Falling out of love with aps-c...

Hi guys,

To set the scene a bit, I currently have a 5d3, 50d, and 20d. When I got the 50d (upgrade from 450d) I absolutely loved it... thought it was the dogs-b's. I purchased a used 20d as a backup to the 50d, but it very very rarely gets used. Then, just over a year ago I purchased the 5d3... there's no point me raving about it or proclaiming how I felt, because I guess most people understand already.

Anyway... I do tend to use two bodies simultaneously quite frequently (5d3 and 50d), but over the past year the 50d has spent more time handing off my shoulder than held up to my eye. I find myself at times simply using the 50d as a lens holder for when I want to swap what's on the 5d! I guess I'm just falling out of love with the aps-c sensor now that I've experienced the joys of full-frame. Surely I'm not the only one to feel this?

I'm thinking about getting rid of the 20d, and demoting the 50d to the backup. The question then is what do I replace it with? The obvious answer I guess is another 5d3, but I can't justify that expenditure at the minute - I'm wondering if picking up something like a 1d2n or 1d3 would be better suited for my needs. The reason I'm suggesting a 1d body is because of the AF system... I'd love another FF body, but with the AF system of the 5d1 and 5d2, I know it will just hang off my shoulder like the 50d. There is always the 7d, but of course it's still aps-c...

I am currently borrowing a colleague's old 1d2n to play with, and I must admit it's very nice... yes there are issues like the 2-hand menu system, small screen, old tech, etc. but there's no doubting it's still a very nice bit of kit. A 1d2n would set me back about £350-400 used at the minute, whereas a 1d3 or 7d would be more like £600-700.

If anyone has any inspiring words of wisdom or advice about my options, please do chip in

Chris

Sell your crop and get a 5d3 or 1dx. You've answered your own questions.

grab a used 5D2 or 6D as backup.

many full frame options these days, old and new, small(ish) and big, cheap and expensive...

It was too much trouble dealing with two formats, so I finally got around to another FF as a second camera. It also annoyed me that my custom lightroom presets would fall apart when used on crop raw files.

The only crop I can keep around is the EOS-M. Great for video, and the M22 is in a class of it's own.

BTW, those 1D's are crop cameras

Charlie wrote in post #16444839
BTW, those 1D's are crop cameras

Yeah I realise the 1d models (apart from the X) are aps-h... a 1.3x crop just seems that bit more useful than 1.6x (for me). Again, probably not as useful as FF, but as I say, the AF systems of the cheaper FF options are a turn off at the minute.

What do you shoot? What are your needs?

chrismarriott66 wrote in post #16444728
Hi guys,I guess I'm just falling out of love with the aps-c sensor now that I've experienced the joys of full-frame. Surely I'm not the only one to feel this?

Crop has its place. For many types of photography the 1.6 crop factor is a huge advantage.

Care to give us a hint on what those needs are? You might be best served by a point and shoot or an 8 X 10 view camera. Without knowing what you shoot, under what conditions, and your desired result a reasonably informed answer is impossible to give.

kin2son wrote in post #16444751
grab a used 5D2 or 6D as backup.

This... makes the most sense to me unless you can come up with the funds for another 5d3.

Another 5D3 is your answer. Charge it!!! It's just money

Thanks for the replies guys

frankwite wrote in post #16445127
Another 5D3 is your answer. Charge it!!! It's just money

Mmmm, if only it was that simple

Beachcomber Joe wrote in post #16445096
Crop has its place. For many types of photography the 1.6 crop factor is a huge advantage.

I'm sure you're right - I don't tend to shoot wildlife or sports though.

Beachcomber Joe wrote in post #16445096
Care to give us a hint on what those needs are? You might be best served by a point and shoot or an 8 X 10 view camera. Without knowing what you shoot, under what conditions, and your desired result a reasonably informed answer is impossible to give.

Gregg.Siam wrote in post #16445063
What do you shoot? What are your needs?

When I'm using two bodies simultaneously I'm generally shooting weddings or events. Typically though I'll shoot 90% of images on the 5d3 - and not because I only need one camera as I'm changing lenses frequently, which is annoying. For personal stuff / portrait sessions I'll generally just use one body and swap lenses as and when required.

The main things preventing me from just using the other camera (as opposed to swapping lenses) are the basic AF system and large crop factor - my 85mm and 70-200 never go on the 50d, for example. It's mainly the AF system though to be honest - the reliability of the 50d AF is terrible in comparison to the 5d3.

Not sure if you have any interest in sports or wildlife, but maybe this will help conclude;

1Ds (any gen) - FF, great AF
1D (any gen) - 1.3 crop, great AF
5D (1, 2) - FF, poor AF
5D (3) - FF, great AF
6D - FF, great AF
7D - 1.6 crop, great AF
00D - 1.6 crop, reasonable AF

I know I couldn't do without a 1.6 for sports and wildlife, but sounds like you can. Maybe keep your options open with a 7D.

Sounds like it comes down to how much do you want to pay for AF system.
1dx, another 5d3, 1d4, and 1ds3 are out, due to funds.
6d, 1d3, and 1ds2 seems like your upper price limit. Sounds like you dont want a 7d 1.6 crop.
1d2(n), 1ds is more comfortable in your price range, but older tech.

Looks like your professional work does not need such a robust AF system. I get the impression that if your 5d went down at a shoot, you would want a FF as your 2nd, but I really like the 1.3 crop with the 24-70 + 70-200 on a FF as a 2 camera zoom lens system for people shots.

Welllll...you ruined yourself by getting used to the 5DIII/1DX AF and their similar settings.

And...you ruined yourself by getting used and happy with FF.

(Not saying any of that is bad; there is plenty of happy guilt to go round)

So with your rising expectations in mind...why don't you get either a small 6D as a backup.
or a 1D4 (last of the 1.3 crops...close to a FF as your gonna get in the Canon world with better sealing than the 5D3 - in case Mother Nature dumps on you but you want to capture those moments)?

chrismarriott66 wrote in post #16445167
When I'm using two bodies simultaneously I'm generally shooting weddings or events.

Neither application presents much of an autofocus challenge unless conditions are very dark. The 6D will give you similar image quality to your 5D III in a smaller, less expensive package. It's autofocus is similar to the autofocus of the 5D II. That camera continues to be used, very successfully, by a large number of professional photographers. For events and weddings the 6D's only drawback is its 1/180 flash sync speed.