Worth it to upgrade from T5i to 70D or 6D?

If you want a reasonable upgrade you have to go to full-frame. (6D)
That said, as you have already set your mind on the 70D, nothing I say will really matter ...

P.S. You really don't need a light meter nowadays, it's a waste of money IMO. Just read the histogram and that's it !

Van Gogh wrote in post #17371288
If you want a reasonable upgrade you have to go to full-frame. (6D)
That said, as you have already set your mind on the 70D, nothing I say will really matter ...

i wouldn't be so sure on that! yours plus the last two now posts have me second guessing whether i should go for a 6D. My only hang-up is my lenses. I'd be down to just my 85mm. hmmmmmmmm.

spooky action wrote in post #17371053
Chris, what kind of prices are you seeing for the 70D? Are you looking at new or used? The best I've seen so far is $750 on craigslist.

I was finding $700-800 on eBay, not much around here on Craigslist unfortunately.

Van Gogh wrote in post #17371288
If you want a reasonable upgrade you have to go to full-frame. (6D)
That said, as you have already set your mind on the 70D, nothing I say will really matter ...

P.S. You really don't need a light meter nowadays, it's a waste of money IMO. Just read the histogram and that's it !

A detailed explanation of how to accomplish this would be useful, especially how a histogram can replace a spot meter for determining zone system settings or exactly how to use a histogram as a substitute for an incident flash meter.

grazamataz wrote in post #17366555
Yeah another one of these threads....I've read until my eyes bled on the differences between the T5i, 70D and 6D but I wanted to get some opinions based on my specific needs. Here's the rundown:

I know the 6D is FF and obviously would have better low-light performance but I've seen mixed things on the 70D...from what I've read it's not that much of an improvement in the sensor over the T5i since it's still APS-C, but again, mixed reviews, so I wanted to get some feedback on whether the 6D or 70D would be more appropriate for me based specifically on what I shoot. The 6D is at the top of my budget. I've ruled out the 7D mark II since its strengths seem to lie in sports/wildlife photography and if I'm going to spend that much I'm going FF.

The 70D is going to have almost identical noise vs the t5i so unless you need better AF its not worth the upgrade. Considering you just got the T5i you should really stick with it and work on getting the most out of it. Upgrading bodies isn't going to solve all of your issues and at some point there won't be a better body to upgrade too. Instead you should learn how to deal with challenging lighting situations and what you can do to solve them.

mrfixitx wrote in post #17371642
The 70D is going to have almost identical noise vs the t5i so unless you need better AF its not worth the upgrade. Considering you just got the T5i you should really stick with it and work on getting the most out of it. Upgrading bodies isn't going to solve all of your issues and at some point there won't be a better body to upgrade too. Instead you should learn how to deal with challenging lighting situations and what you can do to solve them.

Okay yeah I'm doubling back on my upgrade desire now . I think I'm going to hold off until I can easily upgrade to a 6D for the FF capabilities. I'll focus on working on my lighting techniques for the time being...I have a whole umbrella set up I haven't even cracked into yet (just got my flash trigger yesterday). Maybe I'll go practice now!

DC Fan wrote in post #17371622
A detailed explanation of how to accomplish this would be useful, especially how a histogram can replace a spot meter for determining zone system settings or exactly how to use a histogram as a substitute for an incident flash meter.

From what I have "heard" and "read" a lot of pro photographers say a light meter is nice to have but definitely not something they use or need.
I don't know what the terms you use mean but I assume they are related to ambient vs flash exposure measurement? Easy to do with a couple of test shots and a little knowledge of how the cameras histograms and metering systems work (their desire to overexpose dark environments and underexpose bright things). Even if the lighting is 1 stop of in highlights/shadows it can easily be corrected in RAW.
I admit I don't know much about light meters but I never felt the need for it, and I do do off-camera lighting quiet extensively.

As for the OP's question, I really don't think its worth it to go from your T5I to 70D.
There are differences but not substantial.

I myself only still have a 60D and after buying a bunch of lighting staff and a couple of full-frame lenses am planing to upgrade my body at the end to full-frame.

Van Gogh wrote in post #17371699
I myself only still have a 60D and after buying a bunch of lighting staff and a couple of full-frame lenses am planing to upgrade my body at the end to full-frame.

I will probably go that route too now. Maybe sell my 18-135 in favor of an EF lens (L glass if I can afford it) to set me up better for when I make the move to FF.

grazamataz wrote in post #17371727
I will probably go that route too now. Maybe sell my 18-135 in favor of an EF lens (L glass if I can afford it) to set me up better for when I make the move to FF.

U don't really need too many lenses.
If you are into portraits all you need is the 85mm f1.8 and 35mm f2.0. Will cost you around $800 for both and you have 2 top notch lenses that will do almost everything.

Or if you want a zoom just get the kit that comes with the 6D 24-105L.

I would go the prime route.

I would pick up the 35F2IS. It will get you a stop in low light over your current lenses. The 85 is going to need a much higher shutter speed, and the 35 gives you a good field of view on a crop for indoor candids. If you find that you are shooting at ISO 1600 now, you may be able to go to a lower ISO with the 35 when at F2. The lens will be useful when you get a full frame camera.
I have the T2i and 60D, and you won't gain that much in low light performance with the 70D. Whatever the gain, you will still benefit from a fast, shorter prime.

The problem there is the nice portrait lenses for full frame give you almost no wide angel on crop sensors. The 24-70 f2.8 L for example and the 24-105 F4L are 38mm on a crop body which can feel very limiting.

If you won't ever need anything wider than 38mm then you will be fine.

I do already have the 85mm f/1.8 so it sounds like the 35mm f/2 is the way to go then. I also have the new 24mm f/2.8 STM so that would cover me for the wide angles, since i like to catch landscape or general street scenes sometimes as well.

grazamataz wrote in post #17372124
I do already have the 85mm f/1.8 so it sounds like the 35mm f/2 is the way to go then. I also have the new 24mm f/2.8 STM so that would cover me for the wide angles, since i like to catch landscape or general street scenes sometimes as well.

What I suggest to you is, hold on to your T5i, aquire a L glass or two after you gain more experiance. When you are ready, buy a FF with a Kit L glass and hold on to the T5i, that's pretty much what I did, any Glass you buy for the FF you can use on the T5i but any EF-S lens you cannot use on a FF Camera.

I use both of my 60D and 6D, depending what I need to use them for. I almost sold my 60D but I'm glad I didn't...............

Chief_10Beers wrote in post #17373146
What I suggest to you is, hold on to your T5i, aquire a L glass or two after you gain more experiance. When you are ready, buy a FF with a Kit L glass and hold on to the T5i, that's pretty much what I did, any Glass you buy for the FF you can use on the T5i but any EF-S lens you cannot use on a FF Camera.

I use both of my 60D and 6D, depending what I need to use them for. I almost sold my 60D but I'm glad I didn't...............

I think that's now officially my plan, the first part anyway. Gonna look into some L glass for my next purchase, I'll want a zoom since I'll probably sell my 18-135. The 70-200 f4 is enticing. Can't quite afford the f2.8. Any other suggestions in the sub-$1k price range?

grazamataz wrote in post #17374002
I think that's now officially my plan, the first part anyway. Gonna look into some L glass for my next purchase, I'll want a zoom since I'll probably sell my 18-135. The 70-200 f4 is enticing. Can't quite afford the f2.8. Any other suggestions in the sub-$1k price range?

Be very careful........as I mentioned earlier when this lens is put on a crop body the field of view is nearly useless at the short end. You may want to take your camera to a store that has one and mount it and see what I mean.