What to do?

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
I have the following Canon equipment:

EOS-20D
EFS 10-22
EFS 17-55 2.8 IS
EF 70-200 F4L IS
Speedlite 430EX


These are the options I am considering at the moment.

OPTION 1

SELL: All Canon gear.
BUY: Nikon D700 & 70-300 VR Kit
BUY: Nikon 24-70 2.8 lens
BUY: Nikon 50 1.4 lens

Out-of-pocket cost (on top of sales proceeds): About $2,500.

PROS
I go to Full-Frame.
I go to a Nikon body.

CONS
Bag is much heavier.
Covered from 24mm to 300mm (as compared to 16mm to 320mm with my Canon glass).
I will miss the IS of the 17-55.
I will miss the 70-200 F4L IS period.


OPTION 2

SELL: EOS-20D
BUY: Canon EOS-7D
BUY: Canon EF 35 1.4L

Out-of-pocket cost (on top of sales proceeds): About $2,850.

PROS
I get a nice body upgrade.
I have more megapixels than the competition. Is this good or bad?
I get the EF 35 1.4L.
I get to keep my EFS 17-55 2.8 IS & EF 70-200 F4L IS.

CONS
I am still using a Canon body (that is still only 90% of what Nikon offers).
I am still using an APS-C sensor.
I've spent more than Option 1.
Bag may be heavier than Option 1 with more lenses.


OPTION 3

Continue to wait it out in hopes that Canon introduces a "3D" combining the body of the EOS-7D with the FF sensor of the EOS-5D MkII. Also continue to wait in hopes that Canon finally releases the 24-70 F2.8L IS.

If this happened, I would sell the EOS-20D and my EFS lenses and buy a EOS-3D & 24-70 2.8L IS kit and keep my EF 70-200 F4L IS.

These are still big "what ifs."
 

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
What do I photograph?

Mostly candid portraits and landscapes and also indoor museum exhibits and events. I don't do anything with weddings, sports, or wild life. Low light and high ISO performance is more important to me than frames per second. The "virtual horizon" level indicator is an important feature for me as well and this can be found on both the D700 and 7D bodies.
 

Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
9,372
0
76
I vote for option 3 - save your money and use what you have. Is there a good reason you feel the need to upgrade?
 

funks

Golden Member
Nov 9, 2000
1,402
44
91
In the end IMHO, it all boils down to the lenses.. And Nikon lenses aren't cheap :]

If you really want to get rid of your body, why not get a refurb 5D body (not Mark II) which is around 1700$ (eq. @ Adorama, refurbished by Canon has a 1 year warranty) especially if you don't care about video, dunno how much used ones cost. Do you think you'll end up using the newer features on the 7D? (Primarily the Video, and new AF).

Snag a EF 24-70L F2.8 (nobody really knows when the IS model will come out, do you really need it w/ a fast lens? How about using a monopod, or a tripod?) to complement your EF 70-200 IS F4L. 24L is quite wide with a Full Frame camera and you may find that it takes decent enough pics that you'll be able to delay buying a wide angle prime. Rent it first though because I found it to be quite heavy and an IS model will be even heavier - lol.

I think that way , you'll be ready lens wise for the 5D Mark III (whenever that comes out). You should be able to fetch a good price for that 20D, the excellent EF-S 17-55 IS, and that EF-S 10-22 (enough to buy that FF body).

Before spending the big $$$, why don't you try renting the 5D along with the 24-70L and see if you like it before making a decision.
 
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OulOat

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2002
5,769
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Have you tried out a Nikon yet? You may find things, no matter how small, that can annoy you and stop you from switching. If you have done so already, then I would like to address your con points.

1) Bag will be heavier. No doubt. However, personally, I don't feel this setup is heavy at all. Instead, I feel the D700 to be substantial; smaller setup feel quite cheap and fragile. I am holding the D700 + 24-70 currently, and I think this is just right. I have trekked with my setup + 70-200 VR throughout the world, walking around with the pack in my shoulders the entire day. The only place I don't bring it is to clubs and such outfits. Getting comfortable shoes is more important than the weight of the camera.
2) Lost of zoom. Although you do lose some zoom on the ends, that is offset by the fact you reduce the lens to 2. 2 of the most flexible lens. The 24-70 can be used for almost anything, while the 70-300 can be used as needed. End result is more bang with less hassle.
3) Lost IS on wide end. You will find the extra iso gains in the D700 will more than offset the IS loss. Aquariums are notorious for their bad lighting, but I've had no issues getting clean shots with the 24-70.
4) Miss the 70-200 F4L IS. Nikon doesn't have a direct competitor with said lens, so go for the next best option, the 70-200 VR2. You won't miss the Canon any more =).

