I'm currently using a 350D, with a couple of Sigma EX lenses.
My business is getting going, and I hope to take on wedding commissions next year.
I'm wondering what to do with regard to upgrading my camera. It produces some good results, but I suspect they weren't designed to take 13,000 photos a year.
I also need to have a spare, be it this or another body.

I'd like to know what I would need to see a noticable increase in quality, both in temrs of sharpness and tonal range. I'm mainly doing portraits, but I've done some sports events too (unpaid).
I was thinking of waiting for the 40D, which I expect to be 10MP. I've never used a 20/30D, but from what I've read the image quality isn't much different to the 350D.
If I didn't have money invested in Canon, I'd probably go for the D200 or S5 Pro, which seem to fit the bill.
I'd love a 5D, but with the new lenses as well, it isn't realistic.
Obviously you can't predict the quality of the next batch of DSLR's, but I'd be interested to hear opinions.

I just upgraded from a 350D to a nearly new 30D and the difference for me was worth it - the camera is nicer to hold, the 5fps frame rate and spot metering are nice things. The cost difference between the 350D (used) and the 30D (used) wasn't much. It was a 30D (about 800 shots) with a 24-105IS lens.

Picture quality is going to be pretty similar, after all its effectively the same size sensor, with the same DIGIC II image processor.

The 40D should build on this slightly, but an extra 2MP, and anti-dust being the upgrades the 400D saw over the 350D. I wouldn't expect anything groundbreaking, more a question of evolution rather than revolution.

With the launch of the 1D Mk III, there should be more 1D Mk II's coming onto the market which would be another option. x1.3 crop factor.

hmmm, bought some flowers to shoot, realised I didn't have the right lens anymore. Went on ebay to look for a macro lens, and ended up with a 24-105 4L (yes, I know it isn't macro!). Just hope it's as good as I think, as I'll have to sell my Sigmas.
So, that opens up getting a 5D, should I fond a good reason to justify it to the boss!

For a noticable increase in sharpness and colours, you'll need to splash out on lenses moreso than a new body. Check out the 50mm f1/4

I like my 24-105 f4 IS L - very versatile.

I'm currently using a 350D, with a couple of Sigma EX lenses.
My business is getting going, and I hope to take on wedding commissions next year.
I'm wondering what to do with regard to upgrading my camera. It produces some good results, but I suspect they weren't designed to take 13,000 photos a year.
I also need to have a spare, be it this or another body.

I'd like to know what I would need to see a noticable increase in quality, both in temrs of sharpness and tonal range. I'm mainly doing portraits, but I've done some sports events too (unpaid).
I was thinking of waiting for the 40D, which I expect to be 10MP. I've never used a 20/30D, but from what I've read the image quality isn't much different to the 350D.
If I didn't have money invested in Canon, I'd probably go for the D200 or S5 Pro, which seem to fit the bill.
I'd love a 5D, but with the new lenses as well, it isn't realistic.
Obviously you can't predict the quality of the next batch of DSLR's, but I'd be interested to hear opinions.

If you want to stick with Canon and use your 350 as a backup (edit - which you will having bought the 24-105), for weddings and the like, your best bet is a 5D which is said to have very good DR, although it lacks the speed you may need for sports.

20D/30D will be less noisy at high ISO than your 350, but all have a fairly strong anti aliasing filter which means that sharpening is required.

The 5D appears to have a less invasive AA filter, and until we see the results from the 1D3 is said by most to have the best high ISO performance of all the current canons (not that any are bad, and all are better than the comparable Nikons in that respect)

Having said all that, I have seen some amazing wedding, portrait and studio shots from 1d2 & 1d2n bodies with good lenses.

There is no doubt that the 5D and the 1D2(n) will give you the best results for less than £2k from the Canon line up, and my money went the 1d2n route.

By the way, the 24-105F4L works very well on my 1d2n body.

Good high iso performance will be a must with your f4 lens fro low light no flash shots, and both the 1d2 and the 5D perform very well in that regard.

I like my 24-105 f4 IS L - very versatile.
Don't you ever want a shallower DOF than f4 for portraiture?

thanks

the 5D is £1421 after cahback at the mo, which tempting, though still over twice the price of the 30D
I have the 50mm 1.8, which may be useful for some low light indoor shots (seems to have got some dirt in though, bizzarly)

You're assuming I use mine for portraiture!

I also have a 50mm f1.8 if I need shallow DOF.

Oh I see, yes I was! I use the same one... doesn't look as 'pro' as it resulting pictures though!

No complaints about the sharpness of my nifty fifty. Yes, the lens is disappointly small, is a bit noisy focussing, but optically its as great. Some may grumble about the bokeh and how the 3 times as expensive 50mm f1.4 is better, but I'm quite happy with it.

hi mate,

what sort of money are you looking to spend on a body ?

if you can afford it, the more expensive bodies are amazing, even just the feel of them is so much better,

ive got a 20D and 1D, since ive had the 1D i havnt touched my 20D, the feel of the more higher range stuff is the best,

if you are going to get into sports, i would suggest the L series lenses or atleast some with USM focusing,

i have ben hearing the sigma lenses dont have a very fast focus compared to the canon,

after using the normal plastic lenses for a bit, now i have 2 L series ones, i wont use anything but L series now, there amazing

ive got the 50mm 1.8 too,,, i hate that lens now simply because of the noise of the focus and the feel of the plastic on it, yet i love the DOF of it, spesh at 1.8


Cheers

PW, your subconscious is working on you! You've just committed yourself to full-frame, or at least 1.3x crop. Good choice, but don't skimp on the glass :) I don't see any advantage in going for a 30D or even 40D when it arrives - if you want quality, you need a bigger sensor, not just a few more pixels.

