Should I sell my Canon 70d...

Should I sell my Canon 70d...

Author
Discussion

russy01

Original Poster:

4,707 posts

187 months

Saturday 4th January 2020
quotequote all
Evening,

5/6yrs ago I wanted to get into photography. Bought a 1100d, loved it and swiftly spent a small fortune on a 70d a few lens’ and pretty much every other bit you could buy!

I practised and loved playing with it, but within a year I had my first daughter (since had another) and have had very little time to use all my gear since. Apart from holidays, family occasions and the odd trip out it’s sat in the cupboard most of the time!

Reasons I find myself not using it:

- it’s a lumpy piece of kit and I don’t want it around my neck all the time.
- unless it’s on your neck all the time it’s a faff getting it out.
- I normally have one of the latest iPhones, thus have a fairly decent snapper to hand at all times.
- am very busy with work and family, so don’t go out specifically to take photos.

Because I haven’t used it much I’ve recently considered selling everything (whilst it has a bit of value still). However I’m not entirely convinced and not sure what to do?

- Sell and rely 100% on iPhone Camera.
- Sell and buy X new modern DSLR, which is more compact and friendly to use daily.
- Sell and buy another product of your recommendation? (Bridge maybe, although I’m
Not a huge fan of them).

I’d say the body and all the bits I have cost approx £2000 and I think I’d be lucky to get £700-800 quid for it all on eBay if I sold now.
Whilst I’m not that concerned about the financial side of it (I’ll happily sell and spend on a new product if it’s going to get used) it seems a bit daft to sell (taking a hit) only to buy a new product which is probably only marginally better?

Any advice?

Cheers...

miniman

25,990 posts

268 months

Saturday 4th January 2020
quotequote all
It’s a really tough one that I have been grappling with. I have a 7D and used to have some great lenses - 70-200 2.8L, 10-20, Sigma 24-70 2.8. I sold the 70-200 and 10-20 a long time ago (because I needed the money at the time) and the 24-70 is worn out. I bought an (excellent) Sony RX100 Mk1 compact for holidays etc. and it is miles better than the average phone camera of the time but when you have been used to the speed (e.g. of focus), control ergonomics, ability to focus / exposure lock properly and so many other things that a DSLR has...

So I have just traded in the 24-70 for a 17-55 2.8 (EFS so properly 17mm rather than 17 x 1.6) for our upcoming trip to the US in an attempt to get back into it.

We shall see!

russy01

Original Poster:

4,707 posts

187 months

Saturday 4th January 2020
quotequote all
This is my problem, a bridge or fancy compact has most of the pitfalls of the DSLR (I.e going to be zipped in a case), and then when being used it’s got half the features missing over a DSLR.

- It’s either iPhone on its own and sell 70d.
- keep 70d and make more effort to use it.
- sell 70d and replace with smaller, lighter newer DSLR hoping this encourages me to use it more.


flight147z

1,042 posts

135 months

Saturday 4th January 2020
quotequote all
What specific lenses do you have? (and what did you use them for)
What type of photography did you used to do?

Some stuff can be replaced by a phone, some stuff can't

Phunk

2,009 posts

177 months

Saturday 4th January 2020
quotequote all
I did similar when my son came along, sold all my Canon gear and went mirrorless (Fuji X-T3). Love it, but I still use my iPhone 80% of the time!

russy01

Original Poster:

4,707 posts

187 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
flight147z said:
What specific lenses do you have? (and what did you use them for)
What type of photography did you used to do?

Some stuff can be replaced by a phone, some stuff can't
18-135 everyday
50mm for playing about and portraits
70-300 telephoto

No specific type, would try my hand at anything. I think the things that will be missed is the telephoto zoom and then things like aperture or shutter priority mode.

I’m completely out of touch with the current market, but are there new products (compacts) that bridge the gap? I.e a considerably smaller product that can be stuck in the wife’s handbag?

Cheers

Simpo Two

86,698 posts

271 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
If you actually take your photography seriously you are not going to think 'Oh no that camera is a bit big, I will leave it behind'. You will take it because you know you'll get the best results if/when the opportunity arises, and find space for it.

