Travel Photography - Next camera after Canon EOS 5D (1st Gen)

I bought my 5D when it first came out and it was the 3rd EOS body that I acquired. The previous ones were the first Digital Rebel and then 30D. I jumped on the full frame band wagon but really never got the best out of it. No doubt 5D is an amazing body but due to many factors I never justified it to fullest. I also have some good glass with it like the 24-105 f4/L and the 70-200 f/2.8L and Speedlites 580EX and 430EX.

Lately my wife has scrubbed off the dust and started taking pictures and posting them on her facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Photography-by-Ayesha/182115105211776) and so I am glad she is using something that I never have time for.

Having said all this, I am thinking its time to replace the body. Looking at whats out there, I am thinking of going the 60D or 7D route. The features I want is wireless control of Speedlites and Video recordings. Also tired of CF Cards and like the SD cards in these newer bodies. Going back to crop frame is not an issue. Is my timing good for replacing the body over the summer or should I wait for fall rebates? Is the 7D update in the making? Any other advice you guys can provide?

I love my 7D and make use of many features (including the wireless flash control). It does use CF cards, however. For me, that's not an issue - I shoot on the CF cards and copy to SD cards every night. An extra step, yes, but it does allow me to keep a copy on the laptop as well as a card.

Still nothing official on a 7D replacement. You may look into getting a refurb, which will likely be less expensive than the new body w/rebate. The refurb glass I've gotten from Canon has been indistinguishable from new. YMMV

Going back to crop frame is not an issue.

:confused: :eek:

If you can afford it, go 7D. It won't feel as much like a step backwards as with the 60D.


Also, what's wrong with CF? :confused:

:confused: :eek:

If you can afford it, go 7D. It won't feel as much like a step backwards as with the 60D.


Also, what's wrong with CF? :confused:

Thanks for the suggestion. I dont see 60D as a stepback. I am doing a trade off from full frame to wireless flash, HD video, 18MP and some other features. I personally havent found full frame to be all that advantageous other than the fact that the wide angles of my 24-105L are amazing which I will loose.

The advantage of SD over CF is huge. Every laptop/PC has SD card slots these days so I dont have to connect the camera directly to the PC.

So 7D is a deal breaker for me just for CFs and its an older camera than 60D.

The 7D is also 18MP. When I mentioned a step back, I was referring to the controls.

7D:

http://blog.david-kennedy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/lcd-740x540.jpg



60D:

http://www.photoxels.com/images/Canon/60d/canon-60d-ba-800.jpg




But, since you said you're dead set against CF, the 60D becomes the logical choice. :cool:

Lately my wife has scrubbed off the dust and started taking pictures and posting them on her facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Photography-by-Ayesha/182115105211776) and so I am glad she is using something that I never have time for.



Sounds like you have shrugged off your passion for photography and your wife has picked it up. Because no one will ever downgrade from full frame.

However, your wife's photography is quite decent for a new startup.

Aye.

I don't get the eagerness to downgrade to a crop sensor.

OP, if your 5D is priced right, I might be interested in it as a backup.

If money was not a major factor, upgrading to a 5D MkIII would be the best option.

Is cost a factor? if not, the full frame offers you options the crop sensor doesn't.
the level of noise is significantly lower, if you shoot in low light situations.

I'd play with a CF and see that you like it before you move.. you might be surprised what you're missing.

5D MkIII if you can spend the $$

we have a 7D. just bent the pins in the camera that connect the CF. a search on google indicates this is very common problem. we shoot off a tripod with a 600 mm lens. is there some way to connect this camera to a memory device so we do not have to pull the CF card? even to connect it to a small notebook.

we have a 7D. just bent the pins in the camera that connect the CF. a search on google indicates this is very common problem. we shoot off a tripod with a 600 mm lens. is there some way to connect this camera to a memory device so we do not have to pull the CF card? even to connect it to a small notebook.

Must have inserted and removed CF cards on my XTi/400D, 40D, 5D and 7D hundreds (if not thousands) of times since 2006. Never bend a pin on the camera. Only the pins on cheap and poorly-designed card readers.

But yes, you can shoot without having a card if tethered to a computer. You can control all settings of the camera via the EOS Utility software.

Must have inserted and removed CF cards on my XTi/400D, 40D and 7D hundreds (if not thousands) of times since 2006. Never bend a pin on the camera. Only the pins on cheap and poorly-designed card readers.

But yes, you can shoot without having a card if tethered to a computer. You can control all settings of the camera via the EOS Utility software.

Likewise - no bent pins on my Canons yet (dating back to 2004).

Besides shooting from the camera, if you can get the pins gently bent back so you are able to put in a CF card, then put in a big card (8 GB or 16 GB) and use a USB cable to dump the photos to an external device periodically. There's also a wifi attachment for the camera, not sure whether it supports all functions or not.

we have a 7D. just bent the pins in the camera that connect the CF. a search on google indicates this is very common problem. we shoot off a tripod with a 600 mm lens. is there some way to connect this camera to a memory device so we do not have to pull the CF card? even to connect it to a small notebook.

Same here, on 5d mkII and a very expensive 64gb 90mb/s card, i put it and bend a pin. But with a screwdriver i put them in normal position and worked again. It was only 1 pin twisted.

No bent pins here either, over a decade now on dSLR's...mostly canon, older Kodak and others.

That said. I went the 7d route from 20ds and 50ds and while it is a great camera for a certain purpose, mostly live action sports and such, I never could get the images to where I wanted them to be. There is some anti-aliasing going on even on RAW images that takes work to get really sharp and contrasty. The dynamic range is compromised IMHO.

I went ahead and took the BIG leap to the 5d Mark III and cannot believe how great this camera is, for everything INCLUDING sports. Having 6fps, even though the 7d offers max 7.5/8, I don't think I am going to miss the ~2fps. With the older body at about 3.5/4, it was just a TAD slow for my sports needs. I'm most likely going to sell the 7d, since I think I can simply use the 5d Mark III even for the sports I shoot.

But the images, the colors, the Autofocus system, everything is just truly excellent. I'm glad I waited for THIS version of the 5d.

Yes, it is 3500$ for the body. But, I plan to keep this camera at least 4-5 years and have already gotten images I want to hang in the living room!