Trade my 60D for a 5D Classic?

I have a 60D as my second body/Back-up camera, and a 5D2 as my main camera.

A 5D3 is not in my budget at this time, and I see 60D's sell for basically the same exact price as the 5D classic $600 more or less depending on condition and shutter count. So I can realistically sell my 60D and than buy a 5D classic for equal cost.

Would you suggest this? While the 60D is the newer model, I love the full frame on my 5D2.

I am sure someone will suggest I buy a used 5D2, but I believe if I do go for this swap, I would rather get a 5D classic and extra cash towrds a lens, than only getting another 5D2. I would probably have to sell my 60D and put in another $600 towards that used 5D2.

Also I do not specialize in any 1 type of photography, if that helps anyone helping me figure this out.

I guess thats all the details..........how about the opposite? Would someone out there be thinking the opposite? They wanted to trade a 5D Classic for a 60D?

All suggestions, thoughts and input is appreciated as always. Thanks in advance POTN!

I'm not sure if I've ever seen anyone contemplate moving from a 5Dc to a 60D on these boards, but in my year or so of posting here I've seen about a dozen 60D shooters make the move to the 5Dc. Typically they did it for the landscape or portrait photography they shoot, as they liked the full frame look better than that of the crop bodies.

I've actually considered it, but it wouldn't be all that practical for me because I shoot a lot of sports and I enjoy the video feature as well. But if I didn't shoot any sports at all, I would have probably already made the move to a lightly-used 5Dc. If you aren't going to miss the reach of the 60D or some of the newer features, then I don't think anyone could blame you.

But to be sure, the 60D is pretty good at everything I use it for (a little bit of everything) and I really have no desire to switch . . . but the 5D3 sure would be nice even with sacrificing the reach of a crop body. A friend of mine replaced his 1D4 with a 5D3 and I'm nothing but impressed with it (as is he).

If you have no need for video and don't use AI servo that often, definitely make the switch.

oklaiss wrote in post #15437203
If you have no need for video and don't use AI servo that often, definitely make the switch.

No need for the video, but I do use AI servo from time to time........is it supposed to not function well on the original 5D?

I've been using a 60D for about two years. I got a 5D about 3 weeks ago. I'd never give up my 60D and shoot solely with the 5D. But that's me. If you are happy with the 5D2, and the 60D offers you no advantages, why keep it?

I don't use LV, video or the flippy-screen thing. I do use the 5.3 vs 3 fps. I do use the Q-menu and My Menu, which the 5D does not have. ISO in the VF is really helpful, too.

I shot a HS volleyball game the other day. The 5D's tracking ability in AI Servo are good enough for that, with the right glass. I used an 85 1.8 and Σ70-200 2.8 OS.

TSchrief wrote in post #15437475
I've been using a 60D for about two years. I got a 5D about 3 weeks ago. I'd never give up my 60D and shoot solely with the 5D. But that's me. If you are happy with the 5D2, and the 60D offers you no advantages, why keep it?

I don't use LV, video or the flippy-screen thing. I do use the 5.3 vs 3 fps. I do use the Q-menu and My Menu, which the 5D does not have. ISO in the VF is really helpful, too.

I shot a HS volleyball game the other day. The 5D's tracking ability in AI Servo are good enough for that, with the right glass. I used an 85 1.8 and Σ70-200 2.8 OS.

Thanks for chiming in TSchrief, I too do not use LV, Video or the Flippy screen.

I was not aware I can not see the ISO in the viewfinder? This is true in the 5D classic? Not sure if that matters to much to me or not, I can view it on the top LCD right?

I appreciate your time

I actually found a 5D classic tonight online for $500 even, however it is the body, battery and charger, nothing else. No box, manuels, neckstarp, cables, etc. I think can get by with none of that for only $500. If I can get $650 +/- for my 60D, I will even have some cash left over.

5D2 and 5D classic have essentially the same AF system, so you can answer the question yourself, if it's performance in AI Servo is adequate for your purposes. It's not for me, so I keep crop cameras to use alongside 5D2.

60D has a more action/sports/AI Servo oriented AF system, roughly comparable to the 40D and 50D before it. I used 50D in the past and now use a pair of 7D, which have an even better AI Servo oriented AF system.

