What is the most important criteria for buying a new body?

[dustysensor]

I'm not sure that making a buying decision on a new body should, at this stage of DSLR development, be based on individual criteria. You have to look at the whole package. Low light shooting is getting very good (compared to 5yrs ago) no matter what you choose. If you are a wedding photographer, its a no brainer. You have to go with full frame. Best, and most used by pro wedding guys, is the 5D or 5D mk II.

If you are an amateur, like me, there are many good choices. If you shoot a lot of sports and "need" 6+ FPS. The choices are limited to 7D, 40D, 50D, or 1Ds. I would stay away from the xxD series. Shutter, and shutter button problems!

As far as a complete package, I dont think you can beat the 7D. 100% viewfinder, 8FPS, great autofocus performance, respectable low light performance, very good build, pro level shutter, whether sealing, HD video, very good picture quality, reasonable price for the level of camera features. I have the 7D - I love it.

The rebel series is also a good way to go if you are looking for a somewhat "disposable" camera after a few years use, with the view to buying a "keeper" sometime in the future.

 

[Waleed Essam]

Hmmm...

I want to select all, but since this is not possible I'll go for low light sensitivity.
Since I already have cameras I'm happy with in regards to the rest.

 

[that1guy]

I know voting is closed but I figured I'd give my 2 cents just for fun (that's why we're all here anyway right? )

I really want my next camera to be full frame...that is at the top. I figure that as long as they don't over crowd the sensor, decent high iso performance will be a given. Also, I figure image quality is also a given on most modern FF cameras from Canon. I could be wrong though.

After FF, I really need a decent AF. I photograph kids a LOT, and I need to keep up. I probably don't need anything as fast as the 1D, but something around the 50D or 7D would be nice (I currently shoot a 20D). I would have pulled the trigger on a 5DII a while back if it wasn't for the AF. If Canon would have even put in the same AF that they had on the 50D, I would have purchased it (like I said, I don't need top of the line, just decent). Unfortunately I've heard too many bad stories about the 5DII for me to be convinced to spend my $...and so I wait.

I will take all other features into consideration, but these are the ones I'm trying to hold out for.

 

[fragilesi]

Has to be image quality . . . but that's in no way to be equated to sensor quality, it's many other things too.

 

[Bob Howland]

How about that the old camera no longer works properly? I bought my 7D about 2 years ago because the shutter release on my 40D was getting unreliable. However, my 5D3 replaced a 5D because the new camera had vastly better focusing and I could use it at ISO 12800 for 8X10 size images. I guess my vote would be "none of the above" or "all of the above". Take your pick.

 

[rpt]

Cash

 

[weixing]

Cash

Hi,
+1 Yap... this is the most importance criteria of all.

This is the reason why more people buy FF instead of medium format, this is the reason why more people buy 5D3 instead of 1Dx and this is the reason I want to buy the 7D2 instead of the 5D3.

Have a nice day.