Upgrade from my 70D

I'm not sure where to go from here. I don't really need to upgrade. I'm quite happy with the 70D. But I figure something better is out there. I'm pretty set on glass. The top end of my budget would be ~$2,000 if it seemed worth it.


I mostly shoot in controlled lighting studio settings. But every now and then take the camera out to my young kids sporting events.

Current musings:
6D - It'd get my FF and the magic of larger pixels.
5Dm3 - Get me what the 6D does plus great AF.
5Ds(r) - Even better clarity/resolution but perhaps giving up some AF and the most expensive.

In all cases I'm giving up AF in video which I don't really care about at this point, and WiFi which I would miss but could live without. I'd have to replace my 10-18 STM also. But the rest of my glass can go both ways.

What do you think? I'm leaning towards the 5dm3 right now does IQ differ from the 6D at all?

Heya,

5D3 easily based on what you said. You mentioned sporting events. It covers everything, really great generalist camera.

The 5DSR would be if you want full frame and the pixel density of APS-C or simply high resolution for whatever purpose (print, crop, etc).

Replacing the 10-18 STM would be a simple trade up for a 17-40L (or pay out more for a 16-35 F4L IS).

There's not really an APS-C upgrade that is going to be significant compared to what you have. So moving to a larger sensor will open new doors and give you new working distances with the glass you have and go wider with everything (nice for studio limitations).

Very best,

That's a tough call when you don't NEED to upgrade, but WANT to. I'm in the same scenario now with my T5i. It does everything I want it to, but bought it before I understood the difference between crop and FF bodies. Just knowing that there's a better platform out there keeps lingering in my mind.

I was just about to buy a 10-18, and now am wondering if I should just upgrade to a 6D instead...

Keep us posted with your reasoning going forward!

The 5DS series cameras give up nothing in the AF department really, unless you are using LV/Video. The 5DS shares an identical AF system to the 5DIII, which is based on the system in the 1DX, so I would not think you will be giving up any AF performance over the 70D, while using the optical viewfinder.

Alan

travisvwright wrote in post #18197247
I'm not sure where to go from here. I don't really need to upgrade. I'm quite happy with the 70D. But I figure something better is out there. I'm pretty set on glass. The top end of my budget would be ~$2,000 if it seemed worth it.


I mostly shoot in controlled lighting studio settings. But every now and then take the camera out to my young kids sporting events.

Current musings:
6D - It'd get my FF and the magic of larger pixels.
5Dm3 - Get me what the 6D does plus great AF.
5Ds(r) - Even better clarity/resolution but perhaps giving up some AF and the most expensive.

In all cases I'm giving up AF in video which I don't really care about at this point, and WiFi which I would miss but could live without. I'd have to replace my 10-18 STM also. But the rest of my glass can go both ways.

What do you think? I'm leaning towards the 5dm3 right now does IQ differ from the 6D at all?

You say you don't need to upgrade and you're happy with the 70D, but what to upgrade because you figure there is something better out there. In my opinion, that's poor reason fro upgrading since your plan is not based on any particular needs or expectations. There will always be something better out there given a little time. But hey, its your money.

Roupin wrote in post #18197330
That's a tough call when you don't NEED to upgrade, but WANT to. I'm in the same scenario now with my T5i. It does everything I want it to, but bought it before I understood the difference between crop and FF bodies. Just knowing that there's a better platform out there keeps lingering in my mind.

I was just about to buy a 10-18, and now am wondering if I should just upgrade to a 6D instead...

Keep us posted with your reasoning going forward!

Just what are you hoping the 6D will give you that t5i will not. I'm not suggesting that the 6D isn't a great camera or that there are no advantages moving from crop to full frame, but to me upgrading should be a decision made after careful consideration of your needs and expectations. If you shoot a lot of portraits or primarily are a landscape photographer or shoot in very low light scenarios, the 6D might be for you. For sports/action/wildlife the 6D is not the best choice. It's also pretty long in the tooth having recently celebrated 4 years in production.

the 6D does have wifi...you could always grab that, and keep the 70D for sports shots...not sure how old the kids are but 200mm on a FF would probably come up short once they start getting to 9-10 year old outdoor sports...at least that's what it seems like for my nephews

mwsilver wrote in post #18197676
You say you don't need to upgrade and you're happy with the 70D, but what to upgrade because you figure there is something better out there. In my opinion, that's poor reason fro upgrading since your plan is not based on any particular needs or expectations. There will always be something better out there given a little time. But hey, its your money.

I normally would agree with this. But you could say I don't need anything that my 70D gave me over my t3i. However it is both easier to work with and gives better results, two things I would like to get from this next upgrade. By all accounts a 5Dm3 would give me better results (from an IQ perspective) and also be easier to work with (especially from more opportunity to use my 135mm).

DreDaze wrote in post #18197687
the 6D does have wifi...you could always grab that, and keep the 70D for sports shots...not sure how old the kids are but 200mm on a FF would probably come up short once they start getting to 9-10 year old outdoor sports...at least that's what it seems like for my nephews

Hmm if I get the 6D I would keep my 70D, but if I got the 5dm3 I would probably sell it. I hadn't really considered that. I think I would be reluctant to switch back and forth and end up only using one anyway.

