Gear Choice - suggestions appreciated

[Dylan777]

Hi there,

I'm a first time poster, although I've been looking at these forums for a while now, trying to get a feel for Canon gear.

Currently, I shoot using an Olympus E-410, but I want to move up to something a little bit more...interesting (and bigger). My interest is mainly portrait photography, although I live in a beautiful part of the world (Guangdong, China), so there is a lot of decent landscapes around.

I have been doing a lot of research, and have come to a decision of the gear I want to buy. I would like to run it past you guys for advice, to see if you can suggest anything better.

I've been looking at the 7D (or it's replacement if it comes out before I buy - round about September/October time). I was seriously considering getting just the body, then buying a couple of lenses
- 70-200mm f/4L
- 50mm f/1.4

Would this be a good combination for what I need? I would class myself as an advanced hobbyist, although I have made a little money from doing this.

Thanks,
Malcolm

We have suppliers in Guangdong, China. We usually arrive at HongKong Aiprort & take a boat the China. I travel here 2-3 times a year. I was there last Jan.

I have never own 7D before, so I can't speak for it. However, I have friends with 7D - they love it. GREAT AF SYSTEM

For the lenses:
17-55mm f2.8 - great for general shooting, IQ is amazing, tack sharp

70-200 f2.8 IS II - great for protrait, super BOKEH

[bycostello]

if you like Olympus might be worth waiting until you can get a look at an OM-D... 

[Quasimodo]

Sounds like a great combo. I don't know the 70-200 F4, I have the IS II myself. But if you read photozone.de, they argue that the F4 IS is almost equivalent to the IS II in image quality, given of course less max aperture. I use the 50 1.4 on my 5D II and I love it. I truly love this lens, and being an old lens an all, it gives great pictures. The one lens that I have not seen suggested here yet is the EF-S 60 F2.8. My wife has one for her 600D and I have to say that I find it excellent. It gives you both macro features and a great portrait lens.

All my friends that have the 7D loves it, but being biased since I love my 5D II, I would say that you could probably pick up a used 5 II in mint condition for the same price as a new 7D. Especially now that the new MK III is out. I don't know if this is hard, given where you are situated, but If you have a chance, I would go for that.

[kennez]

Thanks for all the advice. I'll take a look at the options over the next couple of months, and see what happens with any new bodies that come out before I buy.

One thing that is certain - I won't be sticking with Olympus - I only got the E-410 because it was cheap (special offer + employee discount). It was my first dSLR, but it is too small for my hands.

Cheers,
Malcolm

[kennez]

Another possibility is the 5DII. Just browsing around on the websites of the local electrical shops, the 5DII with the 24-105mm kit lens fits in with my budget (just), but doesn't leave any overhead for extra glass. Is this a good option to consider?

[Tcapp]

Another possibility is the 5DII. Just browsing around on the websites of the local electrical shops, the 5DII with the 24-105mm kit lens fits in with my budget (just), but doesn't leave any overhead for extra glass. Is this a good option to consider?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Although I would personally go with body only, and get a 50 1.8 or 1.4, and, if you can afford it, the 70-200 2.8 or if you can only afford the F4 get that. Then if you want a landscape lens, maybe look into the cheap manual rokinon lenses for a wide angle. MF is fine for landscape.

[bycostello]

for landscapes you prob want a wider lens

[Axilrod]

I would throw the Tokina 11-16mm into the mix, it's nice to have something ultra-wide on an APS-C sensor.  70-200mm is just really long on an APS-C sensor and very difficult to shoot handheld.  You may want to also consider the 17-55 f/2.8 IS, which is the best general purpose zoom for a 7D IMO. 

I think if you only get the 50mm and the 70-200 you'll quickly start to feel like you need something wider.  50mm is a portrait focal length on an APS-C sensor, which is pretty tight and can feel limiting at times.  It would be worth going to a local shop and testing out some lenses just to get a feel for what each focal length gives you. 

[ScottyP]

Another possibility is the 5DII. Just browsing around on the websites of the local electrical shops, the 5DII with the 24-105mm kit lens fits in with my budget (just), but doesn't leave any overhead for extra glass. Is this a good option to consider?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Although I would personally go with body only, and get a 50 1.8 or 1.4, and, if you can afford it, the 70-200 2.8 or if you can only afford the F4 get that. Then if you want a landscape lens, maybe look into the cheap manual rokinon lenses for a wide angle. MF is fine for landscape.

BUT remember:  If you go from the crop-sensor (7D) to the full-frame (5DmkII) you instantly lose a LOT of length.  That is fine if you have the long glass to compensate, but you would have to buy that also.  If you intend to shoot persons or birds farther away than comfortable shouting distance, you should add into your budget the price of the long lens (300mm) you will need just to compensate for the loss of the 1.6x crop factor.  The good Canon offerings at that length are not cheap, and neither are the good off-brand lenses, really.  You can always crop your photos in post to get closer, but that is more damaging to IQ than getting there naturally with your camera and glass.  Not to mention it seems a little unsatisfying to have nothing big and beautiful in the viewfinder when you shoot.
 
On the other hand if you shoot mostly close-range sports (basketball, checkers, tennis, but not so much baseball outfields) and your birds are on feeders, but you do shoot lots and lots of landscapes and portraits, then the FF body is great, and even an advantage on wide-angle shots.