Decisions, desicions - Canon owner looking for help

[StuartR]

Hi

I'm looking to upgrade my Canon 350D. In terms of lenses I have the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro, EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS and the EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS. The two EF-S lenses only work with Canon's APS-C range of camera bodies obviously.

I'm reasonably happy with this setup but I'm hankering after faster, better quality optics i.e. Canon's "L" series. I'm also looking at the quality achieved by Canon 5D users but wondering how much of this is down to the L series lenses that are invariably attached, rather than the full-frame sensor.

I'm strictly amateur and don't specialise in any specific area of photography - I'll shoot, or attempt to shoot, anything. If I'm developing a slight preference, it's for wildlife photography, including macro. I like the improvement IS brings to my images. I'm still waiting to sell my first picture but it's not part of my financial planning

So a few "starter for 10" questions, and let's assume money is not an issue for the moment (although there are individuals in my house who think new carpets are more important than a new camera or lens - strange but true ). I should state that the EOS-1D range is NOT on my wish-list!

1) Should I Stick with APS-C or go full-frame with the 5D?

2) Is it "worth" putting L series lenses on an APS-C camera?

3) is the 400D a significant upgrade over the 350D? (I do suffer with dust on the sensor with the 350D - a real pain - has this been solved with the 400D?)

4) Is the 30D a significant upgrade over the 350D (I believe it's the same sensor)? Is this model due for replacement soon?

5) Should I just stick where I am for another 6 months (i.e. is the 30D likely to be replaced with a "40D" with the 400D's sensor?)

[yoshi]

Re: Decisions, desicions - Canon owner looking for help

I was trying to think about those questions in the order of those but after reading the number 4, then number five seems to be most rational decision to me. Maybe 6-month waiting is a bit short, though. No replacement before PMA next year. Carpets first please. - of course, everything is IMHO.
yoshi

[StuartR]

Re: Decisions, desicions - Canon owner looking for help

I was trying to think about those questions in the order of those but after reading the number 4, then number five seems to be most rational decision to me. Maybe 6-month waiting is a bit short, though. No replacement before PMA next year. Carpets first please. - of course, everything is IMHO.
yoshi

Hi Yoshi

I think 'er indoors will agree with you but I have no patience so I could just buy the lenses and wait for the 30D to be replaced?

[Ian]

Re: Decisions, desicions - Canon owner looking for help

Hi

I'm looking to upgrade my Canon 350D. In terms of lenses I have the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro, EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS and the EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS. The two EF-S lenses only work with Canon's APS-C range of camera bodies obviously.

I'm reasonably happy with this setup but I'm hankering after faster, better quality optics i.e. Canon's "L" series. I'm also looking at the quality achieved by Canon 5D users but wondering how much of this is down to the L series lenses that are invariably attached, rather than the full-frame sensor.

It can be a combination of the two, Stuart. The 5D's big sensor has a noticeably wider dynamic range than the more crowded APS-C sensors Canon uses, and more resolution. It can be driven higher up the ISO scale without suffering from noise too.

Canon L-series lenses are very good, but not all of them are optically optimised for digital sensors and even the ones that are may not totally avoid some vignetting in the corners, plus some loss in corner resolution, too.

Now, this is all relative and some 5D owners will scoff at the comments I've just made, but I've spoken to pro 5D and 1Ds users who deliberately choose not to frame too tight in order to avoid the extreme corners of the frame. I personally feel that the sweet spot is the APS-H sensor and I kind of wish Canon would do a cheaper body with that sensor. The camera would be substantially cheaper too.

I'm strictly amateur and don't specialise in any specific area of photography - I'll shoot, or attempt to shoot, anything. If I'm developing a slight preference, it's for wildlife photography, including macro. I like the improvement IS brings to my images. I'm still waiting to sell my first picture but it's not part of my financial planning

If you are using telephoto for wildlife, full frame requires much bigger and heavier lenses.

So a few "starter for 10" questions, and let's assume money is not an issue for the moment (although there are individuals in my house who think new carpets are more important than a new camera or lens - strange but true ). I should state that the EOS-1D range is NOT on my wish-list!

1) Should I Stick with APS-C or go full-frame with the 5D?

Personally, I'd probably keep the 350D and have the 5D body

2) Is it "worth" putting L series lenses on an APS-C camera?

