Upgrade time, help!!

Evening!

Right, i'm stuck for choice...

I have been doing point and shoot photography for around three years, and upgraded to a dSLR (350d) about 5weeks or so ago. In the last 5 weeks I have learnt an incredible amount about photography, not only from online research, but from reading 6-7 books front to back, but this is all written information, not experience, and it is the latter that counts...

The question is, do I upgrade my camera, or do I stay with the 350D for a while longer and spend the money on Lenses and other accessories? I could afford a Canon EOS-5D with the Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM lense, but is it worth me doing this? Should I spend the money on some good lenses etc and keep with the 350D for a while? Or perhaps get a 30D and a few other accessories?

Basically, I have around £2000 to spend, and wanted some advice on what to do with it, in relation to my experience in photography... Will I benifit from the camera upgrade etc?

Hope someone can help!

many thanks,

Sam.

Just thought I'd add, that I shoot mainly extreme sports photography (BMX), but like to dabble in all areas, especially landscapes and macro...

5 weeks seems pretty fast to outgrow a camera and want to upgrade. I'm sure that you've learned a lot in the last 5 weeks, but trust me, there's still a lot to learn. If you want to spend money I'd recommend getting some nice lenses and honing your craft. Decide if you want to stick with a crop body, or upgrade to full-frame. If you are seriously considering full-frame in the near future then you might want to stay away from the EF-S lenses. In most cases, it's the lens that has the greatest effect on picture quality, not the body.

You didn't list what lenses you have. The 350 is a great camera to learn practical applications on and good glass can transfer to your next camera. You might consider keeping the camera and purchasing some lenses. Tell us what your lenses are

Upgrading totally depends on your photographic needs, have you already outgrown the 350d and all it can offer you? I would imagine not, considering how recently you bought it. If it were me (oh, ok, so it actually has been me in the same situation! ) I'd put money into lenses. You really can't go wrong with getting the best lenses you can afford, they'll transfer to the next "biggest and greatest" camera bodies when they come out.

So there's my official vote, for what it's worth, continue learning with the 350d (a very capable camera, but again, this is assuming you haven't already outgrown what it can offer) and spend the money on the best glass you can get.

Is impossible to "outgrow" the camera in that length of time!
If you have....chances are best to read the instruction manual thoroughly.
But in any case if you want to "upgrade" the decision is ultimately yours alone to decide.

I can understand how you already feel the need to upgrade. Personally, I'd get bored quite quickly with the XT, newbie or not. I say sell the XT while it's still worth something, and get something that'll last ya. I wouldn't recommend the 5D and 24-105 combo. The 5D seems like a little much, and the 24-105 isn't that much of a performer for the price. I'd suggest the 30D, I own it and love it. There's no way you could possibly out grow it in the near future. It does all you'll ever need it to do.

As for lenses, I'd recommend the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS over the 24-105L IS. Faster, sharper, same price range. That's expensive though... other than that a great lens is the 70-200 f/4L. Wicked sharp, wicked fast AF, affordable, and great for many things. It was my first L and it served me well while I had it. There's also the 17-40 f/4L which is a great focal length, and a very sharp lens. The combo of the 17-40 and 70-200 f/4L's would run ya about the same $$$ wise as the 24-105L. So, you'd get a lot more for your money!!! If you need a good macro, Sigma 150 f/2.8 all the way!!!!! Cheap, sharp, incredible!! I owned the canon 100 f/2.8 macro at one point, but wasn't happy with it. Sold it, bought the sigma and haven't looked back.

Anyway, good luck!

30D would be better bet. And if you want to act a little crazy, go for the 1DMKII.

Woah. 5D and 24-105L would be perfect for me, but I think you should keep your 350D for a little longer. I've had my 300D for over a year and only recently I feel that I need a better body. However, sinking money into glass is always a better option.

What about the 350D do you dislike? Of course there's the beautiful low light performance of the 5D but that is a LOT of coin to drop after only 5 weeks of dabbling in dSLR territory.

I'd invest in glass, and if you are interested in upgrading your body then look to the 30D before the 5D... the difference in price is still huge.

Please do not take this the wrong way, but you have been shooting for 5 weeks and read 6 books. I don't think you are ready just yet. How many frames have you shot in the last five weeks? Under what lighting condtions? How are your post processing skills? Do you own photoshop or some such program? I understand wanting to move up to the next hot body, but just wait awhile and there will be another new hot body out there. The 350 is a fine tool, learn to use that tool. Read your manual cover to cover at least three times or until you have everything mastered. Learn to shoot in M mode so that you are learning to make all the decisions on speed and exposure. While you are doing this you will find out what kind of shooting you will want to do the most. At that time you can decide on which camera you move up to. For the landscapes the 5d is great but for extreme sports you really need a 1 series. Bodies come and go, a great lens will last forever. Spend you $$$ on the best glass you can. Don't buy ef-s though until you make a decision on a new camera. My first photo instructor repeated over and over: practice,practice,prac​tice. That was good advise 40 years ago and is still good today. Best of luck

first off, you should probably stick with your camera and spend money on lenses and accessories, but still keep money around for a body. if you would like a nicer body go for the 30D for now though. also, for your purposes (action) the 1DmkII would be much better suited than the 5D due to its faster focusing and frames. But i must say that would probably be too much camera for you. Ive only been in this a year and i would say ive amased quite a bit of gear in the time (mostly cause i didnt spend a cent on anything else but gas and food), i would try to grow at a pace in which you can enjoy what you have, then when you feel that you are lacking in an area, make purchases based on that, not based no a drive simply to own things because they are the "best"

noob question time.
what other mount is there than ef-s. What does the 30d and such use?
and how do you tell what mount it is when you order...

makes me think...i stuck my sigma 70-200f2.8 on a 30d in the camera shop the other day and the autofocus didnt work. is this because of different mounts..or am i just retarded.

EF-S is for the Rebels, the 20D, and the 30D. EF mount is for all Canon EOS cameras including those I just listed. FD mounts are for older non-EOS cameras, like a Canon T50, for example.

EF-S is a special mount that only fits the digital rebel series and the 20D and 30D. it uses a smaller image circle to take advantage of the smaller sensor in those cameras. EF is the mount used by all canon EOS digital and film cameras. the mount is generally at the front of the lens name or in the description. EF is also refered to as EOS autofocus. As for the lens you put on the camera, the AF switch must have been turned off, because it should have worked fine. lenses of the wrong mount will not FIT on your camera.

so from what ive gathered....im assuming that not many lenses are made with the ef-s mount.

I just got my 350d about a month ago and I had planned on taking the "get glass before a body upgrade" route. Cause theres no point in having an expensive body with no glass to shoot with. Ive found myself very limited in my shooting style because of my lack of lens selection. I think the best idea is to get good with what youve got. Yeah..the 20d is a better camera and takes better pictures...but you can only take so good of a shot with the kit lens.

To put a long idea short....youll be more limited by your lens selection than you will be by the quality of your body.