Suggestions for upgrading my equipment?

Hi all,

I am an amateur photographer and mainly photograph my small children (both toddlers) who are constantly on the move. I currently have a Canon 60d and almost exclusively use the Canon 50 mm 1.8 lens. I shoot indoors a lot (very low light) but also do some shooting outside, especially during the warmer weather. I am thinking of upgrading my equipment and would be grateful for your thoughts. I am looking at getting a full frame camera and at least one additional lens (preferably zoom). Here are my questions:

Is it worth it to upgrade to the Canon 6D? I am also quite intrigued by the Sony a7, but am not sure it is right for my purposes (I recognize that I am posting on the Canon thread . I like the idea of a smaller camera that I can fit in my bag so that I can always have it on hand.

If I stay with Canon and go to FF - what are your recommendations for lenses? Thanks so much in advance for any suggestions.

Anna

Buy a good flash and learn how to use it if you haven't already.

Annapin said:

Hi all,

I am an amateur photographer and mainly photograph my small children (both toddlers) who are constantly on the move. I currently have a Canon 60d and almost exclusively use the Canon 50 mm 1.8 lens. I shoot indoors a lot (very low light) but also do some shooting outside, especially during the warmer weather. I am thinking of upgrading my equipment and would be grateful for your thoughts. I am looking at getting a full frame camera and at least one additional lens (preferably zoom). Here are my questions:

Is it worth it to upgrade to the Canon 6D? I am also quite intrigued by the Sony a7, but am not sure it is right for my purposes (I recognize that I am posting on the Canon thread . I like the idea of a smaller camera that I can fit in my bag so that I can always have it on hand.

If I stay with Canon and go to FF - what are your recommendations for lenses? Thanks so much in advance for any suggestions.

Anna

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Get an Sigma 50mm 1.4 and and a flash. It will cost you less and you will have better result. The 60D is a very capable camera.

Annapin said:

Hi all,

I am an amateur photographer and mainly photograph my small children (both toddlers) who are constantly on the move. I currently have a Canon 60d and almost exclusively use the Canon 50 mm 1.8 lens. I shoot indoors a lot (very low light) but also do some shooting outside, especially during the warmer weather. I am thinking of upgrading my equipment and would be grateful for your thoughts. I am looking at getting a full frame camera and at least one additional lens (preferably zoom). Here are my questions:

Is it worth it to upgrade to the Canon 6D? I am also quite intrigued by the Sony a7, but am not sure it is right for my purposes (I recognize that I am posting on the Canon thread . I like the idea of a smaller camera that I can fit in my bag so that I can always have it on hand.

If I stay with Canon and go to FF - what are your recommendations for lenses? Thanks so much in advance for any suggestions.

Click to expand...

If you're shooting toddlers in motion, you'll need an AF system that's good at tracking moving subjects. From what I've read about the AF systems on the A7/R, as well as my own experience with the similar AF system on my RX1, I doubt you'd be happy with the A7. Plus, once you've put a low light lens on the A7, it isn't small anymore.

As for the 6D, although I don't have any personal experience with it, from what I've read, it's ability to track moving subjects gets mixed reviews. Some say it does fine, while others take a different view. I'm sure some 6D owners will chime in.

If price were no object, I'd recommend the 5D3.

Annapin said:

Hi all,

I am an amateur photographer and mainly photograph my small children (both toddlers) who are constantly on the move. I currently have a Canon 60d and almost exclusively use the Canon 50 mm 1.8 lens. I shoot indoors a lot (very low light) but also do some shooting outside, especially during the warmer weather. I am thinking of upgrading my equipment and would be grateful for your thoughts. I am looking at getting a full frame camera and at least one additional lens (preferably zoom). Here are my questions:

Is it worth it to upgrade to the Canon 6D? I am also quite intrigued by the Sony a7, but am not sure it is right for my purposes (I recognize that I am posting on the Canon thread . I like the idea of a smaller camera that I can fit in my bag so that I can always have it on hand.

If I stay with Canon and go to FF - what are your recommendations for lenses? Thanks so much in advance for any suggestions.

Click to expand...

What is it about the pics you're getting with your current system that you'd like to improve? Too much noise? Too many out of focus shots? Something else?

bhollis said:

Annapin said:

Hi all,

I am an amateur photographer and mainly photograph my small children (both toddlers) who are constantly on the move. I currently have a Canon 60d and almost exclusively use the Canon 50 mm 1.8 lens. I shoot indoors a lot (very low light) but also do some shooting outside, especially during the warmer weather. I am thinking of upgrading my equipment and would be grateful for your thoughts. I am looking at getting a full frame camera and at least one additional lens (preferably zoom). Here are my questions:

Is it worth it to upgrade to the Canon 6D? I am also quite intrigued by the Sony a7, but am not sure it is right for my purposes (I recognize that I am posting on the Canon thread . I like the idea of a smaller camera that I can fit in my bag so that I can always have it on hand.

If I stay with Canon and go to FF - what are your recommendations for lenses? Thanks so much in advance for any suggestions.

