Sell 50L for 60D + EF 35/2 IS???

Looking at my current gear, would selling the 50L for a 60D and a 35/2 IS be a good move or not? I think by selling the 50L I'd gain the flexibility of having a 2nd body that could use the 35mm as a normal prime, plus add some range for the 85. Thoughts?

Why you need 2nd body, do you shoot events, sports etc?

No I don't shoot events at all. Just thinking with an APS-C body I'd have both a 35/56 (with the 35/2 IS) and an 85/136 (with the 85/1.8)

bobbyz wrote in post #17133621
Why you need 2nd body, do you shoot events, sports etc?

Agree. Unless you shoot events where you have to swap lenses so fast that having a second body is the only way to do so, then I don't see the point.

If you are set on getting rid of the 50L, I would sell the 50L and use the $ towards more glass. A second body is only necessary when shooting weddings, sports, etc. where the photographer doesn't have time to take a lens off and put a new one on.

hiketheplanet wrote in post #17133612
Looking at my current gear, would selling the 50L for a 60D and a 35/2 IS be a good move or not? I think by selling the 50L I'd gain the flexibility of having a 2nd body that could use the 35mm as a normal prime, plus add some range for the 85. Thoughts?

Heya,

Depends. Personally I would not give up great glass for an `ok body, just to gain different field of views. When you put those primes on APS-C, not only is the field of view different, so is depth of field. They're suddenly not as isolating as they were on your full frame. Also, going to the 60D, you're giving up a significant feature which is the low light capabilities of your full frame.

If you really want those other focal lengths, just get the glass.

I guess it comes down to what you're shooting, and whether you want to walk around with two SLR's at the same time. I do this. But I like to have a smaller sidekick next to a much bigger system for whatever I'm doing.

For me, I take a gripped SLR (full frame or APS-C depending on task) and a small EOS-M with 22mm pancake. Or, I often take two full on gripped SLR's. Just depends. I do a lot of wildlife, macro, astro, portrait and landscape and I like having two cameras at all times because I use a lot of primes.

What do you shoot with these?

If you just want to off load the 50L, by all means, do it. It's a great lens, but if it's not something you want to use all the time, you can certainly let it go and replace with a Sigma 50 F1.4 ($275) and put the other $700 towards a camera or another piece of glass.

Very best,

I like the 50L, love it in fact. And I realize the 60D is only OK by many other standards. When it comes to full frame, it's really only the big, wide landscapes I do that I care if I have FF or not.

I'm thinking flexibility above all else. I don't see my kit growing any larger than it is now. One backpack with my gear and a tripod carries everything just fine. But I've thought about getting more into do timelapses, or setting up different cameras for different vantage points etc. I'd be fine with a dual purposed 35 that acts as 35 & 56. But overwhelmingly everyone is saying no Guess I will have to step back and keep thinking about it

Same thoughts here, if you absolutely must need two bodies, I would keep the 50L. The reason why is because the 50mm is probably my most used and favorite lens in my bag. (I replaced my 50mm with a 58mm f/1.4G) I shoot weddings so I own two full frame bodies (D3s and a DF)

However, even if you don't shoot events, a backup body is ALWAYS a must, no matter what you shooot. It sucks when you know you have a paid gig tomorrow and your camera breaks today.

hiketheplanet wrote in post #17133714
I like the 50L, love it in fact. And I realize the 60D is only OK by many other standards. When it comes to full frame, it's really only the big, wide landscapes I do that I care if I have FF or not.

I'm thinking flexibility above all else. I don't see my kit growing any larger than it is now. One backpack with my gear and a tripod carries everything just fine. But I've thought about getting more into do timelapses, or setting up different cameras for different vantage points etc. I'd be fine with a dual purposed 35 that acts as 35 & 56. But overwhelmingly everyone is saying no Guess I will have to step back and keep thinking about it

Gotcha.

Sounds like you don't even need the 6D for what you do.

APS-C really does offer a nice array of inexpensive wide options these days, if you're looking for that for time lapse, wide landscape, etc. But the 6D would be great for this due to it's better dynamic range sensor and ISO performance. Do you need a 35 prime? Or would a 17-40 or 17-35 actually cover your bases more for what you're looking to do in the future?

I buy cheap APS-C's all the time because I find that any old camera is usually plenty if it's better than 4MP in resolution for general work and fun. For serious print, I use better sensors. But for the fun stuff, unless you're printing, you don't need the modern sensor. So I get cheap $130 XT's, $180 XSi's, $200 30D's, and put them to work. I give them away if I get too many to budding photographers to get their feet wet. They do everything my modern full frame/APS-C's do, but at a dirt cheap cost. I just put good glass on them. And we're good to go.

Lately I've been using EOS-M over the cheaper APS-C's though. Smaller. Better resolution & ISO. Same features.

If you're not interested in expanding your kit, maybe just save up and buy a 2nd small APS-C camera. And then save up a bit more and get a wide to normal zoom, like a 17-35 or 17-40 to supplement your current 50/85.

Very best,

Lisyany wrote in post #17133746
However, even if you don't shoot events, a backup body is ALWAYS a must, no matter what you shooot. It sucks when you know you have a paid gig tomorrow and your camera breaks today.

I really hope you don't recommend that to everyone who asks this question. A backup body isn't "ALWAYS a must." No one plans on having their camera break right before a trip/outing but at the same time, not everyone is equipped to purchase a second body (multiple thousands of dollars) for strictly "just in case" moments.

JM Photos wrote in post #17133837
I really hope you don't recommend that to everyone who asks this question. A backup body isn't "ALWAYS a must." No one plans on having their camera break right before a trip/outing but at the same time, not everyone is equipped to purchase a second body (multiple thousands of dollars) for strictly "just in case" moments.

Heya,

Nothing wrong with having a backup that is junk. 5D classic, XSi, 30D, etc. Perfectly capable cameras, don't break the bank. $200~450 for a second camera is a good thing. Plus a second SD/CF card. And extra batteries.

The only time I roll a single camera is when I'm traveling/out and photography is secondary.

I would recommend a cheap/inexpensive OLD 2nd body to anyone who is into photography. It opens up doors to use more of your glass out and about (especially prime shooters), and it's great to have a second body for when there's issues. No one plans to have issues. But you can have a plan to make sure an issue doesn't stop you from shooting.

You don't have to spend thousands on this.

Very best,

Get the 35 2, but keep the 50L. I have a 35 2, 50 1.4 & 100 2. I use all of them on a 60D and 6D. The variety of options makes me happy. Next? The 24L II.

not many people shoot 35 and 50, you're usually one or the other. I really hated having a crop body as a second body, there's reach advantage, only more pixels on target..... and that's pretty much non existent for me at this point.

you really only do that if you're budget limited, otherwise having the same FOV across two cameras is much more valuable than "pixels on target" advantage. If there's no need for a second body, just sell off the 50 for the 35. Only you can tell if you're a 50 shooter vs a 35 shooter.

I agree with the other posts, keep the 50L as you like it and use it already.
No reason to give up a fast prime unless a 50mm f14 would do, and that funds your crop camera purchase.
I understand the dual purpose of one lens on 2 bodies, but it is usually taken a step further.
Photographers have 2 bodies and 2 different lenses, and swap the lenses between them.
Looking at your signature you have more FL coverage than I do.
If you want a crop body, then get one like the SL1 for your tripod and use the 14mm or 16-35 lens.
Leave your 50L exactly where it belongs, in front of your 6D.

keep the 50L
i use the 35L with the 70D , it's like using a 56 mm on the FF

My 50L would be the very last lens I'd sell.