Will a 30D be good enough?

Ok here is my situation. I have a budget of $3500.00 and want to get into portrait and wedding photography. I was just starting to build my portfolio last year with my Nikon gear (d200) but had to sell it and all my gear due to job loss. Everything is great now and I'm back on my feet but I was never really with the D200 high ISO photos. So now I want to buy Canon but I'm not sure if I should spend most of this money on a 5D and maybe one good lens (24-70L) or buy a couple of good lens and get a refurbed 30D. Will the 30D be good enough for IQ and building a nice portfolio or am I wasting my time and money by not just getting the 5D now? Man, why didn't Canon come out with that 40D....lol

any input would be appreciated.

The 30D is plenty good enough for most wedding photographers, combined with a good wide lens (like the 17-50 F2.8 IS), it would be perfect for weddings.

When considering your budget to get started in wedding photography...don't forget that you will need plenty of backup. That means at least two bodies and a couple flash units etc.

Thanks for the quick response!

I assume you meant the 17-55 F2.8 IS??? The only reason I would want to steer away from that lens would be because it's able to be used on the XTi. 20D, 30D etc. If I decided later to FF, I'll have to lose that lens. But what do I know??...lol

The 24-70 is a good lens, but you'll loose a lot of wide angle on a crop body like the 30D. Ask any of the photogs here and they'll tell you that wide angle is their bread and butter!

30D is plenty of camera. If you are serious about this, get the best tool for the job NOW. That means, if the 17-55 is the best tool for the job for a 30D, then get it. Why compromise a couple years of photos for the POSSIBILITY of moving to full frame? Just sell it and get the best lens for a full frame.... WHEN YOU GET THERE.

I had the 24-70L and used it with my 30D. In my humble opinion, it sucked on that camera. It just wasn't wide enough indoors in more crowded spaces. And when I'd back up enough to get the framing I'd want, people would be walking through getting in the shots. 17mm is MUCH MUCH nicer for me on a 1.6 crop camera.

Mind you, if you were using a 5D, the 24-70L would be the lens of choice.

cincojoe wrote in post #2917930
If I decided later to FF, I'll have to lose that lens.

So what? If you're good enough, you'll have enough money to spend on the new gear.

Until the 17-55, I haven't been all that impressed with the EF-S lenses, although the 17-85IS isn't bad. So I started out with a 20D and got a 16-35L, 24-70L and 70-200L. Recently I gave the 20D to my daughter and replaced it with a 30D cuz I couldn't afford a 5D. But someday, I'll get that 5D, and another for backup, and I'll be a happy shooter.

Sorry, I did mean the 17-55.

I think a lot of photographer did have reservations about investing in lenses that don't cover a full frame...especially one as expensive as the 17-55 F2.8 IS. However, it seems that Canon will be sticking with their 1.6 sensor for a while...so it's unlikely that it will suddenly become obsolete. And if you do upgrade to a full frame body, high quality lenses like this retain their value very well, so I wouldn't worry about getting soaked.

aBuying the best means you'll never have to look over your shoulder

5D and 24-70 - then flash then build from there

wow....I really didn't expect this much advice so fast! Thank you.

I really want the 5D but it would reallt crash by budget. Could you build a decent portfolio with a 5D and 24-70L? Seems kinda limited?

I'd say get a 30D, 17-55Is, and try for a 70-200 2.8 IS soon after. I just don't think $3500 is enough to get everything you need, even just the basics. You'll need 10-12GB memory, at least two camera bodies (because my 30D chokes up on me sometimes), two flashes, a wide angle lens, zoom, and a fast prime like the 50 1.4. Then, do you have the computer needed to process all the RAW files? Also, if you decide to do weddings in the winter, you'll need some sort of studio light and flashmeter, extension cord or battery pack, etc. With only $3500, I'd start out shooting very poor friend's weddings, and wait to charge people until you at least have backup gear. Oh yeah, 24mm on my 30D, as Lloyd said, is just not wide enough, but it's perfect on the 5D.

I'm poor, but I didn't want to not have the 24-70. What I went with was the 30D/10D backup combo, with a 12-24mm (because it can fit the 10D) so when I need wide I can REALLY go wide, 24-70 because it's a beaut, and 70-200 for the long. I seldom use the 70-200 but the other 2 really get the jobs done.

While the IS of the 17-55 is appealing to me, I never liked the range of the kit lens anyway.

Thanka for the advice Jeesiper. I already have a few memory cards left over. I also have a DC2.0 G5 Mac system for processing that end is taken care of as well. All i want to do right now is build my portfolio. I have access to tag along with a good friend and be a second photographer at some of his wedding shoots. I just want to be smart about my purchases.

I guess what my real question is would the 30D produce high enough IQ at 8.2? I understand that the 5D is FF and 12mp, but is there going to be a huge difference that people will notice when reviewing photos?

cincojoe wrote in post #2918144
I guess what my real question is would the 30D produce high enough IQ at 8.2? I understand that the 5D is FF and 12mp, but is there going to be a huge difference that people will notice when reviewing photos?

The "lowly" 6.3 of the 10D is good enough...

cincojoe wrote in post #2918144
I guess what my real question is would the 30D produce high enough IQ at 8.2? I understand that the 5D is FF and 12mp, but is there going to be a huge difference that people will notice when reviewing photos?

NO, people will not notice a diff. Actually, I find 8 excessive. Many people here actually downsize their files to about 6MP 3000x2000 when they deliver. I've gotten beautiful 24x36 prints from 8mp. Large billboards you see around town don't even need more than 8mp. How big do you really want to go?

ok, here is what I have in my cart now.

Refrubed 30D
Refurbed 17-55 2.8 IS
70-200 2.8L IS

Grand total 3548.90

Sound like a good start?????