Reading mode: Light Dark

60D owner here - should I trade up to a 5D MarkII?

Go to last post
L

LoveMachine

Member
Messages
23
Reaction score
1
Hey everyone. I'm pretty new to photography. I had a 20D a few years back, and just recently bought a used 60D kit. I've always been enamored by a full-frame sensor but have never had enough play money to buy one. When I bought the 60D, my wife and I had just had a friend of a friend do pro newborn pics and I was majorly jealous of her camera (5D MkII). I bought the 60D anyway because, like I said, it's what I could afford and for what it is, the 60D is a great camera. That being said, an opportunity to get a 5DII has just fallen into my lap. I met someone who has a 5DII but wants to downgrade so they've offered their 5DII body for my 60D with the 18-135 kit lens plus cash. My question is, for someone like me (enthusiast that's just getting into it - likes to shoot portraits and landscapes) is it worth it to give up a perfectly good kit and a good chunk of cash to get the 5DII?

I only have the 18-135 kit lens and a 50mm f/1.8 mkI, so basically if I got the 5DII the only lens I would have is the 50mm, which is fine for now. Switching has pros and cons but I wanted to see what some of you all who have had experience with both would suggest. Thanks!
 
What will you get out of the 5DII that you can't get out of the 60D?
LoveMachine said:
Hey everyone. I'm pretty new to photography. I had a 20D a few years back, and just recently bought a used 60D kit. I've always been enamored by a full-frame sensor but have never had enough play money to buy one. When I bought the 60D, my wife and I had just had a friend of a friend do pro newborn pics and I was majorly jealous of her camera (5D MkII). I bought the 60D anyway because, like I said, it's what I could afford and for what it is, the 60D is a great camera. That being said, an opportunity to get a 5DII has just fallen into my lap. I met someone who has a 5DII but wants to downgrade so they've offered their 5DII body for my 60D with the 18-135 kit lens plus cash. My question is, for someone like me (enthusiast that's just getting into it - likes to shoot portraits and landscapes) is it worth it to give up a perfectly good kit and a good chunk of cash to get the 5DII?

I only have the 18-135 kit lens and a 50mm f/1.8 mkI, so basically if I got the 5DII the only lens I would have is the 50mm, which is fine for now. Switching has pros and cons but I wanted to see what some of you all who have had experience with both would suggest. Thanks!
Click to expand...
--
Some cool cats that can use your help
http://www.wildlife-sanctuary.org

Even if you can't donate, please help spread the word.
 
iMac said:
What will you get out of the 5DII that you can't get out of the 60D?
Click to expand...
That's kind of what I'm asking. If I did trade for the 5DII I would lose the articulated screen, I would be getting slower continuous shooting (5.3fps on the 60D -> 3.9fps on the 5DII), and I would have to convert to Compact Flash from SD. The most obvious gain would be the full frame sensor, and I would also be getting (slightly) greater viewfinder coverage, better build quality with the magnesium body, and overall a more "pro" feel. The main benefit is the full frame sensor. Is making the switch and paying an extra couple hundred dollars worth the full frame sensor? One thing I should add is I only paid $800 for the 60D kit in the first place. That plus $200 means I'd only be out $1000 for a 5D MkII body.
 
LoveMachine said:
The main benefit is the full frame sensor
Click to expand...
A full frame sensor in itself is not a benefit.

You have to combine it with lenses that do what you want.

Most people are better off "upgrading" to a lens that better matches their needs, or to a flash, or to a good tripod. And so on. And that's ignoring technique - upgrading technique is always a good idea.

--
StephenG
 
LoveMachine said:
Is making the switch and paying an extra couple hundred dollars worth the full frame sensor? One thing I should add is I only paid $800 for the 60D kit in the first place. That plus $200 means I'd only be out $1000 for a 5D MkII body.
Click to expand...
Do you need to? It doesn't sound like it. Have you priced a 24-70L lens yet?

For that price though I'd probably do it, just for the fun of it.

Greg.
 