Click to expand...

What is it about the pics you're getting with your current system that you'd like to improve? Too much noise? Too many out of focus shots? Something else?

Click to expand...

Thanks for all the replies already. I do have a 430 EXII flash and do use it. A few things that I would like to improve (speed - even with the fastest memory card, I still can't capture the moments as quickly as I would like and also do get some out of focus shots; AF points - I know this would not be resolved by the 6D, which is one of my hesitations, but I wish I had more options in terms of focusing; noise - yes, I find the photos still have quite a bit of noise even at ISO 800). Also, given that I am going to invest in additional lenses, I am questioning whether I need to go full frame now so as to only make one investment. THANKS!

Annapin said:

Hi all,

I am an amateur photographer and mainly photograph my small children (both toddlers) who are constantly on the move. I currently have a Canon 60d and almost exclusively use the Canon 50 mm 1.8 lens. I shoot indoors a lot (very low light) but also do some shooting outside, especially during the warmer weather. I am thinking of upgrading my equipment and would be grateful for your thoughts. I am looking at getting a full frame camera and at least one additional lens (preferably zoom). Here are my questions:

Is it worth it to upgrade to the Canon 6D? I am also quite intrigued by the Sony a7, but am not sure it is right for my purposes (I recognize that I am posting on the Canon thread . I like the idea of a smaller camera that I can fit in my bag so that I can always have it on hand.

If I stay with Canon and go to FF - what are your recommendations for lenses? Thanks so much in advance for any suggestions.

Anna

Click to expand...

I would get a better zoom such as 17-55/2.8 EFS instead... Then a 70D or 7D if you really need fast AF tracking for toddlers. AF of your 50/1.8 is a tad slow I would say...

Annapin said:

bhollis said:

Annapin said:

Hi all,

I am an amateur photographer and mainly photograph my small children (both toddlers) who are constantly on the move. I currently have a Canon 60d and almost exclusively use the Canon 50 mm 1.8 lens. I shoot indoors a lot (very low light) but also do some shooting outside, especially during the warmer weather. I am thinking of upgrading my equipment and would be grateful for your thoughts. I am looking at getting a full frame camera and at least one additional lens (preferably zoom). Here are my questions:

Is it worth it to upgrade to the Canon 6D? I am also quite intrigued by the Sony a7, but am not sure it is right for my purposes (I recognize that I am posting on the Canon thread . I like the idea of a smaller camera that I can fit in my bag so that I can always have it on hand.

If I stay with Canon and go to FF - what are your recommendations for lenses? Thanks so much in advance for any suggestions.

Click to expand...

What is it about the pics you're getting with your current system that you'd like to improve? Too much noise? Too many out of focus shots? Something else?

Click to expand...

Thanks for all the replies already. I do have a 430 EXII flash and do use it. A few things that I would like to improve (speed - even with the fastest memory card, I still can't capture the moments as quickly as I would like and also do get some out of focus shots; AF points - I know this would not be resolved by the 6D, which is one of my hesitations, but I wish I had more options in terms of focusing; noise - yes, I find the photos still have quite a bit of noise even at ISO 800). Also, given that I am going to invest in additional lenses, I am questioning whether I need to go full frame now so as to only make one investment. THANKS!

Click to expand...

Hmm. To reduce noise, you could go full frame, or use your flash more and shoot at a lower ISO. For better focus, you could stop down a little and up the ISO (more noise), or again, stop down and use a flash. Surprised you're having problems with write speed. First I've heard of this being a problem with the 60D.

If you want top-tier AF, then the 5D3 is the answer--but at a price. The 70D would also provide a better AF system than your 60D. A better/faster focusing lens might also be an option.

If you're going to stay with a crop, I'd recommend you take a look at the new Sigma 18-35 f/1.8.

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/sigma-18-35-1-8

Annapin said:

Thanks for all the replies already. I do have a 430 EXII flash and do use it. A few things that I would like to improve (speed - even with the fastest memory card, I still can't capture the moments as quickly as I would like and also do get some out of focus shots; AF points - I know this would not be resolved by the 6D, which is one of my hesitations, but I wish I had more options in terms of focusing; noise - yes, I find the photos still have quite a bit of noise even at ISO 800). Also, given that I am going to invest in additional lenses, I am questioning whether I need to go full frame now so as to only make one investment. THANKS!

Click to expand...

It seems to me, as a feeling, that you still have not "mastered" your current gear. Lets see:

1. Out of focus shots: the AF on your 50D is basically similar to the one on the 6D (the central point of the 6D is indeed more sensitive, but unless you are shooting in near dark conditions, the difference is unimportant). Are you using a fast enough shutter speed? Are you using AF tracking and Servo modes properly?

2. Noise, well, that is highly subjective. If you print, does the noise shows up in prints? Are you shooting RAW and processing accordingly? Just a small amount of noise reduction works wonders...

If you go FF, get the 6D (more than enough) and no lens, just use the 50mm lens you have, until you get more experienced.

