equipment upgrade help

Hello everyone, I'm sorry I'm creating yet another thread about the same question, but it I tried asking before and it didn't work out in the existing threads.

I need your help. I am a photography student and I have a 500D now with kit lens 18-55 and an old Canon 70-210 f/4. It's been great for the past year, but now I feel like I need something greater. I do have a budget and I can either upgrade to the 7D or 5D MKii. Also, I will buy the Canon 50mm f/1.4 for either one of them.

I have been thinking about which one to get for couple of months now, but I cannot decide. As a student I will need the camera for different things which I read that the 7D is better overall camera... however the full frame is very tempting and is so much better for street and portraits in my opinion.

But please help me decide... which one is better to upgrade to? Should I go for the 5D MKii (and have a 50mm and a 70-210 with it) or the 7D (with 50mm, 70-210mm and the kit 18-55mm)?

Don't be to harsh on me, I'm still learning everything...

Or maybe I should wait for September's Photokina and then decide? I don't know if I can wait though, because I start the course in September. And I still think that I won't be able to afford any of the newest ones - the rumored 7D MKii ...?

As has been said, the 7D mkII seems unlikely any time soon because of the new firmware. But Canon will probably release one to spite me now that I jumped on that band wagon lol.

Either will be a great camera. Look past school and think of what your expectations are. I LOVE my 7D, and will be in love with it for some time to come. I LOVE the fast fps and the AF is a thing of beauty. I don't utilize it as of now as I use only manual lenses at the moment. But I am looking onto grabbing a few AF lenses for bees and other quickly moving targets.

If you get the 7D, you can still use that 18-55. Despite what many will tell you, I always had good luck with it years ago on my 300D. Something to use alongside what you have and what you plan to get. Just my thoughts. Good luck!

Will you be keeping the 500D?

dave kadolph wrote in post #14832079
Will you be keeping the 500D?

Yes I will be keeping the 500D.

5D2 then--full frame and croppers are different tools for different jobs IMHO.

Just don't forget that good quality glass is where most of your image quality comes from--and holds it's value way better than any body on the market.

Best of luck with your decision.

I would personally choose to have the 5DII over the 7D. But that is just my opinion. I will prob pick one up next year when the price comes down a little. Keeping the 500D will be nice too.

I like the 5DII more than the 7D, but the 7D has more versatility. If you can keep the crop camera for sports and other stuff, the 5DII will be great for the other things.

I would get the 7D. If going full frame I would want the 5DMK III but that was not on your list of choices. It's a lot of money but it's what I would get if I wanted to go full frame. That's my 2 cents.

I agree with others, the 500D and 5D2 would make a good combination. It gives you the versatlilty of full frame and crop. If you go 7D you have crop crop. While the 7D is a very capable camera, in fact the best crop body made by Canon, the 5D2 is no slouch either and makes a great portrait / landscape camera.

Go for the 5DMII or 5DMIII, giving you a FF and crop. OTOH, who knows what Canon will announce around September.

I agree with the suggestions to go with a 5Dx model. As stated above, croppers and full-frame are different animals.

Thanks everyone for the help. I'm going to go with the 5D2. And I think it will be great for me for the next 3 years of uni along with my 500D. And who knows, maybe in 3/4 years we're gonna see 5D4??

it's better to spend money on lenses, new bodies come and go. maybe consider replacing 70-210 with 70-200 f/4 IS and add 135 f/2 for portraits.

I don't know how to answer this one. The only real advantage of the 5D II over the 500D is full frame. Its AF system- is almost the same as the 500D. The 7D has more advantages - especially if you want a better AF system, all cross type AF points, etc. Even the 60D should handle sports or moving action better than the 5D II. The 7D can easily do anything you listed- as well as the 5D II. There is a lot of kool-aid being distributed around on POTN- avoid drinking it. You'd probably be better off with better glass than changing the bodies- IF you dont have something that the 500D lacks behind on. Even then, to an extent- you'd be better served with better lenses.

1. Better lenses perhaps. Lighting -like some external flashes, strobe sets, etc.
2. Better body- aimed at whatever type of photography you're interested in. Even a t4i or 60D would be an improvement in AF focusing and consistency. 7D would be a good choice- especially for moving action. From the sounds of it though, you are beginning- and everyone thinks that upgrading your gear will make you better- but mostly- its upgrading your skills, and that usually entails more in the way of lenses and lighting than it is bodies.. Your t1i is still a fine body- capable of nearly anything that someone can do with a 5DII. The 7D would be an upgrade, imo- but it's like a lateral move- a whole new performance plateau. A 5D II with marginal glass- is going to be OK at best. A 7d with marginal glass- same result. T1i, with marginal glass- same results. Upgrade your lighting- and your current glass will probably seem much better. Upgrade your current glass as well- along with proper lighting- and you will see night and day improvements.

OK- you really don't need a 5D II or a 7D at this point- imo. Other investments in glass, lighting, experience will do much more for you.

Keep your camera and upgrade your lenses.