Camera or Lens: A Moral Dilemma - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

05/30/2010 10:19:56 PM · #1

Okay, here\'s the deal: I have $400 to spend on camera stuff right now.
I have currently a VERY used Canon Rebel XT. It has probably well over 40,000 clicks on it, so could probably die any moment.
I use an 85mm f/1.8 almost exclusively - it is a thing of glory and beauty and owning it makes me want to buy every single 85mm lens ever, even the nikon ones. If I had a billion dollars I would only ever buy prime lenses and die happy.
I also have the crap 18-55 f/3.5-5.6mm kit thing (non-IS).
I work as the photographer for a set of camps, doing their promo photos - last summer I took about 15,000 pictures over the course of the summer. This summer I\'ll probably take more. My employer has a zoom I use on occasion (it\'s the 75-300, I think...nothing fancy) and another XT that I also have been known to use.

I could buy a used Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX. This has the pros of being fast and versatile, and new glass, and probably a good investment - it seems to have good reviews and a darn good showing here.
OR
I could buy a used 30D body - the one I\'m considering has 8000 clicks. (Anything newer than 30D pushes the bank a bit too much.)

It would be handy to have a backup body - I have to take pictures while in a kayak, which is not a fun thing when your entire means of making money is highly allergic to water - and I could keep the 18-55 around for the times I need a wide angle lens.
It would be wonderful to have some new glass. I\'ve pushed the 85mm to the limits of my abilities - if not its - and it would be nice to challenge myself with something new. Employer would probably also be pleased with something new.

I have also considered just going for the newest Rebel - I\'ve lost track, but not the T2i (I have no need for video)...the XSi? - but that seems counterproductive to me. The same camera, just...newer. I would certainly want the next series up.

After the skill of the photographer, the lens is, I believe, the most contributory aspect of a good picture - not the camera. A good argument to invest in the lens.
My camera might die. A good argument to invest in the camera.

Thoughts?

Message edited by author 2010-05-30 22:20:55.

Nikon D200

05/30/2010 10:33:52 PM · #2

Get the body. A new lens does you no good if your current body craps out after 40k actuations/water accident.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

05/30/2010 11:24:11 PM · #3

Go with the camera. You have working lenses, and can pick up more at a later date. If your current cam breaks, you will be stuck without being able to shoot at all, and looking a a very nice couple of lenses that can't do anything. I too love the 85mm f1.8, though the one I have is an old manual one, it just kicks butt for people pix on the APC cams.

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/30/2010 11:33:56 PM · #4

seems like a new camera body is the way to go here--you'll have the older one for backup or for use on the higher-risk outings like kayaking. You have some good glass, access to other lenses, so a new body + old backup body will serve you well. Plus, if you buy a new lens instead, the old camera will up and die on you sometime without warning, and then you'll be in a panicked scramble to replace it. Now you can hunt for the right body, the right deal.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

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

05/30/2010 11:41:38 PM · #5

another option: If you call Canon's customer loyalty program, they will likely offer you a Rebel XS body for $359, but you will have to send them your old camera to get this deal.

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

05/31/2010 03:31:14 PM · #6

Thanks for the input, guys - it's certainly sounding like camera is the way to go right now. I have a friend who says she's willing to buy my rebel. The rebel kit lens will work on the 30D, right? I know it doesn't work on the 5D and the 1D...don't remember about the 30D etc.

michaelmonn

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

05/31/2010 04:58:54 PM · #7

it will work on the 30D as the 30D is an APS-C (1.6x crop factor) camera.

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

05/31/2010 05:28:36 PM · #8

Originally posted by michaelmonn:

it will work on the 30D as the 30D is an APS-C (1.6x crop factor) camera.

And on the 40D, the 50D, and the 7D, in that order of newness, and excluding the various "Rebel" models from the list. :-)

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

05/31/2010 06:07:25 PM · #9

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by michaelmonn:
it will work on the 30D as the 30D is an APS-C (1.6x crop factor) camera.

And on the 40D, the 50D, and the 7D, in that order of newness, and excluding the various "Rebel" models from the list. :-)

don't tempt me! :p

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

05/31/2010 06:16:14 PM · #10

Originally posted by Jessi:

I have currently a VERY used Canon Rebel XT. It has probably well over 40,000 clicks on it, so could probably die any moment.
I use an 85mm f/1.8 almost exclusively - it is a thing of glory and beauty and owning it makes me want to buy every single 85mm lens ever, even the nikon ones. If I had a billion dollars I would only ever buy prime lenses and die happy.

My rebel died with just over 175,000 activations. Yours might die tomorrow, but you may have just started. Shutters are a bit like light bulb filaments, they can be expected to die at any time from the first time you turn them on , to the one in Livermore CA that has been burning for one hundred and nine years. They could have replaced it one hundred and seven years ago, since they could have reasonably expected it to die much, much earlier.

Since you basically have one and one half lenses, I would put my money into good glass. Unless you have issues with your current body that you haven't mentioned, other than the fear that it will someday die, why replace it until you have more than one lens that you like?

Of course I have a Toyota pickup truck I'm planning to get 300,000 miles out of. I figure if it works why replace it when there are so many other ways to spend my money?