Reading mode: Light Dark

upgrade camera or lens

Go to last post
S

SimonDParker

Member
Messages
19
Reaction score
1
Hope you can help and advise. I'm getting more and more into photography, trying different things, low light, street photography, landscape etc and wondering what would be a good upgrade, if anything? Should I now look to go full frame? I've a Canon 550D, and a few lenses, including

Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS USM

Canon EF 50mm 1:1.8 II

Canon EF-S 18-55mm kit lens

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II

Sigma 30 mm F1.4 EX DC HSM

I have to say I use mostly the Sigma 30mm, mainly as with the crop camera it's same as a 50mm, whereas the 50mm is around 80mm? So walking around town with camera the 30mm is great. Other than that i use the 15-85 a fair bit, especially perhaps on holiday as a bit of all in one lens. Rarely use anything above 85mm but have the zoom if i need to, eg kids sports days etc. I keep looking at the 'L' lenses, pricey and not sure what would suit for what i need, if anything. And if i go full frame camera, should I? then I think the 15-85 no longer works with that, is that correct?

So with a budget of around £1000, what would you suggest? New camera? Full frame? New lens? Perhaps can sell the kit lens, though not worth much, or sell that with the old camera if i get a new one. Oh the decisions. and I don't mind buying second hand if there are good deals out there.

Appreciate your help and advice
 
Good tripod?

External flash?
 
SimonDParker said:
SimonDParker wrote:

Hope you can help and advise. I'm getting more and more into photography, trying different things, low light, street photography, landscape etc and wondering what would be a good upgrade, if anything? Should I now look to go full frame? I've a Canon 550D, and a few lenses, including

Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS USM

Canon EF 50mm 1:1.8 II

Canon EF-S 18-55mm kit lens

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II

Sigma 30 mm F1.4 EX DC HSM

I have to say I use mostly the Sigma 30mm, mainly as with the crop camera it's same as a 50mm, whereas the 50mm is around 80mm? So walking around town with camera the 30mm is great. Other than that i use the 15-85 a fair bit, especially perhaps on holiday as a bit of all in one lens. Rarely use anything above 85mm but have the zoom if i need to, eg kids sports days etc. I keep looking at the 'L' lenses, pricey and not sure what would suit for what i need, if anything. And if i go full frame camera, should I? then I think the 15-85 no longer works with that, is that correct?

So with a budget of around £1000, what would you suggest? New camera? Full frame? New lens? Perhaps can sell the kit lens, though not worth much, or sell that with the old camera if i get a new one. Oh the decisions. and I don't mind buying second hand if there are good deals out there.

Appreciate your help and advice
Click to expand...
If you go full frame, all of your your EF-S lens can't be used.. so, you need to invest on new lenses, so I think your budget won't cover full frame upgrade + lens. Getting new lens that suits your photography is better, say ultra wide angle?, .. or new body, but Canon APS-C practically has similar sensor since 550D, so that will provide you similar result. Or if you wait you can get the new 70D.. but I believe it's not significant.
 
I'm not a Canon shooter, but from what I've read, your 50mm is the only lens that will work on a FF body. I also checked amazon UK and it seems like your budget would buy a little more than half a 6D, which is shocking as I think £1000 works out to be about $3000 USD. But perhaps I'm wrong...

Given that a full frame upgrade is likely out of your budget, I would probably look at upgrading your body if there seems to be another cropped Canon body that might give you an increase in performance.

But really you might want to look at getting some new lenses. Given that you only have one FF lense right now, perhaps it might be good to get some FF glass. This way you can slowly work towards having enough FF glass to make a more effective switch later. Maybe a wide prime like a 20mm or 24mm.
--
Good luck and happy shooting!
 
I quite like some of the l lenses eg the 24 -70 perhaps. Are they compatible with cropped and full frame bodies?
 
SimonDParker said:
SimonDParker wrote:

Hope you can help and advise. I'm getting more and more into photography, trying different things, low light, street photography, landscape etc and wondering what would be a good upgrade, if anything? Should I now look to go full frame? I've a Canon 550D, and a few lenses, including

C
Click to expand...
What are you looking for out of an upgrade? What can't you do with your 550d that you want to do? It looks like a good camera.

