Canon 60D or 7D?

[DisneyFreak06]

My trip reports are linked in my signature below. They are pretty picture heavy. Most of the shots were with that lens. You can click on most of the posted photos to get to Flickr where you can see the exif info, including the lens used. As I said, nearly 95% were shot with that lens.

I'm now reading your December trip report and all I can say is WOW those are clear shots! I'm enjoying the TR so far. Thanks for recommending this lens. It's at the top of my list, I'm just waiting for a wee bit of a sale (and to finish paying off the loans! )

 

[WilsonFlyer]

In a perfect world, someone would have created a very powerful, very small, point and shoot camera with all the capabilities of an SLR, extreme wide angle to super zoom (think 10mm-800mm) and super fast too (f1.2), very clear and not noisy at high ISOs... But alas, it has not yet been created, and if it were, I don't think I could afford it!

Or be able to carry it.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm now reading your December trip report and all I can say is WOW those are clear shots! I'm enjoying the TR so far. Thanks for recommending this lens. It's at the top of my list, I'm just waiting for a wee bit of a sale (and to finish paying off the loans! )

Thanks! I really do love that lens.

Congrats on paying off your loans and on moving forward with your photography!

There's a fair amount of photography talk on my trip report too so feel free to chime in if you have questions on any of the shots.

ETA: It just occurred to me I saw another thread today with someone saying they are considering going full frame and selling their copy of that lens (since it's EF-S). They don't allow buying and selling here, but you might want to consider PM'ing the poster:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2907593

 

[nvtsallo]

I would go with the 17-55 2.8 for a good all around lens. Definetly get the Canon its worth the money but heavy in comparision to your body weight. I went last year with my 15-85mm ef-s and it was great the whole trip and I even did the Osmonds (forgive me if I'm spelling it wrong) Christmas lights and it worked great with a 270 ex II. Came back with 6k shots and 2k keepers. The 60d is a definite upgrade from any T series rebel with the top lcd and 9 cross type sensors for focus. It has the articulated lcd for parades and shows to get above the crowd and to me is pretty light. I would recommend that over the Sony if you were concerned about low light performance because I have read the the EVF vs Canon's OVF is really dim at night so it will be hard to focus. The 60d is not without it's faults. I find the ISO performance very noisy as you move up from 1600. Also you could get the new 24mm and 28mm IS primes coming in June and that would make it light weight and fast. I also heard they are releasing a 40mm pancake so it might be worth waiting if you have the time.

 

[DizzyV6P]

Awesome! That's the one I've decided on. Now to wait until it goes on sale... at least a little bit! (And thanks, it's a big deal... took a while! )

The Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS never goes on sale. You have a better chance of finding a used one on the Canon POTN forum for sale threads if you really want one. I just saw a couple on sale today too! Update: $875 for a used 17-55 f/2.8 w/ an Opteka hood on POTN today.

For a brand new cheaper option, the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS is a good alternative if you want the image stabilizer would be my recomendation.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I would go with the 17-55 2.8 for a good all around lens. Definetly get the Canon its worth the money but heavy in comparision to your body weight. I went last year with my 15-85mm ef-s and it was great the whole trip and I even did the Osmonds (forgive me if I'm spelling it wrong) Christmas lights and it worked great with a 270 ex II. Came back with 6k shots and 2k keepers. The 60d is a definite upgrade from any T series rebel with the top lcd and 9 cross type sensors for focus. It has the articulated lcd for parades and shows to get above the crowd and to me is pretty light. I would recommend that over the Sony if you were concerned about low light performance because I have read the the EVF vs Canon's OVF is really dim at night so it will be hard to focus. The 60d is not without it's faults. I find the ISO performance very noisy as you move up from 1600. Also you could get the new 24mm and 28mm IS primes coming in June and that would make it light weight and fast. I also heard they are releasing a 40mm pancake so it might be worth waiting if you have the time.

Thanks! I have so much to think about.

The Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS never goes on sale. You have a better chance of finding a used one on the Canon POTN forum for sale threads if you really want one. I just saw a couple on sale today too! Update: $875 for a used 17-55 f/2.8 w/ an Opteka hood on POTN today.

For a brand new cheaper option, the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS is a good alternative if you want the image stabilizer would be my recomendation.

Thanks. At our local store (I don't like shipping across the border, too many extra fees) and on line at a Canadian camera dealer, the regular price is just under $1300. It's "on sale" right now at both for around $1050. I want to jump right now! But I told myself to wait until the loan is paid off.... so that's what I'll do! Who knows, I may change my mind by then...

 

[DizzyV6P]

Just make sure that dealer is an authorized Canadian Camera dealer.

Here in the US, Amazon, Adorama and BH PHoto all charges the same for this lens. A lot of non-Canon authorized dealers in the US sell it for cheaper, but then Canon won't honor its warranty if you purchase from these stores. The only "sales" stores will have will be the Canon Instant Rebates which I don't consider a store sale, but a marketing gimmick by Canon since retailers than raise their "MSRP" pricing to compensate for the "instant rebate" at the direction of Canon.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Just make sure that dealer is an authorized Canadian Camera dealer.

Here in the US, Amazon, Adorama and BH PHoto all charges the same for this lens. A lot of non-Canon authorized dealers in the US sell it for cheaper, but then Canon won't honor its warranty if you purchase from these stores. The only "sales" stores will have will be the Canon Instant Rebates which I don't consider a store sale, but a marketing gimmick by Canon since retailers than raise their "MSRP" pricing to compensate for the "instant rebate" at the direction of Canon.

Good point! I'm not sure about the online store. I have contacted Canon directly to ask them. I have used them in the past, but I never thought to check if they were authorized or not. Thank you.

 

[bob100]

For a brand new cheaper option, the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS is a good alternative if you want the image stabilizer would be my recomendation.

I would go with the Sigma 17-50 2.8 OS HSM - the Canon 17-55 2.8 is nice but at over $1,000 it's a little pricey

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I would go with the Sigma 17-50 2.8 OS HSM - the Canon 17-55 2.8 is nice but at over $1,000 it's a little pricey

Thanks. I am a little scared of the price, but since it's supposed to be such a good lens, and I'm planning to keep it so long, it helps. Not that I've got anything against Sigma, I have their wide angle (10-20mm?) and the 30 mm 1.4.

Have you used the Sigma? How is the quality on that one?

 

[DisneyFreak06]

There was a sale on the 17-55 2.8 lens... I ordered it last night! I can't wait for it to come in! Thanks for all your help everyone!

 

[mom2rtk]

There was a sale on the 17-55 2.8 lens... I ordered it last night! I can't wait for it to come in! Thanks for all your help everyone!

Congrats. Your patience has been rewarded! Can't wait to see what you think of it!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Congrats. Your patience has been rewarded! Can't wait to see what you think of it!

Thank you so much for suggesting it. I am so excited. I can't wait to get it... it's so hard to wait! I had no problems at all with the order, the last time I tried to order from the site, I had so many issues that I didn't order anything! I take it as a sign!