Upgrading from 30D

Hello,
Currently I have a 30D. Photography is a hobby for me and as a college student I don't have the money for the 5DMKIII or D800 and all the high-end lenses.
I shoot mostly landscapes and random stuff. I'd like to shoot full/half-body portraits but I don't really have suitable models. (maybe some friends)
My plan is to buy a used 5D(mark I) which is old but full frame, gives better control over DOF and probably better for portraits and landscapes.
I thought about the 60D too but the price difference is way too much for some extra features.
By the way I am not a full frame fanboy like 99% of the users here. I've seen stunning landscapes and portraits shot with crop cameras. (even old entry level ones: 1000d,350d,d60 etc..)
Third option would be investing in lens.

Does the 30D do everything you want it to? If so, I'd recommend that you get yourself a nice lens. If a lens doesn't float your boat, then you might look at an off camera flash system. Even a single off camera flash with a modifier (like an umbrella or a softbox) does a lot of good for your photographs.

Feryll wrote in post #15981035
Hello,
Currently I have a 30D. Photography is a hobby for me and as a college student I don't have the money for the 5DMKIII or D800 and all the high-end lenses.
I shoot mostly landscapes and random stuff. I'd like to shoot full/half-body portraits but I don't really have suitable models. (maybe some friends)
My plan is to buy a used 5D(mark I) which is old but full frame, gives better control over DOF and probably better for portraits and landscapes.
I thought about the 60D too but the price difference is way too much for some extra features.
By the way I am not a full frame fanboy like 99% of the users here. I've seen stunning landscapes and portraits shot with crop cameras. (even old entry level ones: 1000d,350d,d60 etc..)
Third option would be investing in lens.

I'm in a similar boat, though upgrading from an older body (10D!). I'm at the point where I'm fed up with the ISO performance and the overall performance of the camera (it outright rejects some CF cards and it's super slow). I was debating back and forth between those same two bodies, and I think I'm going to go with the 60D ultimately. They're decently cheap from Canon refurbished, plus I have an old broken Powershot to send in for CLP to get a little more off that price. I didn't want to get a 5D and then potentially have to replace the shutter in a few months, which would put me out a little more than I would like.

I wouldn't buy a 5D classic at this time for a main camera. The technology is just too outdated IMO, and it is not (or will not be for long if it still is) supported by Canon anymore.

You haven't really told us why you want to change camera though. The 5D is only really going to get you a bigger sensor and slightly better high ISO performance (everyone keeps talking about the "magic" look from the 5DC, I don't see it. Maybe its a psychological thing). DOF control? You're better off with crop for landscape since you want more in focus, not less. For portraits, granted, I'd take the 5DC. But you said yourself this nowhere near your main genre of photography.
You also said you're not able to afford expensive glass. Crop glass is cheaper.

What we really need to know to give helpful advice is:
-why you want to upgrade
-what lenses do you have now
-what is your exact budget
-do you have a decent tripod
-do you blend and if not, do you have filters

If you can't get "magic" out of a crop camera, you ain't gonna get it out of a FF camera.

All things considered, in your position I'd go with a 50D or 60D. Stick with crop and the lenses you have now will be fully usable in the same way on the new (or newer) body.

If you have battery grip on your 30D, it's usable on 50D, but not on 60D.

50D can use same memory cards and batteries as 30D (CF and BP511/511A). With 60D you'd need new memory (SD) and different batteries (LP-E6).

WIth 10D, I tried to stick to ISO 800 or less. IMO, with 30D ISO 1600 was marginally usable and it is more fully usable with 50D. 60D is same as my 7Ds, which I'll use without concern to ISO 3200. Both 50D and 60D offer even higher ISOs, but they are noisier and you'll have to decide for yourself they are usable or not (try using add'l noise reduction such as Noiseware or convert images to black & white).

5DC tops out at ISO 3200, but it's fully usable. (IMO, 5DII is fully usable up to ISO 6400 without much extra work... higher can be possible with some add'l post-processing).

5DC is the same age and essentially the same technology as your 30D. They have similar AF systems (9-point, only the center one dual axis, but see * note below), 12 bit imaging, 35 zone metering, etc. 30D doesn't have user interchangeable focus screen, while 5DC, 50D and 60D all do.

50D and 60D both have 14 bit imaging. Both have 9-point, all dual-axis AF, which is noticeably better than 5D/5DII tracking moving subjects (AI Servo). The metering system in 50D is roughly the same 35 zone as 5D/5DII. The 60D has a newer, 63 zone metering system that can be a wee bit better in certain situations (I've noticed a little better handling of some strong backlighting, for example).

50D has Micro Adjust feature that allows you to fine tune focus accuracy for up to 20 lenses. 60D doesn't have this. 50D has "joystick". 60D doesn't, it uses an 8-way button more similar to the Rebel/xxxD series. 60D has that neat, articulated LCD screen, and it has a locking mode dial (prevents accidental mode changes). 50D doesn't have either of these features.

By the way, I've owned and most extensively used 10D, 30D, 50D, and currently own and use 7D and 5DII. I've used several other DSLRs and Canon film models, as well.

Really, any of the cameras are capable of taking nice images. The lenses you use on them will make more difference, than changing out the camera you are using.

10D....