Where do I go from here? 40D Canon.. 2 lenses..

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

05/02/2010 06:56:54 PM · #1

Hey guys, I have been testing and playing with different equipment for the past few years.. I think it's time to jump into some good quality gear. I would love to hear your input as I have a limited budget at the moment.

my gear

Canon 40D (selling..)
85mm F1.8
Sigma 300mm F4

I have a strong distaste for the 40D... It won't do anything well. It takes pictures, but has horrid AF and slow FPS. No video capability either. I have been using MF whenever I can now since I got it since the AF is so terrible, I really can't stand it.

My plan:

Canon T2i OR 1DmkII OR ...

I have shot the 1D Mkii and I was in love... the AF was absolutely amazing, IQ was great, etc... the LCD was garbage, but the images made up for it. I really wish it had video. I hate to spend too much on a body as the bodies outdate so fast.. I am more toward getting good glass

I am seeing mkii's in my area for 700-900$...

or

T2i

haven't shot it, but 1080 video would be awesome, as my HD videocamera bit the dust.. literally. I can only hope the AF and speed is anywhere near the 1d.

LENSES: I am sticking to prime glass. Every zoom I have tried has disappointed me, even the 70-200 F2.8 L

---Keep my Sigma 300 F4 - great lens for the money---

85mm L F1.2 - Used it extensively. by far my favorite lens I have ever used.

24mm tilt shift F3.5 - After selling my 4x5 camera, I have longed for a tilt shift.
or
24mm F1.4

14mm F2.8 L

200mm F2.8 - Haven't used it... has good reviews and is a good portrait/ wildlife length
or
135mm L F2 - same, can't decide

I think five lenses should cover just about everything I need (mostly landscape and portraits). I don't want excess in any way, I want to become familiar with good lenses and stick to them... although someday I really really want a 300 F2.8

what do you all think?

Thanks!

Chris

Message edited by author 2010-05-02 19:05:16.

Yo_Spiff

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

05/02/2010 07:07:48 PM · #2

I think the 40D is a great camera. Nearly identical to my 50D, which I am very happy with. You are one of the few I have heard complain about it. The lenses are a large factor in focus speed. Also, how are you focusing? Are you letting the camera auto select the focus point? I don't trust the camera to identify my subject for me. I manually select the focus/exposure point (usually using the center focus point) and recompose after focusing. Focuses plenty fast most of the time for me. And I have inexpensive lenses.

Message edited by author 2010-05-02 19:08:10.

Issus

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 28mm f/2.8D

05/02/2010 07:22:42 PM · #3

Just to throw a spanner in your thought process: Get a Nikon ;)

Here's why i did when i left Canon:
I switched after getting frustrated with slow AF, limited AF points (i went from 9 up to 51 (51 with 3D....)), poor metering with weird light (even canon's new "colour metering" isn't really colour metering like Nikon - and Nikon have a lot more pixels in their light meters), noise that looks like a paint factory exploded on your image - Nikon's noise is more film grain looking. AF was so terrible on the Canon compared to what i have now, or even what the D90 gets, AF is much more accurate i find.

Nikon's wireless flash system is all built in to the on camera flash and is amazing, as it handles multichannels, and TTL on each one.

Nikon glass is great, Canon users get to use an adapter plate that converts Nikon F mount to Canon mounts hehe.

You mention the LCD, i don't think Canon have an LCD that rivals the D3/D700 LCD - pixels are lined up in columns/rows not offset... so 1 pixel on the LCD is 1 pixel in your photo when you zoom right in. Colour replication and resolution on the LCD's is fantastic.

Ergonomics are great on Nikon, things are just easier to get to and set on the Nikon gear i've found.

This is just my experience, I looked very seriously at upgrading to a full frame Canon but kept going back to Nikon products every other review... for the photography i do, they were just superior in every way. I ebayed all my Canon stuff (5 lenses, 2 580EX II, body) and bought a D700, 50mm 1.8, 28mm 2.8 and a few weeks later 80-200mm ED 2.8 AF-S. It was a bit more expensive than Canon but i'm exceedingly happy with it.

