I currently have a cropped frame Canon 550d. I have been thinking about buying a full frame 5D Mark II. Is it worth the money to have a full frame instead of a crop frame? The main reason that I am thinking about it is that I broke a lens last week and in looking for a new one, I don't want to buy an EF-S lens if I am going to someday buy a full frame camera. I would love to have one because I have the personality where I want "the best" I can afford, not because I make any money off my photos (which I don't at this time). Any suggestions, ideas, help would be much appreciated.
@agima You seem to be fairly well versed on the subject of cropped and full sensor cameras. Do you have any suggestions for when a person should upgrade?
@texasgold Hi Kara, the best piece of photography advice I've been given is 'buy lenses for the camera you have, not the camera you wish you had'. If you buy a good lens, they tend to hold value and you can sell on if you upgrade to a 5D at a later stage. Personally, I would only upgrade cameras if you felt the 550D was regularly limiting the shots you take.
There are other differences to consider besides frame size. The 5D mkii doesn't have a built flash for example, and is much heavier.
If your reason is to get the best you can afford, then go and get 5Dmk2 or 5Dmk3, if you buy something else you will still want the 5D, and probably sell the camera you bought and upgrade to 5D anyway. Might as well do it in one go!
Full frame is the gold standard but you will have to check all your lenses. Full frame will make everything expensive as the bulk of the market is cropped.
I've just upgraded to the Canon 5D mk II and despite having to learn all the Canon ways and means, I love it and is one of the best investments I've ever made. It's worth getting the L series lens with it too, one chap in Jessops said if you are spending a hell of a lot of dosh on a camera, don't skrimp on the lens :)
@texasgold Interesting problem you face.... In fact I was facing the same problem some time ago where I had a 500d/rebel and I wanted to upgrade to a 5D mkII.
Now for me, I wanted to use the top line lens so that I could get the best possible image. I also wanted to have a body that we reliable and would also give me the best possible image.
You can put the EF lens on your 550d but you can not put EF-S lens on a 5D mk II or III.
What I would suggest is start buying the EF L lens and then upgrade to the 5D.
The cost of doing it all at once is some what expensive but for me it is worth every cent.
I am like you, I want to have the best, so that when I take an image, and it doesnt come out right, I know it is me and not my gear.
I only use L lens on my 5D and I also use these lends on my 500d.
For me it wasn't about getting a full frame but more along the 5D ability to handy high ISO, the full frame was a bonus. :)
@humphreyhippo@agima@aspada@emmaroobers@godders@viranod@jantan Thanks everybody for your replies. All very good info and suggestions. So, here is what I am going to do... since I already have to replace my broken lens, I will start buying L lenses now, then later on buy the 5D mkII or III depending on how long I decide to wait. I just wish I could get a 500mm right now since I love wildlife/bird shots. In due time. :) Thanks again everybody!
Just my two cents - the best camera is the one you have with you. For me a full frame is a non-starter unless it is the size and weight of my current camera. Doesn't matter how much better it is than what I have, I know I'll leave it home more often than not. And there's no way I would take it on a long hike, something I routinely do with my camera.
Now, in the case of lenses - buy the best you can. Even if you don't ever plan on buying a full frame camera, L glass makes a whole lot of sense. I can sure see a difference between good lenses and not-so-good lenses in my cropped sensor camera.
@mtngal@texasgold I'm kind of confused by what you are saying Harriet. You are concerned about adding weight of a full frame camera, but you say get the best available lens and get L lenses. You know that getting L lenses will add much more weight to a camera in most cases than upgrading to a full frame like any of the 5ds? Most l lenses are heavy, some incredibly so.
@mtngal@texasgold It is interesting that you mention the weight thing...
When I pick up my 500d it feels and sounds like a toy. It is almost like something that my daughter would use and it is kind of refreshing every now and then.
In reality I take my 5D with me just as much as I did the 500d before I had the 5D. I will also carry a 24-70mm f2.8 and a 100-400mm both L lens, along with my 5D having a battery grip.
