Another Buying a new Camera help Thread

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

01/04/2010 02:24:27 PM · #1

I know this is always being beat to death...people looking for help for a new camera...i went through 7 pages in the hardware forum and didn't really get much help.

It's income tax time...and I'm getting alot of money back (mostly for my house) but my birthday is also coming up. So why not a great treat for myself...An upgrade in camera (I know pretty lame huh? I should be in Tahiti somewhere instead).

I'm ready to move to a more professional camera. I want something better than a REBEL XT. I'm sticking with CANON, I don't need any NIKON recommendations. I use my camera mostly for portraits, fashion, and Glamour, but also use it for travel and stock....HECK I shoot anything I can point my camera at!

I'm giving myself a $1000 spending limit....and I don't plan on selling my XT, but rather keep the XT as a backup body.

I know that many say go in and grab a camera and see how it feels....but I want ideas on what cameras to go in the store and hold in the first place.

Any recommendations?

Thank you

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

01/04/2010 02:42:03 PM · #2

You might be able to find an EOS 50D for just under that limit. I think someone mentioned recently that B&H had the body only for just under that. If you can find someone who still has 40D's in stock, that is probably the biggest bang for the buck in a semi-pro body. Do you have any problem with used or Refurbs?

The Rebel T1i has established a good rep, with image quality equal to the 50D, and HD video to boot, but it also has a plastic body similar to the Xt you have now.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

01/04/2010 02:51:23 PM · #3

I love my 50D... Spend a few extra dollars if needed, and get a killer body, no reason to spend 1000 to end up wishing you had spent 1100..

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

01/04/2010 03:14:33 PM · #4

My initial consideration was a 50D or a 40D.

I was also looking at the T1i and wondering what was the quality difference in Photos as well as ISO limitations compared to the 50D.

I've seen some 50D's on Amazon for around $850-950, but the T1i is considerably cheaper. Body made of plastic doesn't make as much of a difference as image output does. I have no problem with a plastic body that gives me the same image quality as the better body.

Message edited by author 2010-01-04 15:15:38.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

01/04/2010 03:27:05 PM · #5

I found when I went from the XT to the 20D, that the image quality was nearly identical, but the presence of additional controls on the body was very welcome and does speed up some common functions. Especially the little joystick. I rarely used the focus point selection before, as it was too many button presses and dial twists. I now keep it mapped to control the focus points directly and it's very convenient.

A lot of other functions are made easier and quicker by the presence of additional controls.

This may be something to think about when choosing between the T1i and 40/50D. May or may not be important to you.

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/04/2010 03:30:42 PM · #6

You can pick up a very lightly used 5D for that price. I'd put your money down on one of them and enjoy it. For what you say you shoot its nearly the perfect camera. As long as you don't mind second hand.

Matt

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

01/06/2010 08:00:13 AM · #7

Matt did you just search through craigslist in North Jersey...I swore I just saw that exact ad in craigslist.

MattO

Nikon D4

01/06/2010 09:16:29 AM · #8

Originally posted by albc28:

Matt did you just search through craigslist in North Jersey...I swore I just saw that exact ad in craigslist.

I don't search Craigslist for anything. Anything I buy used online in the camera segment I buy from www.fredmiranda.com and go to the buy and sell section.

Matt

one2one

Olympus E-5

Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom

01/06/2010 09:34:15 AM · #9

Originally posted by albc28:

Have you handled a plastic body compared to a metal one? I like my cameras heavy and that was one of the main reasons for buying an E3. I had an Evolt 500 that weighed close to nothing and every time I took a shot I was moving the camera. At first I figured it was me but after handling the E3 I knew right away it was the weight of the camera that made me unsteady while shooting. But I used to use old film cameras like Nikon F1's and FE's so that may be why I like them heavy.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

02/04/2010 04:01:20 PM · #10

Although i'm probably still pretty early in this stage. I'm not expecting to buy for another 2-3 weeks. But I think I've narrowed it down to the 50D or T1i. For some reason i'm staying on the safe side and working with a new model rather than a used model.

So the differences I've seen so far between the two have been the following

T1i is lighter, shoots video, but limited to a max shutter of 1/4000 and 3fps (continuous)

50D is heavier, doesnt' shoot video, has a max shutter of 1/8000 and up to 6.3fps.

The biggest difference that is having some weight is that the 50D uses compact flash and T1i uses SD cards. Means I would have no use for the compact flash cards I have no except for my current camera and would have to start all over with SD cards.

