cameras vs lens

[HFPhotography]

Do you think a better lens would help a photographer improve their quality of photos more or a better camera body.

I have an ok SLR canon and I was looking at upgrading. But this weekend I rented a nice canon lens and I feel it really help my shots look more crisp along with better colors so I was wondering if I should just focus on getting good lens and wait on the body?

 

[Big Mike]

It's not a simple 'one or the other' issue. There are situations where a 'better' camera body will excel and situations where it won't.

For the most part, I would say that yes, a better lens is the best investment, but it really depends on what you have, what you get, what you shoot & how you shoot etc.

 

[Derrel]

The Online Photographer had a nice,short article a month or so ago, debunking the constantly repeated internet mantra that the lens is more important than the camera. Actually, both are important. The article's overriding point was that the lens is not more-important than the camera. How could the lens be more important, when, without the camera, there is no image made? Without a good, aligned lens mount and a good, aligned film back or sensor, the image will be wonky. Without a shutter, there will be no exposure. OP< you do not mention what kind of camera body you have; the professional-level camera bodies can actually "leverage" modest glass, in terms of autofocusing it well, and allowing you to shoot when you want to. The lowest-level d-slr bodies are, I think, a bit limiting for some things. The mid-level bodies are pretty responsive. If you have a lower-level camera, a spiffier, more-capable body might be a big step up. The "kind" of photography one is doing plays a part as well. Some types of photography almost demand a pro-level body, while many other types of photography are not that demanding.

 

[oldmacman]

Do you think a better lens would help a photographer improve their quality of photos more or a better camera body.

I have an ok SLR canon and I was looking at upgrading. But this weekend I rented a nice canon lens and I feel it really help my shots look more crisp along with better colors so I was wondering if I should just focus on getting good lens and wait on the body?

It's a bit of a balance for me. Lenses definitely take priority to body upgrades, but I certainly notice a quality difference between the 50D I recently sold and my 5D MkII. You'd have to consider whether that IQ is worth the extra $1000ish. I can still take nice pics with my son's 10D using some pretty nice lenses. There were other considerations in there as well. I held on to the 50D even when I had the 5D because of the frame rate and FOV with longer lenses. I shoot a lot of high school sports, but I have adapted with the slower frame rate of the 5D.

 

[orb9220]

"It's a bit of a balance for me. Lenses definitely take priority to body upgrades"

Yep route I chose was to improve my glass. Case in point was frustrated by my D40 after the first 3 months. But was still improving and adding glass at the time. Replaced my 18-55 kit lens with a tamron 17-50 f2.8 and usability and Image IQ took a giant step up. And increased the usability of my D40. Once I had my glass,flash & tripod then looked at improved body. As constantly frustrated with lack of controls & features I needed.

As pointed out yep both are important and a neck to neck leap frog affair. Only I would rather have the right glass first. Just comes down to when as both will be important to increase the range & skills of the photographer.

If I had good glass then no question get a more usable body with extended features and capabilities. It really comes down to needs. As some would need FPS more AF points, higher iso for the kind of shooting required like sports,wildlife,etc.. But also the body will help with those scenarios they will not be fully utilized until you get the fast glass to optimize the ability to get the shot.

I guess it comes down to what the photographer can deal with in the immediate term. Carrying around the chicken or carrying around the egg.
.

 

[Derrel]

One thing I will point out is that orb9220 has an excellent, very sharp photographic "eye".
He could easily make full use of any good camera body. I don't know orb from Adam, but the guy can SHOOT!

 

[HFPhotography]

Thanks for the responses! I shoot with a canon XTI. I shoot portraits: mostly shoot babies, toddlers, families and seniors.

I will upgrade to the Canon 5D I can either save my money for that or get a lens and a flash and wait for 5 months to get the body.

 

[orb9220]

One thing I will point out is that orb9220 has an excellent, very sharp photographic "eye".
He could easily make full use of any good camera body. I don't know orb from Adam, but the guy can SHOOT!

Aww! Shucks you made me blush...Thanks for the kind words.
But have a long way to go and no hurry. And will never be satisfied.

But Yea I found lenses to help stretch the creative and usability of the camera body you may have. It comes down to learning the limitations of any lens and camera and that means becoming intimate and familiar with it's capabilities. Many may go beyond the lenses & body combination and get less than happy results. Usually this is a person not well grounded with the fundamentals of photography. Or not familiar with their gear.

I am stuck with a 55-200vr at the moment. But still is very capable lens and with my superior higher iso on the D90. I can stretch that usability and compensate a bit for a slower variable f-stop lens. Where it wouldn't do as well on a D80 or D40 camera.


