Which to upgrade first, camera or lenses

I have been wanting to upgrade my camera and lenses for the longest time now and I'm finally going to do it but unfortunately I can't upgrade both right now.

I was going to upgrade my camera first but now reading different things online, I am second guessing it. Hopefully you guys can help me make up my mind.

Right now I have the XT. I have had it for 3 years now I believe. I was looking to upgrade to maybe a 60D. The lenses I am currently using are pretty cheap. 18-55mm kit lens and then Canon Zoom Lens EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6.

I really don't know what to do. What do you guys think?

It really depends on what your doing with your gear and nothing says you can not upgrade 1 lens and then the body.

With your current setup doing sports photography would be good from the AF speed of the body and the lenses for example.

If your doing primarily still lifes, portraits and other slow moving subjects I would upgrade both lenses before the body.

I guess it depends on why you want to upgrade your camera. Is there a specific thing that the 60D does that your current camera does not? I would upgrade the glass first, your camera can take some great photo's and better glass can only help.

Just my 2 cents

When I used to shoot film it was always a priority to upgrade the lens first. Digital has changed that since now the actual recorded image is based on the sensor as well as the glass.

Like mrfixitx stated, depends on your photography uses. If you need better focusing, faster speed and less noise, update the camera.

If you need better quality optics in low light situations, update the lens.

Overall I think it will cost you more to upgrade the lens than the body. So budget also matters.

DB4L90 wrote in post #11921156
I have been wanting to upgrade my camera and lenses for the longest time now and I'm finally going to do it but unfortunately I can't upgrade both right now.

I was going to upgrade my camera first but now reading different things online, I am second guessing it. Hopefully you guys can help me make up my mind.

Right now I have the XT. I have had it for 3 years now I believe. I was looking to upgrade to maybe a 60D. The lenses I am currently using are pretty cheap. 18-55mm kit lens and then Canon Zoom Lens EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6.

I really don't know what to do. What do you guys think?

Upgrade the lens. In my opinion this is by far the better option.

I have had (and still have) the XT for four years now. I started with the kit 18-55. I then added the 50mm f/1.8 mkII, the 17-40mm f/4, the 70-210 f/4, the 100mm f/2.8 Macro, and the 50mm f/1.4 (to replace the f/1.8). I'm now eying the 70-200 f/2.8 IS mkII, but still trying to figure out the funds.

The XT is a wonderful camera. Put some good glass on it and it's capable of fantastic images. At the very least I would pick up a 50mm f/1.8 mkII for under $100. From there decide which range is more important, normal or telephoto, and you can start upgrading from there.

...that's my two cents anyways.

I take some still life and portraits but I photograph more equine than anything else which is fast moving subjects.

What made me look into the 60D was the higher megapixel. I wanted something faster and with less noise. Also the video in the 60D would be great and something I could really use.

DB4L90 wrote in post #11921214
What made me look into the 60D was the higher megapixel. I wanted something faster and with less noise. Also the video in the 60D would be great and something I could really use.

then the 60D may be your best upgrade path

If you are planning to upgrade both the camera and lens eventually, I'd say upgrade the lens first (this is what i did). You will get a better IQ.

DB4L90 wrote in post #11921156
I have been wanting to upgrade my camera and lenses for the longest time now and I'm finally going to do it but unfortunately I can't upgrade both right now.

I was going to upgrade my camera first but now reading different things online, I am second guessing it. Hopefully you guys can help me make up my mind.

Right now I have the XT. I have had it for 3 years now I believe. I was looking to upgrade to maybe a 60D. The lenses I am currently using are pretty cheap. 18-55mm kit lens and then Canon Zoom Lens EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6.

I really don't know what to do. What do you guys think?

Depends on your uses and what you think you'll need more. Also, what is in your price range for right now. I'd be more apt if I couldn't afford the exact lens I wanted to keep saving or upgrade your body if you want larger images, less grain / noise, faster and more accurate focus.

Lenses are a more long term investment then your camera. They're both important, but you'll get a new body about every 4 years or so the way it's going. Lenses you'll keep for a very long time in comparison and some nice glass could boost your image quality.

If by upgrade lenses you mean a new telephoto, try looking at this one: Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM Autofocus Lens

It's one of the cheapest L or Luxury telephotos on the market right now and is said to be very sharp. However it's not weather sealed and doesn't have image stabilization like a lot of L glass, but it costs less then a 60D. Slap on a teleconverter of 1.6 or 2.0 and then multiply by your crop sensor ... thats an impressive prime lens. I'm thinking about getting it after I have some extra cash laying around.

Thank you for all your replies, you guys have given me some great information. I really appreciate it!

One question tho. Lets say I decided to upgrade my camera to the 60D and still used my Canon Zoom Lens EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6, would the quality of the image be pretty much the same as it is now with my XT?

Lenses, definitely.

I know I'd have gotten significantly better photos by purchasing a 70-200 f/4L IS and this Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM and using them on my XS/1000D than I did with getting a 7D.

No doubt the AF would be better on the 60D. You also get video.

Get a new lens that fits your needs even better THEN get the body.

Right now you have the basic lens and camera. You haven't maximize your camera's ability yet so my suggestion is to upgrade your lens first.

If you upgrade your body now, you will find out how your lens are lacking. With the High MP count of the 60D, you will see the your lens' weaknesses such as AF, IQ, etc.

Depends.

Do you want more features, better handling, better IQ, AF, FPS, live view, HTP, video? Get the 60D.

Want better IQ/AF? Upgrade the lenses.

Personally, I think the 18-55IS is one of Canon's best lenses optically. I would probably trash the 75-300 for the Tamron 70-300 and maybe grab a prime if you wanted lenses, or go ahead with the 60D if you want features/performance.

Image quality is important to me. Right now the image quality is so/so but that is probably because I have cheap lenses.

Budget right now isn't very much, so I am looking into lens around what I can afford. What do you guys think about this lens? http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …EF_70_200mm_f_4​L_USM.html

The lens I really really want is the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM but it will be quite a while before I can afford that.

The 70-200 f/4L is quite a great lens. You can find them for around $500 used here on POTN or on FredMiranda.com