Should I replace a broken Canon EF-S 18-200mm on my EOS 50D, or upgrade the camera body?
Asked 4/23/2024
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2 answers
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I use a Canon EOS 50D and my EF-S 18-200mm has broken. Canon no longer repairs it. A ribbon cable is broken and the zoom is jammed, and used replacements seem inexpensive.
I'm trying to decide between:
- keeping the 50D and replacing the lens,
- upgrading the camera body because the 50D is older,
- buying the same lens again, or
- choosing a better-value alternative such as another walkaround zoom.
How much does the body matter here, and is third-party repair of this lens worth considering?
Originally by Vikram Balaji. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Vikram Balaji
2y ago
2 Answers
5
Is it worth it to get a whole new camera, considering the camera body is from 2008?
My usual response here - do you understand how your camera is limiting your photography? If the answer is "no", keep your current camera until you do.
Should I replace the lens with the same model I had before, or is there a better value lens on the market?
All lenses are good value for their intended use case. If what you want is a lens with a large zoom range with relatively slow speed and relatively poor image quality, then get another EF-S 18-200. If you want something else, buy something else.
Is it worth it to try and get it fixed by a 3rd party?
Almost certainly not. Just buy a second-hand one.
Originally by Philip Kendall. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Philip Kendall
2y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
If you don’t yet know how the 50D is limiting your photography, there’s no strong reason to replace the body just because it’s old. Camera bodies age faster than lenses, but an older body can still make excellent photos if it meets your needs.
For the lens: if you liked the convenience of an 18-200mm superzoom, replacing it with another used one is the simplest option. The tradeoff with that kind of lens is convenience over image quality and speed.
If you can accept less reach, an EF-S 18-135mm STM is a commonly recommended alternative: a smaller zoom range usually means somewhat better image quality, while still being a practical all-purpose lens. It’s not a fast lens and won’t be ideal in low light, but it’s a solid walkaround option.
Third-party repair is probably not worth it for a damaged 18-200mm, especially with both internal damage and a jammed zoom. In most cases, buying a replacement lens makes more sense than repairing this one.
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