That is truely a good question. I have a friend you uses a Kodak point and shoot 4.1 meg and produces great results when printing 12x18 prints. I have the Nikon D200 which cost much more so I asked was it worth the price difference from like the D70S or D80 now. My answer is Yes because higher end DSLRs are made to be used and things like exposure composition, white balance are right there handy. Body's are built better. If you do not need all the 5D has to offer then I would say the other will produce very nice results. Also the crop factor is not there with the full frame sensor. Good Luck Monte Johnson.

There is one strategy that works with digital, get as many megapixels as you can afford if you want to create large detailed prints. With a sizable inventory of Canon lenses for 35mm EOS cameras the higher cost for full-frame 5D was offset by not having to buy any new lenses. It has turned out to have been a fortunate investment and the results have continued to confirm that.

I'm not sure I understand the issue of the "sizable inventory of Canon lenses for 35mm EOS cameras the higher cost for full-frame 5D was offset by not having to buy any new lenses." Doesn't the XTi and the 30D also use other Cannon lenses? If the 5D is going to be my first "real" camera, and I have no other lenses from prior years, is it still worth the extra bucks? Since Cannon has no plans for a 5D upgrade anytime soon ( per email from Cannon ), I shouldn't have to worry about improvements in "next years" model. Any recommendations on a good choice for lenses would also, be appreciated. Thanks, Jim

I'm not trying to come off as a jerk or anything so please don't take it that way.

About the whole which body/which lens thing, it's up to you really. Unless you tell us what your photographic needs are no one will be able to really assist you in choosing, but only give their opinions of the choices.

Like if you intend to shoot more wide angle than anything else, then the 5D would be better suited for those needs being that a WA lens is truly WA on that body.

As for the lens question, the XTi and the 30D can us the EF-S lens line up where the 5D can't.

Once you sort out what you need from the body and glass I'm sure you'll find many more responses to your questions.

Lastly, here's a link for a side-by-side comparison of the three your looking at.

Click.

Good luck.

Jim,

Even though all Canon EOS lenses just about can be used with the Rebel XTi and the 30D they DO NOT provide the same angle of view because the APS sensor size of the Rebel and 30D is smaller by about 1/3 (1.5X). So for my 20mm 2.8 on a Rebel XTi it is actually functioning as if a 30mm lens. The bottom line is that I would have to get new wide angle lenses in addition to the camera if I were to use either the Rebel XTi or the 30D, which would cost nearly as much as the extra cost of the 5D body alone, and with the 5D I also obtain higher resolution images and more pro camera features.

Check out the cost of the Canon 10-22mm EFS lens and maybe added to the price of the 30D it will begin to make sense to you why just buying the 5D body is such an advantage to anyone with a collection of pro "L" Canon lenses.

Not to complicate the issue on the table, but a few years back I bought an APS SLR Canon (the EOS 1X Lite). Will the lens on this camera work on the APS size digital SLR's, such as 20D or XTi? The lens is and EF22-55mm, f4-5.6 USM, and if I can what angle of view will it provide......a true 22-55mm?

Quote:
Not to complicate the issue on the table, but a few years back I bought an APS SLR Canon (the EOS 1X Lite). Will the lens on this camera work on the APS size digital SLR's, such as 20D or XTi? The lens is and EF22-55mm, f4-5.6 USM, and if I can what angle of view will it provide......a true 22-55mm?

Yup, you can use that lens on any EF mount Canon.

"An excellent compact standard zoom lens, designed for IX 240 SLR cameras, EOS IX series. However, this lens is fully compatible with 35mm EOS series SLR cameras as well."*

The FOV however would be 35.2mm-88mm with the crop factor.

*Taken from the Canon museum site under EF mount Zoom 1.

Thanks Christian!