A true upgrade to the 50D?

So I have a bit of an itch for an upgrade, but when the 60D offered me video and a swivel screen, but nothing more, and the 7D offered me video and a seemingly perplexing autofocus system, and slightly better noise, but nothing more... And I'm pretty happy with my lens system (I use mostly primes), what can I buy that will give me better image quality short of a 5DII? I'm assuming nothing, I just want to be sure before investing in a 5DII.

By the way, all 8 of my lenses are EF mount, so going full frame wouldn't involve any lens changes aside from needed focal length. Discuss!

You need to tell about pictures you are taking. Who knows, all of them are macro or wildlife or naked ladies?
Tell it first if you want to see some more comments.

Fair point. Portraits, infant photography (so that includes macro to a degree), and the occasional wedding at this point. It's more of a paid hobby than a business these days. Not a lot of action/sports, but enough movement and low lighting that auto focus is a worthy mention (although on a lens with a deep throw I'm comfortable with MF).

And then as personal interests go, I've been enjoying the tedium of macro shots lately, water drops and such. Like I said, I feel like I'm set on lenses for the most part, and lighting wise I have more than a half dozen units with remote triggers. I guess I'm really just trying to tell myself I don't need a new camera as much as I want a new camera unless it would actually open up extra doors to how I shoot.

I shot film for a long time, considering I'm 28, so I have an understanding of how the crop sensor changes things, but I really miss that extra depth 35mm+ (also shot my share of medium format) gives.

Maybe my best route would be to go back to film and strengthen my roots. But medium format is prohibitively expensive it seems these days. I guess I'm just thinking for the sake of thinking.

1D mark IV isn't a bad option if you're looking for higher fps and AF. IQ is great too but not sure of its any better then then 50D

5D II IQ is just amazing though.

The 5D mk1 would be good, I would think. The 50D has great IQ too. But the full frame would be the best. The 1Ds mk 2 would do it too

I don't think there is a "true upgrade" to the 50D. If there were, I would have bought it long ago!

If the 1.6 crop sensor fits your subjects, style and vision, then I would recommend sticking with the 50D for a while . . . at least until something significantly better comes out in the 1.6 format.

Every thing I have read does not push me to anything out there as a true up grade to what you have

griptape wrote in post #13717046
So I have a bit of an itch for an upgrade, but when the 60D offered me video and a swivel screen, but nothing more, and the 7D offered me video and a seemingly perplexing autofocus system, and slightly better noise, but nothing more... And I'm pretty happy with my lens system (I use mostly primes), what can I buy that will give me better image quality short of a 5DII? I'm assuming nothing, I just want to be sure before investing in a 5DII.

By the way, all 8 of my lenses are EF mount, so going full frame wouldn't involve any lens changes aside from needed focal length. Discuss!

The 60D high ISO is better. I just did a complete basketball shoot with the 50D, and I had forgotten how messy the high ISO was, completely with banding/streaks, etc.

The 7D AF system isn't difficult, just use 1 or 2 of the modes like on the old bodies to start, and move your way into the other modes. The 7D metering system is much better, the WB is better.

Both will provide better IQ, at least at ISO 3200 and up, period, especially when resized down that 3mpx difference. If they don't, either the user is doing something wrong, or they need to send the body back.

peregrineflier wrote in post #13717393
The 5D mk1 would be good, I would think. The 50D has great IQ too. But the full frame would be the best. The 1Ds mk 2 would do it too

Hmm, I hadn't considered the 1DsII. And I suppose a 5D classic would be okay, but there are times, especially with macro, that I would miss live view.

I guess my mindset has been to replace my 50D with a new main body and relegate the 50D as my new backup. Maybe I should consider an additional body for different purposes and use both appropriately.

I feel like the 7D is the upgrade to the 50D since the 60D isn't a sufficient upgrade due to it's lower fps.

My 50D will most likely be replaced with the 5DMkII when the time comes.......

hotmars wrote in post #13719368
I feel like the 7D is the upgrade to the 50D since the 60D isn't a sufficient upgrade due to it's lower fps.

I don't think I'll ever be in a situation where that 1fps difference will cause me to miss a shot with the 60D.

However, I have been in several situations where the 60D's features have allowed me to take shots that would not have been possible with the 50D: using the built-in off-camera flash trigger; using the vari-angle screen to hold the camera in awkward positions (e.g over my head to take shots above the crowd); and most importantly, using the improved high-ISO performance to make acceptable exposures in low-light environments.

If you do portraits and filming, all with primes only, let them shine on 5DMKII.
I have 5D and Rebel 500D with only three primes, all three of them are much better on 5D.

5D (classic and mk2) offer an improvement in IQ, but you probably won't notice it unless you print big, and even then the improvement isn't ground-shaking, if it is worth the extra money is up to you. One thing I'd like to note though is that if you're shooting moving subjects, especially in low light, the 5D's AF system is worse than the one on your 50D, only the center point is worth a damn in low light. For me that was a deal breaker, and instead I went for a used 1DsIII.

I moved from 50D to 5Dc and will not move back. Miss LV and the nice menu features, until I look at the output.
I absolutely do miss the 50D for its added reach....for my moon shots.