5D is it a want or a need?

OK, so I'm trying to convince myself that I don't need the 5D I only want it. (yes I'd have to use credit to get it that's why I'm trying to convince myself of this.) I shoot mostly landscape, but not really wide, band gigs in some very low light areas, macro, and gardens. We've been hiking a bit lately and I like to shoot the forest scenes now too.

I'm not looking to sell photos, this is a serious hobby only.
I'm not rich, but I pay double the minimum on my credit card and can easily pay my bills on time, but I do worry about money a bit and due to paying more then the minimum we live pay check to paycheck, but our debt is going away.
I want to enhance my work if possible, I want good stuff to an extent, but as long as it works the way I want it it's fine.
I really REALLY miss my film days and not having to worry about the crop factor with my lenses.

Do you think I should upgrade? I want my images crisper, less grain for the low light shots, and to just use my primes the way I think they should be used.

I'm not interested in the markII, I just want FF, I don't need all the upgrades.

hey i look at it like this.. you dont need a forum to make the choise for you.

if you think you need it, want it, and will use it.. then get it.. it is a beautiful camera.. its a proven workhorse, and it deliviers amazing images.

so if you got the cash for it.. get it. i would.

I'm not too rich either but for me its a need and a want. I do shoot landscape and my widest lens is a 20mm right now, so that would be nice on the FF. I'm not sure what you have now but I have a 1D classic and the older D30 so in my case the added MP is necessary for selling stock photography and I'm not getting rich by it but its fun. My biggest concern for my upgrade is quality, and before you laugh I'm comparing to the 1D because the quality of the images is unreal from that camera so if I can get a much larger quality print sizes then I'm happy, as well the use of higher ISO in some cases.

I WANT the Mk2 but I have to be realistic, getting the 5D alone is a huge expense so the MK2 to me is not affordable because putting it on my credit card means I can't afford it, well at least a huge chunk of it.

I think for myself and maybe you the 5D would be a good upgrade if it doesn't affect paying any bills or doing without because of the purchase, just my opinion. We would benefit from the FF, quality, higher ISO or lower light capability, in my case anyway. What do you have now? Ignore comments about the 5D being old technology, it's far beyond at being a capable camera. PS, most of us live our lives paycheck to paycheck, so your not alone, the hobby is as expensive as you want it too be, it doesn't take an upgrade to produce amazing images however. I for one am waiting to the MK2 to hit the shelves then I'll get a good deal, I've only purchased used which makes it way more affordable for me, I like taking advantage of those who just have to have the latest and sell their minty bodies (that sounds funny, lol).

I currently have the 30D. The images I can get from it are great, but I tend to shoot at high ISOs quite often and wonder how much better the images will be with the 5D over the 30D.

I grew up with no money and now seeing so many losing jobs and hurting I almost feel guilty for wanting to spend $2000 on a hobby. My husband spent a bunch on his hobby this year (we're doing all this for our 10th anniversary) but he makes money when he plays. Not much but at least it helps a bit.

buy a used one.. when the new one comes out...the prices are going to drop a bit.

you cant feel bad for whats going on with the people around you.. its not fair for you to base your needs on people losing their jobs.

at the end of the day if you still have the cash to get your bills paid, and have money left over to get something for yourself.. go for it.

shannon

if you are this hesitant, don't do it. it won't change your life. focus on your technique, seeing the light, etc.

cost is all relative. is the quality of the 5D that much greater than the 30D? only YOU can tell whether or not the upgrade is worth it. my .02.

High ISO is better on the 5D, the images are nicer. Need it? Not if you dont make your livelihood with it. Want it? Well sure, most of what we buy, we buy because we want it. Don't go into debt to get it, not in this economic climate. The longer you want, with money jingling in yuor pocket, the cheaper a 5D will be. Also don't feel you have to upgrade all your lenses to use the 5D. Things tend to look better, not worse on the 5D, except for the extreme corners.

You have to ask the question - are you better than the camera you have? Will the 5D significantly help you? If so, and you can afford it, buy it and enjoy it.

suyenfung wrote in post #6685375
if you are this hesitant, don't do it. it won't change your life. focus on your technique, seeing the light, etc.

Having both the 30D and 5D and 35L can you really see improvement from the 30 to the 5? I'm not expecting life changing I just want ISO improvment. But if it's only a small improvment then I guess it's not worth it, I can always upgrade my 24 to the L to make up the good primes I want with FF.

go to your local store and try out the 5D using your cf card. then you'll figure that out yourself.

elader wrote in post #6685413
High ISO is better on the 5D, the images are nicer. Need it? Not if you dont make your livelihood with it. Want it? Well sure, most of what we buy, we buy because we want it. Don't go into debt to get it, not in this economic climate. The longer you want, with money jingling in yuor pocket, the cheaper a 5D will be. Also don't feel you have to upgrade all your lenses to use the 5D. Things tend to look better, not worse on the 5D, except for the extreme corners.

You have to ask the question - are you better than the camera you have? Will the 5D significantly help you? If so, and you can afford it, buy it and enjoy it.

I not upgrading the lenses, the camera only. The only thing I'd have to do is add an 85 or 135.

I guess I'm not better then the camera i have. But in all honesty I don't think I ever will be. It's just wanting FF and an improvement with the ISO.

It sounds like you're working on eliminating consumer debt. If so, going more in debt to get a 5D isn't the way to go. I don't think getting such a high-ticket item when you're only paying double the minimum monthly credit card payment and living paycheck to paycheck is the wisest choice. It's never wise to live so dependent on consumer debt, and especially not in this economic climate. As you said, for you photography is a hobby, not a necessity. From somebody who has lived with consumer debt before, trust me when I say that you'll enjoy your purchases much, much more if you make them after you've eliminated your rolling debt.

Besides, the 5D isn't magic. It will indeed do everything you want out of it (crisper images, less noise, primes work as designed), but you'll get the best bang for the buck with the equipment you already own, and I would say there are more important matters to address at this stage in your life. Good luck!

I would wait. if you don't "need" it , like suyenfung said, work on technique. Put it off for now. In the future prices will be lower and iso's will be better. You'll wake up one day and it will hit you that it's the right day to upgrade.

[QUOTE=Yohan Pamudji;6685442]It sounds like you're working on eliminating consumer debt. If so, going more in debt to get a 5D isn't the way to go. I don't think getting such a high-ticket item when you're only paying double the minimum monthly credit card payment and living paycheck to paycheck is the wisest choice. It's never wise to live so dependent on consumer debt, and especially not in this economic climate. As you said, for you photography is a hobby, not a necessity. From somebody who has lived with consumer debt before, trust me when I say that you'll enjoy your purchases much, much more if you make them after you've eliminated your rolling debt.

[QUOTE]

The credit card (the one and only we have) will be paid off in a couple months, it's the student loans that are what's weighing us down. It's not really consumer debt I'm worried about.

shannyD wrote in post #6685252
hey i look at it like this.. you dont need a forum to make the choise for you.

if you think you need it, want it, and will use it.. then get it.. it is a beautiful camera.. its a proven workhorse, and it deliviers amazing images.

so if you got the cash for it.. get it. i would.

+1 The 5D is maybe Canon's best body and now certainly the best bargain for what you get. Go for it.