willaim Loc: Sunny Southern California

The camera is just a tool. It's the person behind the camera who makes the picture. Since you feel you must upgrade from the 3ti(presuming that you have Canon lenses or lenses for that camera) why buy a whole new system. The 7ti is a Rebel upgrade. Depending what your budget is, the 80D is an excellent camera. A few hundred dollars more then the 7ti. BTW, Canon has an excellent customer relations. If there is a camera store in your area, check out the cameras and ask questions. To be more proficient in photography, you have to shoot, shoot and keep shooting and learn what the camera can do. Good luck.

htbrown Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

I was in a similar boat. I use a Canon Xsi I bought in 2008. After considering lots of options I decided not to upgrade my camera body (yet).

The only limitations on pictures I take with this camera are:
1) My skill level
2) Poor low-light performance
3) Noise if used above ISO 400
4) More limited dynamic range compared to modern cameras.

Buying a new camera won't fix (1). For the kind of photography that interests me, I can work around (4) through discipline and a tripod. The other two issues (which are related to each other) will someday become enough of a problem that I buy a new body, but don't impact me so greatly that I need to do it today.

What kind of photography are you doing? Is your camera truly limiting your ability to do that? If it is not, buying a new or better lens will have more impact than buying a new body.

dhowland

Huge Pentax fan here -- love the K1 and K3 -- and my lenses, but I agree. Upgrade your Canon and watch your gear rise to the challenge.

canon Lee

Hold on here we go again...Nikon or Canon?

JD750 Loc: SoCal

It really hasn’t been the trend. There have been many thoughtful responses.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I triple the motion. While I have "upgraded" to an 80D (which I highly recommend), I still use my T2i. For my purposes the T2i photos are more than good enough. If you are dissatisfied with what you can get with your T3i, you need to determine if the camera, the lens, or your skills are the limiting factor. If the latter, upgrading is fun, but won't help.

The only reason for my upgrade was the ability to get shots the T2i couldn't (focus in very low light, vastly improved focus in live view/video) or features that either made it easier for me to operate (articulated touch screen.)

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

Not here. Folks are actually addressing an honest question. Another day, perhaps.

wmurnahan Loc: Bloomington IN

I have to agree with the view that it is not the camera. Look at it this way, a violinist that is still learning to use the tool, the violin, does not sound better nor play with more skill just because they have a Stradivarius. A photo is more about the visual, the best equipment will give a beginner very sharp pictures that can be blown up to wall size but the photos taken won't be worth it unless they know how to compose and expose a two D representation of what your eye is seeing.

canon Lee

I agree but based on person preferences. most will suggest what they are using.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Teresa,

What is you budget? What lenses do you currently own for your t3i? What do you like to photograph? Is there anything about your current results that you are unhappy with?

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

The t7i seems like it would make the most sense and easiest on the budget.

blackest Loc: Ireland

from camera's that you have listed the Pentax K1 is the best. It's full frame can operate with any Pentax lens dx fx vintage takumars ... all of them. Every lens will benefit from 5 axis image stabilization and it is fully compatible with Pentax's latest generation of lenses too. You won't get more camera for the money or lenses at better prices.

The kp is pretty decent but it's still a crop factor camera. I don't know why you are not considering better nikons like the D7200 over the D5600 but anyway the k1 is pentax's flagship camera and if you can afford it, you would be very happy with it. I'm very biased towards Pentax, the K1 is the only camera I want to upgrade to past my K-5.

The K1 is pretty much on the same level as the Nikon D810 but will cost you less for the body and for lenses to use it with.

A top of the range Pentax v a budget consumer grade Nikon or Canon a difficult choice :)

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

Ednsb Loc: Santa Barbara

laughs , lots of advice all good but it really comes down to personal taste. If you have a few canon lens you like for your current camera I'd stay with canon. You already have a feel for how the controls work so there will be a much shorter learning curve. Camera models to me are like playing leapfrog. The latest and greatest will soon be passed slightly by the next release of a competitor. Don’t get caught up in the the gear race unless you really have a lot of $ and time. I think the most significant camera to come out in the last 10 years was the Sony mirrorless. Ive been shooting Canon for over 50 years but it might be the one camera I would think about moving to (especially since I can use my canon lens on it).

A suggestion would be to go to a good camera store and play with the models you are considering. Maybe even rent them and actually shoot. But one thing to keep in mind is the old saying that the best camera you have is the one you are carrying.

mannypr

Everything the guys have said here to more or less extent is true . I consider the first thing you should do is figure out if you want to really get into photography or just have a camera for fun and learn a bit . You see mainly the difference in different models of same manufacturer are more advance funtions for the proficient , Case in point , a budget camera shutter speed will go up to 4000 of a second when a more advance one could get to 8000 of a second and so on . More money willget you more advance funtions , not necesarily better picture quality .

That being said if you are more familiar with Canon stay with Canon , especially if you already have Canon lenses and it will be easier to learn as each camera manufacturer as you might suspect has his own menu system and terminology . You already know Canon , stay with Canon . If you have a t3 most of the Canon rebel series cameras you would consider will give you better results as technology has advance alot since the T3 was introduced .

Like I said beforehand if you just want to have fun and learn a bit stick with the rebel series of Canon cameras . If you are looking forward to advance and learn at a higher level you just might want to consider a more advance model like a Canon 80D as youmight find yourself a bit restrained photography wise . Personally I'm a Nikon user but that does not mean it's better then Canon even though Nikons sensor performance seems to be a bit better as tested by independent reviewers but to actually see with your own eyes the differences is a whole different story .You have experience with Canon menu and terminology and have Canon lens ? Stay with Canon and have fun .