Replacing my aging 450D kit , 7d vs 5dmii vs 6d

Hey guys I am a senior broadcasting and electronic communications major at Eastern Kentucky University, and as my graduation is rolling around I am thinking it would be a good time to upgrade my camera body. I have been renting a 50d and more recently a 60d from a local shop for my more important shoots but would like to move into something a little better on a more permanent basis. I also really need something that does video as I will hopefully be graduating into the video field and will no longer have access to the schools Panasonics and Sonys once I graduate.

I am currently shooting on a 450d with the rest of my kit including the kit ef-s 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6, the ef 50mm F1.8, ef 70-210mm f3.5-4.5, a 430ex II flash, some triggers, a remote, a tripod, and a light stand, some macro extension tubes, and some things I'm sure to have forgotten.

The three main cameras I am considering are the 7D the 5D mark II, or waiting for the 6d. I can see the obvious advantages to each setup as far as the spec sheets go the main difference for me being that if I go the 7d route I can probably fit another lens in as well. I'm a little worried that the two remaining lenses I would have if I went full frame would not perform all that well since neither is that awesome of a lens, and it would leave me without a wide angle.

Problematically I shoot a little bit of everything. I find myself doing quite a bit of low light or night shooting that would make the full frames nice, but I also shoot a lot of local autocross events and some not so local drift events where I do find my current camera to be painfully slow. Luckily neither of these things tend to end up with me getting paid so neither really is more important than the other so like I said above my main concern is with whether or not I would be better off saving on the body and getting a new lens or if the lenses I have would be sufficient.

Opinions?

The 7D is the most cost effective solution for you right now.

The 7D is both the most cost effective solution available to you and the most well-rounded. It does absolutely everything well. So well, in fact, that Canon released a feature-enhancing firmware upgrade for it, something it has never in its history done before.

If you know you're not going to be shooting anything that moves fast, the 5D2 or 6D might be a reasonable way to go, but you'll get better results with a 7D and better glass than with one of those and the (full frame) glass you have. A 7D plus a 17-55 IS (for a total of about $2200) or Sigma 17-50 OS (for a total of about $1800) will yield amazing results for little more than the 5D2 or 6D bodies alone would cost.

If you're on a budget then I would avoid FF because your current glass could probably do with an upgrade if you're going to be taking this more seriously... FF eats money.

Thanks for the advice guys. Looks like my concerns about my limitations in glass were well founded. I know full frame requires good glass for you to get better results out of it. Looks like 7d its going to be, I just have to decide on a lens or 2 to go with it. Anyone have any more suggestions?

I am trying to keep it under $2200 or so, so the canon mentioned above would probably be right at the very top of what I could afford.

solepatch wrote in post #15101430
I am currently shooting on a 450d with the rest of my kit including the kit ef-s 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6, the ef 50mm F1.8, ef 70-210mm f3.5-4.5, a 430ex II flash, some triggers, a remote, a tripod, and a light stand, some macro extension tubes, and some things I'm sure to have forgotten.

The three main cameras I am considering are the 7D the 5D mark II, or waiting for the 6d. I can see the obvious advantages to each setup as far as the spec sheets go the main difference for me being that if I go the 7d route I can probably fit another lens in as well. I'm a little worried that the two remaining lenses I would have if I went full frame would not perform all that well since neither is that awesome of a lens, and it would leave me without a wide angle.

Problematically I shoot a little bit of everything. I find myself doing quite a bit of low light or night shooting that would make the full frames nice, but I also shoot a lot of local autocross events and some not so local drift events where I do find my current camera to be painfully slow. Luckily neither of these things tend to end up with me getting paid so neither really is more important than the other so like I said above my main concern is with whether or not I would be better off saving on the body and getting a new lens or if the lenses I have would be sufficient.

Opinions?

if you wait the new 6D might work better than those options, especially if you do a lot of low light shooting

watt100 wrote in post #15103020
if you wait the new 6D might work better than those options, especially if you do a lot of low light shooting

The more I look around the more convinced I am that I need to hold off on making the full frame jump until probably my next body upgrade. I would really like to wait until the 6d is officially released just to see what the finished product is capable of but I am somewhat worried about my current lenses performing poorly on a full frame camera.

I am keeping it in mind for sure though.

I would move straight to used stuff. You can get the 7D and 17-55 f2.8 IS for right at $1800. I've heard great things about the Sigma 17-50, and it holds up in the images I've seen (not as fast AF motor as the Canon though). With a used Sigma, you might be able to reach for a used 70-200 f4L, and you could unload your 70-210 to help.

I would keep the 18-55 in case you need to shoot in bad conditions or just want another body/lens to loan out on your old Rebel. The lens is worth so little on the used market, that you might as well keep it if you're running crop.

If I were you I would get a used 5d2, great in low light and beautiful files it can produce. You can find a nice clean used 5d2 for around $1500.

Does your school have a 5DII and a 7D that you could shoot for a day? That way you can see which is best for you. Or a local camera shop might have them as rentals.
Aside from that, I would recommend the 7D... as stated before it is a great all-around option. I have the 7D and the 5DII. I love my 5DII, but if you only have one choice, the 7D is a bit more flexible than the 5DII. Both can shoot anything, but I think the 7D has more room to handle various types of shots than the 5DII. You could do well with either though. You can get the 7D for $1100 or so through the Canon Loyalty Program (see thread in MarketWatch for more details). That leaves you a bit for good glass!

solepatch wrote in post #15101430
Hey guys I am a senior broadcasting and electronic communications major at Eastern Kentucky University, and as my graduation is rolling around I am thinking it would be a good time to upgrade my camera body. I have been renting a 50d and more recently a 60d from a local shop for my more important shoots but would like to move into something a little better on a more permanent basis. I also really need something that does video as I will hopefully be graduating into the video field and will no longer have access to the schools Panasonics and Sonys once I graduate.

