Best Camera Decision?

I am a realtor and have been creating my own web site for 5 years. I use all the latest software to create the site.

I have an old Sony Cyber Shot (3.3M Pixels). I am looking to upgrade to eitherthe 20D or maybe the 5D (also have been looking at the Nikon D200).

I will be using the camera for interior and exterior shots of upscale homes (new and preowned). It is impotrant that I am able to get the best results with a wide angle lense and work in low light areas.

Any suggestions from the local board pros would be greatly appreciated.

On another note....I have always been a photo enthusiast. I am familiar with most of the basic workings with SLR cameras but have never owned a digital SLR.
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Jeffrey

Being that you need a good wide angle lens for the tight interior shots the only logical choice is the 5D. The 20D has the 1.6 crop factor which means a 18mm lens is more like a 20 something. When you put a lens like say the Canon 10-22mm on that 5D you really do get the full benefit of that glass. The 10mm end may be a little too wide for your needs but I bet that lens set around 16 or so would help net some otherwise hard to get shots. Then there is the money factor! Oh yea, that huh. Well we are looking at near $3500 for a 5D and maybe $1100 or so for a 20D I think. How bad do you need that wide angle? I want to use my camera for wildlife photography when the opportunity is there. Therefore I prefer the 20D with my super tele lenses. That is really a good thing too because if I prefered the 5D I would be in financial straits. LOL Good luck on your decision.
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Thanks to you all for what you share so freely, It's my hope to be able to help others as well.

DSLRs are not simple, point and shoot cameras IMO.

Shots taken with a DSLR will need some postprocessing in PhotoShop. The images are not usually as sharpened or saturated as you get with your Sony. You can maximize the in-camera sharpening, but you will still probably need to do some processing. This is a good thing because there is no way to reduce sharpening if it's overdone by a digicam.
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Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o.

I keep trying to find an artist's eye in the B & H catalog

excellent high ISO performance. I would think a 20D with a 16-35L lens would fit the bill.
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Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o.

I keep trying to find an artist's eye in the B & H catalog

I agree that the 5D would be the best choice, however the 10-22mm lens you mention is an EF-S lens that will not work on the 5D.

Jim

Jeffrey,

For web publishing, a Nikon 8400 (with 24mm eqiv. lens, can go even wider with adptor) may do the job nicely, since the advantage of DSLR doesn't give you much in your case. But you may want a real nice toy

If you really want the high ISO advantage of DSLR, 20D + 10-22mm can do a nice job, but it can not go any wider; A 5D + 16-35mm L gives you the most (at a price), and you can go even wider if needed.

Nikon will be a much more expensive alternative for ultra wide, and they still don't have a FF camera. So Canon will be a better choice if you take a DSLR.

Cheers!
rh

Jeffrey19608 said:

I am a realtor and have been creating my own web site for 5 years.
I use all the latest software to create the site.

I have an old Sony Cyber Shot (3.3M Pixels). I am looking to
upgrade to eitherthe 20D or maybe the 5D (also have been looking at
the Nikon D200).

I will be using the camera for interior and exterior shots of
upscale homes (new and preowned). It is impotrant that I am able to
get the best results with a wide angle lense and work in low light
areas.

Any suggestions from the local board pros would be greatly
appreciated.

On another note....I have always been a photo enthusiast. I am
familiar with most of the basic workings with SLR cameras but have
never owned a digital SLR.
--
Jeffrey

Click to expand...

I went with the 10D. Got real lucky and found a used one at KEH. Thier rating of "Like New Minus" was very conservative. I honestly don't think the camera was used at all.

Thought about the 20D but decided to get the 10D, save the money and invest in a lense.

--
http://pbase.com/coppertop

If you don't have a need for interchangeable lenses, I would say buy one of the new 6,7, or 8 mp cameras that are out now. They will do what you want for real estate purposes and also give you a great all around camera that can be carried easier than a DSLR. I don't know the focal lengths of some of the higher mp models, but just make sure you get a wide enough view on the lower end...robby

EF-S lenses do not mount on the 5D

An 18mm lens isn't the equivalent of a 20mm on the 20D. Multiply the focal length by 1.6

a 20D with a 10-22 lens..
and a 17-85 I.S.

that will get you EVERY interior shot...

you will of course have to process the photos.. on a computer...

============

the 10-22 lens could do a shot - for example..

• from the door of the forward cabin on a 50 foot sailboat

and include both bulkheads

oh
...and be sharp...
the 20D will furnish the 1600/3200 ISO ...

=============

it is what you need!

=============

the 17-85 rounds out the tool box..
for street shots

I want to thank you all for your advice.

I think I will go with the 20D and get the lenses 17-85 & 10-22.

This forum is extremely well done!
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Jeffrey

This would be the ultimate combo. 5D is low noise at higher ISO, and a fast prime (read big aperture) would gather light, would have less distortion.

I suggest some of these for the 5D :

Sigma 20mm F/1.8 EX ASP DG (cheap, good, not much optical aberation, fast enough)

Sigma 14mm F/2.8 EX ASP HSM (not that cheap, a little bit slower, but wider)

Primes compared to zoom will always yield better results, optically. Zooms (apart the Canon 16-35 F/2.8L) are always slower lens than the fast prime mentioned above.

