How to know when to sell your old system?

MerryBee wrote:

I realize this thread is older, but this question is relevant to my situation, if anyone is still following. Quick background, 61 y.o. most likely retiring in the next year and a half. I'm a golfer who took up photography because my wife loves to hike. in the hills around us (Berkshires in western MA) and I thought this would be a great way to spend time together. I only got into photography 6 months ago, and after researching cameras and speaking to friends, decided on the Canon 90D. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to photograph, but knew I would be doing a lot of landscape with some wildlife thrown in, and I was told the 90D would be perfect because of the high pixels, and being a crop sensor would help me with wildlife. Now that I'm 6 months in, I know landscape is what I'll be doing mostly, with a lot of nightscape thrown in. I have the 90D with the 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6. I bought the Sigma 18-35 mm f/1.8 DC after reviewing "decent landscape/astro" lenses, the "nifty 50" as it was inexpensive and quick, and I was gifted 2 lenses (Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6Lll and Sigma 105mm f/2.8). I love the camera (still learning) but I really think I should have gone full frame (didn't know enough going in).

I can't afford to just keep buying equipment ($ as well as storage), so I'm torn. I'm going to stick with Canon d/t the lenses I own. Do I buy a refurbished Canon R or RP and keep the 90D, sell the 90D and buy the R6 mkll (though I'd be slightly stretching myself), or wait about 2 years and sell the 90D and buy a refurbished R5. Sorry this was so long to get to the question, but I've been doing a ton of research and I'm still torn, especially since in September, I'll be doing a northern Alaskan cruise and then spending 2 weeks in Alaska after the cruise. Thanks.

I personally preferred the RP+EG-E1 over the R, 4 years ago I didn't feel the R was worth the price difference.

For your Alaska trip, renting an R6II for, taking a guess here at the duration, 33 days is $404 at lensrentals.com, the RP is $232 and an R5 is $604. That would give you your 90D plus an extra FF body on your trip, with hopefully a few days to get used to it before you embark.

The downside is that it's a rental, so you only get experience and pictures out of it, not a body you can keep. And hopefully a better idea of what you actually prefer for future shooting.

MerryBee wrote:

I realize this thread is older, but this question is relevant to my situation, if anyone is still following. Quick background, 61 y.o. most likely retiring in the next year and a half. I'm a golfer who took up photography because my wife loves to hike. in the hills around us (Berkshires in western MA) and I thought this would be a great way to spend time together. I only got into photography 6 months ago, and after researching cameras and speaking to friends, decided on the Canon 90D. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to photograph, but knew I would be doing a lot of landscape with some wildlife thrown in, and I was told the 90D would be perfect because of the high pixels, and being a crop sensor would help me with wildlife. Now that I'm 6 months in, I know landscape is what I'll be doing mostly, with a lot of nightscape thrown in. I have the 90D with the 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6. I bought the Sigma 18-35 mm f/1.8 DC after reviewing "decent landscape/astro" lenses, the "nifty 50" as it was inexpensive and quick, and I was gifted 2 lenses (Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6Lll and Sigma 105mm f/2.8). I love the camera (still learning) but I really think I should have gone full frame (didn't know enough going in).

I can't afford to just keep buying equipment ($ as well as storage), so I'm torn. I'm going to stick with Canon d/t the lenses I own. Do I buy a refurbished Canon R or RP and keep the 90D, sell the 90D and buy the R6 mkll (though I'd be slightly stretching myself), or wait about 2 years and sell the 90D and buy a refurbished R5. Sorry this was so long to get to the question, but I've been doing a ton of research and I'm still torn, especially since in September, I'll be doing a northern Alaskan cruise and then spending 2 weeks in Alaska after the cruise. Thanks.

Why not rent an R now and see if, to you, a FF camera really makes a difference? Bear in mind that to mount your EF lenses you will need an RF adapter. You can buy the simplest Canon adapter, and you can probably find it in Canon’s refurbished site. If you decide you don’t really need FF you can trade in or sell your 90D and get an R7. If you do prefer FF I would suggest stretching to the R6 mk ii. Either way, you would wind up with an R body that has IBIS, which does help in low light, especially when used together with an (relatively) inexpensive RF prime lens  that has IS too. The RF 35 F/1.8 is rated for 7 stops of stabilization on an IBIS body, 5 stops on it’s own. I notice the difference but people’s mileage may vary. IBIS also helps with EF lenses that do not have their own in lens IS.

