@pfrancke wrote:
Hi Scotty,
A little landscape, in the Spring will be on a motorbike cruise in Utah. A little macro (sometimes I paint miniatures). I've got an interest in low-light photography and figured an upgrade would be good for that. Mostly I was just sitting and thinking that 10 years have passed and times have changed... I have no use for video, so that aspect doesn't matter.
Then I was looking around and saw that the 5D which was a 3,000 dollar camera could be had for 550 or so. And I knew that the Rebel line had progressed. And then there was the 50D, 60D, 70D line, and the 7D which is full-frame, but has a smaller sensor (seemed like a step back). So I was just wondering what Those Who Know might think if it is worthwhile to upgrade from the old faithful 400D.
I'm still a little torn thinking about a 5D for $550, or a refurbished 6D for perhaps $1400, but truthfully, it would mean going down the path of lenses that could take advantage of such hardware. And truthfully, it's probably just money wanting to burn a hole in my pocket.
But I know those full frames can take beautiful pictures... so I guess the real question is: Is the 5D really out of date (perhaps because of older sensor technology) or is it a STEAL at 550?
pfrancke, the 50D, 60D, 70D, and 7D are all APS-C size sensors -- not full frame. Only the 5D series, the new 6D, and some (but not all ) of the 1D series cameras are full frame.
The T3i, T4i, T5i, 60D, 70D, and 7D all use an APS-C sensor with the same resolution and near identical ISO perofrmance (there are very tiny differences -- but nothing dramatically obvious). But all will seem like a huge boost in ISO performance over your current camera. Each model provides more features, more control, perhaps a better build, or faster shooting performance, etc. BUT... the "image quality" of your images off the sensor will not be a distinguishing difference. They will all provide "about the same" image quality.
The 60D (as well as the 70D and 7D) add a 2nd dial to the back of the camera. When using manual mode the front dial (main dial) can dial in shutter speed, while the rear dial can dial in aperture (the wheel is large and positioned for easy control by your thumb while you are looking through the viewfinder.) In the semi-automatic modes (P, Tv, and Av) the rear dial can control exposure compensation. All mid-level and pro-level bodies add this dial.
Also, the mid-level and pro-level bodies have the additional LCD display on the top of the camera body as well as a number of instant-access buttons to control commonly adjusted items so you don't need to use multiple buttons or navigate menus as you might have to do on the entry-level bodies.
However, the most dramatic difference in low light performance is with the current full-frame bodies. The 5D II (no longer marketed) is also quite a dramatic improvement in low light (although the 6D and 5D III improve upon even the 5D II performance by just a bit -- a 5D II will still be quite dramatically improved as compared to any of the current generation of APS-C sensor bodies.) The 5D (classic) -- not so much -- that's quite an old sensor.
The 5D II was a fantastic camera in most regards except it's focus system was a bit of a let down (ok, a huge let down... Canon received quite a few tongue lashings over that blunder but the 5D III shows they apparently they were determined to not make that mistake again (the 5D III has essentially the same focus system as the 1D X)). However... the 5D II is quite impressive in ISO performance for low light shots.
The 5D II continued to be sold as an entry full-frame body after Canon released the 5D III... up until the point when Canon released the 6D. The 6D is the body Canon intends as an entry into the full-frame category. It does not have the metering, focusing, performance, or ruggedness of the 5D III... but it does have a much better focusing system than the 5D II and it has few other nice features such as integrated GPS and WiFi.
Based on your emphasis on good ISO performance (presumably you want low noise when shooting at high ISO in low light) then I would cross the 5D (classic) off your list. If you could find a used 5D II or 6D that would certainly be worth considering.
Otherwise, evaluate a 60D -- that's still a lot of camera. It's a mid-level body providing control layout and ergonomics of Canon's higher end bodies, but as it's been replaced by the 70D, they've dropped the price tag into the category of the Rebel bodies. Since it's an APS-C body, it can use all of your current lenses.
Tim Campbell
5D III, 5D IV, 60Da
