Should i get a used 70-200 2.8 IS or a used 5D and a lens for around 800?

Im on a 1800 budget tops and don't know what rout i should go. I recently bought a 50d with a tamron 17-50 and now my sis is going to buy me some gear. I shoot weddings and other events with my dad. Should i get the used 70-200 IS or a used 5d and with the remaining cash get a lens. If i were to get the 5d what lens should i go with?

Many will tell you that lenses are more important than the body, so if I were you I would try and get some lenses. In my opinion a 17-55 f/2.8 IS together with a 70-200 f/4 IS make a great set for a crop frame camera, but they don't come cheap (some 2200 USD for a set of brand new ones, don't know how much cheaper you could get them used).

Think about it, some choose the way of buying what they can afford at the moment, and some prefer to make a wishlist and save untill they can afford the stuff they really want, both ways are good, and ... in the future you can always sell some lenses and get other ones.

Also I don't know about the quality of the pictures taken with your tamron, but if you're happy with it, don't bother with the canon 17-55, just go for a Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS (1900 USD new), or f/4 IS and some primes.

if you are shooting weddings, you should have 2 bodies, unless your dad has extra in case something happens to your 50d.

a 70-200/4 is not something i would recommend for weddings and events.

frank87 wrote in post #10073392
Should i get a used 70-200 2.8 IS or a used 5D and a lens for around 800?

I would be VERY suspect of a 70-200 f/2.8 IS being sold for around $800. It is likely to be worn out, damaged, or stolen if being sold for that price. This doesn't mean of course, that the lens being sold for a higher price is any better or not stolen. I'm just saying that I would be extremely careful in purchasing anything of value from the used market.

SkipD wrote in post #10074500
I would be VERY suspect of a 70-200 f/2.8 IS being sold for around $800. It is likely to be worn out, damaged, or stolen if being sold for that price. This doesn't mean of course, that the lens being sold for a higher price is any better or not stolen. I'm just saying that I would be extremely careful in purchasing anything of value from the used market.

I think he meant buying either a 70-200 or a 5D and some other lens that costs around $800 US.

Try and find a deal for a 5d + 70-200 for 1800.
If you dont have a second body for weddings already yes you should get one, if you already have two bodies then go with the lens.

peter.pan wrote in post #10074551
I think he meant buying either a 70-200 or a 5D and some other lens that costs around $800 US.

That's the way I read it.

To the OP, I'd go w/ the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. That'll leave you enough (or close to it) left over to get an 85 f/1.8. I also agree that if you're shooting weddings, you need a backup body.

You haven't mentioned what kind of gear your father has.

SkipD wrote in post #10074500
I would be VERY suspect of a 70-200 f/2.8 IS being sold for around $800. It is likely to be worn out, damaged, or stolen if being sold for that price. This doesn't mean of course, that the lens being sold for a higher price is any better or not stolen. I'm just saying that I would be extremely careful in purchasing anything of value from the used market.

A used 5D goes for around 1k so that will leave me with 800 to spend on a lens.

Mk1Racer wrote in post #10074611
That's the way I read it.

To the OP, I'd go w/ the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. That'll leave you enough (or close to it) left over to get an 85 f/1.8. I also agree that if you're shooting weddings, you need a backup body.

You haven't mentioned what kind of gear your father has.

He still uses film cameras and he is happy with the pictures he gets from film but he has shown interest in going digital sometime soon.

I was thinking of getting the 70-200 first,then in a few months get a 5D and put the 70-200 on the 5D and leave the 50D with the 17-50 till i get a 24-70 for the 5D.

I'd go w/ the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. Also, what kind of flash do you have? If you don't have one, take the extra from the lens and buy one. You can surely get a 430EXII w/ what you have left over.

"He still uses film cameras"
Oh boy...
Unless he's using FD lenses I can't imagine why he'd stick to that. Not paying for film stock alone would amortize the investment in no time.

Mk1Racer wrote in post #10075975
I'd go w/ the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. Also, what kind of flash do you have? If you don't have one, take the extra from the lens and buy one. You can surely get a 430EXII w/ what you have left over.

Getting the 70-200 sounds like the best thing to do. I'm using a speedlight 430EX.