I have an EOS 300 and would like to upgrade. Should i get an Eos 50 or an EOs 5. I would like to take my photography more seriously. Though i am on a budget. Would i really notice the differenc if i save money and get the 50. I live in Hong Kong and can get an Eos 50 for US$340 and a 5 for about US$490 I am in the process of getting better lenses, so for the future What would you advise???

Kevin

-- K.D.Jones (gromit97@hkstar.com), June 01, 2000

Answers

there are some old threads on this topic. i know, cuz i posted one awhile back. i ended up with the eos 5 for the following reasons: 1) pc-socket 2) tighter spot meter 3) full function vertical grip 4) faster top shutter speed 5) 5 focus zones 6) 5fps whisper drive 7) generally more solid construction

drawbacks for the eos5 to me were 1) ECF don't work vertically 2) eos50 has a better flash control system 3) generally newer technology 4) the dreaded control dial problem

final note... i'm very happy with my 5.

-- howard shen (hshen@lsm.org), June 01, 2000.

You should get the EOS 1v and be happy. Being serious about photography is like shooting pool, you only get better when you play for money. So forget the budget! If you are going to go pro or semi-pro then get the big guns. I'm going to get two of them as soon as I figure out a way to get them past my wife.

-- Marcus J. Wilson Sr. (marcus.wilson@dtra.mil), June 01, 2000.

sorry to be blunt...

marcus, all due respect, i personally feel that answers like yours are completely pointless and waste of space on this forum. kevin asked re: eos50 vs eos5 with a buget of less than US$500, and you recommend the 1v for $1899 (b&h)? this does not prove that you have anymore knowlege of photography equipment or photography in general. i would much, much rather have the extra money for 1 or 2 "L" lenses. and it seems that you don't even have an 1v...

-- howard shen (hshen@lsm.org), June 01, 2000.

Howard covered the main differences between the two bodies. I'll try to expand on that. I have both (an EOS 5, and an Elan II), and find I use the Elan (same as EOS 50) for prints, and the 5 for shooting slides. The faster drive of the 5 is handy for in-camera dupes, while I can make as many prints of a negative as I need. The flash exposure system of the Elan is more modern, and can take advantage of the EX flashes. I feel that the general exposure system for the EOS 5 is more accurate than the Elan when shooting chromes, for prints it doesn't matter.

Typically, if I'm taking pictures of people, indoors with flash, I'll want prints, and use the Elan for that. Outdoor scenic shots, on slides, where I might want to fire off a lot of frames quickly, I'll use the EOS 5.

In your case, you already have an almost-EOS 50. The 300 has the same EX-capable flash system, and possible better metering (more segmants, anyway). The only things it doesn't have are the custom functions, and a slightly faster drive. If you're going to keep the 300, the EOS 5 is likely the better choice. Even if you don't buy another lens right away, you can have two different kinds of film loaded, and just switch lenses. If you trade in the 300 on the new camera, you'll take a financial beating, and have no backup.

You didn't mention what you had for lenses, but if you can swing it, a 50/1.8 is cheap but will produce great images. As has been stated so often, "The lens makes the image, not the body." A better body may make it easier or faster to get the image, but the quality is all in the lens.

-- Geoff Doane (geoff_doane@cbc.ca), June 15, 2000.