Frankly, I prefer using two formats. That makes my lens kit all that much more useful. I use the croppers for action/sports, both for their AF performance and the "extra reach/free teleconverter effect" with tele lenses. I switch to the full frame camera for landscape, portraiture, macro shooting. I had the opportunity to go to full frame only or to combine 1.3X crop with FF, but chose to stick with 1.6X crop and FF combo instead. Serves me well.

If I were shooting FF only, I'd switch to 5D3, for the improved AF system. As it stands now, I'm happy with 7D and 5D2 together and see no need to upgrade anytime soon. Canon would probably prefer I upgrade cameras more often, but they'll just have to be patient.

Also, seeing you have 5D2, be aware the 5D classic tops out at ISO 3200, doesn't have sensor cleaning, has a noticeably smaller and dimmer LCD screen, among other things. Even though Canon let us down by failing to upgrade the AF system at all when they introduced the 5D2 (even though they'd upgraded the AF in other camera models in the year prior), there are a number of other features that make the 5D2 a preferable choice. It might seem silly, but I have to admit that the self cleaning sensor was probably one of the biggest factors for me.... kept me from buying a 5D classic. I have to shoot in dusty situations a lot, was tired of cleaning sensors so much with earlier models and the 5D classic had a reputation as a "dust magnet".

Dustman wrote in post #15437553
I was not aware I can not see the ISO in the viewfinder? This is true in the 5D classic? Not sure if that matters to much to me or not, I can view it on the top LCD right?

I appreciate your time

I actually found a 5D classic tonight online for $500 even, however it is the body, battery and charger, nothing else. No box, manuels, neckstarp, cables, etc. I think can get by with none of that for only $500. If I can get $650 +/- for my 60D, I will even have some cash left over.

No ISO in the viewfinder, confirmed. This generally bugs me when I go from high-ISO/no flash to low-ISO/with flash. It has (wrong, I have) ruined a few shots. My fault, though, not the cameras. It just did what I told it to do.

I think the lack of Q-menu and My Menu bothers me more. I use them often on my 60D.

I got my 5D, in excellent shape with 3 after-market batteries and a Canon grip for $650.

One other thing to consider, I can't make my 5D work on my WIN7 (Home Premium) computer for anything other than downloading pictures. I discovered that it works on XP or WIN7, if you have Ulimate, Professional or Enterprise versions.

Thanks everyone for all the info! Alot more to consider than I maybe thought.

As the 5D2 is obviosly better than the 5D1 and the new 5D3 better than them the both, with LCD, AF and other features............pr​ice obviosly goes up with each new model. In a fantasy world I would just buy Two 5D3's and be done, no thinking involved, but funds need to be taken into consideration for me.

I am happy with the AI servo on my 5D2, so if it is the same on the 5D classic, than that feature shouldn't be an issue for me.

Worse LCD, no self cleaning sensor, No My menu is an issue, but again, I get what I pay for, a used 5D classic is goign for half the price of a used 5D2.

Thanks again for everyones input, I will sleep on it.

I traded my 60D here roughly about two years ago for a 5DC. Never looked back.

BryantFC wrote in post #15437829
I traded my 60D here roughly about two years ago for a 5DC. Never looked back.

but you did look forward to a 5d3

i would stick with the 60d.
you already have a FF with the 5d2

jhayesvw wrote in post #15437876
but you did look forward to a 5d3

i would stick with the 60d.
you already have a FF with the 5d2

OH i totally missed the post lmao. Yeah if you already have a 5d2, i think it's better off to keep the 60D. But if you just had one camera, I would switch.

Not sure if anyone really cares, but in the end (took me less than a week to complete), I sold both my 5D2 and my 60D, and bought a 5D3 and a 5D1.

So basically I traded My :

5D2, 60D and $1,300 for a 5D3 and a 5D1

I feel I upgraded both bodies doing this, my main camera and my backup/second body are both better for me personally.

Only time will tell if I made the right choice.

On a side note, the 5D1 I got could not be in any better condition, it has to be one the best out there. It is just spotless, not a mark or scratch anywhere on it, it really looks brand new! It has under 10,000 acuations on it. I could not believe it when I saw it.

I think you made an excellent decision!