Upgrade body or lens?

A Canon T7i with the 18-135 zoom can be had for about $1000 or so, that would probably work at the distances you mentioned?

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kmilo wrote in post #18612651
I vote upgrade the body ... at 8MP, almost anything is going to be a huge upgrade

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Kris,

Did you read everything the OP wrote before you wrote this reply?
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muddcat wrote in post #18611975
I don’t make big prints, almost all will be staying on the PC or social media. Thanks

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How is it that you think he'll greatly benefit from an increase in pixel count, when he's only using the pics for internet sharing?


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Tom Reichner wrote in post #18613535
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How is it that you think he'll greatly benefit from an increase in pixel count, when he's only using the pics for internet sharing?

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I can think of a few reasons. Increased pixel count - increased crop-ability especially from sports pics. But that's really not the reason to upgrade. The 30D is quite ancient and even the rebels of today have a richer feature set, greatly improved jpeg engines, way better sensors which will show in being able to use higher ISO. All these things together = better images, more keepers.

My addition of the pixel count was only to point out how far camera bodies have come since that one was released. I'm thinking you knew that, but decided to take a jab anyway. That's ok, I can take it

Tom Reichner wrote in post #18613535
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Kris,

Did you read everything the OP wrote before you wrote this reply?
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kmilo wrote in post #18613839
My addition of the pixel count was only to point out how far camera bodies have come since that one was released. I'm thinking you knew that, but decided to take a jab anyway. That's ok, I can take it

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hey, Kris

My intent wasn't to "take a jab". . I wish that you didn't think that it was. . I apologize for not taking the time to come up with a nice way of saying what I said. . I probably could have come up with a friendlier-sounding way of asking my question if I had taken another two or three minutes to think through alternative wording.

I just saw something that didn't make sense to me, and thought that maybe you hadn't seen what the OP wrote about image usage and output. . And so I was curious to know whether you had seen that or not.

I agree that camera bodies have come a long way since the OP's 30D ..... I just don't think that pixel count increase is an improvement that would matter to the OP, given his output needs.


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Honestly, no offense taken at all. We're cool, my friend ... much respect.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #18613915
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hey, Kris

My intent wasn't to "take a jab". . I wish that you didn't think that it was. . I apologize for not taking the time to come up with a nice way of saying what I said. . I probably could have come up with a friendlier-sounding way of asking my question if I had taken another two or three minutes to think through alternative wording.

I just saw something that didn't make sense to me, and thought that maybe you hadn't seen what the OP wrote about image usage and output. . And so I was curious to know whether you had seen that or not.

I agree that camera bodies have come a long way since the OP's 30D ..... I just don't think that pixel count increase is an improvement that would matter to the OP, given his output needs.

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Thanks everyone for the input, I think I will try renting a lens or maybe a lens and a body for a few days from one of the lens rental sites and see if the lens alone will be satisfactory to me or if upgrading both will be in order.

If you are in the US, these items fit in your budget, you get a 1 year warranty from Canon, and these will do much better than the 30D in many regards.

https://shop.usa.canon​.com …ebel-t6i-body-refurbished - $450

Add this 55-250 STM for $162:

https://www.amazon.com …keywords=canon+​55-250+stm

If you can find $260 more, a great addition to the kit is the Sigma 17-50 f2.8:

https://www.amazon.com …mbc?ie=UTF8&con​dition=all

So you would have 2 very good lenses and a great body for $900 (+$100 over your budget, but sell your 3 items you have now to make up for that), and would revolutionize what you are able to shoot and the results over the 30D and lens for what you are shooting right now.

When I make suggestions like these, I make them as if I am in that person's shoes, so if I needed to revitalize my gear, this setup is one I would strongly consider if that was my budget.

A 30D is still totally fine for general shots of the family and outdoor kid's sports or cars.

You'd see a profound difference if you traded in that slow kit lens, and picked up something like a Sigma 30mm F1.4 or Canon 50mm F1.8 STM. Add a TTL/HSS capable flash. And replace that aging zoom with a simple Canon 55-250 STM or a used 70-200 F4L. If you really want to upgrade the body, a used 7D or 70D would be a ton of camera for your needs for a low price. Heck you could even get a full frame with your budget (5D classic or even a used 5D2 these days)

7D used goes around $400ish (having a body with MFA would be ideal)
Sigma 30 F1.4 used goes around $250ish ($350ish if ART version)
Canon 35mm F2 IS goes around $350ish used
Yongnuo 35mm F2 for Canon is around $100ish
Canon 70-200 F4L used goes around $400ish
Canon 50 STM is $100 new
Canon 10-18 STM is $200ish used
Flashpoint R2 TTL Zoom flash is around $100ish

Very best,

I got a Canon 50mm 1.8 STM and a good used 55-250mm IS STM in the mail yesterday. Hopefully I can post some shots later. Thanks for all the help.

I went from a cheap rebel, to canon 60D, to a sony a6500.


I would save and invest in better equipment but to be honest, some of my favorite pictures I captured on my Canon rebel xsi.


nifty fifty is not bad but the 55-200 honestly is a waste of money.


I just bought the canon 70-200 f4l. Its a fine lens. Id recommend it.

I have the Canon 50mm f1.8. So far have been happy with this lens. Used primarily on a Rebel T3i

PJmak wrote in post #18618099
nifty fifty is not bad but the 55-200 honestly is a waste of money.

I assume you meant the 55-250? Why do you say this? I have seen and heard nothing but good things about this lens for the money. For $160 I can’t see where I could get much better.

There was an older 55-200. It's non IS and was made til 09. I have both. On my 600D the 200 isn't great, just mediocre at long end. On my 70D it's great. My 250 mkI is good on both bodies. With the 200, it definitely depends on the body.

Yea sorry.

If you are gonna invest money in lenses, stay away from Kit lenses.

Yea they can get you some good results but youll eventually want to upgrade them again so might as well get good stuff right away.


Thats all I meant when i said dont waste your time because you were probably not too far from buying a used 17-40f4l or a 70-200 f4l.