where to expand next??

[tezmed]

got lots of lenses/ flashes/ bits n bobs etc that im using my current canon 1000d.... whilst out n about the other day i was missing snapping opportunities with distant/zoomy shots etc as i was using the 18-55mm for other shots......

so im thinking of getting a 2nd body, thats compatible with all my current lenses etc (50mm/18-55mm/ 55-250mm/75-300mm), but thinking along the lines of using the 1000d as the second body....

i'd like to get one with a video recording facility which would be useful, but more importantly better shot capabilities, as finding the 1000d restrictive to say the least.....


550d/600d/60d/7d's are all possibilities that look good from spec lists

if you was in a similar situation which direction would you take?? (£200-£500 approx budget- not fussed if new or 2nd hand perfect working order)

 

[ikolpdog]

if you was in a similar situation which direction would you take?? (£200-£500 approx budget- not fussed if new or 2nd hand perfect working order)

I would get 1 "good lens" in my favorite focal length and keep the existing body:

Canon 10-22 f3.5-4.5 wideangle (£480 new)

Canon 17-55 f2.8 walkaround (£670 new)/ Canon 24-105 f4 L (£630 new)

Canon 70-200 f4 L telephoto (£450 new)

Get creative with that one good lens, learn to understand it and your photography. Buy the next one when you can and then think about a new body. Those lenses will barely loose money, I have some that are now worth more used than I paid new.

New glass will give new life to your current body, a new body on your existing glass may be a disappointment to your expectations.

Glass is for life, bodies are for Christmas If you must have a second body why not go for a "2nd hand perfect working order" Canon 30D, a very capable camera with a very different feel to your existing body. I will be advertising my mint 30D here next week, just as soon as I have "done my time", so if that is an option keep your eyes open .

 

[Mandoo]

Why do you find the 1000D restrictive? Its a very capable camera so I'd wager that its not the camera that's the problem, its the user.

If you feel you must change bodies because yours is restricting you then you need to find out what the problem with it is so that you can make sure you avoid that same issue on the new camera.

You seem to have a reasonable amount of kit there, but its still fairly entry level stuff. You may find that you buy a body which is an improvement on the 1000D, but you may not get better shots from it. You may find you need to upgrade the glass to make the most of the new body.
I would suggest making sure you know how to use the kit you've got to it full potential before you start getting into the realm of second bodies. By doing this you can narrow down what the right camera and lenses are for your particular uses.

 

[modchild]

It's not the body that's restricting, it's the amount of bodies. 1 body and 4 lenses and wanting to shoot with more than 1 lens at a time I guess. If that's the case I personally would go to MPB and get a good used 50D that they are offering for around £500.
Then I'd be saving for a nice piece of glass to go in front of it, something like a 24-105 f4 L, or a 70-200 f4 L depending on what type of shot you favour.

 

[andyred]

550d/600d/60d/7d's are all possibilities that look good from spec lists

if you was in a similar situation which direction would you take?? (£200-£500 approx budget- not fussed if new or 2nd hand perfect working order)

I think from your budget, you are limited to 550/600D range - you may well be lucky and find a 60D 2nd hand at the top of your budget ?

Don't forget, if you do go down a 2nd body route, it means you have more to carry about.

I occasionally take a 2nd body out and it is helpful, if you are wanting to shoot with different lenses / at different focal lengths regularly.

 

[tezmed]

cheers....

the 2nd body idea was mainly due to missing opportunities of good shots... whilst walking about doing some landscapes i missed opportunites of birds/ and rabbits shots where as if had a second body i couldnt have swapped cameras instantly rather than have to sit and change lenses missing the opportunity etc.....


restrictive wise, the 1000d has a smaller iso range, and less shutter speed options to use, and to use bulb mode you have to physicallly hold the button whilst its on the tripod (which no matter how much you try im still adding slight camera shake) and then the crisp shot has gone.... add that with a minimal selection of focal points (only 9) where some of the others have 60+....

lenses wise will eventually be improved upon.... didnt think i'd love photography as much as i am currently so originally got bargains as and when they arrose. will eventually sell current lenses to part fund newer better ones....

im currently thinking of obtaining some nd filters (set of them them, 2/4/8/10 stop, with grad filters/and maybe even some coloured ones (sunset or similar), but theres no point in getting longer exposures if i cant keep the camera still enough

 

[Mandoo]

Well the stability on the tripod can be fixed by using a remote release. These can easily be picked up for less than a fiver from ebay and the like.

As regards the second body, you're really only going to be able to get a 550D or perhaps a 600D. Very capable cameras as with the 1000D, but also very similar in style so you should be able to adapt to it pretty quickly.

As others have said though, it can get pretty tiring carrying two bodies around particularly if you're still a relative beginner and some people find that they end up just taking one body after a while leaving the other sat at home gathering dust. If you end up doing that you're better off going back to square one and selling the second body to fund better glass.

 

[tezmed]

Well the stability on the tripod can be fixed by using a remote release.

on the 1000d this remote route is not possible hence other body thinking..... bulb mode only works if shutter depressed manually... have looked into the whole remote pheasibility and have chatted with a few canon nerds and their all saying a better body is required....

a better tripod might be an idea though- carrying the equipment around doesnt bother me too much to be honest... i need the exercise lol

 

[Mandoo]

Not even a wired remote? I'm pretty sure its compatible with the RS60E3.
I don't use bulb mode as I'm not into that type of photography, but I don't see why Canon's own cable wouldn't do the job.

A solid tripod is always essential doing long exposures, but I've still not seen anybody use one without any movement at all when pressing the shutter button by hand. There are probably tripods out there that are good enough, but none of my friends seem to have found them yet.
More experienced photographers here may be able to point you in the right direction.

 

[tezmed]

apparently not via the wired remote either sadly.... holding the button still for lengthy period of time is hard- the more i try and focus on staying still the more i twitch...

my current tripod is a velbon (bought from jessops for about £50) so not extravagant by any stretch of the imagination, but it does have 3 legs so i get a fairly stable base...