I would hold off on the 50 1.4 for now. See how far the 24-70 will take you first.
 
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jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
25,375
142
116
D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm + Nikkor 70-300VR + SB-900

I have the Nikkor 50/1.4G; great lens, but I'd get the two zooms and the Speedlight first.
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
25,375
142
116
I change my setup often. Right now, my bag has a D700, 50/1.4G, Sigma 15-30mm, and the 105VR.

The Sigma 15-30mm is a blast to shoot with. I definitely don't have the bank roll for the exceptional 14-24mm, but the Sigma does well enough stopped down to f/5.6-f/8, and it was less than 1/10th the price.
 
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Cattykit

Senior member
Nov 3, 2009
521
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Any interests on video?
In my case, I never cared about video but after using it a while, I love it!
 

cparker

Senior member
Jun 14, 2000
526
0
71
With those lenses I'd stick with Canon. If you have the money a 7D seems like a great state of the art body and the video possibilities are pretty enticing if not compelling. If you want full frame as well, just pick up a used Elan EOS body (film!) and wail with your non efs lenses. Might cost you 100 bucks or so either outright or just add it to the cost of the 7D body and maybe the 35L lens. Or sell the efs lenses altogether, pick up the 5D original model and maybe the 35L and maybe the 50mm 1.4 efs, and you have a dynamite full frame digital setup when combined with your 70-200L zoom
 

funks

Golden Member
Nov 9, 2000
1,402
44
91
Pick up the 5D original model and maybe the 35L and maybe the 50mm 1.4 efs, and you have a dynamite full frame digital setup when combined with your 70-200L zoom

+1 but do not like the lens choices - the 35L is prohibitively expensive and that particular focal length may be too limiting (he needs to check out the EXIFs in his scenery shots and see what focal range he's using). Additionally, most people with FF cameras prefer the Canon EF 85mm f1.8 USM for portrait type pics instead of the EF 50mm f1.4 Micro-USM (lots of people like the fifty on APS-C camera though because it's gives you a FF FOV equivalency of around 80MM).

The Canon EF 50mm f1.4 has that crappy Micro-USM mechanism instead of the Ring-Type USM on the 85 and the later also has better build quality.

EF 85mm f1.8 USM is an excellent lens, samples here (generally too long when used on APS-C cameras though as it will be equivalent to a 136MM FF).

Sounds like he really wants to switch to Nikon though. I still think he should rent a 5D (Classic), along with a the 24-70L and see how he likes it (it's the perfect companion to his 70-200L). If he's taking pics of the scenery during the daylight, then IS really won't help any. If it's at night - IS won't really help much and you'll still need a tripod.

The D700 definitely looks like a feature packed camera and lots of Canon guys are definitely oogling at it. I hope Canon simplifies their overlapping product lines and get serious about maintaining a refresh/schedule for said lines so that people can make better purchasing decisions (and not get tempted due to lack of info).

My wish for Canon SLR product line simplication.

For the Extreme Pro - 1D Series with FF - how about pricing it at around 5000$

For the Pro - 3D Series with FF - price it around 3200$

For the Semi-Pro - 5D Series with FF - price it around 2200$

For the Serious Amateur - 7D Series with APS-C - price it at around 1400$ (w/ magnesium shell, env sealing, advanced AF)

Digital Rebel High End - T1i type with APS-C - Below 1K (bump up build quality to be slightly better than the D90, add articulating lcd, microadjust).

Digital Rebel Low End - XS type with APS-C - Price it below around 650$.

Canon needs to get rid of the fairly redundant XXD line (eq. 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D) as you already have the 7D for that if you drop the price a bit. Just because Nikon has a D90 doesn't mean Canon needs one too.
 
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twistedlogic

Senior member
Feb 4, 2008
606
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Low light and high ISO performance is more important to me than frames per second.

Only option for the best low light + high ISO performance is a FF.

