Upgrading from 40D

Hey guys,

My wife has a T3i and I have a 40D. We decided to sell both of these bodies (and her 18-55 lens) in order to get one upgraded body.

We mostly shoot our toddler but also some car and dance pictures. Currently have a Canon 50mm f1.8, Tamron 17-50 f2.8, Canon 55-250mm, and a Canon 85mm f1.8.

I'm mostly looking at the 60D and 70D. Seems the 70D has a decent amount of upgrades (better AF is the main one that seems relevant for us) but still seems kinda pricey given it has been out for a while.

Do you have any strong suggestions for 60D vs 70D vs other?

How do you guys feel about refurb vs used?

Does Canon have a legit black friday sale every year or is it hit and miss? Scanning the forums it looks like they had an awesome deal on the 60D last year.

I've been out of the photography game for a bit so just trying to get caught up.

Thanks!

Just noticed this article a couple of days ago.
https://petapixel.com …u-dont-need-a-new-camera/

If the set is just the 60D and 70D, my choice would be easy, 70D for the micro focus adjust feature alone. However, comparing the two, the 70D has so many improvement like better AF, touch screen, higher resolution, higher native ISO, and so many more. 60D is better in one category, price.

Refurbs from Canon direct are great options. If you can foot the difference for an 80d, that will be better than both the 60 and 70d, quite a bit so.

Archibald wrote in post #18724243
Just noticed this article a couple of days ago.
https://petapixel.com …u-dont-need-a-new-camera/

Great post! I always try to keep that in mind (and that glass comes before the body). However, my wife's camera never gets used so basically we would just be consolidating two cameras to get a bit nicer one. I considered using the money to get a new lens but honestly the lens I have now I am pretty happy with for what I use them for. I think I would get some use out of higher useable ISO and resolution, though. (Low light restaurant group shots/birthday parties/etc where I don't want/need shallow DOF and don't want to mess around with flashes. Regarding the resolution, I can't crop much now without losing quality). Honestly, my setup now does everything I need with exception to those two things.

gjl711 wrote in post #18724293
If the set is just the 60D and 70D, my choice would be easy, 70D for the micro focus adjust feature alone. However, comparing the two, the 70D has so many improvement like better AF, touch screen, higher resolution, higher native ISO, and so many more. 60D is better in one category, price.

Ya - seems like the 70D is a bigger jump compared to just the 60D. Honestly, not sure how much of a difference the resolution/touch screen will make compared to the 60D but the AF and ISO seems useful!

The 60D has an older sensor than the T5i even has. The 60D and T3i and 7D have the same sensor.

The 70D has a newer sensor and MFA.

Really, maybe look at a Canon Refurb 80D.

Alternatively, you can get a used 6D for about $700 these days on this forum.

Or, you could ditch a big dSLR system and look at an APS-C mirrorless system like Fuji (look at the X-T1 or X-T2) or Sony. Or you could look at Canon's new mirrorless systems. Small, light, silent.

Very best,

Canon shows the 70D refurb body at $960 but currently out of stock. The 80D refurb is $800 (https://shop.usa.canon​.com …efurbished?sear​chTerm=80d) which is a very good price IMO.

You asked about refurbs; my 60D, about 6 to 7 years old had about 40 clicks on the shutter. On my 80D I didn't check the shutter count, but essentially looked new.

I'd go with the 70D (I own one). Has the flip screen, the dual pixel af, so in live view you can just touch the screen where you want to focus. A few more pixels, that's probably negligible, but the sensor is going to have a little more DR I believe. As far as refurb, I bought a refurb lens, seemed like new, and both of my brothers have bought refurbished cameras and haven't had any issues.

I was just flipping through the refurbished cameras and didn't see a 70d listed, that seems a little odd. Usually even if they are out of stock they retain the listing. Maybe you need to check back in a week or two, or call them if you decide to go the refurbished route.