Check Adorama for refurb units, cheaper than new, better than second hand.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

05/02/2010 07:36:08 PM · #4

I have a 40D and have no problem with the focus speed. However, I did have a sigma lens and it was incredibly slow at focusing. However, your 85mm shouldn't have the problem if it's a Canon. Unfortunately, Canon lenses do seem to work best with the Canon body.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

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

05/02/2010 07:50:59 PM · #5

Have you had the camera in for repair since you feel the AF isn't working?

The AF works fine on my copy of the 40D with both L and non-L glass as well as with third party lenses.

Also, under what conditions are you expecting the AF to work? Do you have the latest firmware installed?

Best bet is to go to a store and try out all the cameras you are considering. They won't all feel the same in your hand and the controls may not feel right.

Stagolee

Kodak Easyshare C180

Canon EF 50mm f1.2L

05/02/2010 07:53:41 PM · #6

I think you may have something wrong with that camera. I thought the AF was superb with my 40D especially with an IS L lense. I would have it checked out.

mrtanz

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

05/02/2010 09:40:21 PM · #7

Exactly what i did. I had the 40d and sold lens, body, flash and switched to D300S. In love with it. The colour contract on the nikon is nothing compared to the canon. You can get the colour close but the same with alot of wrok on the whiteblance and touching up in lightroom/photoshop.

The Nikon body is also very easy to use. After 1 1/2 years of using the Canon i swtiched to Nikon easliy.

You probably dont wantto go down that road then go for the 1dMKIII. Getting a DSLR for video recording is a waste in my opinion. Get a dedicated camera for that. They are cheap enough without breaking a budget

Originally posted by Issus:

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

05/02/2010 11:35:40 PM · #8

Hmm.. thanks for the input.. opened a whole door for me. the AF speed on the 40D is fine.. it just sucks at finding the right spot compared to a 1D series Canon, which I got spoiled with when my friend let me borrow his for a few weeks. It never locks dead on... yes I selected a single point, I know how to use the camera very well.. I've used many Canon camera bodies over the years... starting with the D30, D60, 300D, 350D, 20D, 40D, 1D, 1Ds, 1Dmkii, 1Dsmkii.

When I shoot anything where I have time to focus, I use live view multiplication on the LCD, with MF, to find exactly what I need to focus on. otherwise, 80% of the photos are backfocused or frontfocused when I use AF. None of the AF points are accurate to any degree if you have a fast lens. I know this for fact... It was the same with my 300D and 350D. Although it wasn't as apparent until now, that I have live view. I thought it was my lack of skill before. This is with many lenses that I have tried, even L glass.

I did have a Nikon as my first DSLR.. the D70. I wasn't a huge fan. When I went to upgrade, I tried Canon, and never considered going back. I will be stopping by the camera shop to take a look at their new models, see if they are more of my thing now.

I tried getting a dedicated video HD camera... they just don't make quality ones for $1000.. I broke mine (sony, learned a lesson there) months after having it from getting snow, dirt, and dust into it... it rode in my backpack next to my 40D the whole time.. which the 40D has much more scuff and wear marks on it. I'd much more like to have just ONE camera in my backpack anyway.. I have enough lenses jammed into there as it is.. I feel liked a pack horse.

scooter97

Canon EOS-6D

05/02/2010 11:53:45 PM · #9

I own the 40D and the T2i. I find that the Rebel matches all of the functions except frames per second and it doesn't have the scroll wheel, of the 40D. It beat the 40D in AF performance and ISO abilities. Nice video as well. I don't plan to use the video feature but it is pretty impressive once you see the results. 18MP also gives you more latitude when cropping. I was planning to get a 7D until I saw the T2i come along. Plus it's $900-1000 cheaper than the 7D. A smaller cheaper feeling body for sure, but the performance is very good. My $.02

Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS USM

05/03/2010 12:56:19 AM · #10

Thanks, scooter. that's exactly what I was looking for! I can live without the scroll wheel, FPS I don't need every day. Now I need to look at Nikon bodies alongside the T2i

DCNUTTER

Canon EOS-7D

05/03/2010 01:24:43 AM · #11

Originally posted by Issus:

How long have you worked for Nikon? Even the professional reviews rate a lot of features on the Canon cameras better than or just a good as Nikon. To like everything better, and not give the other vendor credit for being better at SOMETHING seems pretty biased.

The question about how long you've worked at Nikon was obviously a joke, but you get my point, and that's my .02 :)

Message edited by author 2010-05-03 01:25:33.