If you don't, then just use a phone, which it seems everyone except me carts about with them all the time anyway.

I have always covered both ends of the scale, ever since I got an Olympus XA-2 as a Christmas present in the 1980s. An SLR for when I want to be serious, and a tiny compact for when I want to keep it in a shirt pocket and can accept sub-optimal results.

There are some very good 'compacts', but they are not really compact enough to fit in a shirt pocket and can cost as much as a DSLR.

As you already have an iPhone for snaps - and I'm sure it takes very good snaps - and if the current Canon system does all you need, you may as well stay put smile

Topbuzz

222 posts

186 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
If you actually take your photography seriously you are not going to think 'Oh no that camera is a bit big, I will leave it behind'. You will take it because you know you'll get the best results if/when the opportunity arises, and find space for it.
This is true for me.
I drag 6kg+ of gear around with me if I’m leaving to join a ship or around Vietnam.
When I’m out and about I choose the most suitable lens or whittle down the gear into a comfortable backpack.
I also have an IPhone 11pro but I’ve hardly used the camera. Just doesn’t even touch what my D850 can achieve. Good for bars but anywhere worth taking photos I have the Nikon.

Keep the Dslr, take it out and get used to carrying it and make the most of the camera and lenses and what they’re capable of. Not bar shots at the equivalent of 28mm @ F8.
If you keep hold for a while you’ve lost nothing.

Tony1963

5,189 posts

168 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
OP,

For me, I don’t need to have my dSLR to hand all the time. I use it for my trips out: landscape, motorsport, aircraft etc. My iPhone is in my pocket or hand pretty much all day, and that serves well for Facebook/Twitter/sharing family moments. When I use my 5DIII, I make it an occasion so that a day of carrying it and all the associated gear isn’t a problem.

If I sold it, I’d be itching for another almost immediately.

If you don’t have those opportunities to take photo trips, just for you, then yes, maybe sell it all.

rossub

4,751 posts

196 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
miniman said:
So I have just traded in the 24-70 for a 17-55 2.8 (EFS so properly 17mm rather than 17 x 1.6) for our upcoming trip to the US in an attempt to get back into it.

We shall see!
I don’t think that’s right? It’s still equivalent to 27mm on a full frame at the wide end. Either that, or I’ve misunderstood for 10+ years.

The 10-18mm I have definitely can’t be properly 10mm at the wide end, or it’d be all fish-eyed. It’s 16mm full frame equiv.



Simpo Two

86,698 posts

271 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
Focal length is focal length, regardless of sensor size. Only the field of view changes, getting smaller as the sensor does.

If your lens has 10-18mm on in then it's 10-18mm; in the 10mm position it will be ultrawide (122 degrees wide) on 'full frame' and 99 degrees wide on a Nikon DX (1.5 crop) sensor: https://www.nikonians.org/reviews/fov-tables

HTH!

miniman

25,990 posts

268 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Focal length is focal length, regardless of sensor size. Only the field of view changes, getting smaller as the sensor does.

If your lens has 10-18mm on in then it's 10-18mm; in the 10mm position it will be ultrawide (122 degrees wide) on 'full frame' and 99 degrees wide on a Nikon DX (1.5 crop) sensor: https://www.nikonians.org/reviews/fov-tables

HTH!
Agree, but the equivalent focal length is the base length (e.g. 10) multiplied by the crop factor (1.6 in the case of Canon) giving equivalent of 16mm. I think! Right?

Simpo Two

86,698 posts

271 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
miniman said:
Agree, but the equivalent focal length is the base length (e.g. 10) multiplied by the crop factor (1.6 in the case of Canon) giving equivalent of 16mm. I think! Right?
Yes, but the key word is 'equivalent' - it's not the actual focal length. Stick to the real ones or you get in a mess, as demonstrated smile

My way of thinking about it is that with a crop sensor (which I have) I just get 50% more reach on telephoto (it's only a crop of course), and less in on wide.

miniman

25,990 posts

268 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
miniman said:
Agree, but the equivalent focal length is the base length (e.g. 10) multiplied by the crop factor (1.6 in the case of Canon) giving equivalent of 16mm. I think! Right?
Yes, but the key word is 'equivalent' - it's not the actual focal length. Stick to the real ones or you get in a mess, as demonstrated smile

My way of thinking about it is that with a crop sensor (which I have) I just get 50% more reach on telephoto (it's only a crop of course), and less in on wide.
So how does the EFS factor in?

