Where to go from a 550D?

philxthomas

philxthomas

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Brief camera history - d40 > d80 > 550d

Having had the 550d for about 6 months, I'm not happy with it. Even when paired with the 17-55 f2.8, I was still getting pretty disappointing images. It's not that it can take great pictures, it's that it rarely does.

I think a lot of it is down to the handling. It's kind of annoying to use. I mostly just do 'street' photography so if I see something cool, it's usually gone in a few seconds, not that good if I'm still ****ing about getting focus or setting ISO.

So I've been looking at what else I can get. Not looking for the newest gadgets or anything, don't need video, don't need live view, don't need 64 million megapixels or pop out screens. What I do want is something fast, with a second screen for shooting info, a big viewfinder, good image quality and if possible, good high ISO noise (yes I know, a lot to ask from one camera).

Budget-wise, about 600-700 max but preferably lower so I can get a lens (don't have a lens at the minute so not restricted to Nikon or Canon). I have been looking at an old 5D, I hear people saying it's awesome and some people saying stay away these days. Also an older 50d or 40d, or at the modern end of the scale, a D7000 or 60d (which seems to have exactly the same sensor as the 500d, so would just be paying for a bigger body?).

Or should I just shut up and go take some pictures with the 550d?
 
if any equipment is used correctly and advantageously- anything should be capable of producing quality images....

3 cameras down- thinking of changing again, i'd be thinking more along the lines off learning more about using the camera you got better.... the principal of photography is the same what ever your using so a 'better' camera prob wouldnt make any difference at all to be honest....
 
philxthomas said:
if I'm still ****ing about getting focus or setting ISO.
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Any 'higher' camera is going to be the same or worse. Get a point & shoot if you want to point & shoot.

Though TBH I've looked at the link in your sig and you seem to be doing fine. Too self-critical? (if so, join the club!)
 
Like I say, it's not that the camera can't take great pictures, it's that it seems to miss so much of the time. The India pictures on my 500px link are pretty much the only decent ones out of about 1200 that I took. Fair enough a lot of them were just of boring stuff, but there were far too many great shots ruined by missed focus or camera shake when it seemed like it should have got a sharp shot (very good light).

The 3 cameras I have owned have spanned the past 4 years so it's not like I'm getting a new one every week and hating it. And I'm not claiming to be a great photographer but I know how to use a camera, the setting ISO example is because it really is annoying to set ISO on the 550d while looking through the viewfinder. I could do it very quickly on the d80.

I guess what I'm asking is, 'is there an older camera (like a 40d or 5d) that still holds up to today's cameras image quality wise, or are even the cheapest modern dslrs better than the ones a few years back?'
 
I don't quite understand why you need to alter the ISO whilst looking through the viewfinder. Why not set it to Auto and set an upper limit to stop it going stupidly high?

If your shots are missing focus regularly in good light, then (please do not take offence) it seems pilot error is the likely culprit. If you use focus/recompose, then that can introduce focus errors.
 
everyone takes good shots, everyone takes crap ones..... the enjoyment comes when you get that special photo- even if sometimes its by pure chance or unexpected....

some you win some you lose... im losing more than im winning at the moment but one day i'l get there.... enjoy it more and the pics will improve too

i'd you shutter priority and aperture priority for a while nd then progress to manual when your confidence has grown etc
 
Well we have 3x 600D and a 5DIII

I use 5 different L series lens` on a 600 D lots and I love love love it.
Now I dont think theres much difference between the 550 and the 600, so I am amazed to hear you say you are dissapointed with the results.

I really cant say anything bad about the 600D

regarding ISO, just leave it on auto.[but cant see the problem with setting it whilst looking through the viewfinder]

It must be quicker than changing a roll of film!
 
Best advice is spend a weekend doing your street photography, take a many images as possible, but use the auto modes, forget about setting anything on the camera, let that do the work, then look at your images post the weekend and see what the camera has used for the different situations, that will then give you some idea of how to setup your camera for certain situations, then play with those settings, but it seems to me that you really need to understand about how to set up your camera and what setting to use for certain situations because you shouldn't be struggling with a 17-55mm f2.8 and your 550D. Its all about learning what camera settings work with the right light conditions, where to stand, how to use the sun to highlight or create shadow, its all about learning how to use your camera and enjoy taking photo's and experimenting once your understand the basics
 
To answer the OP's question, the 5D is a great camera the image quality is great as it the handling, however the AF is the same 9 point system as the XX0D cameras. It also doesn't have things like live view or sensor cleaning and even the newest ones are going to be 2 or 3 years old now.
 
Initially from the subject I was going to say either 5D, 60D or if the budget stretched 7D - however given the issues with manually setting ISO I'd rule out the 5D despite it being decent in low light. 7D I think I would rule out too as its a harsh camera to use sometimes. So that leaves the 60D which is an excellent camera and within budget.
 
I have a 550d, and agree can be a fiddle, but isn't that the point of photography, the fact that against some odds, you capture an awesome moment.

What I would say is how about using raw, and trying to recover some of the exposures afterwards, there's a lot of detail in there.

Also, some of the best candid people have just set for a certain distance and randomly clicked away, then you are thinking of what you are taking and hoping that it will come out if it the right distance away.
 
philxthomas said:
Like I say, it's not that the camera can't take great pictures, it's that it seems to miss so much of the time. The India pictures on my 500px link are pretty much the only decent ones out of about 1200 that I took. Fair enough a lot of them were just of boring stuff, but there were far too many great shots ruined by missed focus or camera shake when it seemed like it should have got a sharp shot (very good light).

The 3 cameras I have owned have spanned the past 4 years so it's not like I'm getting a new one every week and hating it. And I'm not claiming to be a great photographer but I know how to use a camera, the setting ISO example is because it really is annoying to set ISO on the 550d while looking through the viewfinder. I could do it very quickly on the d80.

I guess what I'm asking is, 'is there an older camera (like a 40d or 5d) that still holds up to today's cameras image quality wise, or are even the cheapest modern dslrs better than the ones a few years back?'
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Are you using a single autofocus point or having them all active at the same time. If you have them all active, then the camera will more than likely focus on the nearest subject, rather than focus on what you want it to. The camera's making the choice for you. If you use a single focus point, adjust to which focus point you want on the subject (choice of 9) then take the shot with the focus point on the actual subject you want to photograph. As for camera shake, you're using too slower shutter speed and leave the ISO settings alone. Understand aperture and shutter speeds first.
 
That shot of the chap on the deck of the boat is top drawer. It looks like you can get good results from your setup despite your lack of confidence.

As a progression from the 550, I would consider keeping your 17-55 and getting a used 7d. That would be a very good setup.
 
I started out with a 550D and if I hadn't been left some money I would still be using it. I passed it on to the wife who still is using it and is regularly getting great photos from it. I've now got a 5D3 and 60D and the only thing I don't like about the 550D now is that I'm too used to the rear wheel and find it a bit fiddly on the 550D when shooting in manual, but I still got some great results when using it recently. Unless you have a mechanical problem with your 550D I can't see that it's all the cameras fault TBH.
 
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