Your opinions matter!

I am in need of a some help, I really am having a tough time deciding which route to take. You can see what I have below. Here are my choices as I see it. Each option will cost about 2400 minus what I'd roughly get for my stuff. I really appreciate your opinions.

#1) I could sell Xti get a used 40D plus a tokina 11-16 or sigma 10-20, sell the tamron and get a used Canon 24-105L.

#2) Sell Xti and get a new 50D and tokina 11-16 or sigma 10-20 and keep the tamron.

#3) Sell Xti buy a used 5D and sell Tamron and get a used 24-105L.

I know prices may be off a little but I think its pretty close. I shoot a lot of portraits, landscapes, and do occasional picks at sporting events (just for fun). I've done a couple weddings, nothing major though. I feel like I've just outgrown the Xti.

Please help with your opinions as I really am not sure which way to go. This is obviously a great time to pick up used gear.

Thanks

I'd probably go with option number 2 (with the 11-16), but you might want to wait until there are more detailed reviews on the 50D. Also, consider that 15mp is quite a jump, and can put a bit of a load on your computer.

Maybe I should add external hard drive to the list too.

I would go w/ option 3, becuase you say you mostly shoot landscapes and portraits. Plus, you'd have a pretty decent lens lineup, with the 24-105, 70-200, and the nifty for low-light work. Even If you shoot sports, all you need is good timing - a faster frame rate just gives you a greater margin of error to work with.

Option #3 if you want FF, if not a 40D will do unless you want to wait.

I'm interested in finding out how the 50d performs.

#4, Get a 50D and a used 24-105L, that'll keep you with a really sharp lens and the latest technology, I love my 5D but I believe you'll be happier with the 50D and the 5D although really good, it pretty old technology. The 70-200 f4 you have is a really good lens and adding the 24-105 will really make for a great kit.

I'll add here that I'm not a big fan of third party lenses, life experience has taught me in the long run odds are better if you get lenses made by the same manufacturer as the camera, especially when you go for warranty work and just matching things up in general. Plus they are easier to resell, often for a better percentage of the purchasing price if you have the higher end lenses which the L series are.

Go to the Sell part of this forum and check out how many L lenses are posted for sale compared to third party lenses.

But you will have to decide if this is where you stop with buying lenses as you will probably find you want something wider for the scenic stuff but in my experience it's not that manditory. It's amazing (and yes I love neat wide angle shots) how often something like 35mm is wide enough, the 24mm equivalent on the zoom comes out to about 38mm which is close to that and there's going to be less edge bending on the 50D with that lens than on the 5D which I didn't generally shoot that lens wider than 35mm, but am told that if you have Photoshop it's an easy correction.

The 5D is an excellent camera, if you do really feel you need full frame then that would appear to be your only choice. I love mine, but if I was in your position I'd go for the 50D, 24-105, 70-200f4 kit. And later add to that a extension tube set and a 1.4 tele-extender for the large zoom (you can get these later) and you're set to do just a whole lot of different kinds of shooting.

#3 then #1 definitely not #2... But i don't trust 3rd party lenses and think the 5d is awesome so i may be biased

i think your choices are pretty much 1 and 3 .. since the 50D isnt out yet and no one will know what will happen on first release ! ..

for your type of shooting .. i would go with the 40D .. it will give you sports / action and also wedding and portraits ... the 5D is great, but its not known as a sport/action camera .. but for wedding and portraits .. its wonderful ! and if you stick the 24-105 on a 40D .. it may not be wide enough.. but on a 5D ... it would be your most important lens or primary lens

I understand the thoughts regarding third party lenses. I've research a lot on this forum and the tamron 17-50 and the tokina 11-16 seem to get some pretty amazing reviews even in comparison to top of the line Canon gear.

I know sensors aren't everything but an upgrade to the 40d from the xti means no sensor upgrade....