Should I buy a 5d or stick with my 30d?

[johnphotog]

I am an occasional photographer (going to yellowstone and Grand Tetons in July) and purchased my 30d about 2 years ago.  My other Equipment is:

Tamron 17-50mm 2.8
Canon 70-200mm 4.0/L
Canon 430EX Flash

Presently, I use this camera for things like vacations, kids, sporting events, etc.  I hope to make it more of a hobby in the future.  I really like the L lense and would like to buy a few more over the next couple of years.

I had wanted to buy a full frame camera when I bought the 30d but could not justify the cost based on my nonprofessional use.  Now I am thinking I should bite the bullet at the new lower cost of the 5d.  This way, I can have a full frame that should suit my needs for the future and allow me to invest in lenses that will be high quality without the risk of them being obsolete in the future......but then again, I think if it will really matter much to me since I am not strickly a wide angle user and if, maybe,  I am not better off having a farther reach with the present 30d crop factor system??  From what I understand, you will actually get better resolution out of a 30d photograph versus a 5d photograph that you have to crop to get the same image.  Someone told me I would really appreciate the viewfinder in the 5d vs the 30d....I am not sure why.

Could you comment on the pros and cons of upgrading now to the 5d??  If I did, I probably would want to sell my old equipment in like new condition before it got too obsolete.

Thanks for your help.

[DarkPenguin]

The 5D is showing you 95% coverage of a much larger frame size.  So the viewfinder is bigger.  Keep in mind, tho, that the magnification is like .71x.  So it is really a pretty crappy viewfinder that is saved by the larger frame size.  As the 30D's viewfinder is pretty iffy it should be a nice improvement.  (The 40D's is much better than the 30D's.)

Anywho, you'll have to sell the tamron 17-50 if you go FF and will probably want to replace it with the canon 24-70 or tamron 28-75.  The reach of that 70-200 will shorten quite a bit.  (From 320mm equivalent down to, well, 200mm.)  So you'll probably want to budget for a 100-400 or similar.

Are you looking to go wider?  Do you need the extra MP?

[johnphotog]

The 5D is showing you 95% coverage of a much larger frame size.  So the viewfinder is bigger.  Keep in mind, tho, that the magnification is like .71x.  So it is really a pretty crappy viewfinder that is saved by the larger frame size.  As the 30D's viewfinder is pretty iffy it should be a nice improvement.  (The 40D's is much better than the 30D's.)

Anywho, you'll have to sell the tamron 17-50 if you go FF and will probably want to replace it with the canon 24-70 or tamron 28-75.  The reach of that 70-200 will shorten quite a bit.  (From 320mm equivalent down to, well, 200mm.)  So you'll probably want to budget for a 100-400 or similar.

Are you looking to go wider?  Do you need the extra MP?
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I guess I would like to purchase some nice L lenses but have a problem with them fitting into the crop factor range.    I am not specifically lookling to go wider but I guess I might want that option without getting into specialized s lenses. I don't want to buy s lenses and have them be obsolete when full frame is the norm.

I don't need more megapixels at this point but I would appreciate a brighter and bigger viewfinder.

There must be more advantages to a full frame camera other than just the wide end?  Would you suggest the 24-105 4.0/L IS lense that is available as a kit??

Thanks

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

The bigger and brighter viewfinder is the main reason I upgraded from my 10D to a 5D, back after the first price reduction (around $2700, I think).

I love the camera, and it is just so much nicer in all respects. That viewfinder was the big thing for me, but the extra pixels are really nice, too. I tend to be a wide-angle kind of photographer, so my 70-200 is still just fine. My most frequently used lens these days on the 5D is the 24-105 L lens.

[condit79]

I went from a 30d to a 5d and noticed a difference in the files and was really amazed by the viewfinder difference.  I´d stay away from the 24-105 or get the kit, sell it, and pick up the 24-70 f2.8 (it´ll end up not costing you much because as a kit you get a great discount and can resell for a decent price)...its a much better lens and the 70-105 part of f4 lens isn´t that stellar...plus, it´s f4.  

On a 5d, a 35mm prime is the ideal lens for me for my general shooting and then I have the 24-70, a 16-35 for landscapes, and a 135mm for portrait work.  I guess you´d be well off to just pick up the body first, see what you think you´re missing out on and then purchase some lenses.  People will flame back and forth on the 24-70 and 105, but the main difference is distortion at 24mm, and f4 vs 2.8.  it´s a bit extra but worth it for the IQ IMO.  I have tried the 24-105 (as well as many of my other friends who) and I exchanged it for the other after a day.  I wasn´t impressed in comparison.

[mcfoto]

Hi
The 5D is a great camera for the price & you have to remember it was released 2.5 years ago. I think sometime this year it will be replaced. Personally I would wait.

Denis