EOS 30D or EOS5D or ???

[AMM]

I am finally getting round to going digital. I have been using an EOS 30V with 28 - 135 IS and 300mm L IS F4 + 1.4 TC. I have tried a friend's 350D and was put off by the tiny view compared with the 35mm, so I am thinking of buying a 5D primarily for the full frame. Is the 5D worth the extra £800 or should I go for the 30D (or even the future 400D), learn to live with the smaller field of view and put the money saved towards another lens?

All opinions gratefully received.

Thanks

Tony

[Ragna]

Depends what is going to be your main use if its bird photography then the 30d is the better option as it give a 1.6 crop eg your 300 will become 480 but if your main use is general photography then the 5d maybe the better option. I do agree the image in the view finder of a 30d compared to a 5d does seem very small but i think you will soon get used to this.There seem to be a very high number of refurbished 5Ds from the Canon outlet shop on Ebay at the moment leading some to speculate that Canon maybe about to upgrade this model.

[arco13]

Tony,
I bought a 5D about 6 months ago after having the 20D for over a year. I do agree with Ragna about the nice reach the crop factor gives you but I must say I love the 5D. Don't forget that you can make up for that lack of reach from cropping the photo in post processing. The resolution will be better so you will have less distortion while doing this. The only thing about the full sensor that is a minus is the fact that it doses not performs well with none L series lens. You might want to hold off on buying anything until the new lines come out. Should be by the end of Sept or so. Price may drop on exciting models when the new one roll out.
Good luck with your decision Tony.

[JohnZ]

I think that Ragna has summed it up pretty well but personally I would go for the 30D and spend the rest on another lens.

[AMM]

Thanks for the comments.

I have looked back through some of my photos and for the majority of the bird photos the reduction in the field of view would not have affected them (and as Paul Goode pointed out in another thread, it saves cropping later). However some of my favourites would not have been possible, so I'm still undecided.

Maybe I'll go for more pixels on a smaller sensor and get the 400D.

Tony

[macshark]

Thanks for the comments.

I have looked back through some of my photos and for the majority of the bird photos the reduction in the field of view would not have affected them (and as Paul Goode pointed out in another thread, it saves cropping later). However some of my favourites would not have been possible, so I'm still undecided.

Maybe I'll go for more pixels on a smaller sensor and get the 400D.

Tony

Note that the 400D has the same AF system as the 30D. Apart from a larger body, the only major differences between the 400D and the 30D would be the 5 FPS burst rate and the click wheel.