[TheSownRose]

It has always been my intention to go full frame. I'm actually in the position where I could do it. Previously, I always had imminent costs coming up and couldn't justify risking it - books to be purchased, birthdays and Christmas, etc.

Now, however, I have the money in the account and nothing coming up - it's like the stars are aligned. If I wanted to, I could reserve a brand new 5D MkII at Jessops right this minute and go and pick it up tomorrow. It's very tempting. I wouldn't even have to pay bus fare, I have access to someone else's weekly ticket.

Part of my mind is saying not to - the photos with my current gear are good, going full frame is going to require some lens changes (need a new wide angle for a start) and there are other things I could do with this money to help with my photography in the long term. The biggest example is learn to drive; currently when I can take photos is dictated by public transport timetables and when people will give me lifts. It also presents a good point: a 5D range update is likely to be soon, the annoucement of the 5D MkIII would reduce the price of the MkII.

The other half is scoffing at that, reminding me that I manage to take photographs at the moment anyway and still would, and there would be money left over to buy at least the wide angle, plus some of my current lenses would fit the EF mount. It's telling me that I might never have such a good time to go full frame as I do right now.

I know I'm going to go to Jessops and try one out at some stage, and the minute I do that it's going to be too late to decide to not go full frame. Either that or I'll see someone selling a secondhand one for a good price and just buy it.

Oh, what to do when itchy hands begin to take hold...?

[DanBrwn]

Go Full Frame! How could you resist the high ISO noise quality?

An Idea: Instead of buying it from Jessop's go onto eBay and buy a new one from a reputable seller for around £1300. The use the money you save to buy a wide angle? Canon 17-40mm f/4 L?

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by DanBrwn)
Go Full Frame! How could you resist the high ISO noise quality?

An Idea: Instead of buying it from Jessop's go onto eBay and buy a new one from a reputable seller for around £1300. The use the money you save to buy a wide angle? Canon 17-40mm f/4 L?

Stop it! I shoot everything at ISO 100 anyway.

Oh no, I wasn't seriously considering buying new from Jessops - just pointing out that I could. That's the lens I was thinking of, or maybe going wild and treating myself to a 14mm f/2.8 L. If I did get a 5DMII, I'd probably rent a few for a weekend and try them all out, see which one I liked the most. Buy once, buy right, eh?

The question isn't really whether to go full frame or not - I will do. Just not sure whether to do it now or leave it for a while...

[Nuffles]

Go half way and get a second hand one. Maybe even wait until the mk3/whatever comes out and the mk2s will flood the market, lowering the value. I've always seen purchasing my 50D new as my biggest mistake, but I was young and didn't know as much as I do now.

[DanBrwn]

(Original post by TheSownRose)
Stop it! I shoot everything at ISO 100 anyway.

Oh no, I wasn't seriously considering buying new from Jessops - just pointing out that I could. That's the lens I was thinking of, or maybe going wild and treating myself to a 14mm f/2.8 L. If I did get a 5DMII, I'd probably rent a few for a weekend and try them all out, see which one I liked the most. Buy once, buy right, eh?

The question isn't really whether to go full frame or not - I will do. Just not sure whether to do it now or leave it for a while...

Right now I shoot almost all of my landscapes/city scopes using a 24-70mm f/2.8 and to be fair 24mm is pretty damn wide on a full frame sensor. I honestly don't think there is much need for the 14mm unless you are into architecture photography

Just a thought
As for the price going down when the 5D MkIII/3D/WhatEverTheHellTheyCallIt comes out I don't know. My immediate though is that it will but thinking about it everyone is expecting it to go down, so lots of people will be waiting. When it does come out people will be buying used ones like crazy! Thus keeping the price up. Also people who can afford to upgrade to the new full frame immediately don't really need to sell their 5D MkII instantly for a low price to scrap some money together, the rich bastards.