--
Eric Cote

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The Canon 10-22mm is 16mm equivalent on a full size (read 35mm equivalent) sensor like the 5D. If you really want a fast zoom, then the Canon 16-35 L F/2.8 would gather light much more than any consummer zoom out there (Canon 10-22, Sigma 12-24, Tokina 12-24, and so on).

So the Canon or Sigma 14mm F/2.8 is the widest lens out there (rectilign lens, not fisheye), as long as you use a 5D.

--
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The 5D is a poor choice for wide angle, because none of Canon's superwide lenses have been updated to work correctly with the digital sensor. The superwide sample from the 5D on Canon's own promotional material looks horrendous.

And this coming from a guy who wants a 5d, but only for telephoto work. But that's another story...

A much much better option, and frankly, probably the best option available for your kind of work, is a Canon 20D and Tokina 12-24 f/4.0. What a fantastic combination this makes!

The 20D, as you've no doubt read, is a terrific camera. Great sensor, excellent handling, and fantastic image quality.

And the best superwide on the market right now is that Tokina. Superb sharpness and color. I just got back a 24 x 30" print from a photo made with this combination. The image quality makes me think of the Hasselblad.

It doesn't hurt that it costs a lot less than the 5d, either...

The wider you go the harder it will be to get uniform lighting on your interiors you may want to give some thought to your flash system
and I am not talking about onboard you may need to
use multiple ones in wireless or remote setup for your interiors

sorry to be the only crasher of this canon party but the D200
would be an excellent choice for that

I use the D70 with the sb-800 as the master (D200 can be a master with built in flash) with an off camera sb-600 and get excellent results

Before you flame me to much I do also own the 20D but when
I want to shoot shots wiith remote flashes the canon stays in the bag
and I shoot with the nikon

but of course if you want extreme wde then the FF 5D would be your only option but 12-24 or 10-22 options on cropped sensors are still pretty good

to get wide coverage.

To me, it's a question of how much you're willing to spend. With money no object get the 5D and a wide prime. If, like the rest of us, you live in the real world, get a 20D and a 10-22 or a 12-24 (from Sigma/Tamron). With a 24-70 or 24-105 and a 580EX flash you'll be set.
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jonclayton.smugmug.com

Me...
I would turn on all the lights in the rooms..
and crank up the ISO to 1600 (or 3200 if needed)

then.. brace yourself to avoid camera shake on the 10-22 shots
(17-85 is Image Stabilised ..and will have no problems.. free standing almost)

when shooting with 'available light' ..all the lamps on..
the results canl be pro level.

if you come to situations where there is not enough light...
AND you are shooting WIDE...
then
you MAY want to consider the 580ex flash..
because the 10-22 is SO wide the (built-in and even external)
flash is a little weak at the edges...

no SINGLE flash reaches out there...to the edge..
but..shooting it on a ceiling bounce ...
will give full coverage on interiors...on the 10-22

you dont need to go overboard and get a multi flash system

your system needs to fit in a med size bag on the car seat...
for goodness sake!

==========

software is not complicated
the Elements 2 that comes with the camera is adequate
download (FREE) RawShooter Elements for RAW conversion
if you shoot RAW (highly recommended)

also for noise removal of JPG shots (FREE download) NEAT image is fine

----------
RAW shots use more memory but give you a TON of lattitude to
clean-up shots ... by far the best option.

you will also need a 2 or 4 gig sandisk ultra II card
and card reader ($10-$20)

-----------------
when you get some of those pro level 'catalogue shots'...
post some here so we can see how you are doing

this forum is actually a good on-going 'camera accessory'

Good Luck..

Tom

How much time do you have to take your shots? Any time pressure? e.g. at a wedding you won't even have time to change lenses. How is it for your use?

IMHO, the most important bit about your use is lighting. So I'd immediately list a 580EX flashgun with a couple of 420/430EX slave units.

For your intended use, the 5D is not likely to deliver much benefit over a 20D (at least not noticable for web use). I'd recommend 20D + Canon 10-22 + 17-85 IS. Throw in a tripod and you're there.

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I have to admit, although I am aware that there are lenses which are not compatible with the 5D, however I failed to realize the 10-22 was one of them. I appologise for my inaccuracy here. I am having a heck of a time trying to keep up with all these cameras today. I may not be all that smart but I assure you my head is full of useless information regarding digital cameras! Now if I can just get it sorted out some. LOL
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Thanks to you all for what you share so freely, It's my hope to be able to help others as well.

and have the funds, I'd skip the 17-85IS and get the 24-105IS - not sure why you'd want to cover the 17 to 22 range with both lenses. The 24-105f4 is faster (the 17-85 is f5.6 almost all the way), sharper, especialy at the edges, does not have serious CA issues like the 17-85 and has beter contrast (at least in comparing my copies) unfortunately it does cost 2x as much :-(

Cheers,

Mike
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That which does not at first kill us should be mixed stronger