550d or 5d classic

I've always wanted a full frame camera, the 1ds mk* was never an option on my wage so the 5d was the one in my sights. I find myself with around £700 spare so thought for that amount I could pick up a good 5d classic. BUT! I then started thinking of the newer cameras that are on offer now, I looked at the specs and thought the 550d looked very good for the money. The main thing I'm not too sure about is the increased pixel count on a smallish sensor, the 5d has less pixels on a larger sensor; so does that mean they will give a better picture. I do a Wedding every now and then and I'm on my own, it would be nice to put a little good quality video footage in the stills slide shows without having to carry an extra vid camera around my neck. I shoot with a 1d mkIIn and a 20d at the moment, both 8MP sensors. I get away with a little cropping OK but sometimes wish I had a few more pixels so could crop just a little more if needed, the 5d would give me more pixels but the 550d would give me even more. Again it comes down to quality of pixel, I've downloaded the sample 550d pictures from the Canon site but after only a couple of clicks on the zoom tool the picture degrades noticeably. I can zoom in quite a lot more on a shot from my 1d mkII with only 8 MP before it starts to loose quality. Getting HD video from the 550d would be nice but my main requirement would be good stills, so do I buy old technology with a proven track record or go for newer (but soon to be old) technology in the 550d ?

Any one got any views either way?

Sounds like what you want is a 5dmk2, I'd say get a 5D first and maybe add a 500 or 550D to it later on. (Youll have ff and video but wont pay as much as the 5dmk2)

Mick Emmett wrote in post #9754480
I've always wanted a full frame camera, the 1ds mk* was never an option on my wage so the 5d was the one in my sights. I find myself with around £700 spare so thought for that amount I could pick up a good 5d classic. BUT! I then started thinking of the newer cameras that are on offer now, I looked at the specs and thought the 550d looked very good for the money.

The main thing I'm not too sure about is the increased pixel count on a smallish sensor, the 5d has less pixels on a larger sensor; so does that mean they will give a better picture.

I do a Wedding every now and then and I'm on my own, it would be nice to put a little good quality video footage in the stills slide shows without having to carry an extra vid camera around my neck. I shoot with a 1d mkIIn and a 20d at the moment, both 8MP sensors.

I get away with a little cropping OK but sometimes wish I had a few more pixels so could crop just a little more if needed, the 5d would give me more pixels but the 550d would give me even more.

Again it comes down to quality of pixel, I've downloaded the sample 550d pictures from the Canon site but after only a couple of clicks on the zoom tool the picture degrades noticeably. I can zoom in quite a lot more on a shot from my 1d mkII with only 8 MP before it starts to loose quality.

Getting HD video from the 550d would be nice but my main requirement would be good stills, so do I buy old technology with a proven track record or go for newer (but soon to be old) technology in the 550d ?

Any one got any views either way?

I had to break up the post to read it, lol. The words were just running together for me.

I would say get what you really feel you need.

You want video but you also want full frame quality so why not sell the 1D2n and buy both a 5D and a 550D (or even a 5d2?)? Keep the 20D as a backup. Just a thought =)

Having recently picked up a used 5D after having had a rebel and a 40D, I can say without reservation that for wedding and portrait work the 5D is great. The IQ is better and the high ISO performance make it a must have for that sort of work. I see your point about video, but honestly having done a few weddings my day, I cant see how I would have any extra time for video and still do an honest job of the stills.

I upgraded from my old 300D to a 500D last June, and just didn't feel like it was worth it. I've now upgraded to a 5D and am so happy. It's like I've just picked up my dad's old OM-1 again. I can't believe how great this camera is. I would grab the 5D and then make a decision from there.

Also, a caveat: DSLR video is not like a consumer video camera. You need to be on the ball to make it look good. Don't expect to have fantastic videos out of the box if you don't know how to focus on the fly or change exposure on the fly.

