New Camera or New Lens?

Hi, I am purely an amateur, but have definitely “stepped-up” my photography over the past 2-3 years and want to upgrade.

What I have: Canon 450D, Canon EF 85mm 1.8, Tamron AF 28-75mm 2.8, Canon EF-s 55-250 4-5.3.

Because of some unexpected expenses this year I only have about $900 to spend (I’ve been dreaming of the 7D, but it’s out of the question, at least for the next 1-2 years).

Should I go for the 60D, or should I continue to wait for the 7D and go for a lens? I think my lens choice would be the Canon EF-S 10-22.

Opinions and advice are greatly appreciated
-jpshuf

What do you shoot? The EF-S 10-22 would be a great addition, for landscapes and architecture. Do you need the better high-ISO abilities, and/or higher MP of a newer body? If not, then i would get the lens. A newer body still leaves you with the same lenses.. so not much changes, IQ wise

BTW..welcome to the forums.

The 450D is still a very capable body. I don't know how I would have managed for so long with 28mm as my widest, but then perhaps your needs are different. The 10-22 is a very good lens, if you want something wide, go for it.

1Tanker, I would like to get better at landscapes, but my best shots seem to be portraits. I do shoot a lot of indoor shots with my daughter being in dance and all the school (indoor) functions and i struggle with the low light. Thanks for the welcome. I have visited often to read posts, but only now registered

Sirrith, thank you for the advise.

So you both believe that I should go with the lens and hold off on the camera? I have been debating this issue for a while. Thank you both!

I believe the current crop of cameras aren't really that much of an improvement over the 450D, at least not enough to warrant an upgrade (save for the 1D line and the 5DIII), so personally I'm waiting for the next generation of APS-C sensors before moving up.

Sirrith wrote in post #14748184
I believe the current crop of cameras aren't really that much of an improvement over the 450D, at least not enough to warrant an upgrade (save for the 1D line and the 5DIII), so personally I'm waiting for the next generation of APS-C sensors before moving up.

Yeah, I wonder if that is ever going to happen...or when. The T4i is still using basically the same sensor.

Sirrith wrote in post #14748184
I believe the current crop of cameras aren't really that much of an improvement over the 450D, at least not enough to warrant an upgrade (save for the 1D line and the 5DIII), so personally I'm waiting for the next generation of APS-C sensors before moving up.

same here
so my vote would be to spend money on the lens unless you need something the newer models have, e.g. video or higher FPS rate, etc.

Stick with buying a lens. The 10-22 would be a nice fit with the gear you have.

I'm not a Pro here but I say get a 60D, It has a New Sensor and it also includes better Technology. People always say get better glass before a new Body. But the 450D has been out since 2008. It's Time for an upgrade. Who wants to put new Glass on an old body? That makes no sense to me. Especially if your going to spend $900 on a Lens. I doubt it will benefit you, Especially in terms of Quality.

That's a tough choice if you ask me. I have the 10-22mm and it is an excellent lens. However, during a recent trip to South Africa, I was able to compare a rental 7D to my 550D and I came home wanting nothing more than to upgrade my camera body. The 7D outperformed my 550D in every way imaginable. Pictures that I have normally struggled to obtain with my 550D (primarily in focus low light and telephoto shots) were no problem at all for the 7D.

Most of my keepers from that trip were taken with the 7D and the various lenses I brought with me. Honestly, that camera body in many ways saved my vacation and since then has ruined my perception of the 550D. I still use the 550D on a regular basis. But I cannot help but wonder how much better my shots would be if I had a 7D instead. Just my experience.

Im with the guys who say the lineup of APS-C are very similar at this time. Thats why I made a more dramatic jump from the T2i to the 5D3 when I was actually looking to move up mid range to the 60D/7D or even 5D2 range. However, from what I understand, the 7D does offer advantages, but that is the model that is currently being talked/rumored about being upgraded sooner rather than later. I would be pissed if I bought a 7D then find that the new 7DII came out a couple months later.

If I was going to stay with the crop sensors and not move to FF, I would just get a used mid range one from CLP while Canon is in the process of upgrading the mid level offerings. Good Lenses are usually always a good investment.

If you are struggling in low light- upgrading the body - especially a much older body - makes perfect sense. Your 450D is limited to about 1600 ISO. Buying the fastest lenses out there is only going to get you so far. If you are budget limited, I'd suggest looking at the newer T4i (latest round of improvements) or perhaps a 60D. The difference between either of them and what your 450D is capable of- will be night and day. The only other suggestion I might make would be a good external flash- like a 430 EX II..

I'd upgrade the glass, and wait until until you can get the body you really want.

Thanks all! I'll wait on the body and have ordered the lens.

good for you, i use my 10-22 a lot as it exhibits almost no "fisheye" effects on an aps-c body

i bought a ton of glass before i bought bodies - every thing from 8mm rokinon manual lens to a sigma 150-500 and 5 l lenses and other assorted zooms and primes for your indoor stuff a good companion to the 10-22 is a sigma f1.4 or canon 50mm f1.4

in the past year or so i've added bodies, 40d[3yrs,1yr], 2-50ds in last year, 1d2n 4 mo ago, getting this month a 1d3 and use them all depending on the pictures i wish to take i find it very hard to give up the 40ds even though the 50ds are better mechanically i don' shoot video with a dslr and may never

looking for a 400do/500f4 canon now to do better birdind than the 150-500 allows you know this stuff is a sickness[a good one lol]

anyway good luck with your new lens