Whats more important? New body? New Lens?

What is more important when it comes to building your equipment? Currently I have the 50D, nifty fifty, stock lens, 18-55 f 5.6, 70-200 f.4.

I feel like I need to get a few more really great lenses. Another photographer thinks I am doing fine with my lenses but should upgrade my camera body.

So what is more important? (for the record I'm perfectly happy with my 50D) or should abandon all of that and work on getting some external flashes?

Thanks!

flash first in your case if you are good with your lens.

It really depends on what aspect of your photography that you feel needs improvement and what direction you want to go in.

After all, photography is the art, and the equipment only the means to bring your vision into being.

if you are in a location (especially indoor) that you can use flash, having an external flash will give you a whole lot more benefit than a new body

Milla wrote in post #9184250
abandon all of that and work on getting some external flashes?

Thanks!

^^ This

Lighting trumps all!

I checked out your site.. Some great pics! You'll be even better with speedlights/flashes...

Why do you feel you need more lenses? Are you not achieving the results you desire?

You already have a fairly good selection of lenses and the 50D is a very good camera. I'd be interested in how much photography experience you have... Photography is all about the photographer and not about the equipment. A good photographer can produce a stunning image with a mediocre camera, but a poor photographer will produce a poor image with the best equipment.

Given your website I think a fast prime like the 85mm f1.8 or 100 f2 or a 2.8 zoom would be helpful for you given that most of your shots seem to be portraits in natural light.

Personally I would avoid a new body for while since you have a 50D. Unless you really need the wide angle or better high ISO capability that FF provides I think your money would be better spent on other equipment.

I'm going with flash as well, but it really depends on what you shoot.

The bottom line is, what do you feel you cannot accomplish with your current gear?

Update your 18-55, get a flash, start collecting L's and then switch body

DDCSD wrote in post #9184333
I'm going with flash as well, but it really depends on what you shoot.

The bottom line is, what do you feel you cannot accomplish with your current gear?

The right question, for sure. Nobody can tell you which road to take unless you first tell them where you want to go.

And as Humpty Dumpty said to Alice, if you don't know where you want to go, then the direction doesn't matter.

Milla wrote in post #9184250
What is more important when it comes to building your equipment? Currently I have the 50D, nifty fifty, stock lens, 18-55 f 5.6, 70-200 f.4.

I feel like I need to get a few more really great lenses. Another photographer thinks I am doing fine with my lenses but should upgrade my camera body.

So what is more important? (for the record I'm perfectly happy with my 50D) or should abandon all of that and work on getting some external flashes?

Thanks!

Sounds like YOU know exactly what you want and need and know what you are doing. Just because the 7D came out doesn't mean that everybody has to upgrade. There are plenty of people that will be using 20D's for years to come but have a large collection of lenses and lighting gear. 50D is perfectly capable camera for most uses.

Getting a flash (or 2) IMO would be a priority. Then maybe consider upgrading your kit lens and/or getting more good prime lenses (or whatever lenses you need for the type of shooting you do.) If you are shooting portraits maybe invest in some lighting equipment too. I love my 30D if I had blown a pile of money on a newer body I wouldn't have all the lenses and lighting gear that I have now.

cheungupdt wrote in post #9184270
flash first in your case if you are good with your lens.

+1 I agree that you do need an external flash, but it isn't needed for everything, just for where there is restricted or little light, and you want to make dramatic effects

I'd go for a flash. Second step would be to look through your lens collection and figure out if you want more speed, more wide angle, more tele, ... A new body would come way down the line.

Thanks everyone!

I think my photog friend just made me doubt myself. Portable lighting is what I am lacking in my equipment, and I would like a nice general purpose lens. But for whatever reason this particular friend was hounding me about upgrading my camera body :P

Cameras are "high tech" so it is so easy to always point at a camera and say: upgrade.

But the truth is that they have been good enough to take excellent pictures for quite a number of years. A newer camera can be better, but it is often other parts of the system that is the real weak link.

By the way - do you do weddings or other critical stuff? How do you have it with spare equipment in case something breaks?