upgrade body or lenses?

[anzaldi3]

Question: I have approx. $2,000 in my office budget to upgrade photo equipment. But I can't decide whether to upgrade my Digital Rebel (2 yrs. old) or to expand my lens collection. I have the 16-35 / f2.8 and a few other lesser quality lenses (incl the 28-135 f3.5-5.6). So the choice has come to a 20D or maybe a 24-70 / f2.8. Any thoughts on where's best to throw the money? Thanks!

[guitarman]

Question: I have approx. $2,000 in my office budget to upgrade photo equipment. But I can't decide whether to upgrade my Digital Rebel (2 yrs. old) or to expand my lens collection. I have the 16-35 / f2.8 and a few other lesser quality lenses (incl the 28-135 f3.5-5.6). So the choice has come to a 20D or maybe a 24-70 / f2.8. Any thoughts on where's best to throw the money? Thanks!

If it were me I would upgrade to the 24-70. Unless you can upgrade to a full frame sensor, which would make the biggest imapct, I'd stick with the lense. Sure the 20D has some good features that are useful, but I'm sittong here with a 20D and no 24-70, which I would like to be my next lense. Maybe another benefit for waiting on the body is that there is a lot of talk about another version of the 20D on the horizon. Possibly a 40D. Give it till after the fall and see if this comes true. Don't want to be kicking your self and wish you'd waited.

[NickyBlade]

For $2000 you could get the 350D and the 70-200/f4 and still have some change left over. I just upgraded to this camera from the D30 about a month ago and just got that lens last week and the two of them together are sweet!

[nation]

Have you had a chance to way up how valuable to you the additional functions and form factor of the 20D are over the rebel?

If you're happy with what the rebel has to offer given the types of photos you will be taking I would go for the lenses. Although lenses don't make the photographer that's one factor you can take out of the equation when it comes to the quality of the photographs that are acceptable to you.

[Camo 757]

What are you shooting?

I'd get the 20D and Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 or Sigma 24-70MM 2.8, If that is the length of lens you want?

[anzaldi3]

Thanks for the input so far. I work for a university and shoot people...students in class, speakers at podiums, faculty and staff in offices. Also, some stage performances, a little sports (not much), conferences, buildings and grounds. Pretty much just general assignment. I find myself often in low-light situations, trying to withhold flash in favor of ambient light and so as not to disturb serious people while they work, speak, etc.

[tim]

Lens. Get the Tamron 28-75 F2.8 over the L, it's meant to be as good and the price is great. If you need a better zoom the 70-200 range is good, if you don't really need it much save your money for the next generation of digital cameras - I strongly suspect the 12.8MP 5D is coming out before too long.

[tacos3]

If you're shooting in low light, the 20d is the way to go. I shoot a lot of iso 1600 and the results are amazing. The 16-35 2.8 is a great lens and the 28-135 is a very good lens.

Based on what you shoot, I'd go for the 20d and either a 28-75 2.8 Tamaron or a 70-200 4.0 L. Here is an example of a concert I shot with no noise correction on a 20d:

http://www.baysidepictures.com/gallery/430052/5/16960912/Large

Good Luck.

Darren

[grego]

If you don't get the midrange, for 2 grand, you can have the 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS.....

It comes to like 1700 or so actually.

[ed2day]

If you're shooting in low light, the 20d is the way to go. I shoot a lot of iso 1600 and the results are amazing. The 16-35 2.8 is a great lens and the 28-135 is a very good lens.

Based on what you shoot, I'd go for the 20d and either a 28-75 2.8 Tamaron or a 70-200 4.0 L. Here is an example of a concert I shot with no noise correction on a 20d:

http://www.baysidepictures.com/gallery/430052/5/16960912/Large

Good Luck.

Darren

Are you saying that's shot at ISO 1600? If so, that's pretty amazing.

[tacos3]

Yup 1600. A few minor exposure and white balance tweeks. No sharpening or noise reduction. The 20d is amazing in low light.