Decisions..what comes first, the camera, lens or the flash?

My partner has an older camera the 400D, the 430 flash and the tamron 17-50 lens, I believe.

I want to start to upgrade her package...what should I get first...camera, lens or flash?

I want to make the best choice as I can only afford one of these items at a time.

I'm between the lens and the camera...

It would help if you gave an indication of where you are thinking of going with her kit and what your budget is. What is her shooting style compared to yours? Do you (collectively as a team) need longer lenses or shorter lenses for a more complete kit? What and where do you think you are lacking in terms of equipment you need to get the photos you want? I think that the usual answer would be lens, however, IMHO I would "upgrade" her to a 30D, then follow up with a lens ( 17-55 f/2.8). Or depending on funds go with a 40D. I don't really want to get into an XTi vs 30D type debate, just saying that I think a camera "upgrade" would be my first step based on my experience (your mileage may vary of course).

Hi Ben,

Yeah, that would help huh...sorry

what I want to eventually get her up to is what I have

the 40d, canon 17-55 IS, and a 580 flash.

She's gotten alot better as time has gone on, but her camera is horrible in low light (receptions, churches) So we need to get it up to par so she can really participate with her images, sometimes her shots will be so good, but so grainy I can't use them. It sucks.

I will be getting the 70-200 IS beginning of the year.

As many have said here. Glass first would be my recommendation.

If the tamron 17-50 is adequate, I would recommend adding a lens with new capabilities. Either telephoto, low light, or macro depending on the greatest need.

I have asked myself the following question prior to the purchase of any photo equipment:
Would this purchase (new body) allow me to produce images impossible with my current equipment?
If no, then I would want to have my lenses and flash equipment purchased before I move forward with a new body.
If yes, then I would opt for the new body instead.

Just my thoughts.
Kevin

Tough call. Does she tend to shoot long or wide? If the main problem is AF at a reception then i'd go for the 40D first.

Thank you both, it is a tough call, she tends to get right in there and close up. She has no problems with that at all, but during a reception, sometimes you can't do all your shots that way and that is when the noise begins...our last wedding ran late, and our outdoor bridal party shots were at dusk. her shots were good, but just too much noise...I PS alot of them and that worked, but to get a good clean shot, just was not going to happen with that setup.

I'm hoping by April to have her in a total new set up...I can't believe the difference the glass and 40D made for me. My flash is the 580 and it is perfectly fine for the receptions and such. Her's is ok, but really lacks the power, but can work...

Let's hope I get a landslide of business and we can just go both, glass and body. I think we will go body first...

I appreciate the response and help.

For me it's simple...


Start with GREAT GLASS....

Then the flash,

then the body...

Rakefet wrote in post #4305053
Thank you both, it is a tough call, she tends to get right in there and close up. She has no problems with that at all, but during a reception, sometimes you can't do all your shots that way and that is when the noise begins...our last wedding ran late, and our outdoor bridal party shots were at dusk. her shots were good, but just too much noise...I PS alot of them and that worked, but to get a good clean shot, just was not going to happen with that setup.

I'm hoping by April to have her in a total new set up...I can't believe the difference the glass and 40D made for me. My flash is the 580 and it is perfectly fine for the receptions and such. Her's is ok, but really lacks the power, but can work...

Let's hope I get a landslide of business and we can just go both, glass and body. I think we will go body first...

I appreciate the response and help.

In the situation you quoted above, did she use flash and it just wasn't powerful enough? I think that if this is that case, a new flash or additional flash would be the way to go (although I think that 580 is only 1 or 2 stops more powerful than the 430, enough to make a difference for sure, but not a catch all).

Again, while I am typically a glass first, body later person, unless you are going to get a prime (even though IS on the 17-55 would help), I think a better body at this point would do the most good. The 400D, from what I have heard, is a good deal noisier at 1600 than a 30D or 40D, regardless of glass.

And I most definitely wish you a landslide of business

The 580 is only one stop more powerful than the 430, so it's more likely user error. Increase the ISO one stop and you've negated that problem. The 40D has a way better AF system than the 400D, the lens she's using sounds fine. Definitely body.

Good point Tim.

Lisa, it looks like you need to go shopping for a 40D. If Tim says so and it happens to be in agreement with what I said (even if for different reasons), then it must be so! Tell you partner to have fun with her new 40D