T2i vs. T3i - is it worth getting one over the other?

Hey guys,

Looking at upgrading from an old XT that has served me well, and trying to decide between these two on the Canon loyalty program. I understand they have the same sensor and most of the same features but with the T3i having more "scenes" to help you make the best of your shots. I usually shoot in raw, and use Lightroom, but I wouldn't mind not having to edit every single shot and have a decent jpg mode on the go sometimes, my XT really falls flat here with aging technology, and really makes it difficult to only have limited AF spots. I do basic shoots for friends, parties, occasional small friend wedding, family pics on the beach, nothing too extreme. Any thoughts on choosing between the two? I have a 430ex for flash, 18-55 IS II, 24-70 USM, and hopefully will be adding the 70-200 2.8 II to the stable eventually.

Thanks,
J

Have you considered the T4i?

Yeah trying to keep somewhat of a budget and the T4i is still pretty pricey even on the refurb CLP program.

In addition to the "scene" things (including the in-camera "creative filter" effects from the 60D) the "major" (if you can call them that) differences tend toward video... articulating screen, digital zoom during video. The T3i also has wireless flash control built in.

Really, only you, knowing what you shoot, can decide if those additional features are worth the money to you.

The T3i definitely has a few more features, as Tom mentioned. However, the T2i is a nice camera as well. I'm using the T2i and am quite happy with it at the moment. But then, I've never used the T3i. However, that articulating screen is a bonus. My old camera had one like that and I used it a lot.

T2i, T3i, or T4i are all a big improvement over the XT.

If you don't need the swivel screen, and you want to keep it cheap but still retain better quality, the T2i is the way to go. Having that larger higher res rear LCD screen is the biggest noticable difference (there are others ) over the XT's small one. Live View is also very nice .. under the right conditions.

I have a 60D and love the wireless flash control, which I use with two 430EXs off camera. Works perfectly over the ranges specified by Canon. The T3i and T4i have the same system, while the T2i does not. In my opinion, that is a major reason for choosing the T3i over the T2i.

HughR wrote in post #14729532
I have a 60D and love the wireless flash control, which I use with two 430EXs off camera. Works perfectly over the ranges specified by Canon. The T3i and T4i have the same system, while the T2i does not. In my opinion, that is a major reason for choosing the T3i over the T2i.

^^^^
+1...I'll second this opinion!

Thanks for all the helpful replies, I think I'm going to go ahead with the T3i for some of the reasons you guys mentioned, the wireless trigger would be nice, the better screen is a nice plus as well. Thanks for your time and opinions.

As a T2i owner, I'd get the T3i over the T2i if I had the choice to make. If you do video AT ALL the swivel screen is a must. Although they are essentially the same camera, the T3i does have a few extras that make it worth while.

The swivel screen alone is a reason to get the t3i over its predecessor. I can't tell you how many times I've wished my 450D had a swivel/tilt screen.

Of course, if the t4i is in any way in budget, you should definitely get that, it is a massive upgrade for a not so massive amount of money.

i had the T2i for about 8 months and was thinking of selling it to get the T4i so are the upgrades worth it because i still enjoy using the T2i or should i wait for the T4i price to drop

The swivel screen is a nice feature - I remember the "purists" complaining bitterly when it was announced that the 60D would have it (I have an old SX 10-IS with a swivel screen - had it at that time, and always thought it was a plus....even with it's far smaller and lower resolution screen). I love my 7D but would like it even more if it had a swivel screen like the t4i or the 60D or any of the G or SX series Powershot cameras that have had it for a very long time.

I guess people who didn't realize how advantageous it is have come around and it's now considered a good feature. But it took a while (I don't understand why - it was never something that HAD to be used).

I also think the "flash commander" on the newer cameras that have it is a valuable feature - shooting off camera is so much easier - before, using my 40D I had to use a long e-ttl cable. It worked great, but was a pain to set up. And since my camera was not compatible with the older series I EX flashes, I didn't have on camera control...for whatever reason, the newer cameras (at least my 7D) is fully compatible with the older flash units and I can control them right from the camera....set ratios, set the "Master" to fire or not, etc. - even control the FEC of the "C" group - something the (worthless to me) ST-E2 can't do.

But the "scene modes" seem worthless to me unless you are a true beginner - and if you are "uprgrading" from and XT, that would imply you have at least a few years of experience using the camera.

There is not ONE SINGEL THING that the camera can do using the "scene" modes that you cannot do yourself if you know how to use the camera properly.

When I got my 7D it was a pleasure to NOT HAVE the scene moves on the dial that the 40D had...it made using the camera a bit more clumsy since I found myself having to take my eye from the viewfinder more often when changing from one mode to another. It also seemed to me like having a Ferrari with an automatic transmission -

If you shoot in RAW as you said, then you have to process your photos to at least some degree anyway. But the "scene" modes won't have an effect on what you have to work with - all they do is choose the proper shutter speeds and apertures. If someone doesn't know that they should use a faster shutter speed for sports than for portraits in a studio with the camera mounted on a tripod, then the "scene" mode would be helpful. But I'd assume anyone with any experience at all using an SLR (or any camera with a manual mode or even a shutter or aperture priority mode) should know what settings to use for each of the "scenes" - there's no magic settings you can't create without the "scene mode" and in fact there's no such mode on ANY of the cameras at the higher end...That doesn't mean you need to be a "pro" who requires a 1D camera, it really means that anyone who doesn't use the "green box" mode or the "P" mode should already be far beyond needing or wanting to use the 'scene modes" - it's really very much like using the "green box" auto mode.

If you know enough to use a flash to take a photo of a friend, relative, anyone when you have a bright sunset behind them, (and you want their face exposed, and not look like a black silhouette, then you know enough not to have any need for the "scene mode". It's really as simple as that.

Peace,
D.

cab ny wrote in post #14738070
i had the T2i for about 8 months and was thinking of selling it to get the T4i so are the upgrades worth it because i still enjoy using the T2i or should i wait for the T4i price to drop

A question only you yourself can answer - What do you think the T4i can do for you that the T2i can't? Make a list and see what you come up with - then see what it would cost to make the "upgrade" and decide if it's worth it.

As far as waiting for prices to drop - that will happen only when Canon comes out with something that will make the T4i buyers want to sell their cameras. Since that 18MP APS-C sensor has been around for a good amount of time, I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see anything new for a good while longer - unless Canon comes out with a whole new generation of crop sensors and at that point it's not unlikely you would be thinking "should I upgrade now or wait for the prices to come down" - it's a never-ending wait when it comes to technology. Digital SLRs are really still in their infancy - a dozen years ago or so a 2mp digital SLR that didn't even have a rear LCD cost around $25,000. Think of what cell phones were like 10 years after the first ones became available - big, clunky, batteries lasted for 30 minutes and had to be charged for 10 hours, etc.

A dozen years after the first home PCs came out no one had an emai l address yet (other than a handful of govt. employees and people working on networks in some universities)...and there was not a single web site since the World Wide Web was not yet developed.

I read recently that in 1994 when Clinton was inaugurated there were 13 WWW sites. Eight years later when he left office there were billions.

Delija wrote in post #14738175
T...But the "scene modes" seem worthless to me unless you are a true beginner - ...There is not ONE SINGEL THING that the camera can do using the "scene" modes that you cannot do yourself if you know how to use the camera properly....

But, some of the "creative filter" effects can be pretty cool.