another "what should I buy?" thread..

I just sold my rebel XTi (after buying the 20D) so I've got $700 saved up that i can use for photography stuff. I also sold my 430ex because I did not like the fact that it does not have the connection for external battery pack- and I use my 550ex most of the time anyways, so I am down to one flash unit.


In addition to the stuff on my sig list I also have the 550ex and a decent Manfrotto tripod, as well as various lighting gear that I bought used and have yet to play with. I want to shoot more portraits, be 'wedding ready' (which is why I switched XTi to 20d), and I shoot alot of general stuff.

So I'm thinking of the following options:

580exII- put the 550ex as backup and have a better main flash
17-55 f/2.8 IS (I used one before and thought it was great)- I would have to save up a bit more obviously. Then the 24-60 could be a backup lens (I don't want to sell it for measly $250, plus it's full frame ready)
sell the 20D and buy a used 50d or possibly 5D- I got the 20D for $250 with the grip so I could flip it and buy a better camera...
70-200 f/4L IS sell my non-IS and upgrade

any other suggestions I might consider? I think I am OK for prime lenses right now..

What do you shoot?

Nothing wrong with the bodies you have now (of course I'm prejudiced as I still shoot with a 20D). Of the options you listed I think the 17-55 is the best choice.

I have never shot weddings before, but wouldn't an f/2.8 lens be better than an f/4 lens with IS? I bought my friend's Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 for $575, which I admit isn't a common deal.

I had the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 before and while it wasn't a good copy, I found f/2.8 without IS not enough for shooting in a church, even at ISO1600. With a camera capable of shooting clean ISO6400 that would be different, of course the f/4L IS would also work better then at ISO1600. I love the small size/light weight of the f/4 versions, but may consider one of the f/2.8 version (Canon) down the road.. I do have my 85mm for low light telephoto.

I kind of feel that I should buy the flash so that I have a backup (plus I can play around some more with wireless ETTL). I've used my 24-60 f/2.8 for a couple weddings and it get's the job done, but the 17-55 that I borrowed for one wedding was spectacular and had higher keeper rate with IS and USM.

I would go for the 17-55 as that seems to be the focal range you are missing. If its as good as my Sigma 18-50 f2.8, you will have a cracker of a lens!

the 70-200 is almost useless for dark churches unless you are flashing. with or without the IS. the IS will help you a little bit, but not enough to justify a $500 upgrade.

i use my 70-200/4 IS for weddings when i can flash and all the time for portrait work when using flash and strobes. but i could aslo use the non-IS in these situations if thats what i had. your money would be better spent elsewhere.

if you go full frame, you have 2 lenses that just wont work on it. with someone who is on a budget, i dont know if i would recommend going full frame and then being limited to just 2 lenses. otherwise i would say get a 5Dc.

how much do you use the 10-20? how much do you use your Sigma 30?

CosmoKid wrote in post #9639707
the 70-200 is almost useless for dark churches unless you are flashing. with or without the IS. the IS will help you a little bit, but not enough to justify a $500 upgrade.

i use my 70-200/4 IS for weddings when i can flash and all the time for portrait work when using flash and strobes. but i could aslo use the non-IS in these situations if thats what i had. your money would be better spent elsewhere.

if you go full frame, you have 2 lenses that just wont work on it. with someone who is on a budget, i dont know if i would recommend going full frame and then being limited to just 2 lenses. otherwise i would say get a 5Dc.

how much do you use the 10-20? how much do you use your Sigma 30?

I know the 70-200 f/4L IS wouldn't work good in a church (without flash). I love my non-IS if I were to get the IS version it would just enhance the keeper rate on what I currently shoot. Again, upgrading this lens is kinda last on my list..

I use my Sigma 30 quite a bit (it's my newest lens) if I were to go FF I would simply sell it and get the Sigma 50mm f/1.4.. no biggie, or keep it because I will be keeping the 30D as backup. The 10-20 is a fun lens, I don't use it all taht much but again it would stick with the 30D.

I won't be buying any body until I find out what is going on with the 60D, I am anticipating this camera very much (even if I don't buy it right away). Basically I just want to see where the future of APC-S is going, and I don't "need" a 7D. I could always buy 40d/50d now and get a 60D after a year when they have dropped in price.

i had both a 10-20 and Sigma 30 when my 40D was my primary. i bought a 5Dc, sold the 10-20, replaced it with a 17-40 and sold the Sigma 30 and replaced it with a Sigma 50.

i "optimized" my line-up for full frame and treat my cropper as a secondary camera since all will work there anyway.