Upgrade Headache!

[doctormike]

OK, just got back from the "Beneath the Sea" dive show in Secaucus, NJ, and now I don't know what to do.... but I know that you people will give me some opinions!

I have been shooting an olympus 4040 in a Light and Motion Tetra housing for a few years... have been pretty happy with it. BUT, I think that it's time to upgrade.

I have been doing most of my topside serious photography with my Canon EOS 10D. I have a LOT of money invested in heavy glass, so no switching to Nikon, etc.. for me. But there are really two questions: Should I upgrade my DSLR body and which housing? And the answer to the second question depends on the first.

Pros of keeping the 10D-

-I like it and I'm used to it...
-I already own it and I can pick up a backup body fairly cheaply
-The shutter is MUCH quieter than the 20D/30D... this really can be an issue when you are shooting topside at a performance, etc... it seems to be a very noticeable difference.
-10D is a bit sturdier than the 20D


Cons of the 10D

-From what I have read, the 20D/30D jump is a good upgrade with a lot of new technology (e.g in the AF, and in the noise at high ISO).
-If I spend $3000 on a housing kit, I'm locking myself into the 10D even further down the road
-Broader range of choices of housings for the 20D/30D
-Can use EF-S lenses (not such a big deal, I already have a great range of lenses for the 10D, including the superb Tokina 12-24)


As far as the housing, I don't think that I will go with Ikelite (despite the cheaper price). This seems to be kind of a clunky solution - make one big lucite box and just drill holes to fit a variety of cameras. The metal housings (like the one that I am using now) seem to be better made, etc.. Have looked at Inon and Sea and Sea... Light and motion doesn't make one...

OK, any thoughts?

Thanks!

Mike

 

[alcina]

I think it's going to come down to are you willing to spend that much to house an older technology? You might be very happy to get another 5 or whatever years from your 10D and if so, you might as well house it.

Cameras are "replaced" every year it seems so I personally wouldn't worry about having the newest just for the sake of newness. I have the 20D and am happy with it for now. I knew when I housed it that I was looking at 3 - 5 years most likely before I wanted to move on. So far there's nothing out there that has tempted me to change in such a way that I've seriously considered it. It's not the camera, it's the person behind the camera and I have a long way to go before I hit the end of my learning with this camera!

20D bodies aren't that pricey, in the scheme of things, anyway, so maybe that is the way to go for housing a system. The 30Ds are still a bit stinging to the pocket imho.

Are you only looking into a cropped sensor? If not, the 5D, though very pricey, is a nice unit

I have the Subal housing and I love it. I think SeaTool might have a new housing for the Canons and it's very tiny. Aquatica is also a viable option.

You can always keep your 10D as a land unit

 

[doctormike]

Excellent points! If only the 20D/30D had a quieter shutter, it would be an easier decision...

I agree with you about the person behind the camera.. .AND, if I might add, after the person, the most important thing (within limits) is the lens..! People who don't do photography get really obsessed with stuff like megapixels, which is about the least important thing.

I do like the 5D, would add about a thousand dollars on top of the 30D price, but it is a very nice camera... maybe if I hit the lottery! Of course, then I'll need another topside telephoto to compensate for the different sensor size. My favorite lens by far is my L series 200/2.8

Thanks for commenting!

Mike

 

[bladephotog]

I think I'd upgrade to the 30D. I'm using a 20D and love it. Great little camera. The 30D was out when I bought mine but housings weren't available. There are subtle differences between the two but there are differences. But if I were going to spend money on a housing I'd get the latest camera I could afford, knowing I'll be using it for some time.

I'm not sure what kind of performances you're shooting but I use 20D's as remote cameras all the time in courtrooms and funerals on assignment. They're no Leica but using a blimp case will help. I also use a custom built "sound proof" case in courtrooms as a remote. But really, if you have a camera in hand people are going to notice you, no matter how quite the camera is. I wouldn't think the difference between the 10d and 30d is worth worrying about. My 2 cents. Good luck!

 

[doctormike]

But really, if you have a camera in hand people are going to notice you, no matter how quite the camera is. I wouldn't think the difference between the 10d and 30d is worth worrying about. My 2 cents. Good luck!

Yeah, that's probably true... also, I realized that I'm comparing my four year old, well used 10D to a new 20D, and the shutter sound might get less obvious with use, as the mechanism goes through the cycles...


Thanks...! I'm leaning towards upgrading the body, it sounds like there really is some new technology in there that is worth locking in before getting the case...

 

[bladephotog]

Yeah, that's probably true... also, I realized that I'm comparing my four year old, well used 10D to a new 20D, and the shutter sound might get less obvious with use, as the mechanism goes through the cycles...


Thanks...! I'm leaning towards upgrading the body, it sounds like there really is some new technology in there that is worth locking in before getting the case...

I've never noticed if my cameras have gotten quieter over time. That'd be an interesting experiment.

I do know that the camera probably sounds louder to you than anyone else. One, you're closer to it and two, you're listening for it. I was shooting the funeral of a detective killed in the line of duty a few weeks ago and had three remote cameras I was using along with two in my shooting position. The remotes were encased in blimp cases and wrapped with bubble wrap and black cloth and I could still barely hear them over the sound of people singing. But nobody else noticed them. I think I was the only one paying any attention to them.

 

[doctormike]

I was shooting the funeral of a detective killed in the line of duty a few weeks ago and had three remote cameras I was using along with two in my shooting position. The remotes were encased in blimp cases and wrapped with bubble wrap and black cloth and I could still barely hear them over the sound of people singing. But nobody else noticed them. I think I was the only one paying any attention to them.

Wow, that would certainly be a job that would require discretion! I guess you are right, although when I have gone to B&H and used the 10D side by side with the 20D, I do notice the difference... but I'm sure if I got a 20D/30D, I would forget about the sound pretty quickly...

Here are my shots of the St. Patrick's Day parade with the 10D... no complaints!

http://homepage.mac.com/mikerothschild/photos/PhotoAlbum334.html

 

[jdcpa]

I have a 30D and I don't notice the noise. It has a shutter, and it makes noise, just like any other camera.

Maybe I am missing this, but the difference between a 10D and a 30D is HUGE!!!

I say upgrade.

 

[RonFrank]

Digital camera's have come a long ways in the past years, and then again, not as much in the way of image quality.

The 10D is a great camera. Where it lacks compared to current models is MPIX (assuming you get 10+mpx), speed ~ buffering has come a LONG way and most better cameras top 5fps with an HUGE buffer, JPG+RAW~ this is a nice feature, battery life ~ generally much better, WB and ISO noise ~ maybe not as much difference in the Canon vs. Nikon, but it has improved.

In general you have a good shooting camera. The question becomes is it worth putting it UW? I'd say yes IF you can get an affordable UW housing. If not, then I'd go with as much camera as you can afford, and I think it will last. Nikon used to announce a new pro camera every decade, Canon MUCH more often, but with few differences.

With Digital, manufactures make new camera's on a MUCH more regular basis, but we are seeing MUCH fewer breakthroughs in recent years. My D1x can still shoot as well as MOST DSLR's today, and that camera was made in 2001 I think. Digital technology is slowing down. Of course that is until something comes along that is HUGE! If you can find a 10D UW housing on the cheap, that is PERFECT. If not, you will have to decide if you want to house a low end digital (cost is similar to housing a high end), or if you want to purchase something like a 5D, and take a hit on insurance.

 

[doctormike]

Maybe I am missing this, but the difference between a 10D and a 30D is HUGE!!!

What would you say the main difference is (apart from megapixels)..?