Is T2i, T3i, T4i, T5i, or other right for me?

Is T2i, T3i, T4i, T5i, or other right for me?

I am an amateur tire of cheep digital point and shoot. In the past I used a Canon EOS Elan II (still have the body – anyone need one?). Taken a couple of course and did some darkroom work – basically I'm a wanna-be. Don't want to be a pro. Just want to be a hobbyist that can take some images to be proud of. I'd like to experiment with RAW and HDR but mostly want to take “good” pix of my grand kids and document my wilderness hikes (my other hobby) – landscapes and macros of flora and fauna.

My pockets are not deep. I'm retired and upgrading will be a stretch for me. I hope I can get by by with the lenses I have but I'm open to any input. I have a Tamaron AF 28-200mm, 1:3.8-5.5; Canon EF 50mm II, 1:1.8; Vivitar 100mm AF 1:3.5 Macro and a telephoto extender. Yah, not a prestigious lot.

This purchase will be my last so I need to make the right one if I can. Don't want to over-spend but I don't want regrets either. (I know. I'm asking a lot). Advice is needed. Can anyone help me sort this out?

Briansdad1

All of those are great cameras, each successive one is a bit better than the one it replaced, but all will do very well. Its easy to get the incremental upgrade bug, and soon believe nothing but the best will do for you. I would suggest looking at the used marketplace and picking whichever of those best fits your budget. Dont discount the 40D as an option as well as they have dropped in price yet still represent a very solid performer.

I would suggest the T3i for the flip out screen on the back. If that is not important to you, I would suggest the T1i for you as it would be cheaper and is virtually the same as the others, except for the sensor. I have a T1i and it works great.

Then use the money you saved for a nice lens that you want.

I'm in the same position as you, retired and wanting to upgrade my camera. I bought the T3i three years ago, when it was the latest model. I love it, and it does what I want in a DSLR.

As gonzogolf mentioned, they're all good, and each newer model has a bit more than the last. If this is to be your last purchase, and you can afford it, go for the latest model, or step back to the T4i, if you can find it used. The model isn't as important as learning to take good photos.

Then let the fun begin.

Gonzo is right, each of those cameras is an incremental upgrade from the previous model. The T3i is basically a T2i with a swivel screen.
The T5i is basically a T4i with a different grip material.

If looking at a T5i, I would look at a 60d. They are in the same price range. The 60d does not have a touch screen but it does have a better viewfinder, ISO selections, customization, etc. ALL of those camera will take images you will be proud of, YOU are the weakest part of the system. Don't be afraid to buy a body knowing that you will sell it in a year when you can afford a newer one. You are buying into a lens system first and foremost. The cameras will come and go

OK, 40D, 50D and 60D are in the mix. Are the D series better than the Rebel T's? Also, the aftermarket cameras are often without the manuals. Are the manuals available from other sources?

Briansdad1 wrote in post #16651033
OK, 40D, 50D and 60D are in the mix. Are the D series better than the Rebel T's? Also, the aftermarket cameras are often without the manuals. Are the manuals available from other sources?

The XxD series sometimes share sensors with the rebel models but have a few upgrades. The build is more substantial better weather sealing and magnesium body instead of polycarbonate. They have à higher frame rate and bigger buffer. The key thing is the control system. The xxd uses a wheel and a joystick to move though the controls quicker and more easily than the rebel models.

The 60D has the same sensor as the T2i, T3i. It has a (better IMO) set of features... The sensor is better than the one in the 50D, 40D in terms of high ISO and to a lesser extent Mpixels.

Also, I remember something about the T4i having some problems, so Canon brought out the T5i which is nearly identical.

EDIT: Gonzogolf's descriptions apply to the 40D/50D. The 60D has a polycarbonate body and a rear wheel with a D-Pad, not a joystick.

The T4i and T5i have touch screens and autofocus during Liveview and video recording. The 60D does not have those features, however it has a lot of more photographic features if stills are all you are interested in. It also has a much better viewfinder if you are going to be manually focusing through the viewfinder a lot.

Personally, I loved the 60D and would have not traded it for a rebel. The features it has for stills are extremely useful.

One of my concerns with my old digital "shooter"is the lag time between pressing the release and the actual shutter action, usually missing that great candid of the grandkids. What should i expect in this regard with the cameras we discuss in this thread (Txi and XxD series)?

I would consider a 60D used body, a used 18-55 kit lens and the 40mm stm as the best starting point. You can find a used 60D or refurbished for about $600 or less and it has must more features than the t3i/ It is far superior to buying a new T5i and may be less expensive.

MakisM1 wrote in post #16651136
The 60D has the same sensor as the T2i, T3i. It has a (better IMO) set of features... The sensor is better than the one in the 50D, 40D in terms of high ISO and to a lesser extent Mpixels.

Also, I remember something about the T4i having some problems, so Canon brought out the T5i which is nearly identical.

EDIT: Gonzogolf's descriptions apply to the 40D/50D. The 60D has a polycarbonate body and a rear wheel with a D-Pad, not a joystick.

The only problem with the T4i I've heard of was a phenomenon with the grip rubber turning white. Mine is in the suspect serial range but after 18 months no signs of such. I've not heard of anyone actually having this issue and I've never heard the T5i was released as a fix for any deficiency in the T4i.

I have a 60d and a T3i. I really like the both of them. If it was one or the other it would be the 60d. Controls are way better when on the fly. I know they shares sensors, but I seem to get better pictures with the 60d. But that could be circumstantial. All that being said, I've sold pictures that were taken with the T3i. 60d is also more substantial of a camera, but this could be a pro or con to you depending on what you want. I also need to add, to make matters harder on you, that the T3i is on close out prices right now.

Briansdad1 wrote in post #16650845
I hope I can get by by with the lenses I have but I'm open to any input. I have a Tamron AF 28-200mm, 1:3.8-5.5; Canon EF 50mm II, 1:1.8; Vivitar 100mm AF 1:3.5 Macro and a telephoto extender. Yah, not a prestigious lot.

This sounds like a lens set from a film kit, and it sounds like a full frame lens kit. If you buy one of the "crop" cameras in your thread title, you won't have any wide angle lens! All the lenses act, in terms of angle of view, as if their focal lengths are multiplied by 1.6.

Just on that basis alone, I would say get a used Canon original 5D. This is a 12Mpx full frame camera and it costs about $500-$700. You can pick up very cheaply a used non-Canon flash for use with your grandchildren (make sure it has a low trigger voltage).

I don't know much about any of these lenses. If you don't think they're any good, maybe you should be looking at a bridge camera. Bear in mind that, however bad they are, they will be up to 1.6x worse on crop because it only uses the centre part of the image circle (if a lens is just very bad in the edges, it can be better on crop than full frame).

Go to a shop and look at the Sony RX10. This camera has a 28-200mm equivalent f/2.8 zoom lens permanently attached. There are probably other good cameras from companies like Panasonic and Fuji. Then decide whether a DSLR is really sensible. Don't get trapped into Canon because you have some old lenses lying around - that would be like buying a new car because it fitted the winter wheels you had.

Not sure what fauna you have in mind, but 200mm is probably too short on either full frame or crop.

Briansdad1 wrote in post #16651256
One of my concerns with my old digital "shooter"is the lag time between pressing the release and the actual shutter action, usually missing that great candid of the grandkids. What should i expect in this regard with the cameras we discuss in this thread (Txi and XxD series)?

You would have a similar shutter response as your 34mm. They are quite responsive.