Originally posted by k0og Julie,
I'm no expert, but will just mention my experience. My daughter is getting deeper into professional photography and needed more versatility in lenses, so she recently bought the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM (Art). It is AMAZING! She uses a K-50, and is VERY happy with the results. I even tried it on my K100D Super, and it's amazing there too! She uses it to achieve nice out-of-focus effects (bokeh), and to shoot in low light.
You might get more benefit per money spent in getting good glass than you might get by buying a new camera body. Based on what I have seen both on-line and from my daughter's K-50 (same as your K-30), the body can deliver as good a quality in practical terms as is available on the market (even compared to FF systems).
Another thing to consider is improving your post-processing tools and skills. I am MUCH better at post-processing than I was several years ago, and I still have a lot of room for growth in that area.
-Joe-
To: K0og - Thank you Joe! This sounds just like me. I will look into that sigma lens, especially if you think it is amazing! I like the sound of that. About benefit per money spent, that's what I was wondering what you all would think.
I'm happy with the results of my K30 but (sadly) jealous when I see peers upgrading to FF or much more expensive cameras than mine. But, as they say... it's not the camera, it's the person behind it, right? Using the 50mm 1.8, I do get a lot out of my K30 and excellent results, maybe I should just trust it (and myself) a bit more and just get a new lens.
And yes to post processing improvements. I, too, have learned a lot in the past couple of years. I mainly work in Lightroom but am going to try my hand at photoshop. I'm not a big photoshopper but there are things some customers want that I need to adhere to (eg airbrushing if they request).
Thanks for the advice.
Best wishes,
Julie
---------- Post added 11-06-14 at 08:20 PM ----------
Originally posted by aurele About the shutter noise.
Be advised that so far, no shutter is really silent. The K5/K3 shutters are more silent than the one in the K30.
So far, i know no FF body with a quieter shutter. The sound is not the same (the canon one is less "bass" / more squeaky (i'm not sure i'm clear here) compared to the K5)
.
When it come to other "feature" : what "feature" do you think a "pro body" would give you that your current body doesn't offer ?
(let's put appart the sensor size here.)
About the lenses : in the 35mm you can get the new Sigma "Art" 35/1,4, but it's pricey.
You can get the older 35/1.4 DG (the version before the Art one. DG indicates it can be user on FF).
You can get the 30/1.4 DC (Yes 30mm - DC mean for APS-C only). It vignette a tad wide open, but it's quite sharp. And it is even cheaper.
You can find the 2 latter second hand, and find some bargain.
All this is just a list of what you can found.
thank you so much Aurele! You make me question the need to upgrade my camera and I think that is what I am wondering myself. thanks much for the list of lenses to check out. I like the sound of the older 35/1.4 DG and the 30/1.4 DC. I will go off now to compare prices!
best wishes.