Oops, I checked, DR pretty much unchanged from 60D to 70D, does get a boost at the 80D. I think it's not bad though in the 70D, probably fine for what you are shooting.

http://www.photonstoph​otos.net/Charts/PDR.ht​m

patrick j wrote in post #18724631
I was just flipping through the refurbished cameras and didn't see a 70d listed, that seems a little odd. Usually even if they are out of stock they retain the listing. Maybe you need to check back in a week or two, or call them if you decide to go the refurbished route.

The 70D refurb body is at https://shop.usa.canon​.com …/eos-70d-body-refurbished but is out of stock and costs more than the 80D as I noted above in reply 7.

patrick j wrote in post #18724631
I'd go with the 70D (I own one). Has the flip screen, the dual pixel af, so in live view you can just touch the screen where you want to focus. A few more pixels, that's probably negligible, but the sensor is going to have a little more DR I believe. As far as refurb, I bought a refurb lens, seemed like new, and both of my brothers have bought refurbished cameras and haven't had any issues.

I was just flipping through the refurbished cameras and didn't see a 70d listed, that seems a little odd. Usually even if they are out of stock they retain the listing. Maybe you need to check back in a week or two, or call them if you decide to go the refurbished route.

Oops, I checked, DR pretty much unchanged from 60D to 70D, does get a boost at the 80D. I think it's not bad though in the 70D, probably fine for what you are shooting.

http://www.photonstoph​otos.net/Charts/PDR.ht​m

The 80D is a new sensor with more resolution and more DR, with a better AF system. The 80D is worth the price delta.

John from PA wrote in post #18724662
The 70D refurb body is at https://shop.usa.canon​.com …/eos-70d-body-refurbished but is out of stock and costs more than the 80D as I noted above in reply 7.

I saw your comment, but then didn't see the camera at the link below, all 3 pages. That's pretty expensive for a reburbished camera that's been out for what? 5 years? Of course, if you have the choice of those 2 cameras and the newer one is cheaper, that would be the way to go.


https://shop.usa.canon​.com …erchangeable-lens-cameras

Thanks for all the input, guys.

I was reading back through my post and made a boo boo. My wife's is actually a T3i, not a T5i. The 80D would be awesome but given I would have to pay a substantial difference I'm not sure it will be worth it given the 40D honestly meets most of my needs.

Any chance they will be cheaper for black Friday you think?

HLxDrummer wrote in post #18724726
Thanks for all the input, guys.

I was reading back through my post and made a boo boo. My wife's is actually a T3i, not a T5i. The 80D would be awesome but given I would have to pay a substantial difference I'm not sure it will be worth it given the 40D honestly meets most of my needs.

Any chance they will be cheaper for black Friday you think?

The 80D might go down for black Friday and it probably is worth the wait, but I would not expect a price significantly below about $725 to $750. That $800 is already pretty low. B&H has a used one (with 18-55) for $936! The next big influx of Canon refurb's would occur after the holiday season, and again sometimes sales occur. The ones from early to late January are often due to "buyer's remorse". They get purchased as a gift, the end user finds them daunting and complex, and they then get returned.

I agree that the 80D is a very capable camera.

They sometimes have really good deals. In late December 2017, there was a refurbished bundle deal - 80D, 18-55, and 55-250 for $552 (I had to go back into my notifications from Canon Price Watch to confirm that).

Since you are still happy with the 40D and on a budget, I suggest continue using it and keeping your eye open for one of those great deals that comes around every once in a while.

HLxDrummer wrote in post #18724726
Thanks for all the input, guys.

I was reading back through my post and made a boo boo. My wife's is actually a T3i, not a T5i. The 80D would be awesome but given I would have to pay a substantial difference I'm not sure it will be worth it given the 40D honestly meets most of my needs.

Any chance they will be cheaper for black Friday you think?

T3i shares the sensor from the 60D, just as an FYI. The 70D will be very, very close though in overall performance, so whatever you get from the T3i, you will also get from a 70D.

If you are in the US, there is a good deal on the 77D, which is a rebel-esque version of the 80D.
https://shop.usa.canon​.com …ebel-77d-body-refurbished

If you are really wanting a 70D, there are reputable sellers on Amazon, and Amazon gives you a good return policy.
https://www.amazon.com …mbc?ie=UTF8&con​dition=all