Upgrade 350d or Get a Lens?

It's time to upgrade your camera. You should be commended for sticking with a body as long as you have. Many of us (especially noobs) bounce from model to model.

My current opinion is that amateurs should go at least two years on a body so that they can give themselves time to build a lens collection.

The 60d is a great choice. You need higher ISO and mp, but keep in mind that the newer cameras also have a ton of very useful and practical upgrades. Spot metering is just one example.

And, yes, you may want to round up all the neighborhood cats and sell them to medical schools to get the 5d2. That camera is the bomb.

Go to canonusa.com and look for the Shop Direct from Canon section. They sell refurbished cameras cheaper. Also check out the Canon Loyalty Program (search for it on this site).

Good luck.

Get a 60d.

The Rebel XT was my first dSLR, and it was a fine body in its time. However, camera bodies have come a long way since the XT was made, so it is probably time for an upgrade. Either a T3i, 60D or 7D (depending on your budget and body ergonomic preferences) would be a huge upgrade.

As for lenses, for Alaska I would not recommend a 70-200mm lens. You will want more reach than that for wildlife. Your 70-300mm is the minimum length I would recommend -- 400mm would be better.

I went from the Rebel XT to the 50D, and i find the upgraded body a joy to use vs the XT. With the better view finder, live mode, larger/better rear screen, larger body, etc, it's a much more enjoyable camera to use. I just wish I hadn't played with the 7D at Best Buy last night, as I'm not in a position to upgrade right now.

Several of you have mentioned the 5dMkII, but that is in a price range I hadn't considered. I'm afraid it would be overkill for my skills at this point. Is it really worth the cost for someone who isn't getting paid for his photos?

yup i would say go with a 60D or a used 50D and then get a nice piece of glass. You could probably get the 60D with a 70-200 f4L non-is for $1500

bimhoff07 wrote in post #13556797
Several of you have mentioned the 5dMkII, but that is in a price range I hadn't considered. I'm afraid it would be overkill for my skills at this point. Is it really worth the cost for someone who isn't getting paid for his photos?

Yes, it's even worth more. It's literally worth 4k in my opinion! I barely get paid for shooting (occasional weddings, about $800-1000 per wedding) and I bought a 5dmkii for a hobby and personal use.