Yet Another Upgrade Advice Request

[Chuck Alaimo]

Sell
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (x2)
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Buy
Canon EF 50 1.4
Canon EF-S 17-55 2.8

Go for the 50mm 1.4, but stay away from the 17-55 2.8!  If you decide to go FF anytime within the next 2-3 years the 17-55 is EF-S mount, you won't be able to use it on FF....

I think that 2, 3 years is quite a long period to stay out from EF-S having in FF mind. We're talking here about selling 5 lenses at a time. Do you think it's a problem to sell 17-55 in 2, 3 years?

If a 24-70 and 50 mm 1.4's are on the list, then yeah, why spend over $1000 on a lens that won't transfer to FF??  that just puts up a giant road block to going FF.

[barryjphoto]

Canon lenses retain value very well. Selling a quality EF-S lens for over 85% is simple to do. The FF path possibility (did the OP even mention FF in their future?) should not deter you from enjoying glass n the present.  Now if you had a crapload of Tamron and Siggy DX/DC then that would be a different story.

[Juvenall]

did the OP even mention FF in their future?

Given what I know about shooting full frame, it seems that it's almost inevitable for me to go that route at some point in the future. Be that in a month, or 10 years, I can't say. So I'm not overly concerned by EF vs EF-S, but obviously, higher quality EF glass gets the portability double bonus when I'm making up my mind.

I'm even highly considering picking up a 5D MkII with my current budget, but I know that won't leave much wiggle room for new glass and sticks me with just my 50mm and the dead sexy 70-200 2.8 IS II. Much less of a "problem" if the market works in my favor and I'm able to sell my EF-S items. Of course, my only thought there is if I'm going FF, why not hold out, save up, and pick up a new MkIII when that drops and squeeze every drop of life out of that.

[dstppy]

Sell
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (x2)
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Buy
Canon EF 50 1.4
Canon EF-S 17-55 2.8

Go for the 50mm 1.4, but stay away from the 17-55 2.8!  If you decide to go FF anytime within the next 2-3 years the 17-55 is EF-S mount, you won't be able to use it on FF....

Honestly, I see no reason to sell the 15-85mm -- even if he goes FF, it's a good lens to hang on to.  The others I agree with selling and also getting the 50 1.4.

Juvenall mentioned the 85mm f1.8; it's a great lens, I had limited use on crop, but love it now that I have the 5D.  The 7D was available w/kit lens for something like $1300 recently, which if you sell it, you're at around $1000 (if you can get that deal).  If you find another high-quality lens you'd like to go with the 60D isn't exactly a slouch either, and the body is around $850 last I checked.

[jwong]

Given what I know about shooting full frame, it seems that it's almost inevitable for me to go that route at some point in the future. Be that in a month, or 10 years, I can't say. So I'm not overly concerned by EF vs EF-S, but obviously, higher quality EF glass gets the portability double bonus when I'm making up my mind.

I'm even highly considering picking up a 5D MkII with my current budget, but I know that won't leave much wiggle room for new glass and sticks me with just my 50mm and the dead sexy 70-200 2.8 IS II. Much less of a "problem" if the market works in my favor and I'm able to sell my EF-S items. Of course, my only thought there is if I'm going FF, why not hold out, save up, and pick up a new MkIII when that drops and squeeze every drop of life out of that.

You could wait for the MKIII, but that will be at least a 1K price premium over the MKII.  How long will it take before the price falls significantly?  1-2 years?  Can you or do you want to wait that long?  What if they come out with double rebates again near Christmas?  If they do, it'd make body/lens combos more attractive, but again that is more money.  Are you willing to save more and wait longer?  Cameras are on a 3-4 year development cycle.  You could get and use a 5DII for at least that long.

If you sell all your ef-s gear, then you could move to FF with a used 5DII and get a new 17-40 while staying within your 2k budget.  That would give you a good focal range from 17-200mm.  Plus it is easier to save less money to buy glass piece by piece than it is to save 2-3k for a body all at once.

I'm actually in a similar situation as you with my 6+ year old 20D.  I have both the ef-s 17-55 f/2.8 and 10-22 f/3.5-4.5, and like you, I have the 70-200 II.  When I move full frame, both ef-s lenses will be sold to offset the cost and will be used to pick a ultrawide zoom.  Midrange zooms (24-70 or 24-105) are nice, but with a combo of 17-40, 50 and 70-200, your gaps are small and won't be missed much.

[Juvenall]

If you find another high-quality lens you'd like to go with the 60D isn't exactly a slouch either, and the body is around $850 last I checked.

The 60D is *extremely* tempting since the Canon Loyalty Program would let me snag one for something like $640. That gives me an extra $500 for that 85mm I've had my eye on. I'm only really leaning towards the 7D over that because of the AF, build quality, and weather sealing (with two kids, everything ends up splashed sooner or later lol). The slightly large size of the 7D is a minor perk, but a very nice-to-have since I have sorta long, wide hands.

You could wait for the MKIII, but that will be at least a 1K price premium over the MKII.  How long will it take before the price falls significantly?  1-2 years?  Can you or do you want to wait that long?  What if they come out with double rebates again near Christmas?  If they do, it'd make body/lens combos more attractive, but again that is more money.  Are you willing to save more and wait longer?  Cameras are on a 3-4 year development cycle.  You could get and use a 5DII for at least that long.

I could totally hold out. I mean, I'm not desperate for new gear. My current setup works great for the 1000+ shots I average every week. My only real complaints have been the picky AF, the ISO performance, and the cramped form factor that over long shooting sessions, sorta hurts my hand (even with a battery grip).

Midrange zooms (24-70 or 24-105) are nice, but with a combo of 17-40, 50 and 70-200, your gaps are small and won't be missed much.

I really think getting something really wide and fast is going to be the next bit of glass regardless of body. My 15-85 is great for what it is, but at 3.5 on the wide end, it hasn't been as versital as I expected. So I'm giving a good, hard look at the 28mm f/1.8, especially if I stay on a crop body.

[jwong]

The 60D is *extremely* tempting since the Canon Loyalty Program would let me snag one for something like $640. That gives me an extra $500 for that 85mm I've had my eye on. I'm only really leaning towards the 7D over that because of the AF, build quality, and weather sealing (with two kids, everything ends up splashed sooner or later lol). The slightly large size of the 7D is a minor perk, but a very nice-to-have since I have sorta long, wide hands.

I really think getting something really wide and fast is going to be the next bit of glass regardless of body. My 15-85 is great for what it is, but at 3.5 on the wide end, it hasn't been as versital as I expected. So I'm giving a good, hard look at the 28mm f/1.8, especially if I stay on a crop body.

Another thing that might be a factor is microfocus adjustment (MFA).  7D has it, 60D does not.  This would be a bigger factor if you have faster primes.  I totally agree with getting a fast prime for indoor use.  Even 2.8 is not fast enough, but 1.4 usually is.  I borrowed a 50 f/1.4 and found it too soft wide open, but that model has worked well for others.  If your 50 f/1.8 is fast enough, then the 28 f/1.8 should work for you.  I opted for the 35 f/1.4 and that has become my defacto indoor lens.