So, so, so confused. Camera or lens?

[Tight Knot]

Hi all,

I have been shooting with a Canon T1i for just over 2 years, which I have come to love. It's simple, does a nice job, a great beginners camera.
I have slowly been going the professional route, with a few paid functions, and a book deal ( I did all the photography for the book, "Animals of the Bible"), etc.
I only have the one body right now, and I have a number of lenses, including: Canon EFS 18-55 kit lens, Canon EFS 55-250 kit lens, Canon 70-300 (not as sharp as I like, so I don't use it), Canon 50mm 1.4 prime lens, Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro lens, Sigma 10-20mm 4.0- 5.6 DC HSM wide angle lens, a 2 x teleconverter (doesn't fit my EF-s lenses), Canon 540EZ flash, Vivitar DF 383 CAC flash, remote triggers, and a whole bunch of filters, reflectors etc (not including my studio backdrops and lighting).

So, my question is, would I be better of spending some money on a Canon 7D, or better lenses.
I have +- $850 to spend (and I've found a great deal on a gently used Canon 7D), no more for right now.
Looking for some sage advice.

Thanks all.

 

[MLeeK]

I'd go for the 7D. You can't buy a GOOD zoom with that much and you have some great primes already.

 

[Derrel]

I can understand why you're confused! My main advice would be to sell the unused 70-300 zoom. I'm not really sure if you can buy a used 7D for $850, but if you CAN, then that seems a fair price. Your lens set seems pretty good.

 

[MK3Brent]

Time to upgrade bodies. (my vote, new camera.)

 

[Tight Knot]

Thanks MLeek and Derrel. Is it worthwhile sending the 70-300mm back to Canon to see why it's not sharp? I would hate to try and sell a lens to someone that I feel is sub-par in quality.
If so, any idea where to send it?

Thanks all.

 

[Tight Knot]

Time to upgrade bodies. (my vote, new camera.)

And, that would be to the 7D, correct? No money for anything better, and I really like the 8 FPS for some of the animal and sports shoots I do.

 

[MLeeK]

Thanks MLeek and Derrel. Is it worthwhile sending the 70-300mm back to Canon to see why it's not sharp? I would hate to try and sell a lens to someone that I feel is sub-par in quality.
If so, any idea where to send it?

Thanks all.

No. It's a crappy lens at best. I'd expect a whole lot less sharpness from it than any other lens in your kit. Even the cheapie kit lens.

 

[Tight Knot]

Thanks MLeek and Derrel. Is it worthwhile sending the 70-300mm back to Canon to see why it's not sharp? I would hate to try and sell a lens to someone that I feel is sub-par in quality.
If so, any idea where to send it?

Thanks all.

No. It's a crappy lens at best. I'd expect a whole lot less sharpness from it than any other lens in your kit. Even the cheapie kit lens.

I hear. So I wouldn't be misleading anyone by selling it? How much do you think I can get for it?

 

[JSPhotographyLLC]

Well your already on the selling track for the 70-300, I would also evaluate if there is anything else that you could sell and then upgrade to. For me it has always been about glass first and foremost. But, if you can get a 7D for that price and its in great condition you gotta jump on it. The 7D has so many more functions that will be of benefit to you that you really can't pass it up. But after that you need to start working your way to some L glass. You can get good image quality from the lenses that you have but you have to work twice as hard without an L lens. IMHO anyway. Of course there are L lenses that fall short just like the EF-s lenses. Research and planning wins the race and you already sound like a master at both.

 

[JSPhotographyLLC]

Thanks MLeek and Derrel. Is it worthwhile sending the 70-300mm back to Canon to see why it's not sharp? I would hate to try and sell a lens to someone that I feel is sub-par in quality.
If so, any idea where to send it?

Thanks all.

No. It's a crappy lens at best. I'd expect a whole lot less sharpness from it than any other lens in your kit. Even the cheapie kit lens.

I hear. So I wouldn't be misleading anyone by selling it? How much do you think I can get for it?

I'd see if KEH, Adorama, or B&H would be interested in buying it. They will only give you 70% of it's value but it might take you awhile to sell it
yourself. Especially when someone asks you why your selling it and you say the image quality.

 

[jaicatalano]

The only reason I bought the 7D is because I was booking more work with it. Plus I filmed a few commercials with it and it truly does the job. However if you have GREAT stuff you can photograph on an IPHONE and have repeat customers.

 

[Derrel]

Thanks MLeek and Derrel. Is it worthwhile sending the 70-300mm back to Canon to see why it's not sharp? I would hate to try and sell a lens to someone that I feel is sub-par in quality.
If so, any idea where to send it?

Thanks all.

Well...many 70-300 lenses are NOT that great if one has high standards. If one just wants snapshots, most 70-300 lenses will be "okay", optically. I understand and applaud your unwillingness to sell a poor lens, buuuuut....by the same token, perhaps your standards and expectations are just too high. There's a good chance that the 70-300 is as good as it gets for THAT particular model....maybe you just happened to have bought a good sample of it--but the design is not all that great. I would simply sell it. Chances are, the buyer of the lens will be adequately happy with his purchase of a used 70-300.

 

[sovietdoc]

You don't need 70-300, just sell it. Yes, gettin' 7D would be a very good upgrade for you.

 

[Tight Knot]

Thanks so much for your advice everyone.
After the possible lawsuit, I ended up selling all of my photography gear, and decided to start collecting stamps instead.
Just kidding, lol.
I ordered the Canon 7D, and it should arrive middle of this coming week.
Really excited!!

 

[macpro88]

Thanks so much for your advice everyone.
After the possible lawsuit, I ended up selling all of my photography gear, and decided to start collecting stamps instead.
Just kidding, lol.
I ordered the Canon 7D, and it should arrive middle of this coming week.
Really excited!!

Congrats! Love my 7D! Not the latest and greatest but no one needs that lol Still a worthy body.

If the 7D MKII comes out soon and is decently priced... I might have to jump ship lmao lol