Hi Anna,

I'm in almost the exact same situation evaluating very similar options. I'm also an amateur with two young children (ages 2 & 4). I currently have a 60D but am considering a move to FF for better low light performance (I too have a 430EXii) and I'd love a better AF system. While I frequently use a 50mm 1.4 I do find zooms to be a little easier to use with kids. The lens I use the most is a Tamron 17-55 2.8, however it's a crop sensor lens so I need to replace it before going FF. I tried out the Tamron 24-70 2.8 VC this past weekend after reading several excellent reviews and recommend that you take a look at this lens as it would pair well with either the 60D or the 6D. I also tried the Tamron 70-200 2.8 VC which was awesome but, due to the size and weight, I'm not sure it would be practical with toddlers so I'll likely hold off a couple years and opt for a 70-300 VC to replace my Canon 55-250 crop sensor telephoto lens until my kids are a little older. I find that I use the telephoto a lot in the summer but it sits in my camera bag for most of the winter while the shorter zoom gets used year round. I'm definitely not as expert but since we're in a similar situation I thought I'd share the lenses I'm considering. Good luck with your decision!

Thanks for the input everyone. By the way, I do use a high shutter speed (or as high as possible while opening up my lens). I also use Lightroom and its noise reduction features for post-processing. I tend not to use AF tracking as I like to manually select my AF points for the closest eye (most of my photos are close ups). I will look into renting some of the recommended lenses to see what works best for me. Thanks again!

Annapin said:

Thanks for the input everyone. By the way, I do use a high shutter speed (or as high as possible while opening up my lens). I also use Lightroom and its noise reduction features for post-processing.

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Yes, but is the shutter speed high enough to: freeze subject movement (if the subject is moving), and/or avoid camera shake?

Annapin said:

I tend not to use AF tracking as I like to manually select my AF points for the closest eye (most of my photos are close ups). I will look into renting some of the recommended lenses to see what works best for me. Thanks again!

Click to expand...

According to your OP, you said that the majority of your photo situations involve your children moving; now, if you couple that with "close ups", you really should learn how to use AF tracking. You can start simple and use your camera's central AF point in tracking mode. Then, if your subject is too centred, which will happen, you can crop later in LR for a more pleasing composition.

If you buy a FF camera and keep not using AF tracking (and continuous shooting is good in these situations as well), the problem will persist.

Annapin said:

Thanks for the input everyone. By the way, I do use a high shutter speed (or as high as possible while opening up my lens). I also use Lightroom and its noise reduction features for post-processing. I tend not to use AF tracking as I like to manually select my AF points for the closest eye (most of my photos are close ups). I will look into renting some of the recommended lenses to see what works best for me. Thanks again!

Click to expand...

Just to be clear, the Canon term for AF tracking is "AI Servo." And if you haven't been using it to shoot your moving kids, you should give it a try. There's no reason you can't use AI Servo with any AF point you select.

Tizzio said:

Annapin said:

Hi all,

I am an amateur photographer and mainly photograph my small children (both toddlers) who are constantly on the move. I currently have a Canon 60d and almost exclusively use the Canon 50 mm 1.8 lens. I shoot indoors a lot (very low light) but also do some shooting outside, especially during the warmer weather. I am thinking of upgrading my equipment and would be grateful for your thoughts. I am looking at getting a full frame camera and at least one additional lens (preferably zoom). Here are my questions:

Is it worth it to upgrade to the Canon 6D? I am also quite intrigued by the Sony a7, but am not sure it is right for my purposes (I recognize that I am posting on the Canon thread . I like the idea of a smaller camera that I can fit in my bag so that I can always have it on hand.

If I stay with Canon and go to FF - what are your recommendations for lenses? Thanks so much in advance for any suggestions.

Anna

Click to expand...

I would get a better zoom such as 17-55/2.8 EFS instead... Then a 70D or 7D if you really need fast AF tracking for toddlers. AF of your 50/1.8 is a tad slow I would say...

Click to expand...

17-55 is about 700$, I cant see any justification for that kind of investment on crop. Instead, if one buys 6d body+28-135 or tamron 28-75(about 1600 for both) you can't beat it wit any crop+17-55

I'm not sure a 6D is going to gain you much over your current equipment. If price is not a concern then sure, FF is a nice upgrade in the high ISO and shallow depth of field department. But...the 6D has basically the same auto focus as your 60D, not the fastest for tracking moving toddlers. And your 50mm will be a lot wider than you are used to. You'll need an 80mm lens to get that same field of view back.

I think a 70D and upgrading to the 50 1.4 lens may be the way to go. A much better AF system on the camera and the f1.4 is much better focusing than the 1.8. Combined it will be a drastic improvement.

As for adding a zoom lens, if you want wider than your 50 look into one of the Sigma/Tamron 17-50 f2.8 models. There are several flavors and are very good bang for the buck. If you want telephoto, there are a ton of choices in every price range. But if you're after those creamy, blurred backgrounds than a fast prime lens or two is the much cheaper option. Any telephoto zoom with "f2.8" in the name is going to be expensive...more than the camera.