Possible upgrade to FF

[Scrumbles]

Hi all,

I'm a looooong time lurker to this site. I got a Canon Rebel XSi about four years ago thanks to the recommendations and reviews for an affordable starter DSLR, and I have learned so much on it! (I decided to only use it on "manual" and either sink or swim. )

I have been thinking about upgrading to a Full Frame because I would like to be able to do candid shots in low light (think: shots in a neon-lit bar, or street photography after sunset), and being able to do this without flash or a tripod (or a lot of noise) appeals to the ninja in me.

Currently, I only have the kit lens for the rebel, and the 70-300mm EF. If I upgrade, I would need new lenses, so I'd love a recommendation of how to get the most bang for my buck. (Perhaps a portrait lens for in crowds and a smaller telephoto for the street?)

I do like the Canon, but I haven't had any funny Canon koolaid, so I wouldn't mind switching brands if it means lovely low-light capabilities. Size might be a factor, my hands aren't tiny, but I don't have man-hands either, so ease-of-use will be a consideration.

My price range is around $4000, perhaps a bit more.

Thoughts? Links? Reviews? Warnings? I'm looking for all the info I can get to narrow down the search.

Thank you!

 

[Overread18 6]

Well the best bang in fullframe from canon in that price range would be the 5DMIII but at $3,399.00 that would eat most of your budget. I'd say you could go for a Canon 6D at $1,899.00 which would give you a very capable fullframe camera body. From there lens wise its a bit more open field.

A short zoom could be a 70-200mm of which there are several in various price ranges from the top of the range f2.8 IS L MII down to the f4 L. The f4 versions are smaller, have a smaller maximum aperture, but on the flipside they have very good optics (till the MII came out the f4 were a touch sharper than the f2.8 versions). The f2.8 without IS is also still on the market - whilst the older IS version is second hand only now. All are top rate lenses so its a case of what fits your budget and needs.

For closer up work you could consider;
50mm prime - a Canon f1.4 or a Sigma f1.4 (newer design and beats the canon in most tests).
There's also 80mm and 35mm as well as a variety of shorter primes - the primes of course offering wider maximum apertures for hteir fixed focal lengths (don't forget compared to your current lens the focal lengths on a fullframe will "feel" shorter than they appear on the crop sensor - so 50mm is pretty wide).

You could also consider the f24-105mm f4 IS or the 24-70mm f2.8 (the original is second hand only now whilst the MII is very expensive).

Sigma and other 3rd parties also make a range of options worth considering.

 

[Scrumbles]

Ooo. I was looking at a review of the 5DMIII and the iso has to be cranked up around 51,000 to get the noise my current camera gets at 1600. This pleases me.

It might be worth it to pick up a good 50mm prime with the camera, and then save up for a shorter zoom when I can swing it. Thanks for your input. I'll look into all of these.

 

[Overread18 6]

Canon line wise I think you have to go the 1D line to basically get one up on the 5MDIII - its got a fantastic sensor and they also put the 7D AF into the camera so its got some very powerful auto focus as well. If you can afford it and want to go that way then certainly its a camera that will last you years of good use and whilst new models will come out it will be a very strong performer for years to come.

If you're ok with less lenses then its a good choice - otherwise the 6D is a very fine tool, not quite as high level as the 5DMIII but a very good performer sensor and noise wise as well as in other areas.

 

[TCampbell]

Canon line wise I think you have to go the 1D line to basically get one up on the 5MDIII - its got a fantastic sensor and they also put the 7D AF into the camera so its got some very powerful auto focus as well.

The 5D III has the 1D X focus system... not the same as the 7D. The 7D has a 19 point AF system (all points are "cross type"). The 1D X and 5D III have a 61 point AF array... 41 of them are "cross type" or "X type".

See: Canon DLC: Article: EOS-1D X and EOS 5D Mark III AF points & area selection

You will pick up quite a low light (ability to go to higher ISO while still keeping noise low) on a full frame camera (almost any current full frame camera will offer this advantage... not just the 5D III).

The 5D III will be noticeably heavier than your current body. It's magnesium alloy (very solid metal alloy build). The 6D will be lighter, but the 6D has an 11 point AF system (looks just like the 9 point system on your current camera but squeeze in one more AF point just left and right of the center point -- within the 8 points arranged like a diamond pattern. On the 6D, only the center point is "cross type".

The 6D is a touch more sensitive for FOCUSING in low light (but sensor performance once focused is nearly identical.) The 6D can focus all the way down to EV -3. The 5D III is rated down to -2 EV (not quite as dark but still very respectable.)

All of this assumes you have a decent lens for shooting low light. You could use the 50mm f/1.4 prime that Alex mentioned above (a 50mm lens is a "normal" angle of view lens (neither wide nor telephoto) on a full-frame body). The "kit" lens which ordinarily would be included (assuming order it as a body+lens kit) is the EF 24-105mm f/4L USM -- a very nice lens, but the 50mm f/1.4 will focus in lower light (it's 3 stops faster as compared to f/4).

The 5D III focus system is fairly sophisticated (arguably the 1D X may be the most advanced focus system on the market today). It's HIGHLY configurable and has lots of options. You pick the mode and AF point selection system based on the shooting needs... and it's intelligent tracking & recognitions system (iTR) can be "tuned". But it does require some learning.

I have discovered through some personal experience that not all Canon 5D III owners actually understand how to use the system. If you're seriously considering a 5D III, be prepared to spend a bit of time watching videos and reading to learn about the system. It will be quite a departure from the system you're familiar with using on your XSi. A 6D will be more familiar as it's nearly the same as the XSi.

 

[Scrumbles]

I have discovered through some personal experience that not all Canon 5D III owners actually understand how to use the system. If you're seriously considering a 5D III, be prepared to spend a bit of time watching videos and reading to learn about the system. It will be quite a departure from the system you're familiar with using on your XSi. A 6D will be more familiar as it's nearly the same as the XSi.

Learning I like.

 

[Scrumbles]

Ok. Now what on earth am I supposed to do until my new camera gets delivered in 2 days? I feel like jumping out of my chair! lol

 

[Overread18 6]

Download the manual off the Canon website and read it every hour for the next 48 hours

 

[Scrumbles]

Aha! Brilliant! I will do just that. Thanks.

 

[JustJazzie]

Aha! Brilliant! I will do just that. Thanks.

What did you choose?!

 

[Scrumbles]

Aha! Brilliant! I will do just that. Thanks.

What did you choose?!

The Mark 5d III and a sigma 50mm f/1.4 to go with it.

 

[Ido]

Bang for buck? Sony. The Alpha 7 has an excellent 35mm full frame sensor, is very small and light, yet costs only $1500 if I remember correctly. The lens selection is underrated in my opinion - only 5 lenses are currently available, but those offer good value (most of them, at least), and more will certainly come soon.
However, I don't see a move like that being very beneficial. Get the Canon EOS 6D with kit lens (EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM), or any lens you'd like to use instead of bulking up most of your money on a 5D Mark III. It's advantages are mostly the autofocus beyond center-point (the 6D is arguably the best at center-point) and the more rugged body.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[chuasam]

If you don't mind switching, also consider the Nikon Df + Sigma 50/1.4 ART lens.
it'll be within your budget but quite the beasty fun.

 

[chuasam]

Aha! Brilliant! I will do just that. Thanks.

What did you choose?!

The Mark 5d III and a sigma 50mm f/1.4 to go with it.

which Sigma 1.4?