I'm leaning towards the 50D because video may not be necessary and since I'm keeping my current camera as a back up I want to be able to work with them both off CF cards.

Any people with 50D's and T1i's want to tell me how great their camera is??

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

02/04/2010 04:19:50 PM · #11

Originally posted by albc28:

I'm leaning towards the 50D because video may not be necessary and since I'm keeping my current camera as a back up I want to be able to work with them both off CF cards.

Be careful with switching the cards between cameras without re-formatting first -- it messed up the picture-numbering system the one time I tried it.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

02/04/2010 07:59:59 PM · #12

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by albc28:
I'm leaning towards the 50D because video may not be necessary and since I'm keeping my current camera as a back up I want to be able to work with them both off CF cards.

Be careful with switching the cards between cameras without re-formatting first -- it messed up the picture-numbering system the one time I tried it.

OH crap..didn't think of that. Probably would be switching them in the middle of the shoot. Just meant that if I grab a camera to go out, I don't have to focus on making sure I have SD or CF cards.....I can just grab a card and go.

drydoc

Canon EOS-7D

02/04/2010 08:20:10 PM · #13

I love my 50D. I just got through microadjusting all my lens to the 50D. Took some time to do (mainly following the directions to the T).
I also love the black and white shots I take with it.
I had a Canon 10D before this and although that was a good camera, the 50D is hands done much, much better. So much easier to use. Very user friendly.
If you have particular questions you may have , you are welcome to email me. Good luck with your search.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

02/25/2010 11:39:32 AM · #14

Has anyone worked with the Canon EOS T2i yet. It looks like it was just released this month. 18MP? I know it's the cheaper version of the 7D, but I was originally looking between the T1i and the 50D....now it would be the 50D and the T2i and trying to figure out if the extra MP is worth it. They are generally the same price.

pamelasue

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/25/2010 11:58:55 AM · #15

Anthony, I moved from an XT to a 50D a year and a half ago and don't regret it at all ... the 50D handles noise WAY better than the XT did ... I gave the XT to my boyfriend and we took them both on vacation with us (Italy) and spent a lot of time shooting the same things with the same lens (Tamron 28-75) ... the image quality of the 50D blew away the quality of the XT ... I don't think you can go wrong with the 50D ... or 40D for that matter ...

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

02/25/2010 02:27:43 PM · #16

I was originally sold on the 50D and was planning on buying it within the next couple of weeks, but seeing how that T2i actually outspecs (is that a word....how about we say has some better specs) than the 50D, I might change my mind. Obviously the T1i is no longer an option.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

02/25/2010 03:04:35 PM · #17

Yes, the resolution specs are higher, though there are other things that you get with the xxD series. A tougher body and additional controls come mind first. I didn't think the thumb wheel and joystick would be that big a deal when I moved from the Rebel XT to a 20D, but they have allowed me to easily use functions that were a multiple button hassle before. For instance, I have the joystick switch mapped directly to focus point selection, which I didn't bother with much on the Rebel. As far as resolution, even the 15 Mp of the 50D often seems to be overkill, nevermind 18. I often shoot on the sRAW1 setting, which is 7 Mp. (10 would have been a nice amount, though)

ragamuffingirl

Sony Alpha NEX-5N

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

02/25/2010 03:47:44 PM · #18

I heard that the new Rebels that are just coming out now have the same sensor/megapixels as the 7D - just to muddy up the waters.

When I get a new body it'll either be that or 50D - unless I come into an unexpected amount of money, and then it'll be the 7D.

02/25/2010 03:55:51 PM · #19

Originally posted by ragamuffingirl:

Yeah..the T2i has the same sensor or close to the same sensor as the 7D.

02/25/2010 03:58:00 PM · #20

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

hmm...the weight is still the thing that is working my brain. I think the T2i has the option for sRaw1 and SRaw2 as well. I'm going to have to find a store that has them both and start playing with them. At frist glance the T2i is starting to steal me away from the 50D, but I just read about it for the first time today.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

03/28/2010 10:13:54 PM · #21

I purposely held out on buying a new camera until the T2i came out. I went to best buy today and put them both in my hands..played with them in the store for about an hour...set off the alarm several times...and left the store empty handed because I still don't know which one. Any take any shots with the T2i? I may just stick with getting the 50D. It's not like i shoot video now or need the video option.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

03/29/2010 12:20:09 AM · #22

A still camera is optimized for taking stills. A video camera is optimized for video. So if you are choosing a still camera, buy the camera with the still options that you think are an absolute must. If the camera you end up with has video, then that's a bonus.