Is it more important to sink money into a camera body, or into a lens?

Question

Here is my conundrum. I am currently using a Canon D60. It is a 6.3 Megapixel body, and it gives generally excellent results up to 11x14. Sometimes I need to crop, though...and a little more sharpness or pixels would come in handy. I am considering doing one of two things in the near future. I'm either going to buy a nicer lens like the 85mm 1.2L for my D60 (I am currently using the 50mm 1.4 USM) or I am going to sell my D60 and get a higher Megapixel body like the 40D or even the 1Ds. Either body will almost double my megapixels.

So, my question is, which will give me better results, a better lens on my current body, or a better body for my current lens?

Another note: Most of my photography involves people photos and portraits.

Answer 1

The question you ask is similar to asking whether you should buy racing tires to place your car in the Indy 500 or purchase a car to go with the tires you have.
You can see the corelation. The better car would naturally push the current tires at higher speeds but then the tires would you have currently would not be able to sustain the higher speeds. That's the predictament you're inquiring about in asking the question about your camera.
The answer is that you are going to upgrade you need to upgrade both. Of course the lens you currently have will probably fit on the new camera but the best senerial is to purchase a better camera and a better lens for the type of work you are doing.

Answer 2

First of all, the mega pixel do not make a good image, it's what type of sensor you are using. An older sensor will likely not have the quality of a newer one; this goes for all cameras.

More megapixels are great, but most people do not need more than 10. For the average user, that is, non-professional, 10, 8, and even 6 are just fine. 12 is really too much, and 16, or 21, offered on the professional Canons are overkill.

As for the lens, well, this is what the image is actually determines how nice your image will turn out. How saturated, contrasty, and so on. A good lens is just as important as a good photographer. No good lens, no good images. With that said, get the best lens you need/can afford. The 85mm 1.2 L lens will likely suit your needs for a long time. It's top notch.

One suggestion would be, get both. The reason being, you suggested you might buy a 1Ds, Mark ?. Whichever you buy, this will be anywhere from $5,000-$8,000. If you can afford it, upgrade to a better camera body, such as the Canon 40d or EOS 5D. If you have the money, get the 5D, since it is an excellent full frame sensor. On the 40d, the 85mm will actually be a 136mm, due to the 1.6 crop factor on the sensor. Along with this, get the 85mm 1.2, or something equivalent. You wont go wrong.

Hope this helped.

Answer 3

at the beginning, the mega pixel do not make a competent photograph, that is what form of sensor you're utilising. An older sensor will in all risk not have the commonplace of a extra modern-day one; this is going for all cameras. extra megapixels are super, yet maximum folk do not prefer extra suitable than 10. For the wide-unfold consumer, it incredibly is, non-expert, 10, 8, or maybe 6 are purely positive. 12 is truthfully too lots, and sixteen, or 21, provided on the expert Canons are overkill. As for the lens, properly, that's what the image is truthfully determines how advantageous your photograph will finally end up. How saturated, contrasty, etc. a competent lens is purely as significant as a competent photographer. No sturdy lens, no sturdy photographs. With that reported, get the suited lens you prefer/can arise with the money for. The 85mm one million.2 L lens will in all risk healthful your desires for an prolonged time. that is desirable notch. One suggestion could be, get the two. the rationalization being, you stated you may desire to purchase a 1Ds, Mark ?. Whichever you purchase, this could be everywhere from $5,000-$8,000. in case you may arise with the money for it, improve to a extra suited digital camera physique, such because of the fact the Canon 40d or EOS 5D. in case you have the money, get the 5D, for the reason that's an dazzling finished physique sensor. on the 40d, the 85mm will truthfully be a 136mm, because of the only million.6 crop ingredient on the sensor. alongside with this, get the 85mm one million.2, or some thing equivalent. You wont go incorrect. desire this helped.

Answer 4

Truthfully, you won't find a much better lens than the 50mm 1.4 you're currently using.

Yes, the 85mm 1.2L will probably be very slightly sharper than the 50mm 1.4 in the 1.2 to f2 range. Beyond that, more than likely, the two of them would be equal.

Unless you really need the extra half stop the 85mm offers, you'd be better off just keeping the 50mm.

At the same time, if you take portraits, and you upgrade to the 5D or 1Ds, you're probably going to find that that 50mm is too short. Then, you'd be right back to upgrading your lens to the 85mm anyway, and would be out twice as much money.

Although I'm usually a big advocate of spending more money on a lens, I think that given your situation, a body upgrade would be more apropriate.

Answer 5

Okay, in your circumstances, your best choice would be to go for the 40D. If you know what your doing, you can get excellent 20"x30" prints out of it. Do you do a lot of 20"X30" prints?

Compared to your camera body, the 40D has lower noise across the board, much greater dynamic range, higher image resolution, vastly superior focusing in any light, and the list goes on.

The lens you currently have exceeds what your sensor can do. Getting a better lens won't get you anything. Your choice is what body to get.

I wouldn't get either the 1Ds MK III or 1D MK III unless you have a real need and it doesn't sound like you do. Another alternative, the 5D, is also probably more than you need, since the 40D's image quality is so close to it.

With any of the full frame cameras, you will need to buy new lenses, too.

Cropping won't be a problem with any of them.

If you don't mind spending $1,000 or $1,000's more than you really need to, knock yourself out.

Vance

Answer 6

Hmm, that is a tough choice. Do you need to crop because of the limitations of your equipment (i.e. you'd like to zoom-in more on the framing, but you can't, so you take a larger shot and crop) or because you later decide to reframe, don't like the background, or whatever?

If the former, I'd say go for the lens, since you can get better zoom that way. If the latter I'd go for a higher res camera because it gives you more flexibility in terms of image manipulation, especially if you are setting it at the max resolution it can handle. My guess is if you are mostly taking portraits, it falls into the first category, but I could be wrong and you know your situation better than I do.

Answer 7

1. Photo quality will never exceed lens quality.

2. A perfect lens would not compensate for a body that lacks the features needed to get the picture.

Think about what types of photo techniques you will do then choose an appropriate body. Then buy the best lens you can afford.

Answer 8

I would say go for the lens, unless you are really hurting for more cropping power. The 50 1.4 is a great portrait lens on the crop sensor, so you're not bad for lenses...

I'd still go for the 85L though.

Answer 9

Lens you can always upgrade the body later. I was always recommended to buy the best lens I can afford. That advise has served me well.

Answer 10

A good lens in a must you will notice the difference. But if your body is only a 6.3 megapixel i would say it's probably time for an upgrade.