advice required

[cameraKarl]

Hello to everyone.

I have been using a canon 50d for some years now. I do quite a bit of macro,portrait and close up work. I have been thing of upgrading to either the 7d 5d mark 2 or 3. I appreciate I will have to upgrade some of my ef-s lenses if I go to a full frame camera, but I am unceratin if full frame is going to be of any advantage to me and does come with a hefty price tag.

regards Karl

[mathino]

Hello to everyone.

I have been using a canon 50d for some years now. I do quite a bit of macro,portrait and close up work. I have been thing of upgrading to either the 7d 5d mark 2 or 3. I appreciate I will have to upgrade some of my ef-s lenses if I go to a full frame camera, but I am unceratin if full frame is going to be of any advantage to me and does come with a hefty price tag.

regards Karl

For your needs I would suggest FF. FF is better for portraits - you get thinner DoF and colors are better (as far as I know). It depends ofc on lenses you have/you would get. My suggestion is to take a look at Canons 100 f/2.8 Macros (both are good). You get a nice lens for macro/close up and portrait. And for low light portraits/work FF gives you advantage of high ISOs - 7D is grainy on everything over 1600. Ive seen great shot taken with 5D Mk II at 6400 ISO.

Well, you can wait and see "rumored entry FF" when it comes out and then decide.

[cameraKarl]

Thank you for you comment. I am not really sure I am good enough to warrant a FF as I have a lot to learn about lighting and such. Maybe I would be better upgrading to the 7d with some nice EF lenses which will still give me better quality and I have the video mode that I would require. Then look at the situation again in 12 to 18 months.

[mathino]

Thank you for you comment. I am not really sure I am good enough to warrant a FF as I have a lot to learn about lighting and such. Maybe I would be better upgrading to the 7d with some nice EF lenses which will still give me better quality and I have the video mode that I would require. Then look at the situation again in 12 to 18 months.

All depends on your needs and how long you can wait  I would wait for entry level FF - I can bet it will have video mode. 7D, 5D Mk II and 5D Mk III - all have video modes.

Most recent rumored specs about entry FF:

Specifications

• Two different sensor specs received (thanks) for a ‘cheaper’ FF DSLR.
• One suggests an 18MP sensor and the other 22MP

Other features:

• Design closer to 7D than 5D3 (smaller and with flash)
• 7D style AF system (19 pt) and VF LCD
• 7D metering
• Single Digic 5+
• 3.9 fps
• 3 inch LCD
• 51200 max ISO
• Below $2000 USD

[cameraKarl]

Ok thank you for you time. I know it sounds silly but I really like the idea of a FF with a built in flash. I would rather have it and not use it that not have it and need it. I dont always want to carry a speedlite around with me. My only concern is the new ff will be entry level as if it is as good as the 7d with a FF then what will be the point of the 5d mark 3

[Marine03]

Why not rent a Body/lens combo?  I know it may set you back like 100 bucks for a few days to try out a 5D2 and lens, but renting would at least put you to ease about the idea of spending 2 grand or so on a format your not sure if you will utilize.    If you don't like it that much then 7D it is for 1100 bucks.

[adhocphotographer]

Why not rent a Body/lens combo?  I know it may set you back like 100 bucks for a few days to try out a 5D2 and lens, but renting would at least put you to ease about the idea of spending 2 grand or so on a format your not sure if you will utilize.    If you don't like it that much then 7D it is for 1100 bucks.

+1 100$ for peace of mind that you have made the right choice for yourself on a n thousand purchase does not seem too steep!   Either way, i hope you enjoy your new camera!

[ishdakuteb]

Hello to everyone.

I have been using a canon 50d for some years now. I do quite a bit of macro,portrait and close up work. I have been thing of upgrading to either the 7d 5d mark 2 or 3. I appreciate I will have to upgrade some of my ef-s lenses if I go to a full frame camera, but I am unceratin if full frame is going to be of any advantage to me and does come with a hefty price tag.

regards Karl

the question that i have for you are:

1. Does your jobs require the use of high ISO?
2. You do not use flash when being in a low light situation?

as if you answer "YES" in those both questions, then yes, you need a full frame.  otherwise, you do not need it imo and it would safe you a hardship of trying to get rid of EF-S(s) for EF(s).

note:  it does not mean that full frame requires understanding of light.  imo, it is required to understand light when using every camera (including point and shoot).  however, it is on you whether to learn it or not.  but learning about light will give you a different way from taking pictures...

[papa-razzi]

The 7d is a sports/action camera. It doesn't fit what you are doing, so you would be paying for a lot of features you don't need.

The 7d has great AI servo AF, and can shoot 7 fps.
However, the IQ has its limitations in low light in terms of being grainy and having noise.

If you want to stick with a crop camera, look at the 60d or T4i. These cameras will get you the 18mp sensor, video, etc. and save you a few hundred dollars.

If you want FF, then the 5DII is a great camera, or wait and see if Canon offers an entry level FF and decided between the two.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

For Macro, my 7D loves my 100mmL, I far prefer it to FF.  But for portraits, a FF is going to be much better.
For about the price of a new 7D, I bought a refurb 5D MK II a few weeks ago thru the Canon CLP program ($1407).  It was like new, and had only about 100 exposures when I checked.  Its my 2nd 5D MK II and I find it to be a really good deal for the price.
Get a refurb and save money for good glass. Bodies come and go, but you can keep using good glass for 10+ years, even 20.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[SteenerMe]

I have never seen a professional quality picture taken with a pop up flash. Go full frame, take advantage of high iso capabilities when you dont want to carry a flash. 5D3, then youll have no regrets.

[airfxca]

just get a used t2i or t3i. u will get a slight iso lowlight and resolution improvement plus video mode
if u dont do video. just get better lens or a good used 5d mk1


7D does not give u better image quality than 60D
60D does not give u better image quality than t2i

[CTJohn]

I use the pop up flash on my 7D as a master for a couple external Speedlites and wouldn't want to give up that capability.  I'm not a professional, and would hate to give up that capability.  To me, with my limited budget, it's a negative regarding the current full frame lineup.   

[gary]

A few months ago I was in the same position as you and I picked up a 5d mkiii but have kept my 50d. It has taken some adjustment and learning the difference between crop and full frame but I can honestly say if you do likewise in particular for Portrait will will not regret it. The 5d iii is a absolute upgrade that I plan to enjoy for many years. I photographed a wedding alongside a friend who is a professional two weeks ago, he was shooting a 1ds mkiii and 5d ii with flash in the church and the reception. I didn't use a flash and at 6400 iso it was very very good and 12800 was just very good and as a consequence the wedding book will contain about 30% of my photo's and its all due to the camera, I would like to take credit but I can't. My advice is, 'go for it'

[TAF]

I upgraded from a 50D to 5D3; it has been many years since I've enjoyed photography this much!  I had never been entirely happy with the 50D; the 5D3 simply demonstrated that the problem wasn't me (thank goodness!).

I would most definitely recommend it...along with as much 'L' glass as you can afford.

I would suggest that you start with the kit lens - the 24-105 is a really nice lens.

That being said, if you are not in a hurry, the rumored under $2K FF camera would probably be worth waiting for, as the lower price would permit yet another lens for the same dollar outlay, and the existence of the new camera should drive the 5D3 down further in price.  Either way you win.