I'd hold onto your current set up. You'll want to be 100% familiar with it for your trip. You have a great selection of lenses and might as well work with those.

But I would also keep an eye out on the canon refurb site. I got an RP for <$600 during one of their occasional refurb sales... And oddly enough the 1st place I took it was Tyringham Cobble and with the refurb rf70-200f4 and Rf24-105f4 L that I also got for a steal..... It's an impressively small package that fits in the same bag I use for my M43 gear. Even up the steeper ascent of Monument mountain I had no issues carrying the gear...

For your use an rp would be ideal. It has decent resolution, Great colors, but might present some challenges In lower light sutuations... I like to set my shots up, so I don't do post very often, so it's not an issue for me. And since you don't necessarily need either speed or IBIS for landscape, it presents an economical option.

But I wouldn't worry about selling your body at least until you get very familiar with the rf system... And I think you could save a lot of money  keeping the lenses you have because they are quite nice. I don't think you'd probably get more than a couple hundred bucks for your body, so maybe you just save it as a backup body anyway. You'd probably be better off selling some of your lenses but since what you have is pretty good I don't see the need to switch to rf lenses..

You are fortunate to have so many beautiful year round areas to enjoy and photograph out that way. Berkshire county is truly one of the most beautiful places weve ever been, and we are lucky to at least get to spend ~4 mo/yr in SoCo every year, and love every minute of it.

Sold my EF gear, paid for most of my RF gear

Berkshire_photo_guy wrote:

I realize this thread is older, but this question is relevant to my situation, if anyone is still following. Quick background, 61 y.o. most likely retiring in the next year and a half. I'm a golfer who took up photography because my wife loves to hike. in the hills around us (Berkshires in western MA) and I thought this would be a great way to spend time together. I only got into photography 6 months ago, and after researching cameras and speaking to friends, decided on the Canon 90D. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to photograph, but knew I would be doing a lot of landscape with some wildlife thrown in, and I was told the 90D would be perfect because of the high pixels, and being a crop sensor would help me with wildlife. Now that I'm 6 months in, I know landscape is what I'll be doing mostly, with a lot of nightscape thrown in. I have the 90D with the 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6. I bought the Sigma 18-35 mm f/1.8 DC after reviewing "decent landscape/astro" lenses, the "nifty 50" as it was inexpensive and quick, and I was gifted 2 lenses (Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6Lll and Sigma 105mm f/2.8). I love the camera (still learning) but I really think I should have gone full frame (didn't know enough going in).

I can't afford to just keep buying equipment ($ as well as storage), so I'm torn. I'm going to stick with Canon d/t the lenses I own. Do I buy a refurbished Canon R or RP and keep the 90D, sell the 90D and buy the R6 mkll (though I'd be slightly stretching myself), or wait about 2 years and sell the 90D and buy a refurbished R5. Sorry this was so long to get to the question, but I've been doing a ton of research and I'm still torn, especially since in September, I'll be doing a northern Alaskan cruise and then spending 2 weeks in Alaska after the cruise. Thanks.

I personally think the 90d holds up as a hobby camera just fine, but if you do decide to go full frame, sell everything APSC you own and buy a R8 with some of the cheaper RF glass (e.g. 35mm f1.8, 85mm f2, 24-105mm f4-7.1 or the flat f4 if you can push it), there's no point of owning 2 bodys like these, don't run ahead and buy an expensive body like the r6 ii, invest in glass, image quality is the same.

Berkshire_photo_guy wrote:

Thank you. I'm actually thinking of getting the refurbished RP. For the price it will make a great 2nd/travel camera. If I decide I prefer the full frame, I'll save up and buy something down the line, whether it be the R, R8, or R6 ll.

IMHO wrong move, once more i'd either keep the 90d and continue investing in the kit or upgrade to the latest and greatest (i.e. R8) and build a kit from there, the RP, as sweet as it is, just doesn't seem like an upgrade over the 90d to me, but it's your call, so good luck with whatever you choose. 

I'm a hoarder and still have Canon 5D1 and some others that I haven't given away. No big deal for me.

Kent