Madman: I still shoot sports and air shows; which is why I bought the the 1d mkII in the first place so I don't want to sell it. You'd soon fill a novel if you started a new paragraph at the end of each sentence

Emma: yes a 5d mkII would be great, maybe when I win the Lotto

Mick Emmett wrote in post #9754563
Madman: I still shoot sports and air shows; which is why I bought the the 1d mkII in the first place so I don't want to sell it. You'd soon fill a novel if you started a new paragraph at the end of each sentence

Emma: yes a 5d mkII would be great, maybe when I win the Lotto

Ok, here is a new plan then.

Sell the 1D2n for a 7D, it will outperform the 1D2n in almost every way and it has the video you are looking for. Then take your original money you had and get a 5D classic =).

themadman wrote in post #9754605
Ok, here is a new plan then.

Sell the 1D2n for a 7D, it will outperform the 1D2n in almost every way and it has the video you are looking for. Then take your original money you had and get a 5D classic =).

That sounds like a solid plan. Seriously. The 7D is great for video and has the speed and reach you need for sports and air shows, and the 5D is a wedding/portrait machine.

Read some bad things on here about the 7d so getting one was not an option, I've put the video thing on hold for now and bought myself a nice 5d classic. Absolutely love the full frame but still experimenting with the settings, I don't need my 20d or the 350d anymore so they'll be going up for sale; I might get one of the lower end canons with HD video with the proceeds. Thanks for your input.

You will hear abd things about every camera, especially if it is a nice new one thats affordable, every new photographer will get it thinking it will let them take better photos. However, most of them don't grasp how to use the camera and end up blaming the camera. User error, thats all I have to say.

Anyways, enjoy the 5D, its a nice camera!

Controversially, from someone who's an avid, avid fan of the 5D, although there's NO replacing the depth of field and tonal abilities of the FF chip, the 550D takes cleaner pictures.

Three years with a 5D now, and the sample images I've done for work with a 550D make a mockery of the 5D at high ISO.

manipula wrote in post #9773083
Controversially, from someone who's an avid, avid fan of the 5D, although there's NO replacing the depth of field and tonal abilities of the FF chip, the 550D takes cleaner pictures.

Three years with a 5D now, and the sample images I've done for work with a 550D make a mockery of the 5D at high ISO.

All I can say then is that your shots with the 550d must be better than the sample shots on the Canon site, they left me quite unimpressed.

manipula wrote in post #9773083
Controversially, from someone who's an avid, avid fan of the 5D, although there's NO replacing the depth of field and tonal abilities of the FF chip, the 550D takes cleaner pictures.

Three years with a 5D now, and the sample images I've done for work with a 550D make a mockery of the 5D at high ISO.

Really? I've seen your work and you certainly know your way around a camera, so I'll have to take your word for it, but the samples I've seen don't really reflect that.

manipula wrote in post #9773083
Controversially, from someone who's an avid, avid fan of the 5D, although there's NO replacing the depth of field and tonal abilities of the FF chip, the 550D takes cleaner pictures.

Three years with a 5D now, and the sample images I've done for work with a 550D make a mockery of the 5D at high ISO.

Can you post some examples?

I know you don't want to hear this, but sounds like you need 5D II

I have just recently upgraded from 20D to used 5D. The improvement in IQ is substantial: 8MP crop vs 12MP FF. After about 2 months of using it I wish I could have afforded the 5D II. The quality of 5D images is great, but I wish I had LiveView, Focus MicroAdjustments and Hi-Res LCD. I found out that on FF using large aperture lenses every AF or MF mistake is more pronounced and having the ability to microadjust AF would help, as well as use LiveView for critical focusing on tripod or using Hi-Res LCD for evaluating critical sharpness after a shot. I have a feeling that as soon as 5D III gets released (next spring I hope) I'll buy it immediately. If none of the items I mentioned matter to you, IQ wise the 5D is great and significant step up from 20D.

Edit: Ok, I just realized you already bought the 5D. Enjoy and let us know your thoughts after you get acquainted with it. You should find all the menu settings very similar to your old 20D.