upgrade body or faster lens?

[avarice0084]

Hi I am a relative newbie in the world of dslr. I currently own a canon 40d and a tamron 17-50 f2f.8. On a recent trip overseas and during an indoor event, I felt hampered by the iso available to me on my 40d. Yes I was also using a flash at that time. Even though I was using a flash, I felt majority of the pictures turn out grainy due to the high iso and there were motion blur as well.

My question is that would a better and newer body like the 7d help me solve my problem or a faster lens like the sigma 3mm f1.4?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TWmilkteaTW]

First - Use the search.

How often you shoot in high ISO? And until how much ISO you think its your limit for 40D? Hmm if the lighting condition is really bad..even a F1.4 cant do miracle..

Not sure about 7D but if really need to.. i guess i will change a body than getting another lens in this case. After all the 17-50 F2.8 is a fine lens.

 

[eleveninth]

upgrade both

 

[AnsQ]

hmmm...if you are having a case of BBB syndrome or if money is not an issue....i'd suggest you get a 5d mk3...that's the latest Canon camera that can handle high ISO.

however...rationally....i'd advise you to think about how good was the lighting, how far away were you from the stage, what flash were you using, what settings were you on.
Maybe you'd like to describe the situations in more detail and post a couple of your shots?

Understanding the limitations of your equipment and the shooting environment will benefit you more in the long run.

 

[Errz]

most important thing is...what's ur budget?

Hi I am a relative newbie in the world of dslr. I currently own a canon 40d and a tamron 17-50 f2f.8. On a recent trip overseas and during an indoor event, I felt hampered by the iso available to me on my 40d. Yes I was also using a flash at that time. Even though I was using a flash, I felt majority of the pictures turn out grainy due to the high iso and there were motion blur as well.

My question is that would a better and newer body like the 7d help me solve my problem or a faster lens like the sigma 3mm f1.4?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mustank]

Hi I am a relative newbie in the world of dslr. I currently own a canon 40d and a tamron 17-50 f2f.8. On a recent trip overseas and during an indoor event, I felt hampered by the iso available to me on my 40d. Yes I was also using a flash at that time. Even though I was using a flash, I felt majority of the pictures turn out grainy due to the high iso and there were motion blur as well.

My question is that would a better and newer body like the 7d help me solve my problem or a faster lens like the sigma 3mm f1.4?

Thanks in advance.

Dear Avarice, I am also on 40d and also a newbie. you may wish to see my "discovery" on (-2 exposure compensure) + (2 flash) on how to get lower iso and shutter speed. But this works only in small indoors such as hdb flat. wont work outdoors or large indoors like a big hall.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/newb...sing-exp-comp-forlower-iso-any-drawbacks.html

i have tried the 7d for one night. i was not impressed with the iso as compared to 40d. you may want to save up to buy 5d3 which has much better iso performace. put it this way: you are already have 2.8. those 1.8/1.4 lens are usually prime lens. they give you only a one or two stop advantage to your current 2.8

but if you get the 5d3, you will get maybe 5-6 stops advatnage in the iso

 

[sjackal]

Hi I am a relative newbie in the world of dslr. I currently own a canon 40d and a tamron 17-50 f2f.8. On a recent trip overseas and during an indoor event, I felt hampered by the iso available to me on my 40d. Yes I was also using a flash at that time. Even though I was using a flash, I felt majority of the pictures turn out grainy due to the high iso and there were motion blur as well.

My question is that would a better and newer body like the 7d help me solve my problem or a faster lens like the sigma 3mm f1.4?

Thanks in advance.

What were your settings when shooting?

IMHO the problem is not gear.

Put your camera on manual, dial in these settings: ISO800, f/4, 1/60, and metering to Matrix/Evaluative metering, flash to TTL, point the flash upwards to bounce against ceiling, put a small bounce card to bounce some light forward, and dial flash compensation to -1 to start and adjust from there.

 

[avarice0084]

I dun think my budget will allow me to get a 5dmk3. Haha. I have to admit that I am a newbie when it comes to using flash. I only read about how to use settings for the flash after the event though. So it might have been my settings at fault.

I thought the 7d had a higher iso tolerance?

As I do not often take indoor photos often, hence my consideration for a fast prime lens. Thinking that a f1.4 lens might be useful in situationa where I do not think flash is not convenient to use, like Taiwan markets.

 

[catchlights]

spend time learn your basic,
upgrade to a better camera or lens will not able to compensate for lack of photography knowledge,

it is more economy and long lasting anyway.

 

[avarice0084]

Another question is whether a f1.4 would really make a difference as compared with a f2.8 in low light conditions such as those night markets or a walk abouts during the evening taking street photos?

 

[dodgethis]

It's a two stop difference. If you don't understand what this means, it's time to go read up on photography terms because you will encounter this material again and again.

 

[avarice0084]

It's a two stop difference. If you don't understand what this means, it's time to go read up on photography terms because you will encounter this material again and again.

Hi I do understand. I guess what I really meant is would it really allow me to take a handheld shot. Coz I know for certain that I would not be able to take a handheld using f2.8 lens

 

[AnsQ]

Hi I do understand. I guess what I really meant is would it really allow me to take a handheld shot. Coz I know for certain that I would not be able to take a handheld using f2.8 lens

you need to read the below quote from dodgethis again:

It's a two stop difference. If you don't understand what this means, it's time to go read up on photography terms because you will encounter this material again and again.

 

[Errz]

Hi I do understand. I guess what I really meant is would it really allow me to take a handheld shot. Coz I know for certain that I would not be able to take a handheld using f2.8 lens

Learning about Exposure – The Exposure Triangle

it really depend on the lighting .. how bad or good it is as it will affect what shutter speed u can use with F1.8. too slow , if the subject move, u will still get motion blur shot.

 

[dodgethis]

Hi I do understand. I guess what I really meant is would it really allow me to take a handheld shot. Coz I know for certain that I would not be able to take a handheld using f2.8 lens

I guess you don't understand what stop means and how it affects the exposure triangle, because if you did, you would know the answer to your question.

 

[Foxshade]

Surf around the web. Look for shots taken by 40d.
Can you surpass the best shots there is?

If yes, then time to upgrade body.

Do the same with the lens.

 

[Foxshade]

A sample found around the web:

Taken by DSLR? No... taken with a compact camera.

My point is: The equipment does not play a decisive part in taking a good shot. The photographer DOES.

 

[Errz]

when in doubt.. buy first. ask later :bsmilie:

 

[sjackal]

Having good/expensive gear without knowing how to use it is not going to make pictures better but only make the user seem more...

No need to say it out to offend people but I think TS can get the point.

By all means, if you got money, buy the best and latest. Important thing is to be happy at the end of the day.

 

[avarice0084]

Having good/expensive gear without knowing how to use it is not going to make pictures better but only make the user seem more...

No need to say it out to offend people but I think TS can get the point.

By all means, if you got money, buy the best and latest. Important thing is to be happy at the end of the day.

No issues I get what you guys are saying. I actually just was hoping for someone to give me a real life example of whether using a fast lens would help with hand held shots in low light conditions. I do know some basics of the theory of the exposure triangle. But this theories doesn't exactly tell me whether a fast lens would be more helpful as compared to a "newer" body.