Join Now
Join ePHOTOzine, the friendliest photography community.
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more for free!
I am thinking about getting a sigma sd14 camera as a second camera to my 5d. Can anyone give me any indication as to how it will perform compared to my 5d. I have also thought about gtting a 450d or 40d but the sigma sd14 has more pixels and is top of the range for sigma. The used prices compared to the new prices of this camera seem to be a lot cheaper and compared to basic canons seem to be better value for money. Has anybody got any opinions? james
James .. stick with Canon ... if value for money is what its about then buy a 40D .. no question about it. YOu are then in the same system with a very good camera for the cash. If you want a rpo unit that will take abuse then a 1D MK2 used will set you back about £800-1000.
I just think that the depreciation on sigma is far greater than canon , hence, if i purchased a second hand sd 14 it will have depreciated more from new than a 40d will, hence, less loss when i sell it. I am going to do baby portraits and notice that my 24-70mm and 85mm cant focus close enough hence lots of cropping will be required so a 14mp camera will be required to have a large enogh file size for large prints. Thought the sd 14 along with there prime macro lenses might be a handy combination. Also the 1.7 crop with a sigma 70-200 might work well on location along with my 5d and 24-70mm bearing in mind i do like portraits but have a varied interest in other thinks like wildlife, sport e.t.c.
James .. what does depreciation have to do with it? its a back up .. in other words you will be keeping it a long time and the difference in value between it and another camera in 3 years time wont make any difference to you.
If close focus is an issue buy a 100mm F2.8 macro .. (i use one for a lot of protraits)
James must be the first-ever person I come across who seems to be genuinely considering buying a Sigma camera!! I thought these people were a myth... 
Now seriously James, if you've got a 5D with a whole series of Canon lenses, then it makes perfect sense to stick to Canon. I would most definitely opt for a 40D if I were in your shoes.
Quote: James .. what does depreciation have to do with it? its a back up .. in other words you will be keeping it a long time and the difference in value between it and another camera in 3 years time wont make any difference to you.
If close focus is an issue buy a 100mm F2.8 macro .. (i use one for a lot of protraits)
will a 100mm macro be better than my 85mm prime? I want to use the full file size without cropping but still be at a reasonable distance to get evrthing in sharp focus. james
James ... different lenses for different situatiosn .. i can use my 85mm without cropping perfectly fine for the shots i want to take with it .. equally i use the macro for certain shots too and its very sharp and very capable.
Here we go with the Sigma/Fuji how many real pixels debate. I think each pixels on the Foveon sensor holds a R, G & B Value unlike conventional senors - supposed to give more natural real colours. Go for the Sigma - perfect for the pocket and the quality looks great on a good day - fixed focal length lens will teach you how to compose photos all over again, if youve got one Canon SLR why not go for something more useful?
A number of thoughts James.
First you are under a misconception about the SD14 resolution and Image quality. It will not out-resolve your 5D etc, so I would have said a 40D makes a good 2nd camera for you and allows you to go for wildlife etc. Also have you tried its operating speed and thought about issues of compatability with lenses etc.
A 40D is good for wildlife and will use your existing lenses. the 2nd hand options of 20D, 30D make good backup cameras at lower costs.
Now for the childrens shot you mention a problem of close enough focusing. the 85mm lens goes to 85cm, is that not close enough? If not then a 40D with a 50mm prime will give a similar field of view and focus down to 45cm. Or Canon's 100mm macro is well respected, and has very good auto focus performance for a macro lens making it more suitable than many macro lenses for children.
you could always add a small macro extension set of tubes to the 85mm lens to let it focus closer.
Add a Comment
ePHOTOzine, the web's friendliest photography community.
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more.
Login or Join Now
New to ePHOTOzine? Join ePHOTOzine for free!
Join Our Free Newsletter
Awards
Current Competitions
foliopic 'Movement' Competition
1st May 2012 - 31st May 2012
This month's competition theme is 'Movement' which can be interpreted in a number of ways. You could photograph an animal running, a person walking or a car speeding...Featured e2 Photo
Featured Directory Listing
May's Photo Month
Check out ePHOTOzine's inspirational photo month calendar! Each day click on a window to unveil new photography tips, treats and techniques.
Interact
Photography Gallery Photography Forums Recent Forum Activity Members' Meetings Members' BlogsSearch ePHOTOzine
Having trouble or would like to make a suggestion? Create a report
Calibrate your monitor so you can see 16 different shades.
ePHOTOzine © 2001 - 2012 Magezine Publishing | Contact Us | Site Map | Top