3.5K FF Challenge

[CommanderJameson]

So in a couple of years a sharesave thing will come to fruition and deposit about 3.5K in my bank account. I've already decided that this is when I'm going to make the jump to light speed full frame, for all that wondrous low-light amazingness.

I initially went "yeah, so that'll be a 5D3 and a 17-40 for outdoors and an 85 1.8 for indoors, and a 50 1.4 for general stuff, leaving a couple of hundred quid for filter adapter rings, a tripod and a remote release."

I'm using a Canon now, but my "fancy" lens - the 10-22mm - is EF-S, so won't work on the 5D3. This actually means I'm not tied to Canon, other than knowing how the menus work.

So you've got 3.5K, you're not tied in to whatever you use now: what do you get?

[RobDickinson]

For low ISO nikons sensors are better, so perhaps the d600 or d800.

The 5d3 autofocus rocks, if it moves the 5d3 is about as good as it gets.

What put me off nikon was the general lack of decent affordable decent landscape lenses.

The 14-24 is remarkable but has many issues, the 16-35f4vr is large, expensive, heavy (in comparison to the 17-40) and isnt as good. There are some older lenses to look for though.

Basically I think dont worry about the body, make sure the lenses are there, for me canon still has the edge.

[TooLateForAName]

Are you limiting yourself to DSLRs?

Have you seen what you can pick up in the way of used MF kit?

[nellyleelephant]

TooLateForAName said:

Are you limiting yourself to DSLRs?

Have you seen what you can pick up in the way of used MF kit?

Assuming you mean digital, not much for 3.5k unfortunately.

A used Pentax 645D will still set you back 6k.

[K12beano]

There's a lot to be said for sticking to the handling and menu system you know. So first thought is stick with Canon.......but then:

RobDickinson said:

Basically I think dont worry about the body, make sure the lenses are there, for me canon still has the edge.

^^^ This.

Having moved (admittedly 16 years ago!) because Canon changed their lens mount, I have been perfectly happy with Nikkor glass, gradually selling off third party cheaper alternatives to get the lenses that I thought were best for me, so I would just as easily argue that Nikkor has some better offerings than Canon. But that is not so much the point as the one Rob is making. Personally that's the 17-35mm f/2.8 in the Nikkor range when it comes to landscape. Occasional use of a 14mm and quite often a 105mm f/2.8 Micro for times you want to have a compressed perspective or get into some detail. If I were starting with your budget from scratch, although the 14-24mm is well regarded it would have to be a bargain secondhand find otherwise secondhand 17-35mm and secondhand 28-70mm offerings would be excellent

If you're going to make a one off purchase to last forever, it doesn't matter which brand.

If you are going to "invest" in the right glass for you it'll probably start with N or C, and then you can replace with the newer body every five or seven years or so ......

[DibblyDobbler]

So you're planning how to spend the money which isn't arriving for 2 years ?!

I thought I was bad

[2slo]

I don't know enough about Nikon to advise, but if that were my budget and I was forward planning as you describe, I'd be looking at a 5D3 plus either the 24-70 f/2.8 L or, more likely for me, the 70-200 f/2.8 L. I'm allowing for the price of the 5D3 to drop in the next couple of years to meet your budget. Personally, I wouldn't put the money into a single prime, one focal length limits what you can do.

[tenohfive]

DibblyDobbler said:

So you're planning how to spend the money which isn't arriving for 2 years ?!

I thought I was bad

Probably a good thing - once decided any lens purchases over the interim will be in a useful direction (assuming he stays Canon.)

And window shopping is the most fun you can have without money. Or a girlfriend.

[markmullen]

Next time you're about you're welcome to have a go with my 5D3 and 17-40, oh and a 135mm f2 which you'll not need but really want

[TooLateForAName]

nellyleelephant said:

TooLateForAName said:

Are you limiting yourself to DSLRs?

Have you seen what you can pick up in the way of used MF kit?

Assuming you mean digital, not much for 3.5k unfortunately.

A used Pentax 645D will still set you back 6k.

We've got two years for prices to fall.

But not only the 645D - have a look at digital backs for other mf bodies - I was idly browsing over xmas and was quite surprised at used values of quite impressive kit.

[markmullen]

TooLateForAName said:

We've got two years for prices to fall.

But not only the 645D - have a look at digital backs for other mf bodies - I was idly browsing over xmas and was quite surprised at used values of quite impressive kit.

I looked at going down the MF digital route last year, before I bought my 5D3.

It works out much more expensive than an equivalent dSLR. As a guide I was looking at £4-5k miniumum for an older Phase One or Leaf, sure you can get old sinarbacks and the original tethered only Leaf backs for a few hundred quid but there is little point. On top of that finding a decent 'Blad outfit, or getting more lenses for the Mamiya 645AFD I had is a costly job. Once you've got all that whilst you will get high resolution (depending on how much you spent on the back) and improved dynamic range you will also get poor high ISO handling compared to something like the 5D3 and a very low frame rate (not important for landscapes but if you want to use it for anything else).

All in all I decided until I can afford my dream Alpa 12 / IQ180 system there wasn't a lot to be gained, and a lot to be lost by going down that route.

[nellyleelephant]

Trouble is, unless you go for one of the high spec big $$ backs I doubt you'd notice that much over one of the latest top spec DSLR bodies (dynamic range aside!)

I've tried to link a comparison from Luminous Landscape that compares an original 1DS with a contemporary digital MF back but the sites down! The 1DS does well and that's 10 odd years ago.

I can see the 645D dropping in price as I don't think they've sold many!

[nellyleelephant]

markmullen said:

All in all I decided until I can afford my dream Alpa 12 / IQ180 system there wasn't a lot to be gained, and a lot to be lost by going down that route.

Ouch!