Some random thoughts. If you are a hobby-shooter, you don't need a reason to upgrade, just cash. Business/professionals have to weigh the cost/benefit analysis, and all that. Hobby-shooter? Want it? Buy it.

I was reasonably (very) happy with my 60D, until I picked up a 5Dc. I had a 28-135 hanging around from film days. It was OK on the 60D. It was an entirely different, better lens on the 5Dc. That started my migration to full-frame. (If this crappy lens is better on FF, isn't everything?) Well, mostly yes. I had a few ef-s lenses (18-55 II, 15-85, 55-250 II, 10-22), to sell off/upgrade, but the end result is much better photos, when I do my part.

Notice the collection of slow, variable aperture ef-s zoom lenses. Moving to FF prompted a foray into fast(er) primes. Which meant I could basically stop worrying about ISO. Going to f/8 (for IQ) on a 70-300 @ 6400 (on a crop) is a lot different than f/2.8 on 200L II @ 800 (on FF). Bonus? The primes (85 1.8, 135L, 200 2.8II) focus a lot faster, and more accurately than the micro-motor 70-300 and any of the 55-250s.

I don't know if EF lenses are better than EF-S. I do know that the combination of EF lenses on full frame (or APS-H) body are better than anything you'll get out of any ef-s lens on any ef-s body. Possible exception: efs 60mm vs 100mm macro. The 60 was quite useable outside the macro realm. The 100 (non-L, folks) not so much. The 85 1.8, 100 2, 135L are all faster, and focus faster. My 100 is macro only.

Upgrading your 70D to and 80D will cost you about $4-500, net. Upgrading to a 6D will cost you about $900-1000, because you should keep the 70D for pixels on target at range, and AI-Servo AF. You will miss both, if you push your 6D hard enough. Upgrading to a 5D3, will cost you about the same as a 6D, because you can sell the 70D. But you'll still be short pixels on target at range. FWIW, I like having multiple bodies/choices (currently 6D/1DIV/80D).

I am hoping my new 80D can replace the large, heavy 1DIV. I've only had the 80D a week or so, but I've already determined it can't touch the 1DIV at higher (3200 & +). Admittedly, that may be due to my lack of familiarity with processing 80D results. That said, I need the 80D for AF, not high ISO. So far, I am happy with the AF.

Good luck. Happy shooting, whatever you buy.

mwsilver wrote in post #18197679
Just what are you hoping the 6D will give you that t5i will not. I'm not suggesting that the 6D isn't a great camera or that there are no advantages moving from crop to full frame, but to me upgrading should be a decision made after careful consideration of your needs and expectations. If you shoot a lot of portraits or primarily are a landscape photographer or shoot in very low light scenarios, the 6D might be for you. For sports/action/wildlife the 6D is not the best choice. It's also pretty long in the tooth having recently celebrated 4 years in production.

Don't want to threadjack but the camera formats do apply, so I'll go for it.

I made the mistake of recently taking a few shots with a friend's FF (not sure which body) with a 17-40 lens, and the difference in body feel and shooting clarity were dramatic. I loved how close I could get to a car compared to my crop with 18-135 lens. I'm a hobbyist shooting things I fancy like cars, some landscapes and lots of indoors shots around the house. That's why my first inclination was to grab an ultrawide zoom for my T5i, but now I'm wondering if I won't be content until I move to an FF like a 6D.

Having owned both the 70D and 5DmIII I can flat out say the 5DIII is what I recommend...
I only sold it because I do not use the DSLR much anymore and the crop 70D is fine for when I do need AF/action or (mostly) video, for literally everything else I use my Sony a7 and MF lenses..
Why didn't I just keep the 5DIII to do everything? Because I love the size and IQ from the sony and could not afford both...
But if you need a DSLR then it is really hard to beat the 5DIII for most everything. AF is better than the 70D but the live view dual pixel video on the 70D is one of the reasons I kept it.

Roupin wrote in post #18198317
Don't want to threadjack but the camera formats do apply, so I'll go for it.

I made the mistake of recently taking a few shots with a friend's FF (not sure which body) with a 17-40 lens, and the difference in body feel and shooting clarity were dramatic. I loved how close I could get to a car compared to my crop with 18-135 lens. I'm a hobbyist shooting things I fancy like cars, some landscapes and lots of indoors shots around the house. That's why my first inclination was to grab an ultrawide zoom for my T5i, but now I'm wondering if I won't be content until I move to an FF like a 6D.

i think that's more the lens choice than the FF vs crop...

DreDaze wrote in post #18198453
i think that's more the lens choice than the FF vs crop...

True. Buying a 10-22 for the poster's T5i would be a lot less expensive than buying a 6D/17-40.

DreDaze wrote in post #18198453
i think that's more the lens choice than the FF vs crop...

Bassat wrote in post #18198463
True. Buying a 10-22 for the poster's T5i would be a lot less expensive than buying a 6D/17-40.

I was hesitant about buying a lens on a crop, but comments like that make me reconsider. I've been through the 10-18 and 10-22 galleries already too. I guess I'll give the ultrawide a shot. Thanks!