Richard.

PS Do you really shoot over 1,000 images a month :eek: Try switching to single-shot mode ;) :D

PW, your subconscious is working on you! You've just committed yourself to full-frame, or at least 1.3x crop. Good choice, but don't skimp on the glass :) I don't see any advantage in going for a 30D or even 40D when it arrives - if you want quality, you need a bigger sensor, not just a few more pixels.

Richard.

PS Do you really shoot over 1,000 images a month :eek: Try switching to single-shot mode ;) :D

Well I've clocked up 12000+ in the year I've had it. Partly because I'm still learning, and tend to shoot loads. I shot 400+ at a footy match for 30 minutes, but th hit rate is so low you need to. Faster focusig a larger viewfinder may increase the hit rate.
would 5D focus better / faster than the 350D, as I find the hardest thing is shooting moving kids whilst framing and focusing. This is also a large part of my busines plan, so it's quite important.

hi mate,

what sort of money are you looking to spend on a body ?

if you can afford it, the more expensive bodies are amazing, even just the feel of them is so much better,

ive got a 20D and 1D, since ive had the 1D i havnt touched my 20D, the feel of the more higher range stuff is the best,

if you are going to get into sports, i would suggest the L series lenses or atleast some with USM focusing,

i have ben hearing the sigma lenses dont have a very fast focus compared to the canon,

after using the normal plastic lenses for a bit, now i have 2 L series ones, i wont use anything but L series now, there amazing

ive got the 50mm 1.8 too,,, i hate that lens now simply because of the noise of the focus and the feel of the plastic on it, yet i love the DOF of it, spesh at 1.8


Cheers

I was looking at 30D money, but i don't want to buy one then wish I'd got full frame. Plus if you're doing a wedding, you want to have a bettr camera than the guests!

I have a Sigma HSM, and no it's not as quick as USM

For sports, the x1.6 crop factor and the 5FPS make the 30D a better candidate than the full frame sensor and 3FPS of the 5D. For portraiture, the opposite is true.

1D Mk II or 1D Mk IIN ? High frame rate and x1.3 crop factor.

If it were me i'd go the full frame route, as from what i've read and been told* you'll notice more of a difference than if you went from the 350D to a 30D.

(*I haven't personally tried them back to back so could be talking rubbish ;) )

You notice quite a difference in feel between a 350D and a 30D as I've just done it - but I did this because a nearly new 30D with 24-105 L lens came up at a good price...

I was actually waiting for the 40D, but the price of the 30D kit was too good to miss.

For sports, the x1.6 crop factor and the 5FPS make the 30D a better candidate than the full frame sensor and 3FPS of the 5D. For portraiture, the opposite is true.

1D Mk II or 1D Mk IIN ? High frame rate and x1.3 crop factor.

I'm not too bothered about sports, as it's unlikely to make me any money. Tried to get the local rag interested, so I could send them some free shots, and then ask for an article about my business. You don't get if you don't ask!

If I get the 5D I won't have anything longer than 105, for quite a while. When I do wedding though, I may use the 350 with longer lens (I have a 50-150 2.8 Sigma) for the walk around shooting people stuff, and the 5D where quality is more of an issue.
Then I'll hanker after a 100-400L...

Hmmm, there's a 1D S in town for £1500, will need to do some research

Will the Sigma work with the 5D?

I know you can't put EF-S lenses onto a 5D/1D, but AFAIK, Sigma lenses, even if optimised for x1.6 crop lenses, will fit and work, but you may get vignetting at widest angles.

EG Sigma 10-20, vignettes until 11mm on a 1D body.

I couldn't imagine life without my 5D. It hurt buying it but I have not once regretted it.

I've been watching some from the Canon outlet, which go for about£1300 with full warranty. £1700+ in Jessops.
I have a 2 year old Fuji 9500 with a broken wheel. If I get the 5D I'll put that on ebay, see if I can find a mug to buy it!
Will also sell the Sigma EX 2.8, as that won't fit, and it should raise a couple of hundred.
Just got to break it to the wife... mind you, we've got a trip to the lakes, a shoot with a pro model, and 1-2 freebie weddings coming up, so it's an ivestment, init?!http://bbs.scoobynet.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

Are you sure the Sigma won't fit?

Are you sure the Sigma won't fit?

no, but I've got the 24-105 now, so don't really need it. I'd consider a wide angle in the future though.
For some reason the shorter Sigma won't fit my Sigma 1.4x, but the 50-150 will. that makes me think the longer one has more chance of fitting the 5D, as there should be more clearance between the lens and mirror. I think...

I got a Sigma 1.4TC the other day and some of my lenses will fit it and some won't

TC's will generally only work with telephotos (zoom or prime) remember. Surprised it fits with the 50-150 to be honest.

I've been watching some from the Canon outlet, which go for about£1300 with full warranty. £1700+ in Jessops.


Check the prices on Camera Price Buster (http://camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod2.html). Once you factor in the £100 cashback, it's not much more than from the Canon Outlet. :)

Annoyingly, a couple of weeks ago the 5D was £1440 from Bristol Cameras, but since the cashback has been introduced they've put the price up by £110. The phrase "robbing *******s" springs to mind!

been trying to bid got 5D fron the Canon outloty, but thay all end at 7:15, and my router (ISP, not sure) keeps going down at 7ish!

Anyway, took advantage of Warehouse Express's 12 months interest free. Softens the blow, and means I can still find the money to take my bike test this summer.

and my router (ISP, not sure) keeps going down at 7ish!

If it's a Linksys make sure you re-boot it every 24 hrs ;)