Replacing D60 with 10D or hacked 300D or 20D or do nothing?

[mikekiwi]

I’m currently owning a D60 and am seriously thinking of replacing it with either a used 10D or a firmware_hacked 300D. The D60 is still a fine cam, but I’m hoping to get more AF-speed and lowlight-options (ISO values of 1600 and 3200, the D60 only reaches iso1000).

The question is if you think that these extra iso-options are still useable…or maybe Im just thinking of higher numbers in iso, but in practice they aren’t worth a dime..

These are the lenses I currently own:

Canon 50/1.8
Sigma 24/2.8
Sigma 18-125dc
Canon 75-300usm
Canon 28-135IS

Also, I’m thinking of selling the 28-135IS as it is obsolete as the Sigma 18-125 does cover the same range (and that’s an ideal lens for holidays and hiking). With some extra money (celebrating my birthday in a few weeks ;-) ) I could then buy a 17-40/4L, which is .

Or, sell the D60 and the 28-135 IS and add some money to buy a 20D…

Of course the IS on the 28-135is provides some assistance, but does it match with the speed and higher iso of a 10D/hacked 300D/20D ???

Aaarggghhh….what is the best option in your opinion? So many choices to make, having headaches all of the time… ;-)

FYI: the majority of my pictures are nature, landscapes and citytrips (focusing on detail and buildings). I’m heading towards the boundaries of the D60 as in autumn and winter there’s not so much light and therefore I often end-up with a lot of blurry images because of camera-shake (too slow shutter ). So I can buy better (f2.8) lenses or rise the ISO-value…

What is your opinion on this?

Thanks for any help,
Michael

[TomC]

Everything I've read about the 20D is that it performs magnificently at higher iso's. Thats what I'm buying in March. Good luck in your decision.

[Jon]

Well, I kept my D60 when I got a 20D. I didn't consider the 10D (or the Rebel, hacked or otherwise) offered enough of a jump to warrant going to one of them. My major decision points:
1) 9-point AF (with joystick!)
2) 23 frames at 5 FPS
3) Faster auto-focus
I kept the D60 so's to cut down on lens swapping when jumping between wide and long lenses.
The 20D is much less noisy than the D60 at high ISO settings (much better in the same ISO range the D60 has even); the higher ISO wasn't a major decision factor, but did provide a nudge as did the 8.2 MP sensor. Since I got it, I've also come to appreciate having the ISO setting available without going into the menu and the expanded parameter selections. So I'd say, whether you keep or sell the D60, get the 20D rather than one of the others. If you decide to get the 10D or DR, I'd suggest keeping the D60 as a backup/second body even if you don't use it a lot.

[RJSorensen]

I think we will find that the 20D will be a watermark camera body . . . the first time it all hit the road at one time in one package. As important in its way as the DRebel was and is. Things will always get better and cheaper, but for most of us, how much faster start up time do we need? Focus is fast and noise is low, more points would be nice, lol, but 1.5K to 4.5K in price will keep me in line for a while yet. Go with the 20D, you won't be sorry.

[mikekiwi]

Thanks guys, you're very clear in this...I think I'll start saving some money and buy a 20D when the time is right (that is when the prices have dropped a little more and I got a few spare euro's.. ;-) )

Thanks for your help!

[montyl]

I realize you have already made your decision, but here is my 2 euro's worth anyways. I still have my D60, and early in the year I bought my 10D. There is not enough in the 20D for me to upgrade to that one (waiting for the 20D replacement or a 1Ds MKII). Since the 28-135IS lens was the first one I bought with the D60, I would have to say dump the Sigma 18-125. If I knew then what I know know I would only have 3 lenses, 16-35, 28-135IS, 70-200F2.8IS, & 2x converter. With all that what else do you really need?

[mikekiwi]

I realize you have already made your decision, but here is my 2 euro's worth anyways. I still have my D60, and early in the year I bought my 10D. There is not enough in the 20D for me to upgrade to that one (waiting for the 20D replacement or a 1Ds MKII). Since the 28-135IS lens was the first one I bought with the D60, I would have to say dump the Sigma 18-125. If I knew then what I know know I would only have 3 lenses, 16-35, 28-135IS, 70-200F2.8IS, & 2x converter. With all that what else do you really need?

Thanks montyl, every opinion is still worth noting by me, alle reaction up till now did contain very good information and experiences...

For basic shooting, I intend to have the following lenses (somewhere in the future):

17-40/4L, 70-200/4L (2.8 is nice but not worth the extra money for me), 24/2.8 and 50/1.8 (fast lenses in terms of lowlight).

The reason why I have the 18-125 is that is a really nice lens for vacation (= hiking trips) when I don't want to carry a huge amount of gear with me. The 28-135is does cover about the same range, but is lacking about 10mm on the wide-angle end and therefore is not very practical.

I'd love to keep both 18-125 and 28-135, but I do not have that much money to spend and that's why I'm think of getting rid of the 28-135is and use the value for buying the 17-40.
Another problem with the 28-135 in combination with my D60 is that I sometimes do have problems focussing; it keeps hunting sometimes and then I can't get a focus lock. I have to switch the cam off and on to be able to focus correct (or switch to MF)

[CyberDyneSystems]

My 2 bits,

D60 => 10D = A very slight incremental upgrade. An improvement for sure,.. but debateable how much impact it will have.

D60 => 300D = too much of a compromise,. yes the 300D will give some of the benifits that a 10D would offer over a D60,. but it will also be a step backwards in many aspects. So this is the only real difinitive NO WAY!

D60 => 20D = A sunstantial upgrade. All the improvements you would get by going from D60 to 10D,. plus a whole lot more! In fact,.. for me the 20D was worth upgrading from 10D. For a D60 owner, it should be a "no brainer" ;)

FYI,
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_eos20d%2Ccanon_eosd60&show=all