Need help deciding t3i vs 60d $1300 budget

Hello everyone, I am on the fence about picking up a new DSLR in the next week.I am tore between the T3i and the 60D. I had a 40D and ran into financial issues and had to sell it. I had been using a Nikon D60 with a 18-200mm lens that I got as a Christmas gift. I want a newer model that does 1080p. I am no professional but I am a advance user, been using DSLR for about 5 years now. I have been doing research and see both the t3i and 60D are closely matched in features. I most shoot cars, piecing together a strobist setup. My budget is around $1300.00, I want to pick up off the bat a 50mm f/1.4 canon or sigma. Here is a little chart I have created with the varies pricing around the Internet an local to me. Any advice would be appreciated. Should I buy a kit and sell the lens or just a body and pick up the lens I want?

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Both will work for what you shoot. IQ will be nearly identical.

I don't mean to be nit picky but I have the T3i in my cart with 18-55mm on Amazon at 764. As well the 60D is in my cart at 1119. I have them both as at income tax I will be purchasing both units along with a 50 1.8, 55-250, and some other items. I know this doesn't help at this point, but if it's allowed I will link to the cameras. Both are sold by and shipped from amazon.

kinyocase wrote in post #13428518
I don't mean to be nit picky but I have the T3i in my cart with 18-55mm on Amazon at 764. As well the 60D is in my cart at 1119. I have them both as at income tax I will be purchasing both units along with a 50 1.8, 55-250, and some other items. I know this doesn't help at this point, but if it's allowed I will link to the cameras. Both are sold by and shipped from amazon.

I have factored in taxes for the prices at BH, amazon and adorama. Newegg does not charged me tax and all have free shipping. I can buy locally but still have to pay taxes.

My suggestion would be to get the 60D body from new egg and then order the Canon 50mm 1.8 for around $110 and if you need zoom, look for the 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS which can be had for around $150.
I think this could work with your budget and it comes out a bit cheaper than if you were to get the 60D with the 18-135 which is a good starter lens and if you needed that lens i'm sure you could find it on craigslist for a decent price.

Ahh totally disregarded the whole tax thing as I live in Montana. Sorry to put more stress on the situation. I am getting the 60D for myself and picking up the T3i for my wife. I've been doing a lot of back of forth over this since December of last year waiting for new stuff to come. I've capped my budget at 2500 for this income tax year. I think the 60D would be your best bet, but at the same time the T3i is still an amazing piece of hardware. I've found that to buy the lens separate of the camera costs a bit more than to buy it with the camera. Of course if you don't need the lens selling it may not bring you much more of the difference anyway. If you're set on the 1.4 50mm I would just get the body and use that extra bit to add to that 1.4. Keep in mind though that 1.4 is 380ish without taxes (new of course.) So with the 60D body you're just above your $1300 budget.

I may just pick up the 50mm used off eBay to save a few bucks. I am still on the fence, don't want to pick up the t3i and later regret it. I am leaning towards the 60D kit with 18-135mm, everyone that does a review points out that it's a good all-around lens to have, I had a 28-135mm when I bought my 40D originally. I am going to make my way down to BH photo tomorrow afternoon to spend a little time with both cameras and see how they feel in the hand.

I have the 60D. And the 18-135 kit, along with the 50mm 1.4 and the 55-250, right along the lines of what you are looking at it seems.

Get the 60D. The 18-135 is a really nice walkaround lens, and if you are careful it can even perform well in low light due to its very good IS system (I can get shutter speeds down to 1/20 or so hand held and still get a shot with no camera shake). There are many advantages to the 60D over the Rebel line, such as faster FPS, better viewfinder (prism vs. mirrors), MUCH better AF (all points are cross type), exposure adjustments in 1/3 stop, faster shutter, AMAZING battery life (bigger battery), and it has the dual wheels which you will be more used to as a former 40D owner. On the surface the T3i and the 60D look close, but when you get into the technical specs the 60D is a much more advanced camera in some key areas and you won't regret paying the extra for it. If you are comparing the kits, the price difference can nearly be made up in the lens alone as the 18-135 has a MSRP of $499 as opposed to the 18-55 at $199.

Since you state that you are a more advanced user already, I think the 60D will be exactly what you will be the most happy with.

The 50 1.4 performs well on my 60D, as does the 55-250. So did a 100-400 L that a friend let me borrow...

60D....it will also resale for a higher percentage of new when you upgrade to a 7D.

Check these guys out http://garycameradigit​al.com …lr-body-only.html?brand=6

I bought a 7D body only from them 3 weeks ago for $1400, delivered to MI.

timberlandlh wrote in post #13432630
60D....it will also resale for a higher percentage of new when you upgrade to a 7D.

Check these guys out http://garycameradigit​al.com …lr-body-only.html?brand=6

I bought a 7D body only from them 3 weeks ago for $1400, delivered to MI.

When I upgrade, not so fast, lol.
I was at best buy and they had both on display, the 60D feels like serious business while the T3i feels small in my big hands. Holding the 60D brought back memories of my 40D. I am 99% sure I am getting the 60D but that 1% represents which one to get, body only , 18-135 or save some more cash and get the 18-200. Not forgetting about that 50mm f/1.4, eBay has a bunch of them for $250-350 range.

60D for sure....

muskyhunter wrote in post #13432826
60D for sure....

this is the camera I would buy without even thinking about a T3. and the Canon 1.4 is a very good choice.

I was in the same boat as you recently and couldn't decide between the T3i and 60D. I ended up with the 60D and not once did I think that I should have gone with the T3i. I like the fact that I can get to the camera settings using the LCD on top and don't even have to open the main LCD door. The 60D is also IMHO a step up from the Rebel and will hold it's resale value much better. Oh, I got it with the 18-135mm lens and am very pleased with it having used my Xti for about 3 years. It also just feels like a more serious camera, if that makes any sense.

Bang for buck - Costco has the T2i with 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses for $849. And 90 days to make up your mind whether it works for you or not.

I am in a similar situation in regards to being interested in these 2 cameras. My wife is looking to get into photography and is going to be taking some classes in the next week or two and I was curious what would be a good camera to get started with? I have been eyeing the T3i bundle that comes with a 55-250 lens for just under $1100. However when we recently went and got my daughters pictures taken for Christmas pictures, the photographer had a Canon EOS 5D so I am just curious if I should worry about getting something like that for my wife to start with or go with the T3i and let her grow into it and then as she gets through school and gets clients and some experience, then go with a higher end camera? What are your thoughts?