Do you have good software?
 
Since you don't really identify a need, you really shouldn't just be buying gear to buy gear.

Perhaps the money would be better spent on a photography trip, or saved for a future purchase.
 
Last edited:
I never really print stuff out, and if i do i take it to a specialist. I think what i have issues with is i take a lot of low light photos, out in the street, indoors etc, hence a lot of use of the sigma 30mm 1.4, quite like the L lenses that have 30mm in them, like the 24-70 for example but not sure how good they would be vs the sigma. Are the L lenses compatable with crop and full frame bodies? Maybe go for an L lens now with a view at some point to go full frame but then again do i need full frame? Muy main problem is at low light, images are often over exposed, and i have to go at least -1 stop for a properly exposed image, so not sure if that is down to the lens, camera or me, and maybe that is a general thing with low light photography.

You maybe right about some photo course, i often think about doing that, but not sure where to start given what i like to shoot. Some sort of online course, or residential, weekend for example. I'm UK based. Getting to be a better photographer maybe the way to go thought a lot of stuff it seems is free anyway, on YouTube

Welcoming the comments, thanks
 
I'm not a Canon expert, but I believe any EF mount lenses are design for FF, but are compatible with APS-C. The EF-S mount is Canon's designation for lenses designed for use with APS-C bodies, but they aren't designed use with FF bodies.

The reason for this is sensor size. Since the FF sensor is bigger, EF lenses are designed to provide coverage of the whole sensor. Since the APS-C sensor is smaller than FF, EF-S lenses are designed to provide smaller coverage. If you tried to use EF-S lenses on a FF body, it wouldn't cover all of the sensor. Canon FF bodies won't recognize EF-S lenses anyhow...
--
Good luck and happy shooting!
 
thebustos said:
thebustos wrote:

I'm not a Canon expert, but I believe any EF mount lenses are design for FF, but are compatible with APS-C. The EF-S mount is Canon's designation for lenses designed for use with APS-C bodies, but they aren't designed use with FF bodies.

The reason for this is sensor size. Since the FF sensor is bigger, EF lenses are designed to provide coverage of the whole sensor. Since the APS-C sensor is smaller than FF, EF-S lenses are designed to provide smaller coverage. If you tried to use EF-S lenses on a FF body, it wouldn't cover all of the sensor. Canon FF bodies won't recognize EF-S lenses anyhow...
Click to expand...
With Canon EF-S lenses it is about more than just image circle. The EF-S lens mount is designed to allow the lens to protrude into the camera reducing the distance between the rear element and the image sensor. Canon APS-C cameras that take EF-S lenses have a smaller mirror to allow this. Full frame cameras do not. EF-S lenses have ring that keeps them from being mounted on full frame cameras, this avoiding the chance of inadvertent mounting and damage to a camera without the smaller mirror.
 
SimonDParker said:
SimonDParker wrote:

I never really print stuff out, and if i do i take it to a specialist. I think what i have issues with is i take a lot of low light photos, out in the street, indoors etc, hence a lot of use of the sigma 30mm 1.4, quite like the L lenses that have 30mm in them, like the 24-70 for example but not sure how good they would be vs the sigma. Are the L lenses compatable with crop and full frame bodies? Maybe go for an L lens now with a view at some point to go full frame but then again do i need full frame? Muy main problem is at low light, images are often over exposed, and i have to go at least -1 stop for a properly exposed image, so not sure if that is down to the lens, camera or me, and maybe that is a general thing with low light photography.

You maybe right about some photo course, i often think about doing that, but not sure where to start given what i like to shoot. Some sort of online course, or residential, weekend for example. I'm UK based. Getting to be a better photographer maybe the way to go thought a lot of stuff it seems is free anyway, on YouTube

Welcoming the comments, thanks
Click to expand...
L lenses are compatible with your camera. Your Sigma 30mm f/1.4 has as large an aperture as any of the L lenses in that focal length. So, while you will gain image quality, you wont gain any low light advantage.

