PhotosByT wrote in post #10171388
However, I would like to get HD video too!
I was just thinking of upgrading to T2i, but then my husband said "7D" "sounds better"! LOL.. I am also getting more serious and have booked some freebie maternity and newborn shoots this week. I am hoping to do this professionally, someday.. hopefully sooner if my kids will allow me! So, I am starting to build a portfolio..
Ok, so long story short..
1. Is it worth it upgrading to 7D when T2i is pretty much similar to 7D in terms of my needs?
2. Let's just say money-wise, I can afford 7D.. should I buy it? or save up some more and go for the 5D2? (my enabler HeleneD, on here thinks I should go for 5d2)...
Given that you "definitely have not maximized [your] Rebel xTi", I would think both 7D and 5D2 are overkill -- if you keep photography as a hobby.
Obviously, if you plan to go professional, the equation changes completely. A $7000 lens may be in the "in your dreams" category for someone shooting as a hobby, but a legitimate business investment for a professional photographer.
However, either way, you need to remember that DSLR bodies become obsolete much faster than lenses. Some of the POTNers' favourite lenses (e.g. the 100-400 or the 70-200/4 non-IS version) were released more than 10 years ago (1998 and 1999, to be exact).
On the other hand, look how fast the DSLRs turn over: the original Digital Rebel was introduced in 2003. In 7 years, it had already been replaced by 6 newer versions:
- Rebel / 300D
- Rebel XT / 350D
- Rebel XTi / 400D
- Rebel XSi / 450D (not counting the XS/1000D since it's a lower-end model)
- Rebel T1i / 500D
- Rebel T2i / 550D
So even if you plan to go "PRO-pro" in, say 1 year, the successor of the 7D and 5D2 may be out by then. If you don't want to chase the newest, you can still get the 7D/5D2 at a great discount -- much like you can get the 40D/30D/20D/5D1 at a discount right now.
So, build your lens collection first, and upgrade the body only when your current body becomes limiting. Trust me, when you have the 70-200/2.8L mounted, very few people will look behind it and see that you are using a "lowly" Rebel. Not to mention, unless you absolutely need the high-end features (e.g. wireless flash commander, 8 fps, etc), you can get 90-95% of IQ of the 7D with a Rebel. (The shooting experience will be MUCH different, but the IQ per se won't be that different.)
5D2 is a FF camera, so everything will be different -- you'll get less DOF at any given aperture choice, and lower noise at any given ISO choice. However, can you live without a built-in flash or a comparatively old/slow AF?
So, get a T1i or T2i if you absolutely need HD video, build your lens collection, and upgrade to a more pro body when you are ready.
PhotosByT wrote in post #10171388edited: 3. Oops, wait a minute.. how about my lenses, I was just reading about full frames.. So, I need to change my lenses?
All lenses that you can use on your XTi will still work on the 7D (still a crop-format camera).
The 5D2 is a full-frame camera, so all lenses specifically designed for crop-format cameras will NOT work. So, Canon EF-S lenses won't work. Sigma DC lenses won't work. Tamron Di lenses won't work. Etc etc.
Among your current lenses, only 2 will work on the 5D2:
Canon 18-55IS: no
Canon 50/1.8: yes
Sigma 30/1.4: no
Canon?/Sigma 75-300: most likely yes
(The 430EX flash will also work.)