Simpo Two

86,698 posts

271 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
miniman said:
So how does the EFS factor in?
My limited knowledge of Canon crop sensors is that they are 1.3x or 1.6x. EFS is, I believe, a lens mount so I don't know what effect that has on focal length, if any. One for a Canon person like Rob.

C&C

3,495 posts

227 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
miniman said:
So I have just traded in the 24-70 for a 17-55 2.8 (EFS so properly 17mm rather than 17 x 1.6) for our upcoming trip to the US in an attempt to get back into it.

We shall see!
It may be how you've written it, but I have to agree with the other posters picking up on this statement.

A 17-55mm lens has a wide focal length of 17mm, whether it is an EF (full frame compatible), or EF-S (designed for a crop sensor).

The angle of view, however, varies depending on the sensor size/crop factor:

A 17mm EF lens on a full frame camera has a horizontal angle of view of 93.3 degrees.
The same 17mm EF lens on a crop sensor (1.6x for canon) has a horizontal angle of view of 67 degrees.
A 17mm EF-S lens on a crop body also has a horizontal angle of view of 67 degrees.
The ONLY significant difference between an EF lens and an EF-S lens at the same focal length is that the EF lens creates a wider image circle, which is wide enough to cover a full frame sensor.
The EF-S lens being designed for a crop sensor creates a smaller image circle, which will not fully cover a full frame sensor, but will cover a crop sensor. It is easier and cheaper to manufacture a lens with a smaller image circle, which is why a 17mm EF-S lens will always be cheaper (and physically smaller) than a 17mm EF lens (given same max aperture).

So on the full frame body, a lens of a specific focal length has a wider view.
For comparison purposes, to get the same angle of view as a 17mm EF on full frame (93.3 degrees), on a crop sensor camera you'd need a 10.6mm lens - either EF or EF-S, it doesn't matter.

Regardless of the above, it's great that you've got a new lens for your USA trip (it gets very good reviews), and I hope you do get back into it and get some great shots.

Maybe post some on here when you get back?







miniman

25,990 posts

268 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
Interesting, thanks, my understanding (apparently misguided!) was that an EFS lens behaved differently in this regard.

Nonetheless, I will certainly share the results!

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

260 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
miniman said:
Interesting, thanks, my understanding (apparently misguided!) was that an EFS lens behaved differently in this regard.

Nonetheless, I will certainly share the results!
Nope, the actual focal length isnt affected by the sensor size at all.

But the field of view is.

So 17mm on crop is a narrower FOV than 17mm on FF. Which is why you need wider lenses on crop bodies (for the same framing).

Simpo Two

86,698 posts

271 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
RobDickinson said:
So 17mm on crop is a narrower FOV than 17mm on FF. Which is why you need wider lenses on crop bodies (for the same framing).
Thanks for popping in! So basically whilst Nikon call full frame and crop FX and DX respectively, Canon call them EF and EFS.

The DX/EFS lenses throw a smaller image circle, so less glass is needed, that's all. Take a photo, chop the edges off and bingo, you made a telephoto...

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

260 months

Sunday 5th January 2020
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
My limited knowledge of Canon crop sensors is that they are 1.3x or 1.6x. EFS is, I believe, a lens mount so I don't know what effect that has on focal length, if any. One for a Canon person like Rob.
Just to answer this directly..

EF-S is 1.6 crop (APH-C) instead of nikon 1.5 crop.

All canon lens focal lengths are regardless of the sensor size. They are straight up actual focal lengths, with no equivalence or massaging.

Canon does have some older 1 series sports bodies with 1.3 crop but you'd know if you had one and they dont take the crop lenses.

Canon EF-S lenses in addition to a reduced image circle have a shorter back focus, the rear of the lens extends further into the camera body than FF lenses and if used (you cant without mods) on FF the mirror would hit the lens.