The Canon 6D is fantastic in low light, but, being a full frame camera is not compatible with all of your EF-S lenses.

The Canon 6D with the kit 24-105 f/4L and a Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 would be ideal for street photography. But, is beyond your budget.

What ISOs do you normally end up using with your current camera?
 
Last edited:
From what you say it's not clear that you need to spend any money on gear (I know new gear is always fun but that's different). There seem to be no problems with what you have: you have the range of focal lengths that you want, and a good fast prime that suits you. You don't mention any concerns with image quality or any frustrations that there is something that you want to do but can't do with your current gear. You could end up spending a lot of money and basically making no difference to your photos.

One thing I'd suggest therefore is a course of some sort. My sister did one recently and really enjoyed it: training and advice, specific assignments, classes in things like macro, portraiture, night shooting and so on. It transformed her enjoyment of her hobby and she changed from a happy snapper to a much more thoughtful photographer who could produce really good images. She used a Canon 400D and Sigma 18-200 lens... considerably inferior to your gear but plenty good enough to make big pictures that she is pleased to have framed and on her wall.

So I would suggest a course of some kind; and save the change until you know what you need.

Best wishes
 
SimonDParker said:
SimonDParker wrote:

Hope you can help and advise. I'm getting more and more into photography, trying different things, low light, street photography, landscape etc and wondering what would be a good upgrade, if anything? Should I now look to go full frame? I've a Canon 550D, and a few lenses, including

Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS USM

Canon EF 50mm 1:1.8 II

Canon EF-S 18-55mm kit lens

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II

Sigma 30 mm F1.4 EX DC HSM

I have to say I use mostly the Sigma 30mm, mainly as with the crop camera it's same as a 50mm, whereas the 50mm is around 80mm? So walking around town with camera the 30mm is great. Other than that i use the 15-85 a fair bit, especially perhaps on holiday as a bit of all in one lens. Rarely use anything above 85mm but have the zoom if i need to, eg kids sports days etc. I keep looking at the 'L' lenses, pricey and not sure what would suit for what i need, if anything. And if i go full frame camera, should I? then I think the 15-85 no longer works with that, is that correct?

So with a budget of around £1000, what would you suggest? New camera? Full frame? New lens? Perhaps can sell the kit lens, though not worth much, or sell that with the old camera if i get a new one. Oh the decisions. and I don't mind buying second hand if there are good deals out there.

Appreciate your help and advice
Click to expand...
you've got a good assortment of lens so (like others have said) identify the need -

more focal length?

larger aperture?

combination?
 
I think what i'll do having read all the feedback, thanks, is to find a photo course. I've already posted on here about locating one. And in the meantime I think I'll get myself a better tripod, mines a cheap flimsy one so something more substantial would be good, and an ND filter to play around with at the local lakes and rivers.
 
Good to know. I was wondering why you couldn't use EF-S lenses like you can with DT lenses on Sony...
--
Good luck and happy shooting!
 
Dont really need to buy anything as you seem to have everything covered.

If your really dieing to buy new gear then.

Lenses.

Maybe a 17-55mm f/2.8 to replace your 15-85mm (ONLY if you feel that it is not good enough in low light and wanted better FL range than your 30mm 1.4)

Or a 70-300 IS USM or 70-200 f/4L Non IS or IS to replace your kit zoom? if the weight/size isn't a problem.

Body.

Maybe a used canon 7D? or 60D?

These options all add weight to your kit and if the weight discourages you from taking your camera with you everywhere then dont upgrade at all. As a camera at home is as good as dead money.

Remember you can always sell your 18-55mm; 15-85mm and 55-250mm to fund some of this stuff, although you wouldn't get much for the two kit lenses.
 
Youve got enough gear to do most anything! I am so glad you chose to take a class and you will do very well. My daughter is actually taking a 264 series class on digital photography online at a local CC. Its a GREAT class too and she may be in a lil over her head but its online and Dad's here to help her:-)
 
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