T3i vs t4i vs 60D

Hi there,

Looking to upgrade a Rebel XT 8MP and get into something a bit better. I would consider myself fairly familiar with DSLR and the concepts of photography (aperature, ISO etc). I would like faster shutter, higher ISO in a new camera. Also I would like the ability to do HD video.

I have found the T4i with 18-135 TM lens, which seems good, but I am a little leery on a touchscreen. I do like the continuous AF though. It's 699 CAD. I don't care that much about touch. Would a T3i be much the same?

However, I am tempted to go to 60D for a bit more money (few hundred more) with a 18-135 IS (1149 CAD) What are your thoughts? Seems like it would be a little more sturdy and something to learn into...i am looking to stick with Canon...appreciate any suggestions!

the continious af in video for t4i is a hit and miss affair. If I were in your shoes I would get the 60d. I started out with the t3i and after 6 months of usage realized that the 60d would have been a better option.

Hey thanks! That's sort of what I am thinking. I'm okay just buying the body...I have the standard 18-55 already as well as the 50mm 1.8. I like the idea of the 18-135.

One thing I don't like about my current rebel is the grip and how small it is. The 60d seems like it would be more sturdy in the hand. So the video with the 60d is still quite good? It's not my primary concern but the Nikon point and shoot I had just died that I used f video...hence me looking to upgrade my Rebel for video capabilities.

If you want a faster shutter the 60D is your only option, T3i and T4i are both limited to 1/4000 just like your XT.

The video AF in the 60d is a miss affair.

IMO, the reason to get the t3i is cost only. The 60d has a bigger body, better burst rate, some fine control over the picture taking process. The t4i has many features over the t3i, notably the nine point cross type AF system that locks on with fast lenses like a dog on a bone.

The t4i is the darling of the rebel line, with the best AF according to lens rentals. Is two years newer electronics than the 60d, with some features the 60d doesn't have. (Although I can't remember them at the moment) an inexpensive third party grip transforms the t4i completely. The t4i is lighter than the 60d: to some, that may make a difference. IMO, picture iq goes to the t4i, although that is a matter for infinite debate.

My advice is to handle them both, compare the feature set and price and see what is important to you.

Edit: the touch screen on the t4i is awesome...I first thought it was a gimmick, but it's a real time saver.

Get a 60D and slowly move away from kit lenses. I bought the tamron 17-50 2.8 non and it is amazingly sharp and the 60D works amazing with it. You can find that lens used for ~$320. 60D also has two dials which doesn't seem like much but once you have them you can never go backwards!

just from reading and forming my opinion I think the T4i has the same or better specs as the 60D. So T4i should be a better more updated model. JMO

If you want the option of 1/8000 shutter speeds, the 60D..as maverick75 noted. The 60D is slightly better built, with different controls (which may or may not matter to you, but it does for many). If a large emphasis is on video, the T4i. I wouldn't bother with the T3i or T2i in your case.

They really need to release the 70D already, basically a T4i in a better body would be really nice!

Learningdslrvideos dot com has one of the best list of differences between the t4i and 60d that I've seen on the interwebz. When I bought a new body, I had the same t4i vs 60d conversation in my mind. I wanted the newer electronics of the t4i.

i do not understand how many of the folks above actually used the t4i for an extended period. The t4i looks good or paper, its AF is better than t3i though with a fixed center point there is nothing much to choose between the three. The 60d is better to hold and shoot not puny as the t3i or t4i - i have used the t3i for over a year with 13k clicks so far, used a friends 60d fairly often and got a t4i for another friend. Believe me the 60d is worth it - the only thing going for the t4i is the continuous AF (which i did not test since I am not into videos) - if I were shooting and had the option of just 1 camera, i will pick up the 60d

Frugaltravelguy wrote in post #15347247
just from reading and forming my opinion I think the T4i has the same or better specs as the 60D. So T4i should be a better more updated model. JMO

dont forget the buffer on the t4i is significantly smaller than the 60d. Especially in RAW.
dual wheels, top lcd, 1/8000 SS, much much better battery life all make the 60d a better camera to me.

maverick75 wrote in post #15347150
If you want a faster shutter the 60D is your only option, T3i and T4i are both limited to 1/4000 just like your XT.

Amazingly- the 6D is also limited to the 1/4000th shutter speed.. Guess it's gonna be called the full frame rebel after all... lol.. Seeing as the 6D got limited to 1/4000, I'd guess that if the 70D is the replacement for the 60D- it'll be similarly limited, and probably still won't have MFA either..

Actually, I can understand the omission regarding 1/8000- 99% of users out there probably never use that extreme of a shutter speed anyways- well- not on purpose..

the way I see it- the better two of the three choices are the T4i and the 60D.
The 60D gives you an advantage of 1/8000th of a second- IF you use it.. It gives you a brighter, clearer viewfinder.. Gives you a bigger body and more controls. With larger lenses- I will give you that a larger body tends to feel better balanced- IMO.

The T4i gives you a smaller Rebel body (sometimes an advantage ), with all cross type AF points ( rated to be more accurate than the 60D is- according to some tests I read ), video AF, and a few years of improvements - including a new sensor that can deal with lower light better (higher ISO), and a significantly faster CPU running the software.. Considering it gets 5 FPS compared to the 60D's 5.3 FPS- not really much difference.. In well lit exposures- there will be little difference between the output from a 60D and a T4i.... At ISO 6400-in low light- yeah, you will see a difference.. And the touch screen helps make up for not having all of the extra controls that the better bodies tend to have. Users can disable the touchscreen if they want to though. Really, the T4i is sort of a mini 60D+

So, when it comes down to it- it's a matter of picking your poison(s). Smaller body vs larger one. Higher top end shutter speed vs better low light capability. Newer tech vs older tech..

Judging from my signature, you can see how I chose.. Very much similar choices earlier this year- T3i/60D/and then the T4i came out.

I'd go with the 60d. The feel of the body is much more professional than a rebel due to the bigger grip and LCD screen

I'd choose the 60D if for no other reason than the dual control dials and top LCD screen...1/8000 is an added bonus.