I am currently shooting on a 450d with the rest of my kit including the kit ef-s 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6, the ef 50mm F1.8, ef 70-210mm f3.5-4.5, a 430ex II flash, some triggers, a remote, a tripod, and a light stand, some macro extension tubes, and some things I'm sure to have forgotten.

The three main cameras I am considering are the 7D the 5D mark II, or waiting for the 6d. I can see the obvious advantages to each setup as far as the spec sheets go the main difference for me being that if I go the 7d route I can probably fit another lens in as well. I'm a little worried that the two remaining lenses I would have if I went full frame would not perform all that well since neither is that awesome of a lens, and it would leave me without a wide angle.

Problematically I shoot a little bit of everything. I find myself doing quite a bit of low light or night shooting that would make the full frames nice, but I also shoot a lot of local autocross events and some not so local drift events where I do find my current camera to be painfully slow. Luckily neither of these things tend to end up with me getting paid so neither really is more important than the other so like I said above my main concern is with whether or not I would be better off saving on the body and getting a new lens or if the lenses I have would be sufficient.

Opinions?

5d3

My fist major upgrade was from the 450D was a 50D. It was lightyears ahead, my keeper rate soared dramatically. The IQ was not even in the same ballpark. Everybody says good glass is the way to go, but sometimes a body is a limitation as well. I know many take wonderful shots with consumer grade bodies and I did too, but for consistency a better grade body is the way to go. That said the 7D would blow you away after the 450D, you would be like a kid in a lolly shop haha. I have now gone full frame and yes, they are a lot better, but as already mentioned the glass is getting expensive when you go full frame. If you have the budget this is definitely the way to go, if not the 7D is the best crop body Canon make, so you would get plenty of good use out of it. Since going FF I have sold my 50D and brought a 40D as a backup body, I like the images better from the 40D. If I was to ever upgrade the 40D with another crop body it would have to be a 7D. Whatever you decide it will certainly be a step up for you. Good luck with your decision.

L.J.G. wrote in post #15105238
If you have the budget this is definitely the way to go, if not the 7D is the best crop body Canon make, so you would get plenty of good use out of it.

It's interesting that this is fully true now that the 1D MkIV is no longer in production. Hmm.

waterrockets wrote in post #15104235
I would move straight to used stuff. You can get the 7D and 17-55 f2.8 IS for right at $1800. I've heard great things about the Sigma 17-50, and it holds up in the images I've seen (not as fast AF motor as the Canon though). With a used Sigma, you might be able to reach for a used 70-200 f4L, and you could unload your 70-210 to help.

I would keep the 18-55 in case you need to shoot in bad conditions or just want another body/lens to loan out on your old Rebel. The lens is worth so little on the used market, that you might as well keep it if you're running crop.

Going used is another option I have that I have not yet looked into much yet. I have never bought any kind of electronics used. A friend of mine bought a T3i used from B&H and has had good experience with them. Do you have experience with B&H or any other used dealer personally?

hhuy888 wrote in post #15105013
If I were you I would get a used 5d2, great in low light and beautiful files it can produce. You can find a nice clean used 5d2 for around $1500.

I will keep that in mind if I decide to look into used gear.

Keltab wrote in post #15105137
Does your school have a 5DII and a 7D that you could shoot for a day? That way you can see which is best for you. Or a local camera shop might have them as rentals.
Aside from that, I would recommend the 7D... as stated before it is a great all-around option. I have the 7D and the 5DII. I love my 5DII, but if you only have one choice, the 7D is a bit more flexible than the 5DII. Both can shoot anything, but I think the 7D has more room to handle various types of shots than the 5DII. You could do well with either though. You can get the 7D for $1100 or so through the Canon Loyalty Program (see thread in MarketWatch for more details). That leaves you a bit for good glass!

Unfortunately the school does not have either. The guy that does all of the purchasing for our department is a Nikon guy for stills and a Sony/Panasonic guy for video.

I have rented a 50d and a 60d from a shop locally that has a 5dii for rent that I have never tried just because it was more expensive. Always wanted to though.

Thanks for the tip on the loyalty program.

jonneymendoza wrote in post #15105174
5d3

Way out of my price range. Would be nice though.

L.J.G. wrote in post #15105238
My fist major upgrade was from the 450D was a 50D. It was lightyears ahead, my keeper rate soared dramatically. The IQ was not even in the same ballpark. Everybody says good glass is the way to go, but sometimes a body is a limitation as well. I know many take wonderful shots with consumer grade bodies and I did too, but for consistency a better grade body is the way to go. That said the 7D would blow you away after the 450D, you would be like a kid in a lolly shop haha. I have now gone full frame and yes, they are a lot better, but as already mentioned the glass is getting expensive when you go full frame. If you have the budget this is definitely the way to go, if not the 7D is the best crop body Canon make, so you would get plenty of good use out of it. Since going FF I have sold my 50D and brought a 40D as a backup body, I like the images better from the 40D. If I was to ever upgrade the 40D with another crop body it would have to be a 7D. Whatever you decide it will certainly be a step up for you. Good luck with your decision.

Thanks for the advice and I have tried the 50d and loved it. I have also used a 60d and both these cameras have helped me make the decision to upgrade. I agree with your comment that your hit rate can increase dramatically with a body update. I have experienced the same phenomena.

My used experience has been private seller. The body and lens I bought used have been perfect for me.

These XXD and XD cameras are not made with the quality of the latest phone or TV. They are durable goods, not throw-away technology. I bought my old 1D3 in July (over 3 years old, and 5 year old design), and I love it.