Going full-time, need help with a new camera lineup.

Congratulations! I recently picked up a slightly used gripped 5d for $800, and it came with the RRS L bracket. I'm impressed with the IQ of the photos this "old" camera can produce. I'd recommend getting a 5d, it'll leave maximum funds available for a nice lens. I can tell you the 85L really shines on a FF body, mine has found a home on this 5d.

Thanks for the suggestions and kind words guys. Just to respond to a few things, and also a few questions.

What is becoming glaringly obvious to me is to add a FF body. I basically double my lenses by shooting on different sensors. I'm also not completely satisfied with how the 7D handles reds and skin. I don't care for video, but the original 5D is getting old and the new one is soon to be outdated too. I'm shooting ~25 weddings this year, including 4 "full-coverage" destination weddings. 5D MKII or 5DC? I'm leaning toward the newer body simply because the volumes I'll be covering this year. If reliability is a none issue, is a 5DC with a primo lens better than the 5DII with my current L's?

I'm convinced that going back to the 70-200 2.8 is the right thing. I need the aperture over the IS. I rather monopod and be able to freeze the scene rather than go handeld with IS, but no speed. This upgrade is set.

After looking some more, I think the I'll eventually go from 17-40>16-35 then add a 24-70 by the end of 2012. The only lens that I might go out of my way for would be the 85L, it just seems too good to be true.

Stamp wrote in post #13589177
I don't understand how you can go full time into wedding photography, but not know what gear you need. You obviously have SOME experience if you've booked enough to consider going full time next year, so I'm kind of baffled.

I honestly don't know how you've gotten by with your widest fast lens being a 50mm on a crop body. I'm sure that must have put you in some interesting positions to get "the shot". I'd look for a wider lens as well, maybe a 24mm or a 35mm.

I know my gear very well, in-and-out. I'm just looking for suggestions on which direction to take with upgrades. I make due with whatever I'm using, I just want to best setup for what I can afford ATM. I understand the need for fast lenses, but I do the best I can with what I have. I have slower lenses, in turn I've become skilled at adding my own light. A handful, or even a couple, off-camera flashes with gels can do wonders. Also, the 7D's high ISO isn't optimal but it's more than acceptable. I might push my setup to the limit, but I always manage to get the shot I want, one way or another.

In my limited knowledge and for what it's worth: One more thing to keep in mind. The cost of processing those images in terms of computer power. My 3 year old system would take several minutes to process the large FF pics from my 5dII. Excruciatingly slow as a matter of fact. So depending on what your workflow/workstation is capable of....

Potentially another significant cash outlay.

I'm just sayin...

CAReefer wrote in post #13592648
In my limited knowledge and for what it's worth: One more thing to keep in mind. The cost of processing those images in terms of computer power. My 3 year old system would take several minutes to process the large FF pics from my 5dII. Excruciatingly slow as a matter of fact. So depending on what your workflow/workstation is capable of....

Potentially another significant cash outlay.

I'm just sayin...

Thanks for that, and that's a great point. As long as 5DII RAW is close to a 7D RAW, it won't be a problem. As part of the asset re-shuffle at the beginning of the year, I took care of that with an overkill PC. When I started shooting with the 7D originally, my old system started to cry every time I opened Lightroom. Then I would start to cry every time there was a need for local adjustments.

My concerns are strictly cameras and lenses. I have all other bases covered....I hope.

I had a 550D to start with and upgraded to a 7D, keeping the 550D as backup. Then I got a 5DII and gave the 550D to my wife. The 5DII and 7D make a brilliant pairing and should be able to handle anything a wedding can throw at you. I recently got a 70-200 f4 non IS and it's a fantastic lens on both bodies. My 5DII came with a 24-105 f4 L lens which is also a great lens and is a great walkabout lens with a good reach for candids at gatherings of all sorts. Also, all the weddings I've been to, the togs always use speedlights and not a full light setup, which could be a bit limiting in regards shooting locations.

Persian-Rice wrote in post #13592174
I know my gear very well, in-and-out. I'm just looking for suggestions on which direction to take with upgrades. I make due with whatever I'm using, I just want to best setup for what I can afford ATM. I understand the need for fast lenses, but I do the best I can with what I have. I have slower lenses, in turn I've become skilled at adding my own light. A handful, or even a couple, off-camera flashes with gels can do wonders. Also, the 7D's high ISO isn't optimal but it's more than acceptable. I might push my setup to the limit, but I always manage to get the shot I want, one way or another.

Hey man, I totally understand. I don't want you to think I was trying to come off being abrasive or anything, just trying to find out where you're coming from. It sounds like you have a pretty good idea the gear you need for the most part. However, I'd opt for the best you can possibly get right now as you have 25 wedding this year alone. If you shoot them well, you'll have 25+ next year, mostly from referrals, so the upfront high expense on gear will pay off in the end. Although, only you know what you can truly afford.

I guess you're used to using flash most of the time, and I'm more of a natural light kinda guy, so I need the fast lenses, but have you ever considered using primes for everything? I found they helped me tremendously as a photog and getting those more "creative" shots. Just something for you to chew on, I guess.

Once you get the 5D or 5DII and compare the RAW files to the 7D's for portrait work, you'll see what I'm talking about. I was totally satisfied with my 7D (and it's a heck of a camera, don't get me wrong), but when put next to my 1DsII RAW files, the difference was great. I still use my 7D with a long zoom on it for ceremony shots, but after the ceremony, it's back in the bag.