Hmmm...What to get

Hey all,

I am a hobbyist/part-time paid photographer. I have done 3 weddings, and have 3-4 more lined up for this summer, as well as family pics/portraits etc. when they come up. I shot all my weddings last year with a 40D and 5Dc, and everything was fine.

Well yesterday I went to take some pics with the 40D, and got the dreaded Error 99. After searching and trying every solution I could find on the internet, I can't get it up and running again. At this point, you can buy a used 40D for about $250. It would cost at least that much to send mine into Canon to get fixed, so I'm thinking I should just chalk it up as a loss....plus I want a new toy

So....what do I do...

I would love to have the 5Diii, but at this point it is just out of the budget. I would love to get a 6D, but I would have to get a new lens (probably 24-105 kit), as I don't have much for a normal zoom lens on FF (I have a 14 2.8, 50 1.8, and 85 1.8). Also, I love low-light/night photography, so the 6D is a huge plus there...the downside is that it is going to cost me $2000 which is stretching my budget.

The other option I'm thinking is a nice used 7D, which I can get for around $800. In this case I wouldn't have to get a new lens, as I have the Sigma 17-50 2.8. It would definitely be nice to have the 7D for the AF and to save the money of course.

Which of these options would you do? Or something else??

6D!!!!! It would be great for weddings.

If it weren't for the money, I would without hesitation go with the 6D, I'm just trying to decide if it's worth all the extra money....

With being paid, the 6d to me would be the right choice. Another opinion would be pick up a used 60d, like new ones are going for around $450, and then save your pennies for a upgrade to a 6d down the road. You will be pleasantly surprised of the performance of the 60d.

you can probably do the whole wedding with the 6D and 24-105 on one camera and 5D 85 1.8 on the other.

mark2009 wrote in post #16763015
With being paid, the 6d to me would be the right choice. Another opinion would be pick up a used 60d, like new ones are going for around $450, and then save your pennies for a upgrade to a 6d down the road. You will be pleasantly surprised of the performance of the 60d.

Really the 6D is the best choice for me. When I'm not doing weddings/portraits, what I really enjoy is landscape and night photography, which the 6D is much better suited for...I just really don't have the money for it though

The 7D sounds like a good idea since you'll be able to use the CF cards from your 40D. Of course, the 60D is more affordable and is quite as capable as your old 40D.

I have a 60D and a 6D. The difference between them, unless I am shooting an f/2 lens at ISO 6400+ is not worth spit. I got the 6D for just such shooting, so it is quite worth it to me. Right now, I think a refurbished 60D is the best bargain in all of camera-dom. If you've been getting along just fine with a 40D and a 5Dc, you really don't need a 7D. You can get the refurbished 60D for about $500, out the door. Of course, if you want a 7D, get its better, modern update, the 70D, instead. The extra features are worth a few extra dollars. 7D shooters can fill you in on what the 70D does not have.

If you have no qualms about going refurbished. http://shop.usa.canon.​com …s/eos-7d-body-refurbished

Also, you could trade in your 40D using the Canon Loyalty Program and get 20% off any refurbished body. Not sure if that's an additional 20% on top of the 30% off for the 7D I posted but it doesn't hurt to ask.

the flying moose wrote in post #16763927
If you have no qualms about going refurbished. http://shop.usa.canon.​com …s/eos-7d-body-refurbished

Also, you could trade in your 40D using the Canon Loyalty Program and get 20% off any refurbished body. Not sure if that's an additional 20% on top of the 30% off for the 7D I posted but it doesn't hurt to ask.

They do not stack the cpl on top of a sale. It would be better to sell the 40d as a repair/parts camera.

Interestingly it is the only model with such a steep sale beyond the cpl discount, I wonder it is heralding in an announcement.

SqueekyBoy wrote in post #16763894
I have a 60D and a 6D. The difference between them, unless I am shooting an f/2 lens at ISO 6400+ is not worth spit. I got the 6D for just such shooting, so it is quite worth it to me. Right now, I think a refurbished 60D is the best bargain in all of camera-dom. If you've been getting along just fine with a 40D and a 5Dc, you really don't need a 7D. You can get the refurbished 60D for about $500, out the door. Of course, if you want a 7D, get its better, modern update, the 70D, instead. The extra features are worth a few extra dollars. 7D shooters can fill you in on what the 70D does not have.

The 60D is definitely another option if I want to go cheaper for now...I'm seeing the going rate to be more $550-600 though...maybe I just need to wait around for a while.