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

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)?

Any of the current camera will likely have a shorter lag time. Rebels have longer lag times than XXds which have longer lag times than Xds. Yes, it is noticeable, especially when comparing a rebel to a 1d. With kids, it means you will capture that facial expression more often. All much faster than your current.

As mentioned by melcat, your Elan was what is considered full frame while, all of the above are 1.6 crop factors. This means your lenses will not give the same field of view you are used to. Your general use zoom is slow and you are now going to be lacking in the wide dept, especially for outdoors (also due to the crop factor).

My 2c. Its going to be nearly impossible to find the one, no regrets camera. Maybe you could take the approach of getting something like a 10d for well under $100. Start shooting and then identify what you might need/want to upgrade in the body, your lenses, lighting, etc.

melcat wrote in post #16651447
This sounds like a lens set from a film kit, and it sounds like a full frame lens kit....

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).

...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 .

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....

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

Thanks for the full frame vrs. crop info - seems important. However, the 5D and Sony RX10 just unapproachable pricewise. Opening the field to Panasonic et. al. is both an opportunity and daunting in the number of choice. I kind of hope I can keep RAW saving on the option list (and, less so, auto bracketing).

melcat wrote in post #16651447
Not sure what fauna you have in mind, but 200mm is probably too short...

Yes, talking, mostly, the butterfly on the bush in front of me. I have a tele converter that helps a little if the light is great, but the cropping issue that I hadn't considered before, makes thing worse here, too, I suppose. Looks like I won't be using those old lenses after all. Thought I might have savings there.

Pricewise, again, I think I'm back to looking more closely at the T3i thru 60D with the 18-135mm (tho the latter is pushing the budget). 40mm looks good but is it too limiting as the only crop lense I can afford at this time? Still open to ideas - Canon or otherwise.

Somewhat an aside:

I've been receiving offers form people on this forum to sell me some of the equipment we are talking about here. I'm very open to used items but very weary of one-on-one sales like this. If there is a way to safely broker this kind of transaction, would some please let me know. Thanks.

Briansdad1 wrote in post #16651033
Also, the aftermarket cameras are often without the manuals. Are the manuals available from other sources?

You can download them, but usually Canon annoyingly watermarks them "COPY ONLY" right across the page.

Briansdad1 wrote in post #16651818
Yes, talking, mostly, the butterfly on the bush in front of me. I have a tele converter that helps a little if the light is great, but the cropping issue that I hadn't considered before, makes thing worse here, too, I suppose.

All that happens is that the outer 1/3 of the image is cropped away, with the butterfly staying the same size as it would have been on 35mm film. So actually it makes it easier to take pictures of very small things if you want to fill more of the frame.

Given how tight money is I don't see why you'd spend it on that when you have the 50mm. I too do a lot of wilderness walking, and I would find 74mm on full frame a very limiting focal length.

Other threads have referenced the Canon Europe site having non "copy only" pdf's to download, but I don't have a link to provide you.
You could try though

Briansdad1 wrote in post #16651825
Somewhat an aside:

I've been receiving offers form people on this forum to sell me some of the equipment we are talking about here. I'm very open to used items but very weary of one-on-one sales like this. If there is a way to safely broker this kind of transaction, would some please let me know. Thanks.

Report them to the mods, because buy and sell had a place here, and the discussion boards are not it. One you post a want to buy in the buy forum then people can solicit you. Under MarketWatch, we have some stickies on how to protect yourself during online sales.

I'd say get a 60D + 18-55 lens, they're reasonably priced now the 70D is out in shops.

Start your photography learning curve again, and just add lenses as you feel the need later on.

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)?

With any of the DSLR's you have listed it would be like night and day from the lag of a P&S. I have both, and when I'm in a situation where I need to take the P&S, it's hard to wait on it. I have the 60D right now, but I started with a T1i, and both are very capable for what you want to do. 60D has a slightly higher frame rate in burst mode, but it's not enough to make a huge difference shooting the grandkids.

If you can find a good deal on a lightly used or refurbished T1i, I'd jump on it. That would allow a bit more flexibility in lens selection. The newer versions of the 18-55 "kit" lens are really quite good. I actually liked mine for the short time that I had it. This was taken with my T1i and 18-55 IS in 2010 at Christmas time, just 2 weeks after I bought the kit. I don't see any reason that you might need more than this with your budget and needs (although the 60D is nicely priced now too, since the release of the 70D).

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …58812694@N08/10​381133934/

Nice Shot!

Going for budget, I would not hesitate to buy another T2i. Lots of video in your plans: T3i.

Get the Magic Lantern firmware, and they'll both be great for video.

The T4i and T5i AF during autofocus is not impressive (looking at Youtube tests), and a cheap camcorder would be better (used T2i + used camcorder would probably cost less than used T4i).

60D is a great step up from the T2i/T3i, for the reasons mentioned above, and it's also great with Magic Lantern.

50D is a wonderful body, and pretty under-appreciated, in general. I've spent some time with one next to my 1D3, and I was quite happy to use it -- leaps and bounds better handling than my T2i, and also can use Magic Lantern, which I believe brings the 50D to the HD world...

I have the T3i and I think it's an amazing little camera. I like it better than my 5D classic

I suggest T2i and up - T2i is when the sensor really improved.
Personally I would go with the T3i because of the flip out screen and better video option (3x crop mode).

If you are in a major city you can probably pick one up for under $300. Seriously, market is so saturated with people trying to get rid of T2is and T3is...

About 2 years ago I picked up a 60D for $420. Freak accident? Nope, I got another one for $400 later in the year as well.

My friend tried to sell his T2i... after several months he gave up and sold for $300 or less. This was around Nov 2013.

My point is, if you're in a big city, most likely you can get away with paying very little for a T2i / T3i.
Good luck!

Thanks all. I'll shop for a good deal on the T3i with the 18-55mm IS II. May have to wait a little while to raise a couple of hundred more than I have right now. I'm on a fixed income - retired.

Why do they call it a "fixed" income when I always feel so "broke!"

I think the t3i would be a good bang for the buck, given your wants and situation. It's easy to go over board when deciding what to buy.

I've been using the t3i for a little while now and have been very happy with it. Are there better cameras? Sure, in some ways. It's not worth overextending yourself to get there though.

Good luck!