Would I see any benefit??

[AndyKH]

Afternoon everyone, just sat here in the Lounge at the gym pondering. If I was to sell my Canon 1000d + 70-300 tamron + Bag it's seems i'd only have to put another £150ish towards to 'upgrade' to the 500d. Would I notice any difference or do you think it'd be wiser to save up a big chunk more and leapfrog the 500-550D completely and say go for a 50d or 7d?
(I've started doing baby and toddler portraits, just started a Facebook page search for Andrew Haithwaite Photography)(Yes I know Facebook is garbage etc but every bit of advertising helps hey??)

Edited by AndyKH on Monday 3rd May 14:32

Edited by AndyKH on Monday 3rd May 14:38

[tinman0]

Why do you want to upgrade? Has to be the first question.

[AndyKH]

High ISO noise on the 1000d is not that great, the portraits i've been doing have been natural light so far so a need for a higher ISO has highlighted the problem. It may be wise just to invest in a decent flash before upgrading the body now I think about it. It's around the same amount of cash. £200 speedlite then upgrade body. #
Damn i'm good at talking myself out of things.

[whaninoz]

I had a 400d then moved to a 40d and found it a much nicer camera to use. then i upgraded my lenses and thats where you will notice what a camera can do.

try a 50mm 1.8 for low light, i now hve a 5D and some nice kit but the 50 1.8 is still one of my fave lenses.

[rasputin]

Is the Tamron 70-300mm your only lens?

If so, you definitely need to try out some decent lenses before thinking about a new body. That Tamron is not one of the best...

[Simpo Two]

Portraiture is about lighting, not camera bodies. Boring but true.

So if you want to improve your results, I'd go for a decent flashgun with bounce/swivel, or better still, a studio set-up with two heads and a softbox or two.

[Eggman]

In your position I would be thinking about a fast prime lens - the Canon 50mm f1.8 is reputedly sharp and cheap.

I would imagine something like an 85mm might be even better for photographing small subjects like babies, but then I wouldn't know for sure, not having either.

[Furyous]

Eggman said:

In your position I would be thinking about a fast prime lens - the Canon 50mm f1.8 is reputedly sharp and cheap.

I would imagine something like an 85mm might be even better for photographing small subjects like babies, but then I wouldn't know for sure, not having either.

50mm is approx 85mm on digi bodies IIRC ?

[d1d215]

on canon 50mm is 80 on Nikon a bit less.

[RobDickinson]

If you want to do baby/toddler general potrait work sell the 1000D and buy a 5D.

7D would be a huge step up but you wont need its super AF and the 5D will give you better DOF control.

Close on IQ between the two too.

[rottie102]

+1 on getting a decent lens first, then the flash and then changing the body... You will see what a massive difference the fast prime will do to your picture quality.

[RobDickinson]

Actualy yeah get a 50/1.8 and a speedlight first (or studio lighting).

[AndyKH]

I should have explained a bit more. I have the kit lens, a 50mm 1.8 and the tamron. I bought the camera as a hobby thing but it's quickly progressed to the point where people have seen my shots and asked me to shoot their kids, so much so that i've had 1000 fliers printed and am going to see if I can push for more work.
I think a decent speedlite is a better move, then studio flash if the need arises.
I will upgrade at some point but after weighing up all the options , the body will be the last thing. I managed these with window light and a home made reflector in a very small house. I think it was my photography shopping mind going wild when I saw how much 1000D's were selling for on ebay.

[JJM]

Great portraits.

I'm also looking in to getting a Speedlite for my 450d.

Here are a few good reviews I found...

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-4...

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/eosfaq/ex_spe...

From what I have read if you want to use the Speedlite with a umbrella it is best to go for the 580ex II due to its extra power.

Cheers,

J

[AndyKH]

Thanks for the links here, I think flash is the way forward first for sure. Cheers chaps.