To upgrade or not to upgrade

[RobbieKB]

A question for you more experience 'togs.

I've got a Canon 550D (about a year old) and I'm debating an upgrade in a few months. I'm not sure I've got the glass to go full frame as I ideally wanted the 5D Mk II (I'd be on a reasonably tight budget) for its high ISO handling if nothing else. The 7D attracts me with its burst shooting capabilities but I'm unsure whether it is worth it. So three questions really:

• Is there a site I can compare the performance of Canon cameras?
• Should I just spend my money on more glass?
• Is upgrading to full frame really that big?

Cheers chaps

[GetCarter]

I'm Nikon, so can't advise on photo copiers

But full frame really changes the triangle of aperture / shutter / ISO ... as you can push ISO a full 6 stops further. In real life this means: no flash needed for weddings, no tripod needed to achieve decent DOF with landscapes, ability to take photos in the semi gloom - even handheld, fast glass becomes SUPER fast!

It's a big step and costs a lot of money... and you'll lose the crop factor that bought the wildlife closer...

HTH

ETA... I took the plunge but kept my crop sensor camera to keep the flexibility, which I still use 3 years later. If you have the funds, its a good way to go.

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 19th July 14:58

[nellyleelephant]

Do you currently have eny EFS lenses? These will not work with a 5D2.

[RobbieKB]

Thanks guys. Yes, you see that is a toss up for me. I like wildlife photography but I cannot afford the 400mm+ I would need.

I have only EF lenses (100mm 2.8 Macro / 70-200mm L / 50mm 1.8) that I use mostly, however IIRC my 18-55mm is EFS.

[nellyleelephant]

a 1.4X converter will take your 7-200 to 280mm on a 5D, you would keep AF too.

If wildlife is your thing, a 7D with it's more sophisticated AF and crop would probably be better.

[...Mole...]

I felt like my move to a 5D mk2 was a massive step for me.
The low light ability is impressive and forgetting ive left
my camera on ISO 1000 no longer makes me cry anymore.

22Mp files are pretty nice to work with as well.

I did come from a Nikon D200 though, which is quite old
tech compared to you're 550d so it might not feel like
much of a step.

Cant say much about the 7D other than i have a friend who
uses one exclusively for video work and he gets on very well
with it.

[toasty]

Review and comparisons for 7D here http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos7d/

I have moved from a 300D to 400D to 40D to 7D.

I'd like a 5D Mk III but would keep the 7D for Sports/Nature as it has the extra cropped reach.

[RobbieKB]

Thanks again guys. I have 1.4x teleconverter by I fear 280mm on a full frame camera would still be pissing in the ocean for wildlife photography.

The ISO performance of the 5D II from what I've seen is superb. I'm certainly still leaning towards it although I would need a new wide angle lens it would seem!

[andrewrob]

I own a 550d but borrowed a 5D II for a wedding. The difference in ISO was amazing.
I took pictures at ISO 6400 that are slightly better than ones from my 550D at 1600.

[toasty]

RobbieKB said:

Thanks again guys. I have 1.4x teleconverter by I fear 280mm on a full frame camera would still be pissing in the ocean for wildlife photography.

The ISO performance of the 5D II from what I've seen is superb. I'm certainly still leaning towards it although I would need a new wide angle lens it would seem!

Another option might be an additional Fuji X100 and keep the 550D.

The high ISO on my OH's is way better than my 7D.

[tim-b]

Robbie, just PM'd you.

[andrewrob]

toasty said:

RobbieKB said:

Thanks again guys. I have 1.4x teleconverter by I fear 280mm on a full frame camera would still be pissing in the ocean for wildlife photography.

The ISO performance of the 5D II from what I've seen is superb. I'm certainly still leaning towards it although I would need a new wide angle lens it would seem!

Another option might be an additional Fuji X100 and keep the 550D.

The high ISO on my OH's is way better than my 7D.

Never heard of these before, shame about the fixed lens but impressive high ISO performance.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/Fujifilm-Finepix-X10...

[Blukoo]

I'm not sure what the 550D is like, but I just upgraded to the 7D from the 450D and I wish I had done it sooner!

The better noise capabilities are good, but it's the build quality and the solid feel of the 7D I love the most.

Hope this helps you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYif6YYVlAw

[RobbieKB]

Blukoo said:

I'm not sure what the 550D is like, but I just upgraded to the 7D from the 450D and I wish I had done it sooner!

The better noise capabilities are good, but it's the build quality and the solid feel of the 7D I love the most.

Hope this helps you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYif6YYVlAw

Thanks for that. I also looked at their 5D II vs 7D video a couple of months ago. I get the distinct impression that if I'm going to upgrade at all, I need to go 5D II (or III if I get an anonymous cash injection ).

This is why my question came about though really. Maybe I should just spend my money on better glass and hold off for a year or so for a new body. Decisions...

[Blukoo]

RobbieKB said:

Thanks for that. I also looked at their 5D II vs 7D video a couple of months ago. I get the distinct impression that if I'm going to upgrade at all, I need to go 5D II (or III if I get an anonymous cash injection ).

This is why my question came about though really. Maybe I should just spend my money on better glass and hold off for a year or so for a new body. Decisions...

That sounds like the most sensible option.

I was going to upgrade to the 5DII, but my sigma lens wasn't compatible with the full frame sensor so I decided to go to the next best thing.
While the change from 450D to 7D was worth it, i'm not so sure you'd feel the same about the move from the 550D to the 7D.

Or maybe this could be an option when it's released: http://blog.wexphotographic.com/canon-announce-the...

[dibbly dobbler]

GetCarter said:

full frame really changes the triangle of aperture / shutter / ISO ... as you can push ISO a full 6 stops

What what what what ?! I don't understand this - where do the extra 6 stops come from ?

Anyhoo - did you get the side by side comparison link yet? see here

I went from the 450D to the 60D - good upgrade, not tempted by a 7D I have to say as I'm not sure what I would gain...

[RobbieKB]

That's the website I was after, cheer Mike.

The 7D is intriguing. 8FPS and the most complex auto-focus system I've seen.

5D II is still winning though I think. Although I must say I'm tempted to just blow the money on a better flash gun and a wide angle lens

[flat-planedCrank]

Rent a 5D and see how much you like it? Or at least pop along to a shop and see what you think?


As for lenses - I only have 2 for my 5D: 50mm & 135mm.
I don't really do landscapes, but I still miss having something approaching a wide angle (was thinking of picking up a 35mm f2 / 28mm f1.8 for the rare occasions)

[RobDickinson]

Steve - 6 stops is kind of taking the piss a bit! Thats 64 times more sensitive, not sure what you've been smoking..

Given even tech the FF body should be just over a stop better, current top end bodies are probably about 2 and a bit stops better than a 550d.

The 7D has the same sensor as the 550d dosnt it? So moving to a 7D wont improve direct low light abilities (it will get a better af and viewfinder etc).


A fast lens, a 5d2, or flash (or all of them) is the answer.

[flat-planedCrank]

RobDickinson said:

A fast lens, a 5d2, or flash (or all of them) is the answer.

Everyone knows that once you're in the camera store they spend 50% more than they intended to!
One of the advantages of going to a store over a website