Upgrading from a 40D

[kwhite]

I'm looking at upgrading from a 40D to something newer and or better. I'm doing mostly portraits and event work with some minor West Texas landscape stuff. The 5D, 5D mII, 1DS mII and 7D, seem to be good candidates. I'm leaning toward a good used 1Ds mII or a new 5D mII.

One other minor consideration. If I can save a little money maybe I can add a large sensor pocket camera to the mix. I have around 2600.00 to spend.

Please fee free to share any opinions you have with these cameras or upgrading from the 40D in general.

[Eyemfaster]

what lenses do you have already?

[kwhite]

Originally Posted by Eyemfaster

what lenses do you have already?

I have a number of EF lenses, 50 1.8, 28-138is, 85 1.8, 70-300is and a 17-35 Tamron. Most of the time I use the 85mm 1.8 portraits and the 17-35 for landscapes. Going full frame will change things somewhat. I'll probably need something like a 24-105is and a 100mm prime.

[toverman]

The 85 is still a great portrait lens on a full-frame camera.

If you go with the 1Ds Mark II or the 5D Mark II, your current lineup (while not bad) might need a shakeup just to take advantage of all that sensor resolution. Obviously, any EF-S mounts wouldn't work.

I have experience only with the classic 5D in your list of possibilities. For pure image quality, it's hard to beat, but compared to the Mark II it is missing a lot of things now standard in DSLRs (dust- and weather-sealing, live view, HD video, etc.).

[BEphoto]

Pick up a 5D classic and spend the rest on some good glass?

[kwhite]

Originally Posted by BEphoto

Pick up a 5D classic and spend the rest on some good glass?

That is a good option for the near future. The problem is that a year from now I'll be well off the technology track again. I'd like have a body that will be reasonably viable for 2-3 years. From what I have seen my main lens, the 85mm, works well on FF cameras. No doubt all of my glass will need to be upgraded. Selling my current glass and the 40D may get me a 24-105 f4 to start things off.

[ronocnikral]

Originally Posted by kwhite

The problem is that a year from now I'll be well off the technology track again.

these are the kind of people i like. keeps the prices on the best cameras low...

[Tom]

50 1.8, 28-138is, 85 1.8, 70-300is and a 17-35 Tamron

Sell everything but the 85mm 1.8 and upgrade your glass with a 5D mark 1.

[Eyemfaster]

how much of an upgrade do you guys think the 5d mkI is from the 40d?

[kwhite]

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

these are the kind of people i like. keeps the prices on the best cameras low...

I'm not sure what your point is. Until there is stability in sensor technology and firmware or an upgradable body design we are all on this track. I'm not a film shooter so quantum leaps in digital camera capabilities do concern me.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Eyemfaster

how much of an upgrade do you guys think the 5d mkI is from the 40d?

Depends what you shoot. If you mainly shoot portraits and landscapes, it is a tremendous upgrade. If you are shooting sports or something, then not so much.

I'm not sure what your point is. Until there is stability in sensor technology and firmware or an upgradable body design we are all on this track. I'm not a film shooter so quantum leaps in digital camera capabilities do concern me.

I'm not really sure what your concerns are. A 5D is going to continue to take incredible pictures for a long time. A Nikon D3 can do a lot of stuff that a 5D can't do, but that doesn't mean that a 5D isn't incredible.

[Dobick]

I am pretty happy with the image results that I get from my 40d.

Go out shooting some of your favorite subjects with a friend that has one of the cameras that you are looking to upgrade to. Find a scene that you are happy with, and then shoot it with both cameras. take the resultant files crop them to 300 ppi at 8x10 or 8x12 and go get them printed. Compare and then decide if the differences that you can tell are worth the $2600 that you are about to spend.

If not, then your money would be much better spent on glass.

[ronocnikral]

Originally Posted by kwhite

I'm not sure what your point is. Until there is stability in sensor technology and firmware or an upgradable body design we are all on this track. I'm not a film shooter so quantum leaps in digital camera capabilities do concern me.

all have CMOS sensors. Not quite sure where the quantum leap in technology is that you refer to.

my point is simple. most people think the newer cameras will give them greater capabilities. the bottom line is, if you are capable and understand your camera, you can produce amazing images. the 5d is one of the best dslr's made. most certainly it is the best bang for your buck, mainly because people feel they need to upgrade whenever a new camera comes out. We just picked a minty one up for under $1300 w/ grip.

[BEphoto]

I just upgraded from a 40D to a 5D and with the little bit I've shot, the pictures look much better stright OOC.

Going to put it through the ropes tonight at sunset though. :)

[PIC]

The Technology Curve mentioned above is the Marketing Curve.

New features are for the Goo Goo Gaa Gaa marketing eater who responds to ads.

The Classic 5D and 5D MII are the best Image Quality cameras and buys on the market.

There is a reason why Image Quality is also called I.Q. - think about it ...