It does weight some, but I don't normally notice it. The only time I do find it a problem is when I am photographing an event where I have to remain static or I have to take a heap of photos one after another. If I have time to rest in between shots then its not a drama.
I actually hear that some people even pack their equipment away.... Not me, my cameras and lens are always out and ready for use, and the go just about everywhere with me.
@bradleynovak@agima Yep. Just yesterday I was telling my mom how much the big 500mm that I want weighs. Should I ever be able to justify buying it, I will just have to strap my dogs back pack on him and load him up!
@bradleynovak@agima For many people weight isn't an issue, especially for people who aren't tiny females like me. And there are those with big hands who wouldn't like the size of my smallish dSLR, so it's all relative and specific for the person using the equipment, isn't it?
I'd rather put the limited weight I can carry in better quality lenses than a better quality camera - a mediocre lens on a good camera won't get you as good results as that camera is capable of, it usually only gives mediocre results. When I got my first really good lens I was hooked and now will save my pennies to buy better lenses, rather than "settle" for lesser ones that will only frustrate me. Of course, another answer to that is to not ever buy a really good lens, so you don't know what you are missing!
Or you can look at buying camera in a different way. I bought 5Dmk2 because I wanted a full frame sensor to go with the 85 /f1. 2 L2. Choose the must have lens first then choose the body to go with it.
And I know of a few bird photographers who use 7D/1Dmk4 + 300f/2.8 and other beasts, rather than go for 5D because of the cropped factor.
@aspada@mtngal@agima Okay, so I am shopping for an "L" lens now. The lens that broke was my everyday walking around lens. Which "L" should I replace that with? I'm looking at the new 24-70mm f2.8, but it has not been released yet.
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thre is a really good video here which gives you the pros and cons and differences between the two types
There are other differences to consider besides frame size. The 5D mkii doesn't have a built flash for example, and is much heavier.
Now for me, I wanted to use the top line lens so that I could get the best possible image. I also wanted to have a body that we reliable and would also give me the best possible image.
You can put the EF lens on your 550d but you can not put EF-S lens on a 5D mk II or III.
What I would suggest is start buying the EF L lens and then upgrade to the 5D.
The cost of doing it all at once is some what expensive but for me it is worth every cent.
I am like you, I want to have the best, so that when I take an image, and it doesnt come out right, I know it is me and not my gear.
I only use L lens on my 5D and I also use these lends on my 500d.
For me it wasn't about getting a full frame but more along the 5D ability to handy high ISO, the full frame was a bonus. :)
Now, in the case of lenses - buy the best you can. Even if you don't ever plan on buying a full frame camera, L glass makes a whole lot of sense. I can sure see a difference between good lenses and not-so-good lenses in my cropped sensor camera.
When I pick up my 500d it feels and sounds like a toy. It is almost like something that my daughter would use and it is kind of refreshing every now and then.
In reality I take my 5D with me just as much as I did the 500d before I had the 5D. I will also carry a 24-70mm f2.8 and a 100-400mm both L lens, along with my 5D having a battery grip.
It does weight some, but I don't normally notice it. The only time I do find it a problem is when I am photographing an event where I have to remain static or I have to take a heap of photos one after another. If I have time to rest in between shots then its not a drama.
I actually hear that some people even pack their equipment away.... Not me, my cameras and lens are always out and ready for use, and the go just about everywhere with me.
I'd rather put the limited weight I can carry in better quality lenses than a better quality camera - a mediocre lens on a good camera won't get you as good results as that camera is capable of, it usually only gives mediocre results. When I got my first really good lens I was hooked and now will save my pennies to buy better lenses, rather than "settle" for lesser ones that will only frustrate me. Of course, another answer to that is to not ever buy a really good lens, so you don't know what you are missing!
And I know of a few bird photographers who use 7D/1Dmk4 + 300f/2.8 and other beasts, rather than go for 5D because of the cropped factor.