Ugrading from a Canon EOS 450

**SarahM** · 03-24-2009, 07:52 AM

I have a Canon EOS 450D with kit lenses, although I have just got an EF 50 1.8 which I love. I am looking to upgrade but have a bit of a dilemma. In the long run, I really want a 5D. I could go up to 40 or 50D and then, eventually a 5D or, I could take the plunge and get the camera I really want and have it for life. I am selling some triathlon kit so could spend about £1000 at the moment which would buy a 40D with a EFS 17-85 lens. However, the lens would not be compatible with the 5D later on. The EF 24-105 lens costs £1 000 but just an extra £500 on the body only price of a 5D when bought in combination. I have been offered the 5D on interest free credit with the deposit I could afford now so my options are:

1. stick as I am
2. go for a 40D with a EFS 17-85 and wait a few more years before getting a 5D
or 3. paying £1000 deposit and getting a 5D on 12 months interest free credit.

Would the quality of a 5D over a 40D make it worth while? I am about to do a project shooting portraits of people waiting for and having had transplant, together with medical equipment etc which will probably be exhibited so it could be worth having the best equipment up front? I think you can see I know what I want, I am just having huge guilt pangs on how much it costs ;)

**JohnB** · 03-24-2009, 09:48 AM

If I had a Canon 450D, I wouldn't up/downgrade to a 40D, personally. If I were to upgrade to a crop-sensor camera, it would definitely be to the 50D or I'd wait and spend my money on lenses and/or lighting. If you are planning on upgrading to the 5D later on, I'd buy only EF lenses as the EF-S lenses won't work.

When you say 5D, do you mean the 5D or 5D Mark II?

I'm planning on upgrading my XTi/400D to the Canon 5D Mark II within a year. I shoot mostly landscape, but I've been getting into portrait photography and lighting. If I were to do portrait and event photography strictly, I'd go with the 50D as the lenses are lighter and easier to carry around.

**SarahM** · 03-24-2009, 11:25 AM

Thanks John,
I plan to do mainly portraits and street photography. It is the 5D mark II I was looking at. It is good to hear that a 50D would also be good for the kind of things I want to do as it is a much more realistic price. I can get that with an EF-S 17-85 lens for a lot less than the 5D. Would that be a lot better than the 450 with kit lenses that I am currently using?

**JohnB** · 03-24-2009, 12:42 PM

I'm kind of curious why you want to upgrade so soon. The 450D is a good camera, I'm sure. If you're just getting started out, I'd spend more time learning and taking pictures and learning what limitations you have with your current gear. I'd dare say most of the limitations you will run into with your current gear is lens selection, not your camera. The only real limitation I've found with my camera is high ISO noise performance. I'd like less noise at ISO levels above 800. I'd like to be able to use my camera in dark venues, as I did when I shot the play at our Church this Christmas. I shot most of the pictures at ISO 800 and they came out good, but a lot weren't usable as the shutter speed just wasn't fast enough.

I'm sure the 50D w/ 17-85mm lens is better than the 450D, but I don't know how much better. I don't have experience with either of those.

Hopefully others will be able to offer some input. I know of at least one person here that uses a 5D (not Mark II).

**SarahM** · 03-24-2009, 01:13 PM

Hi John,

It is mainly because two things.

I am doing the transplant journey shoots in May and June and they could well end up becoming and exhibition so I want to capture them in the best way possible. I have got a strong feeling from people that the 450 and kit lens is really not good enough to achieve really good shots. However, I have been very pleased with some of my photos and did very well in a competition with others with what would be seen as 'better cameras'.

I am selling some stuff on Thursday and if I don't spend it now it will get swallowed up and I know I will need to upgrade eventually to make the images sharper. I was thinking of new lenses on the 450 but the cost is only a couple of hundred less than getting the lens with a new 50 or 40D so, if they are better cameras, it it a better economy to get the combination rather than just lens. Then, I got to thinking, is it better to upgrade in steps or just get what will do for life to save money in the long run....too much confusion really!

Maybe it is far too easy to get swallowed up in the technology.