30D upgrade help please

Hi all, I am due to get a tax rebate after being issued with the wrong tax code for the past 3 years and am looking to upgrade my camera I currently have a 30D,Canon 100-400mm and Tamron 18-200mm lenses and am also looking at getting the Canon 100mm 2.8 macro lens. I shoot mostly wildlife for fun,be it birds,general wildlife or macro and wondered which body would compliment the lenses i have and the 100mm? I have read reviews on the 550D,the 7D and the 50D but still can't make up my mind :S Of those 3 cameras which do you think would be the best buy? Many thanks for any input in advance
Regards
Sharon

IMO the 50D is not enough upgrade in IQ over the 30D. The 550d has the same IQ as the 7D, but still has the old 30D AF system. Have you considered the 60D? (7D IQ, 50D AF performance)? It will be around $1100-1200. if you are keeping the 30D however, it would be nice to use the same batteries and CF cards on the 50D.

Thanks for the input DStanic , I hadn't considered the 60D but I think it looks interesting. I won't be keeping the 30D as I only really need the 1 body. After your comment and further reading, I'm leaning more towards the 7D or 60D I think, am still interested in any further input as i find it helpful
Regards
Sharon

The 60D would require you to purchase new SD memory cards, while the 7D will use the same compact flash cards that you use in your 30D. Factor that into your upgrade cost.

Personally, the 60D's feature list left me unimpressed as a 40D owner. I decided to take the plunge and upgrade to a 7D. I shoot landscapes, wildlife and a little sports, so the 7D seemed to be the best fit.

Thanks Scott, I will cosider the SD/CF situation too,some of the high capacity SD cards are quite pricey.
Regards
Sharon

I'm in the same upgrade situation that you are... Within the next year, I will probably make the decision. For now, I'm researching...

One thing I keep coming back to, is the size. I could very easily make the switch to a Rebel body in terms of image quality, but I think I would miss the back wheel, and the size in my hands. It seems like the 60D is going to be similar in size to the 30D, which is a positive for me. I may end up going that route, as I do not need all the bells and whistles of the 7D.

If I win the lottery, though, I'm going for a 5D2.

Good luck with the decision making process.

Steve

shazz501 wrote in post #10936090
Hi all, I am due to get a tax rebate after being issued with the wrong tax code for the past 3 years and am looking to upgrade my camera I currently have a 30D,Canon 100-400mm and Tamron 18-200mm lenses and am also looking at getting the Canon 100mm 2.8 macro lens. I shoot mostly wildlife for fun,be it birds,general wildlife or macro and wondered which body would compliment the lenses i have and the 100mm? I have read reviews on the 550D,the 7D and the 50D but still can't make up my mind :S Of those 3 cameras which do you think would be the best buy? Many thanks for any input in advance
Regards
Sharon

I have a 30D and if I was to replace it I would choose the 7D hands down. All though the 50D is dropping in price, if you can afford the 7D get it. The video (curse word to some) is a nice feature to have if you don't have a video camera ready, etc..

I currently have a 7D and two 50D bodies (coming from 20D and 30D bodies). The 50D focus is very fast. I have been very happy with 50D. I just started using the 7D, but so far I am very happy with it. The features are very nice and a nice step up from the 50D. (focus points, buttons arrangement, etc)

So far the only down side I have seen with the 7D has been the expensive batteries. They do take different batteries than the stock pile that I have for the 50D. With that said, the battery information that the camera provides is very helpful and again a great benefit.

So my suggestion is if you're looking to save a little money, go with the 50D. If you want to spend the extra dollars, the 7D is a great tool and a joy to use.

shazz501 wrote in post #10936234
Thanks for the input DStanic , I hadn't considered the 60D but I think it looks interesting. I won't be keeping the 30D as I only really need the 1 body. After your comment and further reading, I'm leaning more towards the 7D or 60D I think, am still interested in any further input as i find it helpful
Regards
Sharon

If you're doing lots of macro then the 60D's adjustable screen might be useful. You'll be able to hold the camera in places where it might be hard to place your feet or body (like at ground level or over water).

I've tried the 60D in a couple of shops and I appreciate its slightly smaller size and lighter weight compared to my 50D. In my opinion it is a negligible but noticeable step down in build quality and at least as good in all other respects.

I think the 7D is another step up, especially in terms of autofocus ability and speed. If your wildlife includes fast moving targets (like flying birds) then that might be a reason to go for it.

The 60D is expensive now (only just come out) but it will be cheaper by Christmas. Probably best to decide before VAT goes up in January though

Wow,lots of great input,thanks guys
Regards
Sharon

Scott M wrote in post #10936350
The 60D would require you to purchase new SD memory cards, while the 7D will use the same compact flash cards that you use in your 30D. Factor that into your upgrade cost.

If you are currently using 8GB cards in your 30D then you may get 200-250 RAW files from a 7D (around half as many). So you very well might need to buy bigger cards anyways, 16 or 32gb depending what you like. Also since the files are bigger, you may need to buy FASTER cards as well.