Dilemma!

[SingingSabre]

It looks like I'm going to have a very hefty tax return this year!

I am having a dilemma, though.

See, I've been shooting for about 2 years and have greatly outgrown my camera. I'm currently shooting with an XTi with 3 lenses, Sigma 17-70, Canon 50 1.8, and Sigma 70-300.

I also have two AB-800s, 2 ebay cheapie strobes (great hair and bg lights!), and a Sigma 500DG Super hotshoe flash.

My goal is to shoot weddings. I've shot one and a half with the XTi and know I am perfectly capable of shooting weddings, although the XTi isn't the ideal tool.

That in mind, do I spend my rebate on a 5DII with the 24-105 L or do I spend it on the 40D, 24-105L, and more lights?

I know I need good glass, and the opportunity for a growing photographer to get a 5DII isn't a common one. But then there's the fact that more light and more lenses are always better.

What to do?!

Thanks for any help!

[neilwood32]

How serious are you about weddings? If you are really serious, you need 2 cameras and back up lenses more than anything.

Also you may be better with faster glass than more lights. Not every situation you can use the lights but you can use faster glass everywhere.

[Mike]

Another body, either xxD or xD and better glass for sure. I'd skip the 24-105L for something that has a faster and constant aperture like f/2.8 if you are serious about weddings. The only lens in my bag at weddings that is slower than f2.8 is my 10-20mm lens. If you stick with crop bodies (the xxD range are perfectly fine for weddings) you can't go wrong with getting the 17-55 f/2.8 IS with a 40D or 50D. If you think that full frame is where you want to be then a 24-70 f/2.8 lens is a good choice and fast primes are also an option.

[SingingSabre]

Thanks for the input. :)

[matonanjin]

It looks like I'm going to have a very hefty tax return this year!


My goal is to shoot weddings. I've shot one and a half with the XTi and know I am perfectly capable of shooting weddings, although the XTi isn't the ideal tool.



Why did you shoot 1/2 a wedding? Why didn't they want the whole wedding photographed?:lol:

If you are going to be shooting more and more weddings you definitely want to go full frame. And you definitely will need more, faster glass.

Think about a 5D Classic. They are going incredibly reasonably now on the Sell forum here and others like FM. Think about some high quality fast glass: Tamron 28-75 F/2.8, etc. I don't know what your budget (refund) is but that should leave enough for some lights.

As you well know, you have to have a backup body for shooting weddings and your xTI should serve that purpose for a while.

[SingingSabre]

Why did you shoot 1/2 a wedding? Why didn't they want the whole wedding photographed?:lol:

If you are going to be shooting more and more weddings you definitely want to go full frame. And you definitely will need more, faster glass.

Think about a 5D Classic. They are going incredibly reasonably now on the Sell forum here and others like FM. Think about some high quality fast glass: Tamron 28-75 F/2.8, etc. I don't know what your budget (refund) is but that should leave enough for some lights.

As you well know, you have to have a backup body for shooting weddings and your xTI should serve that purpose for a while.

It was my brother's wedding. I'd had my camera for only a few months and just did shots where the pro wasn't. :)

Honestly, I'd go for a 40D over a 5D classic.

Thanks for the ideas. Good stuff to think about.

[Mike]

Why didn't you post this question over in the Weddings Talk forum? You may get more responses from the wedding chaps over there.

[SingingSabre]

Because I'm not ALL about weddings, it's just one factor into my decision.

Plus, I'm new at asking for input for a new camera... I'm well versed in where to go for the right critique, but this situation is a new one for me. :)

[Mike]

Fair 'nuff! :)