Have you thought about renting a D700 to see how it fits? Or maybe ask jpeyton for a RAW from a D700 to play with? One of the great virtues of the D700 is how much leeway the RAW files give you in allowing for processing.
 

cparker

Senior member
Jun 14, 2000
526
0
71
It's funny. I started with a Canon dslr, then I picked up a Nikon and loved it, hardly ever using the Canon. Now I'm back using the Canon, hardly ever using the Nikon. It's the old rebel XT, and it's missing all sorts of great features that the Nikon has. But the lenses I have are pretty good, if not great. And I work my way around the menus and the small, poor quality lcd, and it does what I need it to do, and does it well. These days, I just keep a telephoto on the Nikon (D40) and usually a prime 50mm 1.4 or 60mm efs macro on the XT. I suspect I'll switch from one system to the other periodically, so I'll be back to the D40 sometime in the next few months or so. The idea of selling all of one line to buy all of another line doesn't appeal to me at all. And, yes, after I got the XT I wanted to have FF on a modern AF SLR, so I bought used an Elan 7n with the battery grip for a total of 120 dollars for both, and I feel I have a virtual 5D that takes just as good pictures using film for those days when I feel I must have full frame, which are very rare, with the kind of photography that I'm into. And I also have a 430 ex flash which also works with full functionality on the Elan 7n (although not with the earlier Elan models) if that's something you'd consider. Also I agree that you might prefer to pick up an 85mm 1.8 if that focal length appeals to you, rather than the 50 1.4 EF. While I've read about problems with the 50mm 1.4, I've never had any, and it's been great for me, although the 60mm efs macro is way sharper wide open, but then it won't work on a full frame body.
 
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funks

Golden Member
Nov 9, 2000
1,402
44
91
While I've read about problems with the 50mm 1.4, I've never had any, and it's been great for me, although the 60mm efs macro is way sharper wide open, but then it won't work on a full frame body.

The only problem that people run into with the Canon EF 50 1.4 Micro USM is when the focusing mechanism gets busted (you have to be careful with the lens and not let anything bump the front), and try avoiding FTM (full time-manual) on it as it's gear based.

Look at LensRentals.com Repair Data info. The Canon EF 50mm f1.4 has a 22.5% annualized repair rate to the AF motor. Check out this poll from POTN also. I'm keeping my EF 50 f1.8 MK I until Canon updates the 50 f1.4 w/ Ring USM (hoping we'll see it as the MK II version).

I've personally thought about going FF for a while but can't justify it at this time. Can't justify buying L lenses either as the primes I have are plenty sharp (I just rent when I need to). I've simplified my Canon setup and I just have a T1i body, and I only have three prime lenses now (The Canon EF 28mm f1.8 USM, Canon EF 50mm f1.8 Mark I, Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM) . I'll most likely buy a Canon FF body after two years.

Sold my Tamron 28-75 f2.8 yesterday (great lens) because I'll put the money towards a Panasonic GF-1 w/ the Pancake 20mm f1.7 lens, It'll the camera I'll take when going to parties and such. There's a spot for it already in my LowePro SlingShot 200 AW :)
 
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cparker

Senior member
Jun 14, 2000
526
0
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That Panasonic with 20mm 1.7 sounds like a great setup. I really haven't read anything about it until now. I also have the 10-22 efs which is incredible, but I have hardly used it, since I mostly like to take portraits/people shots especially in available light. I also have the 50mm 1.8, it was so cheap I couldn't resist. With 2 50mm lenses I can have one on the xt, the other on the Elan and it's like having a normal lens and a medium telephoto on the other (xt full frame equivalent). Thanks for the info on the 50/1.4. I'll pamper it a bit more than I would have had I not known. These days I am trying to squeeze as much functionality with what we already own. We also use an s3IS, mostly for video, but also for some kinds of indoor shots. The auto white balance is just right indoors in our place, and the colors work perfectly. And an sd800IS for just keeping in a pocket/bag for going around town. I was going to get more lenses and maybe another Canon body, but now I see that I'm under utilizing what I already have. Sometimes less is more. I still have to get to know the 10-22 efs and the 60mm macro more. And then there is the D40 universe, which is also a class act which sometimes leaves me gasping for air! Well not really, but what's not to love? The problem is that there are too many great cameras/lenses out there. When the economy is good (or should I say when "my" economy is good!) I go for a new lens or two a year, maybe even a camera, but lately I'm sticking with the old guys, which are turning out to be just as good as anything that's out there for my purposes, once I get to utilize the features that are available.

And happy new year to everyone!!!!!