to go for around £380-£400, maybe I'll grip one of those and have some spare change to get a few accessories.
 
JackMcIntyre said:
I've been told by many to persue landscape as purely a hobby, so it would make sense starting out to not buy a full frame and render myself part-useless for events and all.

I've been watching 40d's on Ebay and had a look in my local shop where they tend to go for around £380-£400, maybe I'll grip one of those and have some spare change to get a few accessories.
Click to expand...

I think that sounds like a good plan! It's not strictly true that you'd be making yourself 'useless' with a full frame camera, you can always crop, but I think for what you'll be using it for the 40D will suit you more, and leave you some cash to buy other nice things :D

They come up on here every now and again, and have probably been looked after pretty well, so keep your eyes on the for sale section! You can still do great landscapes (skill level permitting :D) with the 40D, so don't worry about that either!

Chris
 
chris321 said:
I think that sounds like a good plan! It's not strictly true that you'd be making yourself 'useless' with a full frame camera, you can always crop, but I think for what you'll be using it for the 40D will suit you more, and leave you some cash to buy other nice things :D

They come up on here every now and again, and have probably been looked after pretty well, so keep your eyes on the for sale section! You can still do great landscapes (skill level permitting :D) with the 40D, so don't worry about that either!

Chris
Click to expand...

What about the 50d? If I'm going to be doing commercial stuff I'd much rather have that backup 5mp for crops and bigger prints, if possible! What's the advantage of the 40d over the 50d?
 
JackMcIntyre said:
What about the 50d? If I'm going to be doing commercial stuff I'd much rather have that backup 5mp for crops and bigger prints, if possible! What's the advantage of the 40d over the 50d?
Click to expand...

The 50D is a bit of an odd one...... some people love them (me included :D) and others think they're disappointing.

The extra megapixels mean it can be subject to more issues with noise (due to the photosites being smaller apparently). If your exposure is bang on, then you can get brilliant results, if not, it's pretty unforgiving. Coupled with noise reduction software, you can get usable results from pretty high ISOs, (I regularly use ISO 3200, and am experimenting with 6400 and 12800).

Advantage of the 40D over the 50D is price, and some people say less noise, which I think is a bit misleading. If you look at a 40D image and a 50D image at 100%, then I think the 50D will show more noise. However, you're also looking at a much smaller area due to the higher pixel count, so it's not quite as clear cut as some people make out. (or that's that I think anyway, someone with more technical know-how might be able to put it in better terms!)

Chris
 
i've been using the 40d for a while. not much different from the 50d specs-wise, except that the 50d has extra pixels and a higher resolution LCD screen. the-digital-picture compared the two [here].

personally, i find the colour rendition of the 40d more pleasing. somehow, i just don't really like the files that the 50d produces, but that's just me probably.
 
Cheap way to full frame? Film and a reasonable scanner. A decent second hand film body should leave plenty of change for a decent scanner - possibly even a good second hand dedicated film scanner. Sure, it won't be instant like a FF DSLR but it would be an affordable option.
 
Dave Stone said:
You could get a secondhand 1DMkII if you look around or maybe a 40D, grip and have a bit of change.
Click to expand...

I'm with Dave on this one. (Although I would be, as I bought his MKII from him :D )

I love landscape stuff, and the MKII does a pretty good job.
Then it also has 8.5 frames a second, so pretty fast for sporty stuff. High ISO performance is bloody good, and is a 1.3 crop, so pretty wide with a 17mm lens.
 
not completly sure what they go for these days... but i think its around 600... a fuji s5 pro, is one hell of a camera for the price..
 
andy_fozzy said:
I'm with Dave on this one. (Although I would be, as I bought his MKII from him :D )

I love landscape stuff, and the MKII does a pretty good job.
Then it also has 8.5 frames a second, so pretty fast for sporty stuff. High ISO performance is bloody good, and is a 1.3 crop, so pretty wide with a 17mm lens.
Click to expand...

I'd support this option too. The 1D II should last forever as well and take more punishment if you're thinking of going pro...

Later on, get a 1DS to back it up for the times you need FF.

I also like the idea of film with a scanner. I still keep my 1NRS for when I fancy film...
 
Looking at your lenses, the 18-55 won't be any god for a 1D MKII.
For landscapes you would probably looking at something like a 17-40L.
 
hashcake said:
Looking at your lenses, the 18-55 won't be any god for a 1D MKII.
For landscapes you would probably looking at something like a 17-40L.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm looking to update my wide angle when I get the body - seeing as I'll be buying once I have enough for both.
 
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