Yes, but with some caveats.

3) is the 400D a significant upgrade over the 350D? (I do suffer with dust on the sensor with the 350D - a real pain - has this been solved with the 400D?)

Chasseur d'Images, a French technical mag, is - as far as I know - the only magazine to have intensively tested anti-dust systems in DSLRs (apparently chucking dust into test cameras!) and they weren't very impressed with the 400D's system. Only the Olympus Supersonic Wave Filter system works to an acceptable degree according to their tests. The Olympus system is akin to shaking a sheet or a blanket - the filter material physically takes on a rippled wave shape while the high frequency vibration is applied to it, so dust gets flung off. The Canon system, as I understand it, applies the vibration differently (probably because of patent issues) and there is less energy reaching the position of the dust particles on the sensor filter.

4) Is the 30D a significant upgrade over the 350D (I believe it's the same sensor)? Is this model due for replacement soon?

It's a much beefier camera, better handling, better AF, but probably no better in terms of fundamental image quality, especially if you use RAW.

5) Should I just stick where I am for another 6 months (i.e. is the 30D likely to be replaced with a "40D" with the 400D's sensor?)

The 30D is well overdue for replacement. Nikon has shown what can be done with a good 10MP sensor in a decent body with the D200, so that is what Canon has to beat.

Ian

[yoshi]

Re: Decisions, desicions - Canon owner looking for help

Hi Yoshi

I think 'er indoors will agree with you but I have no patience so I could just buy the lenses and wait for the 30D to be replaced?

[StuartR]

Re: Decisions, desicions - Canon owner looking for help

Thanks Ian / Yoshi

Given that I'm not really that unhappy with the results I'm getting at the moment I think I'll wait for the 40D and concentrate on taking pictures for a while! Smart money seems to be on this autumn for a possible release date and that's not that far off. I can wait.... I can you know.

[Patrick]

Re: Decisions, desicions - Canon owner looking for help

Thanks Ian / Yoshi

Given that I'm not really that unhappy with the results I'm getting at the moment I think I'll wait for the 40D and concentrate on taking pictures for a while! Smart money seems to be on this autumn for a possible release date and that's not that far off. I can wait.... I can you know.

[jds9000]

[Ian]

Re: Decisions, desicions - Canon owner looking for help

On reflection, the 30D's replacement by an APS-H sensor (a la 1D Mk1/11/111) is unlikely. The 30D is wedded to the EF-S lens range and these won't work properly with that size of sensor. But that's not to say an EOS-5D style economy APS-H body might not be a good idea.

Ian

[Patrick]

Re: Decisions, desicions - Canon owner looking for help

On reflection, the 30D's replacement by an APS-H sensor (a la 1D Mk1/11/111) is unlikely. The 30D is wedded to the EF-S lens range and these won't work properly with that size of sensor. But that's not to say an EOS-5D style economy APS-H body might not be a good idea.

Ian

[Patrick]

Re: Decisions, desicions - Canon owner looking for help


Just read this rumour about the 30D replacement, http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=23833401

[StuartR]

Re: Decisions, desicions - Canon owner looking for help

That's not a bad list - pretty close to one of mine :-)

Didn't realise that 7dayshop were back in the Canon camera & lens game. I bought my original 75-300mm from them a couple of years back but when I went back for more they'd stopped doing Canon gear and had "no plans at the moment" to get back into it. Some fairly keen prices but perhaps not as keen as they were last time round.

[StuartR]

Re: Decisions, desicions - Canon owner looking for help

[quote=Patrick;18345]On the North Lights Images Canon rumour page July the 16th has been mentioned as the possible announcement of the 30D replacement.

I can definately wait that long.......

[easty-uk]

Re: Decisions, desicions - Canon owner looking for help

I'll be a little sick if they make that announcement of the 30D replacement, I just bought the 30D on thursday.. haha

[Patrick]

Re: Decisions, desicions - Canon owner looking for help

I'll be a little sick if they make that announcement of the 30D replacement, I just bought the 30D on thursday.. haha

You have had the advantage of the cash back, and the big drop in prices these past months.
The new 40D will be for some time top price; at least until the initial demand is over then possibly there will be a drop. The price will take some time probably 12-18 months or so before it drops to anything like the price you have probably paid for your 30D.

Patrick