Upgrade opinions

[ChiSoxKeith]

Ok, I'm kind of lost right now and thought I would turn to the board for a little advice.

I currently own a Canon 300D with the kit lens and a non-IS 70-300mm zoom. I want to upgrade my gear a bit, but I keep going back and forth on what path to take....

On one hand, I go out and get a new camera body. The 300D is nice but it doesn't have a lot of the features (being one of Canon's early DSLRs) like high ISO settings, higher megapixels, etc. If I go that route I was thinking of either getting a 50D or a 7D. I've played around with the T2i at best buy, but it seems awfully small in my hands (I'm a big guy, and the T2i just doesn't seem to have the heft I would feel comfortable with).

The other route is to keep the camera body and get a better zoom lens. Specifically the 100-400 f/4-5.6 IS. I've got a trip scheduled to AKV for December and I could probably never leave the resort - just snapping pics of the animals all day.

Then the other route is to keep the camera body and get a 50mm f/1.4 or maybe even a fisheye.

For some background info.....I like to take sports photography - although with my stepson moving off to college the opportunities for that will be limited to going to shoot the neighbors kids like I have in the past. I like to shoot nature photography (animals at the zoo, etc). And I want to start trying out some HDR shots like the ones I've seen over at www.wdwphotography.com

Oh, I did rent a 400mm zoom lens last fall from borrowlenses.com to shoot some HS football games and just absolutely loved it. But my camera really wasn't up to the task of that lens as the AF was rather slow as were the FPS for getting really good action shots (although I was able to pull off enough good ones to make the rental worth while). That and I really don't have that kind of money. I wish.

So I'm kind of stuck. I have enough money saved up to either get the new body or get the new glass, but I don't have enough to get them both. And it would probably be at least another year or two before I would be able to get the other. What would you do?

 

[photo_chick]

The 300D is way outdated. I have the 350D and upgraded earlier this year to the 50D. I am so glad I did. For me the upgrade was all about the ISO and continuous shooting speeds. I am totally loving the better AF and metering now too. And the better viewfinder.

I've got the 75-300. The higher ISO settings make that lens a LOT more versatile. I can actually use that elephant a lot more now, and I find I don't loath it as much since I can stop it down in less than full sun. The increased ISO range has also made the 18-55 kit more useful as well.

Only you can know which way you want to go. I can just tell you that I'm so glad I bought a new body instead of a new lens.

 

[SrisonS]

There's word out there that Canon might be releasing the 60D later this year. Maybe look into getting that?!?!?!

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

That's good to hear about an improved body making the 70-300 a better lens.

Yeah, I had heard that something would be coming out of Canon Expo in September. If nothing else, the announcement of a 60D might push the price of the 50D down as dealers clear out their inventory.

If only I could hit the lottery between now and then, that would make my decision easier - get everything!

 

[ukcatfan]

I currently own a Canon 300D with the kit lens and a non-IS 70-300mm zoom.

If that is all the brand specific gear you have, you should open up your options and consider other brands. You really do not have that much invested since the camera body is worth almost nothing now and those are not expensive lenses. You could even sell it all to help finance a change.

Now is when I would normally give my Pentax plug, but since you are wanting larger bodies, that may not be an option. The K-x is kinda small even though it is still comfortable. The K-7 might be a better fit, so at least give it a look if you decide to consider switching brands. Honestly though, I think something like the Nikon D90 might be your best bet. I would not go with the 50D when the T2i is really a nicer camera. If a 60D comes out, it is probably going to be a huge upgrade over the 50D and really tempt you to go ahead and spend the extra.