Upgrading to a new camera – lessons learned
Finally, my Canon 5D Mark II is on its way. However, from this process I have learned quite a bit about my old camera and how I will handle camera upgrades in the future.
The day after the 5D Mark II was announced, I decided to preorder it. At first I was very skeptical of the camera, but in the end I decided that a camera with basically the same sensor as the 1Ds Mark III, without the AF and the weather sealing but with video was a good deal at $2700.
After reading on a rumor site that the camera would be released early, I called Buydig to see when my camera would ship. They confirmed that it was coming soon so I sold my old 5D in October. Unfortunately, this turned out not to be true so I have had to get by without a camera for the last two months.
Being without a camera for so long and watching as people started unboxing their Mark II’s has left me with the following conclusions.
First, among the high end cameras these days there isn’t a huge difference. Sure, the Nikon D700 and D3 are great cameras, but for the most part you can take great pictures with any of them. You may find more keepers when using the Nikon or one of the Canon 1D series when taking sports shots, but in general a photographer can take amazing shots with any of these cameras.
When I started looking at the shots users were taking with the 5D Mark II, it certainly became apparent that it isn’t a huge upgrade to the original 5D. Some comparison have found that the two cameras have approximately the same noise levels. The Mark II certainly has an advantage in terms of resolution, but you’ll need a lens that can resolve that resolution.
Therefore, when I do upgrade again someday I will likely wait for the new camera to come out and see the reviews before ordering it. If the camera appears worth it, I will then sell my existing one. The main reason I chose to sell my original 5D so early was I wanted to get the best price for it, however since the Mark II has been released prices on the original 5D haven’t fallen much.
The other thing I realized was I need to get out and take pictures more. The camera does not make the photographer – the photos he/she takes do. When I receive the new camera, expect to see a lot more pictures posted as I do intend to take far more pictures and experiment more.
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Tags: canon 5d Mark II, lessons, photography, technology
Having a second body, even a small one like the Rebel XTI, is a better option than none. Not to mention the benefit of a second lens always at hand.