If your 60D has scuffs on it then yes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
LoveMachine said:
iMac said:
What will you get out of the 5DII that you can't get out of the 60D?
Click to expand...
That's kind of what I'm asking. If I did trade for the 5DII I would lose the articulated screen, I would be getting slower continuous shooting (5.3fps on the 60D -> 3.9fps on the 5DII), and I would have to convert to Compact Flash from SD. The most obvious gain would be the full frame sensor, and I would also be getting (slightly) greater viewfinder coverage, better build quality with the magnesium body, and overall a more "pro" feel. The main benefit is the full frame sensor. Is making the switch and paying an extra couple hundred dollars worth the full frame sensor? One thing I should add is I only paid $800 for the 60D kit in the first place. That plus $200 means I'd only be out $1000 for a 5D MkII body.
Click to expand...
you would also be spending more on lens. The larger sensor would give you better ISO performance but unless you really need it (paid weddings/events ?) you're better off staying with the 60D
 
So the other guys wants to 'downgrade'? Apparently, he sees more value in your 60D rather than his old 5D. What's the shutter count on 5D? WHY do you think full frame will benefit you? What lenses do you own?

Two greatest benefits of a large sensor are:

1. Better high ISO performance. That said, open about any photography book, and the advice it to keep ISO as close to 100 as possible, and set your camera on tripod. If you hope that FF sensor will let you crank the ISO with impunity, think again.
Check this:

and this:

2. Wider field of view. If you routinely use wide angle lenses and wish you could go even wider, FF is the way to go. A 12mm lens becomes 19mm on APS-C.

On the other hand, if you like going longer, APS-C extends your lenses by a factor of 1.6 - so a 70-200 becomes a 112-320.
 
scorrpio said:
So the other guys wants to 'downgrade'? Apparently, he sees more value in your 60D rather than his old 5D. What's the shutter count on 5D?
Click to expand...
I do think that's a good point of view to take. What does the person dumping he 5D2 see in a 60D that you don't ?
scorrpio said:
If you routinely use wide angle lenses and wish you could go even wider, FF is the way to go. A 12mm lens becomes 19mm on APS-C.
Click to expand...
Since Sigma released the 8-16 wide angle lens for crop frame (DX) systems I don't see that the need for full frame for wide angle is as strong as it was. The 8-16 on Dx equates to 12-24 on FX ( which is the best you'll do on FX for rectilinear wide angle ).

It's unfortunate that we haven't seen Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Sony or Tamron pick up on this and start tailoring lenses for DX field of views more. How many 28mm or 35mm f1.8 and f1.4 lenses are there for DX - and that's the normal for DX ?

--
StephenG
 
Although I think the 5DII's full frame sensor would be beneficial for some of what I want to shoot - wide landscapes (I hike/backpack and am planning for a trek to Everest base camp in the next few years), I think I'm going to stick with my 60D. For those that asked, I'm not sure what it was about the 60D that he was so interested in. I do know that with my budget (had a baby in January, saving for our next house, etc.) opportunities to buy L lenses will be very few and far between so I wouldn't want to be stuck with lenses that don't let me take advantage of the sensor.

I've been looking at the EF-S 10-22mm for awhile. I'd really like to have that for my landscape lens. I'll just save the money i was going to spend on the body upgrade so I can buy the lens.

I appreciate everyone's advice and POVs.
 
You do realise that the EF-S lenses do not fit on the full frame body. (And if they do, you have some serious vignetting on your hands.)

You'll not only upgrade the body, but the lenses too. And Canon rightly thinks that on a pro-body belongs a pro-grade lens (L-series) with the pro-level price-tag.
 
When it come to the crunch you're not going to be able to take any photos that you can't with the 60. So unless you're going to be making A1 size prints just stick with what you have. The 5DIII or 5DX or whatever the'll call it will probably arrive this year so I'd wait for that if you want to get a full frame anyway, the price of second hand 5DII's will fall quickly.

-
http://www.thecycliststyle.com
http://www.michaelleadbetter.com.au
 
Alvatrus said:
You do realise that the EF-S lenses do not fit on the full frame body. (And if they do, you have some serious vignetting on your hands.)

You'll not only upgrade the body, but the lenses too. And Canon rightly thinks that on a pro-body belongs a pro-grade lens (L-series) with the pro-level price-tag.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. Yes, I was aware that EF-S lenses are not compatible with the full frame bodies. That (the cost of L lenses) played into my decision to keep the 60D.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top