&quot;Spinning &amp; Falling&quot; - Fall Leaf Dance by orb9220, on Flickr

So really comes down to. That you will upgrade both cam & lenses at some point if you are serious about the results and wanting to get usability up there where you can get the shot. And sometimes it isn't even about Image IQ or noise and sensor performance as the main reason. Sometimes it is about the extra dedicated controls & features that makes getting the shot worth an upgrade first before the glass.

You just have to decide which is first for you.
.

 

[djacobox372]

Both are important, however I'd take a great lens on a mediocre body over the reverse.

 

[Light Artisan]

Whichever is limiting me, that's the most important to upgrade/change. I tend to go through bodies, but my lenses stay the same these days with an addition here and there.

 

[Derrel]

Both are important, however I'd take a great lens on a mediocre body over the reverse.

Yes, a great lens on a mediocre body is a good choice. But what about the opposite? How about a mediocre lens on a GREAT body??? That I think becomes a very different situation.

For a family photographer, doing people work, something like a 12 MP full-frame, ie a Canon 5D classic, or a Nikon D700, shoots VERY GOOD to excellent images with old lenses made in the 1960's, 19790's, 1980's, etc...

There really have not been that many mediocre lenses made in the last 10 years. For somebody using an XTi, that camera's tiny, poor viewfinder would be a hindrance. I just gave my XTi away to my niece and her new husband; they have good, young eyes...I myself am nearing 50, and cannot handle the tiny, squintly, pentamirror type viewfinder of the XTi.

Put it this way: if I were doping people work for pay, I think I'd rather have an average 35mm f/2, and average Canon 50mm 1.4, and the (admittedly very fine!) Canon 85mm f/1.8 on a 5D Classic, that I would have the 70-200 2.8-L IS USM on an XTi.

 

[Blake.Oney]

With your camera I would say that you should get a lens/flash combo and then get the camera in the next few months whenever you can. I shoot portraits also, and your camera will do it just fine until you can get a new one, but lenses need to be sharp for portraits and flash can be used off camera to make them even better.

I'm upgrading my camera soon also, but I am also getting a flash setup first.

 

[phiya]

For me, currently my D80 is doing 90% of what I want it to do. The major limitation I run into is FPS in action situations, but it doesn't happen that often.

So for the next year or so my concentration is going to be on getting better glass. I'd like, the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.8, and 70-200mm f/2.8 VR (I or II). As well as the Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8, and possibly 17-50mm f/2.8.

That's $3,000 worth of glass I have my eyes set on. Unfortunately, if I took that money out of savings and spent it on lenses my wife would not be happy.

I also plan on picking up at least 1 more flash (sb-800 or sb-900) prior to upgrading my body. And this isn't even addressing other lights, and filters that I'd like to pick up. I'd like a nice ND set, as well as some CPL filters. Though I imagine I'll be upgrading my body sometime before picking up all of that.

In short, right now I feel like my glass (and in some cases other equipment) is much more limiting than my body currently. When I reverse that, I'll be looking at new bodies, maybe a full frame, but I'm not sure I'll be able to justify one when I'm ready to upgrade.

 

[davisphotos]

The problem with a mediocre lens on a great body is that the lenses imperfections will be even more obvious. What lens did you try out? Keep in mind that if you do update to a nice EF-S lens, and decide later to get a full frame body, the lens won't work. I think with the 17-40 f2.8 you can't go wrong-great lens on the xTi, and if you go FF, great wide angle zoom.

 

[DerekSalem]

While you mentioned what *body* you're using...you didn't really mention what kind of glass you have access to. Either way, with an XTi it'll be hard to find glass that will really bring it up to a higher level. If you have the right eye, a *perfect* mind of how the camera functions, and good glass...you can definitely get amazing shots (Orb is an example of that), but it'll be tough.

On the other hand, a 1D Mark IV with a 50mm f/1.8 (one of the cheapest lenses I can think of right now) can take mind-blowingly sharp pictures in virtually any light without an external flash.

For someone that does mostly portraiture photography...I'd say sell the body+kit lens (assuming that's what you have) and pick up a 5D classic (or 5D2 if you can afford it) and a 50mm f/1.8. Make sure it's the Mark II (might be called "50mm f/1.8 II") and even buy it used if you have to to save a few more bucks...but you'll be amazed by the shots you'll now be able to get. Somewhere down the line pick up a good flash (I'd recommend a 430EX II or 580EX if you want a good quality flash that's capable *outside* of the studio, as well) and you'll be set!