Dead SLR, where to go from here

[PatrickONeill]

I've had my 20D die on me last week and I'm at a place where my SLR setup needs a good revamping and I'm just wondering where to go from here.

you see, not only did the camera die (err99 depths of hell) but my two most used lenses are pretty much scrap too. (20-35 and a 28-70)

I'm currently in School as a photo student, so I need lots of flexibility and large output quality.

So, I'm looking at not just a new SLR body, but a matching lens or two for it.

I would prefer a 5D classic with a 24-70 for now, and then the 35L for later.

However, the field of digital cameras have gotten really interesting these past few years and it has me contemplating ditching the Canon SLR completely.

Any ideas? heck, I've tossed around the idea of switching to nikon as well. 😛

 

[gavinlg]

I'd go a 5d. I've been to nikon and back - the 5d is a trusty no-nonsense workhorse that can be had super cheap, and still provides at the top of the IQ heap.

Lenses - the 35L is one of the best 35mm SLR lenses on the planet. The 50L is one of the best (if not the best) SLR 50mm lenses on the planet. The 85L is the best 85mm on the planet. The 24L is superb too. If you want to get a little interesting, the Zeiss ZE lenses are superb as well.

Of course, I'm a big fan of the 50L. Often p00-p00ed due to potential focus shift, but that depends entirely on what/how you shoot.

Totally agree, never been completely satisfied with a 50mm since I was forced to sell mine. The focus shift thing is a non-issue, if it does even exist at all...





inb4 'canon fanboy'

 

[gavinlg]

Drool..

 

[andredossantos]

Ive sold my Canon kit but add me to the chorus praising the 50L. It's an amazing lens.

 

[matthewm]

I gotta back these guys up. I've been using a 5D Classic since it was released. Just sent it in for the mirror fix at just shy of 200,000 clicks. It's a hell of a camera and cheap to fix. I just sent my wife's camera in for a repair and it was around $210 with return shipping to replace the main board as well as the "brains" of the AF (I forget the 3-letter acronyms for the terms).

I have a 24-70L and a 35L and they're both phenomenal lenses, the 35L slightly more so (which is to be expected as it's a prime lens). I also have the 50/1.4 and 85/1.8 and they're both rock stars.

I don't think you can go wrong with the 5D classic body and you can always upgrade it later. Pick up some worthy glass to go with it and you've got yourself a nice rig for a couple of years.

For what it's worth, I just bought a 5DII (two of them, actually) and I really love that camera, but I don't know that it was worth more than twice the price of a good used 5D...

 

[IK13]

I can sell you my 20D with 28-75/f2.8 Tamron...

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Another vote for the 5D classic. Shoot in raw and it's hard to take a photo you can't fix in ACR, pulling highlights and shadows back in and the image still looks great. While it doesn't have the high ISO my 1DMkIV does, it handles high dynamic range much better. Love that camera.

 

[richardvanle]

Another vote for the 5D (Mark I). I love that camera.

Right now I'm using it with a Voigtlander 40 f/2 pancake. It's a fantastic, small combo.

 

[f16sunshine]

Go the 5D classic. You will be pleasantly surprised how much more confident your compositions will become with the big viewfinder. The 20D was great but, like looking through a drink straw (is the 50/60D much better/bigger). I now have 5Dii's and miss the old 5D classic on occasion. The Raw files have a more filmish look at high iso when you pp them just so. The LCD screen although larger than your 20D is quite low contrast on the old 5D. Don't expect a remarkable improvement there. But it's just for histogram right?

 

[planetjoe]

As an amateur, I was allowed to be stubborn about upgrading from my 10D (!), which I loved unreservedly for a long time. However, Err99 eventually found me as well, and I've found nothing will resolve it.

I went to a 5D classic body (from KEH; EX was about $1k) and haven't looked back. I've no problems with this camera - the VF is a joy to experience. No L-glass yet, but the 28-135 IS has been fairly good all-around. A bit soft, though.

Good luck and enjoy.


Cheers,
--joe.

 

[PatrickONeill]

I keep going back to the 5D as a choice again and again. and yes, those L lenses are really quite nice.

I did think about getting a 40D with the 17-55 2.8. and if I did shoot mostly zooms. I would have no hesitation using that setup. I dont know how many times I've wanted to add that lens to my lineup.

however, I love primes, and the market just isnt there for an EF-S wide angle prime lens. They figure if you are a person who shoots primes, there is a good chance you will desire the quality of a FF camera anyway, (silly, but true)

 

[gavinlg]

I keep going back to the 5D as a choice again and again. and yes, those L lenses are really quite nice.

I did think about getting a 40D with the 17-55 2.8. and if I did shoot mostly zooms. I would have no hesitation using that setup. I dont know how many times I've wanted to add that lens to my lineup.

however, I love primes, and the market just isnt there for an EF-S wide angle prime lens. They figure if you are a person who shoots primes, there is a good chance you will desire the quality of a FF camera anyway, (silly, but true)

Trust me, once you go full frame with digital SLRs, you'll never go back. Crop sensors are so horrid after you get used to the real deal.

Also, the cheaper non L primes are very good too - especially the 28mm f1.8, 35mm f2 and 85mm f1.8.

 

[hxpham]

The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 is also an amazing prime lens

 

[cosmonaut]

I would check DXO marks. I think Sony is doing some very interesting things. FF glass will cost you. Do your really heed that much IQ?

 

[-doomed-]

I'll Echo the 5D recommendation here. I had the 5D and I'll buy another in the future -- I jumped on a 1D Mk2 to go with my "ah what the hell 1D Classic bid" from ebay. I figured three cameras was just a bit excessive. I love the 1 series stuff even with the 1.3 crop, but you don't need to be shooting a cinderblock with a lens on it, it's an impressive piece of gear, though.

 

[gavinlg]

I would check DXO marks. I think Sony is doing some very interesting things. FF glass will cost you. Do your really heed that much IQ?

The same DXO mark that measured the zeiss 21mm f2.8 distagon as the lowest resolving lens they've tested for canon eos? 🙄

And also the canon non L primes are super cheap - 35mm f2 is around $350. 28mm f1.8 is around $500 same with 85mm f1.8, so really 'full frame glass' isn't more expensive...

 

[-doomed-]

The 85/1.8 is a solid value too. I haven't gotten a chance to shoot with the 35/2.

 

[gavinlg]

The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 is also an amazing prime lens

Seconded!

10charrrr

 

[-doomed-]

Just grabbed the Sigmalux myself, I'm impressed with it.

 

[Keith]

I picked up my first Canon for a looksee a week ago ... I talked a friend into getting a 7D and 24-105 zoom as he was keen to have something capable of shooting high quality video.

Soooo different to my D700 but I think I could learn to live with the way the menu system works ... the D700 is very complex in this area IMO. Definitely not the build quality of the Nikon though but that's probably more perception than reality.

He absolutely loves it and asked me how to set it up. After having a look I just told him to set it on P and let the camera do the work. He's no photographer and bought the camera for documenting his own art which is sculpture based and this thing is perfect for what he needs I have to say.