Need help from 5D owners

I had posted this in the 5D lover thread, but thought I would get more feedback on its own thread, sorry for breaking rules. Note this is for interested only in the 5D


Hey everyone. Well I think the time has come for me to really start considering this wonderful Full-Frame camera. I have found that my images need that extra pop, that I believe a FF could provide me. I am not a sports shooter, but I am definitely one for fantastic IQ. I absolutely love my XSi, but I feel that the 5D can help me take my images to a new level. I have really no need for video, or the fancy things that the Mark II has, but I want a simple but yet elegant body. Over the pst few months I have greatly increased my awareness of composition and knowledge of exposure

I know everyone says to buy the lenses first and body later. Well I agree, but have found my 24-70 to be amazing for me on my crop body. I have owned the 17-55 with the XSi, so I really do understand the factor of moving my 24-70 to a FF sensor. I think down the road, the 135L and some sort of TS-e will complete my lenses.

How I am trying to justify the purchase:
I have seen many 5Ds with low shutter counts hit the market with the release of the 7D. I will be buying used but I know that many reputable members take excellent care of bodies. Again I love my XSi, but I want to boost my not only my photographs, but my presence among photography. I have come to many great things while at school, and with another 5 more years to go, I think my best time to make the purchase will be now. I want to capture every great opportunity and moment I have while in school.

My Problems:
The XSi was a gift from my parents last winter. I would feel awful for selling a camera that they had purchased for my entry into photography. On the otherhand, I ope they would understand my increase of interest in photography and that need for a little more. It is hard to justify selling the body with only my opinion.
I will also be selling the Tokina 11-16 along with the XSi in order to fund the purchase. Which I really have no problem with selling, but just wanted to state the fact. It is also a very unused lens, and with the 24-70 on FF, it will be covered in my width.
I also have very limited experience with flash or use of filters. I am not sure if I should make the plundge to FF without a great deal of knowledge of these things. I am though, buying a 430 II and hopefully a CPL soon for my cruise this winter.

So all said and done....What do you think? Should I not sell the body since it was a gift, or take it as something that made me fall in love with photography,and sell it to fund my new purchase? Or my Main concern: Should I wait because of my limited experience with flash and filters, and with the whole experience of never owning a FF?

get the 5d and never look back, it will bring your 24-70 to life.

in my opinion, filters and flash experience have nothing to do with a camera upgrade.

definitely a good time to upgrade, the market is flooded with cheap good condition 5d's.

i see no problem in selling the body... the person who gave it to you wanted you to excel in photography, so selling it and purchasing the 5d is within respect.

As for the flash... it will help you in really, really dark situations. most of the time 3200iso works out fine... then again you'd need something wide like a 50mm 1.8 mkII

IQ on the 5d is pretty stellar, i think once you start using it... you'd slap yourself for not getting one in the first place! hah

If your current camera is holding you back,then get the 5D, It's too bad that you cannot keep the XSI as a back up body. If you feel that you still have a lot to learn, keep the XSi longer

you should have written ' i just pulled the trigger on a 5d' as your subject to get more replies...

When I first started to shoot digital, my mom's cousin (who's pretty well off) gave me money to buy me a digital camera. That camera did serve me well, but I outgrew it quickly. So don't think that your parents will get hurt if you want to upgrade to another camera. You just simply outgrew it.

Photography is such a wonderful hobby (and passion, or work for some), so it's normal to want to move forward. Any parent would know this, that you start with the "entry level" and then move forward, so I doubt your parents will get hurt. Actually, I think they'll be pretty proud that you've kept going with your hobby and you're serious about it.

Now, press that pay button.

CyberPet wrote in post #8800160
When I first started to shoot digital, my mom's cousin (who's pretty well off) gave me money to buy me a digital camera. That camera did serve me well, but I outgrew it quickly. So don't think that your parents will get hurt if you want to upgrade to another camera. You just simply outgrew it.

Photography is such a wonderful hobby (and passion, or work for some), so it's normal to want to move forward. Any parent would know this, that you start with the "entry level" and then move forward, so I doubt your parents will get hurt. Actually, I think they'll be pretty proud that you've kept going with your hobby and you're serious about it.

Now, press that pay button.

I agree....if you have reached the limits of the XSI, time has come to move up.

Thank you everyone for the very honest opinions, I think I will need to look into the 5D even deeper to make sure this will be the best purchase, I have a feeling it is the best though. And since I bought the camera at the local store, I may see how I could possibly go about trying to make a trade with the local store on a used 5D. I will probably though just sell the body on here. Thanks everyone.

Any more opinions or something that I should know about that I might be missing with the 5D?

^5D sounds like the perfect body for you! As others said, you should love your 24-70 on the 5D. Good luck with the upgrade.

Thank you, now just on just to figure out how to tell my parents, or if i just go ahead and buy it and let them know down the road. By the way Im 22,but still feel obligated to tell them

Say your parents buy you a new racing kart, and you do really well. You decide to make the next jump in racing. You can only go so far without needing to go to the next level(full size car). You sell or trade the old stuff for the new stuff.

I went from an XT 2 years ago to a 30D last year. This year I got the 5D. I really should have gone straight to the 5D, IMO. If you are ready, do it. Don't look back. Your parents are/should be mature enough to understand what you are doing if you explain it to them, as you have, so well, to a whole group of strangers.

As Mike said, "Just Do It!"
You really won't regret it. And I do not use filters of any sort, though I would like to now get a set of grad N/D filters. But that can really wait, and the 430 is great. I have had one now for almost 2 years, and it gets the job done.

Well I think I am going to take the plunge. I had called the local camera store and was told that the 5D runs for 1499 used with no real knowledge of shots taken with the camera. It would come with a 7 day return, 30 day warranty, and another $99 for an extended 1 year warranty within the store. Trading in my XSi is per basis upon review of the camera.

I think my best option would be to sell the lens first, then camera and then buy the 5D from a user on here. I would like to buy from the store with a trade, but the price seems steep and think I wont get enough for my current body. Thoughts? I really do appreciate all your time. I am just waning to make the correct decisions here, especially on where to buy.

Tell your parents that you used the money from the XSi sale to buy the 5D, thus their present (the XSi) paid a portion of your new camera (5D) and you're very grateful to them for helping you fund your hobby.

They'll understand, it's not like you threw away their present, and without their present you wouldn't be able to get the 5D.

Enjoy, it's a good upgrade.

^Yup. My XT was a christmas present. I sold it to help fund my 5D; I took a lot of great shots with the XT and the time came for the 5D

(Actually, I also had an XTi for a couple months as I bought it cheap and sold it for a quick profit)

Well I did it!!!!! Thanks to fellow POTN member, I will soon be the proud owner of a 5D!!. Anyone interested in a XSi?