My wife greenlighted a purchase - need opinions before this passes

Sweet deal on a 40d + a bunch of nice extras just posted in the sell section here on the forums. This would be a great setup for ya IMO

Forget the 285hv, I know two students that got one for the school. They bought the 285hv because that what they were told they could get it for little money. And they don't like it, though it works, they'd rather have a Canon flash for their Rebels.

Sell the 55-250. Buy a 70-200 f/2.8L.

I would suggest first a ETTL-II flash, so a 430EX. You can still use your Vivitar as 2nd light souce.

Then get tamron 17-50 f/2.8, sell the 18-55IS.

Then with money left over, try to find a used 40D and sell XT.

I don't recommend upgrade to any of 70-200L because high chances are you will under utilize lens in this range. And the only one in your price range (70-200f4 non-IS) is the one that NOT worth getting. You will have less keeper with the non-IS 70-200F4 than your 55-250IS due to the lack of IS.

stcraw4d wrote in post #7569629
Buy a really good lens (which one)?

Glass first.

Always glass first.

Andrew

I'm a light behind you, trying to speed up on my decisions and get through the yellow before the wife turns it red....

I currently have an XT w/battery grip

Tamaron 17-50mm f2.8
Canon 85mm f1.8
420 EX

Kit 17-55mm and Tamron 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 macro both I never use, so I'm gonna sell on CL, I doubt anyone on here would be interested in them (I'm not in sales, can you tell?).

I just order up a catcus 4v and additional receiver, some cheap umbrellas, stands, 285HV and 5 in 1 reflector. Also bought stuff to build up a DIY ring flash, waiting to see if the catcus will work that close to each other or maybe I'll have to go with a cable route.

I'm hobbyist with getting my toes wet at trying to make some money at it. I'm exploring and shooting people, landscapes... pretty much anything. I shot a fashion show a few months ago for two web clients, had a panic attack during the rehearsal because shooting with 85mm @ f1.8 and ISO 1600 everything was still a blur. Flash wasn't an option I wanted to do, so I was able to talk them into turn up the lights a tad and during the show, I was able to get some okay shots.
www.promotionhouse.com​/avoidthegrey

My budget for now is either a body or glass.

Body, I'm leaning towards a refurbish 40D. My plan is to wait and see what Canon releases in a few days and hope the 40D comes down a little more in price or is that wishful thinking? Keeping my XT as back up for awhile if I think I could handle shooting a wedding without crapping my pants.

Glass, I'm kind of thinking of picking up a 50mm 1.8, thinking if I use it a ton, I'll pony up and get the f1.4. I really want a 60mm f2.8 macro but I think with the nifty being faster and is cheaper, it's my better choice for now.

Also looking for a use 70-200mm f4, again pony up to a 70-200mm f4 IS someday or the 2.8 IS if I stumble on some extra cash, which I doubt in this economy. ummm anyone need a web site?

To deal with the grainy images, I'm thinking the body might be the better route? Any suggestions. I just found Nik Software and been using Define 2.0 with PS CS3 which is amazing. Didn't use it on the fashion show images. My goal is to shoot with little PP.

Anyways... so what are you leaning towards stcraw4d? glass or body?

snakekid wrote in post #7569891
how bout a 70-200 f/4L non IS and a UWA

Kristic wrote in post #7569902
Agreed

These two you can get within your budget (nearly) and they will do far more for your photography than a new body. The only thing upgrading to a 40D or 50D will do is get you some new features, no improvement in IQ.

If you shop around for used on here or on FM forums you can easily get these two within your budget.

For an ultrawide look at the Tokina 12-24 F/4, unless you need faster then look at the 11-16 F/2.8.

I would imagine that you can get $250 or so for your XT and kit lens. A 40D kit can be had for $999, new (that's what I paid for mine @ Best Buy). You can used the money from the sale of the XT to get a 430 EX II.

If you are going to keep the XT, I'd probably get a 70-200 f/4L, an 85 f/1.8, and a 430 EX II. To stay w/in the $1000 budget, that probably means used on both the lenses. Or maybe go w/ a used 17-55 f/2.8 and the flash.

You really have quite a few options, especially if you look at used gear. I actually started a thread on here a little while ago about the best way to spend $1000 on glass, assuming that you had nothing to start with.

/edit/ here's the thread I mentioned: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=660998

sell your 18-55 kit.

get a tokina 12-24(new or used) and a canon 24-105L(used)

this'll probably cost you about 1200