sjbegres Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

As some of you know, last week my 50 mm lens got stuck on my Rebel xti. I have to send it to Canon for repair. They said there is a problem with the design of the lens...the plastic part locks on the camera. As usual, you get what you pay for.

In any event, here I am without a camera; I feel lost. It is clearly time to get another camera so I always have a backup. Advice? Panasonic Lumix or Canon 5D Mark ii or Canon Mirrorless...?

My images of choice are landscape/nature and just starting to learn about macro and want to do some birding in the future.

Thanks for your continued help.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Is it a Canon lens design flaw????

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That sounds strange. If there is a problem with the design, then there should be no cost to you for shipping and repair.

sjbegres Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Yes. The man I spoke with at Canon said to keep the lens cheap, they use a plastic component that causes it to stick on the camera.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

THAT just isn't right!
It reminds me of the Ford automatic transmissions that jump into reverse from park all by themselves. Ford admits its a design flaw, but they claim to have too many millions of them on the road to issue a recall, eventually they will all end up in the recycling yard anyway so whats the point.
If it were mine I would disassemble the lens from the outside in to remove it from the camera and then buy an aftermarket lens so that at least the body wouldn't be a total loss. Sounds like Canon is totally unwilling to offer a solution?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

In the 1970s, a friend's mother was killed when her Ford stationwagon backed over her. She came home from food shopping and left the engine running with the trans in park. It slipped into reverse and backed over her while she was unloading the car.

Now you have to step on the brake before you can shift and auto trans in any car.

Getting back to the Canon, they will repair it, right?

bali

Get a cheap Sony cyber shot for under $200.. it is so fun.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

The three cameras you sites are a world apart from one another. The mark 2 is full frame, the others aren't. There is also size, weight, and feature differences.
Are you looking to replace your xti, or will it become the backup?
Go to Dpreview.com and read their evaluations.

Racmanaz Loc: Sunny Tucson!

Be sure to purchase a lens with a metal mount next time.

sjbegres Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I will replace the xti and use it as a backup.

sjbegres Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Indeed...especially since Canon is not promising to cover the cost of removing it from my camera. One agent said it was a design flaw, one denied it.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Sounds like one agent will be getting a reprimand. "You told the customer the truth? Haven't you learned anything from working here?"

djtaz0665

Those questions ("You told the customer the truth? Haven't you learned anything from working here?") have been excessively used in Washington except TAXPAYER is used in place of CUSTOMER.

aaron Loc: brooklyn ny

Do you want a pro level camera? then look at and consider the 5D mark II. the others are not in the same league. you dont need the mirrorless model unless noise, camera noise is a factor.

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

I sounds like you have the Canon 50 mm 1.8 lens that does not have a metal mount. In a fit of peak and because my lens budget was limited I bought the 50 mm 1l8 lens, and at one point it just stuck on the camera and I was able to remove it and at the same time part of the backing. So that is why I use the 50 mm 1.4 lens and recommend it when people ask what 50 mm Canon lens should I buy.
If you have not already done so I would ask Canon how much you owe currently and press the tech, on whether or not it is a design flaw. You might search to see if other Rebel xti users have complained of the same problem and what if any solutions Canon provided them.
You mentioned the Canon 5D Mark ii that is a great full frame camera choice, it is also a great camera for shooting video
I would also suggest the Canon 7D
You did not mention your budget, there is a huge gap in the models you
mentioned
I would suggest you go to a camera store and see what models are available, feel them in your hands, the Rebel xti is a smaller bodied camera than the 5D Mark ii not only in the size and weight, but the frame size.
If you find a series of camera bodies that feel good in your hands, the controls look to you as user friendly, as has been said go to dpreview site and plug in your choices and use their side by side comparison.
It does not sound like at this time you have a tremendous investment in lenses so take a look at what Nikon has to offer in bodies and lenses, prices etc.
just because it is not a Canon body at your stage in the camera game don't narrow your choices and then later say well "I wished I had bought
You have to keep in mind once you settle on brand Nikon,Canon concentrate of good lenses for that camera line. Camera bodies depending on the price are cranked out fast. The camera bodies depreciate at a rapid rate. If you purchase good quality lenses they will not depreciate at as fast a rate as the camera bodies