30D upgrade?

BQ22 · Dec 11, 2016

I have a canon 30D and I'm learning what I can about photography and editing on my own. The 30D was given to us in 10 years ago and we never really got that in to it. Recently I decided to learn a new hobby so I picked up a few primes and here I am. My question is this.... I realize that technology changes faster than components can wear out. The 30D is about 10 years old at this point. I know that it can take pictures and still take good ones. At what point would it be advantageous to upgrade? I've been eyeballing the 70d and 80d and like the fact that they can capture video. Other than that, what real advantage would I get by upgrading? I don't plan on blowing pictures up to poster size, and I know the megapixel difference between the two. I don't really feel limited by the camera at this point. I'm enjoying shooting in Manuel mode and learning the balancing of the settings. Would you make the upgrade and if so, why?

photo1x1.com · Dec 11, 2016

A camera is a camera is a camera

. So as long as you are still learning, I would not upgrade unless you know what you are missing. Newer bodies have better low light capabilities, usually a better dynamic range and faster auto focus.
But getting "better" images can only be achieved with more capable lenses - from a technical point of view IMO. Faster primes (you said you have a few) being the best choice.
I just recently went through all my files of 2007 to see whether I can improve them a bit using my better editing knowledge. The different between sensors back then and now isn´t that huge.

SuzukiGS750EZ · Dec 11, 2016

I will tell you my experience over the past 10 years. 10 years ago i had enough money to buy a Canon Digital Rebel XTi. It wasn't the top of the line but it was a great starter camera. I used that thing all the time. Tried all different scenerios, learned a ton about lighting, composition, etc. I was "taking" photos not "making" photos. I realized after a few years that my experience had far out grown my camera. I put it down for years occasionally picking it up to shoot for somebody or just to photograph something i wanted. 10 years later i just bought a canon 80d and upgraded my lenses, passing down my old kit to my younger brother. I think you will know when you need to upgrade, but for now learn the fundamentals. ISO, shutter, aperture, lighting, composition, changing settings for your environment, processing raw images. When you find that one day your camera isn't allowing you to express your images how you want or your style of photography doesn't fit your camera body, upgrade. For now i would put your money into lenses, you'll be much happier with the results even on that 10 year old body than you will with crummy lenses on a new body.

BQ22 · Dec 12, 2016

Great advice! Saves me about $900!!

goodguy · Dec 12, 2016

I will tell you exact opposite and I say get a new camera.
The 30D can take good picture but only in good lighting conditions.
Once light isn't strong ISO goes up and the 30D will show its true colors or may I say true noise.
Auto focus also is very basic and the one in the modern cameras will be far, far better.
The sensor on the 80D isn't just much better in low light, more resolution but its dynamic range is so much better.
As for blowing pictures, well high mega pixel isn't just for blowing pictures but also for cropping, I crop my pictures A LOT and the extra resolution modern technology is a huge help for that.

So I personally would absolutely upgrade to the 80D
I wouldn't bother with the 70D its sensor isn't all that and the 80D is really a great modern camera.

BQ22 · Dec 12, 2016

Hmm.... something to think about for sure.

SuzukiGS750EZ · Dec 12, 2016

My thinking is that if you're just starting out, learn on that camera. The thing about camera bodies is they depreciate on the first shot. By next year my 80D will be old news. Now lenses on the other hand stay relevant for a LONG time and they are mostly what provides the image quality. A lower aperture lens will allow you to blur the background more and allow in more light negating lower ISO and maybe a higher shutter speed. Learn the basics on that body and then figure out what features you may want. You're also in a good stance to go canon, nikon, sony, etc. Before you buy anything, think about this. If you were to keep the camera body you have now and buy some high quality glass with the money you saved, when you learned what you liked or needed in a camera or outgrew that one, you'll have the glass to bring to your next body. If you buy a good body and keep the glass you have, you've still got to get the good glass later on down the line. Also, if you decide to resell, glass sells for closer to what you bought it for than a body will, unless you sell the body fast enough after buying it. I used my rebel xti for 10 years and never had issues with the image quality because i had decent glass. Yes, the low light was poor but i learned how to get around that and i think that's whats made me a better photographer than where i started as well as being able to make changes on the fly. Now that i have an 80D i almost feel like i can slack a little, but then i bring myself back to reality. It's like going from a smart car to a truck. You could still fit lumber in the smart car you just had to do it systematically. Now with your truck you can just throw it in and not care. But if you were to still care you'd stack it neatly and fit more in. See what i'm saying? Maybe that was a bad analogy but i know what i was getting at! What i was trying to say is, with my xti, i had to be caution with the ISO and think about the shot, shutter, aperture, lens, etc. but with the 80d I use auto ISO so that's one variable i can forget when i'm shooting most things because i know it'll go to the limit i set. With my XTi i had to set it everytime and be more cautious. I don't know much about the 30D but i still say invest in glass and "struggle" through learning the basics before you upgrade.