So my suggestion is BUY IT NOW! just because when I was in your position I did it (with in 3hrs of having the money ) and I don't regret a thing. You will be all giddy for weeks when you get your full frame, I was

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by DanBrwn)
Right now I shoot almost all of my landscapes/city scopes using a 24-70mm f/2.8 and to be fair 24mm is pretty damn wide on a full frame sensor. I honestly don't think there is much need for the 14mm unless you are into architecture photography

Just a thought
As for the price going down when the 5D MkIII/3D/WhatEverTheHellTheyCallIt comes out I don't know. My immediate though is that it will but thinking about it everyone is expecting it to go down, so lots of people will be waiting. When it does come out people will be buying used ones like crazy! Thus keeping the price up. Also people who can afford to upgrade to the new full frame immediately don't really need to sell their 5D MkII instantly for a low price to scrap some money together, the rich bastards.

So my suggestion is BUY IT NOW! just because when I was in your position I did it (with in 3hrs of having the money ) and I don't regret a thing. You will be all giddy for weeks when you get your full frame, I was

Currently I take most of my landscapes at what would be 16mm to 18mm on a full frame sensor - it's at the low end of my 10-22mm lens. I don't currently take anything below 16mm equivalent (I can't) but would like to see if I'd like wider or if it would just be a waste. Or maybe I'd even like to go less wide, I don't really know how it would change on full frame ... hence why I'd hire a few and try them out.

The thought of going full frame does excite me, it's between that and driving really. I think the latter would be better in some ways, it would be a long term benefit and enable me to take more photos. But I manage now, and full frame...

[TheSownRose]

Ok, I've decided to go and try one in Jessops. I know that if I do this and like it, it's going to be too late for me to decide to not go full frame ... but I need to at least know that the camera is right for me.

[dhr90]

I'd be waiting until the 5D mkIII is at the very least announced properly, I believe its happening later this month, may well be wrong though. At least that may give an indication from the price if there could be lots of second hand 5D mkII's coming onto the market.

Alternatively how about a 1D?

[DanBrwn]

Lol! The 5D MkII pummels the 1D into the ground!

Why on earth would anyone even consider buying a 4.1MP camera these days?

[dhr90]

(Original post by DanBrwn)
Lol! The 5D MkII pummels the 1D into the ground!

Why on earth would anyone even consider buying a 4.1MP camera these days?

I meant one of the newer ones. Sorry for not stating an exact model for you

[DanBrwn]

(Original post by dhr90)
I meant one of the newer ones. Sorry for not stating an exact model for you

Oh ok haha

I was all like

[R. Murray]

The 1Dc still has it's place. If I could find one for not silly money I'd get it. The noise you get with the sensor is more like film grain so it's not too bad to shoot at high ISOs. The screen is pretty bad though and kills the battery (but third party batteries have better performance). It's got great AF performance.

The reason I'd have one is that I've an old lens that will only partly work on my 1DII but fully work on the 1Dc.

I was gonna recommend trying a 1Ds (whatever generation). But I'm pretty sure Rose doesn't like huge bodies so I didn't bother. I like the 1.3 crop on the 1D, don't know that I'd like the full frame as I tend to use longer focal lengths rather than wider. That said when I was taking a photo at 15mm (and lying back to take it) I managed to get my knee in the shot! So the APS-H sensor is good for wide angles as well as longer focal lengths :P

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by R. Murray)
The 1Dc still has it's place. If I could find one for not silly money I'd get it. The noise you get with the sensor is more like film grain so it's not too bad to shoot at high ISOs. The screen is pretty bad though and kills the battery (but third party batteries have better performance). It's got great AF performance.

The reason I'd have one is that I've an old lens that will only partly work on my 1DII but fully work on the 1Dc.

I was gonna recommend trying a 1Ds (whatever generation). But I'm pretty sure Rose doesn't like huge bodies so I didn't bother. I like the 1.3 crop on the 1D, don't know that I'd like the full frame as I tend to use longer focal lengths rather than wider. That said when I was taking a photo at 15mm (and lying back to take it) I managed to get my knee in the shot! So the APS-H sensor is good for wide angles as well as longer focal lengths :P

That is a big factor is not going for a 1Ds camera - it is physically too big. I have small hands () and handled my friend's 1DsMkII. I realise they've made the MkIII a bit smaller, but the whole shape of it was just entirely wrong and my hands weren't going around it properly... The 5D at least looks like my current camera and hopefully handles a bit more like it too.

I've thought I've been standing a reasonable distance back only to look at the photo and realise my feet or the bottom of my legs are in it before.