Canon T5i or 60d? I am shopping for a camera to shoot stills and video of horseback events. My subjects are far away from me, sometimes only a few feet but sometimes off in a field...

Pony Mom

I am shopping for a camera to shoot stills and video of horseback events. My subjects are far away from me, sometimes only a few feet but sometimes off in a field, and they are moving fast. I have always owned Canon cameras, so I have some lenses to use. I am looking at either the T5i or the 60D for my new purchase. I want to stay under $1500. Advice?

Termite53 Loc: Peterborough UK

I bought a 60d a few months ago and am delighted with it....I'm using it with a 28-105 is L series lens and a Tamron 11-18 wide angle, the results are fantastic. I have trouble getting down low owing to an old foot injury, the swivel lens in live view is a real bonus..I have attached a few shots so you can judge....hope this will help you in your decision
Kindest regards
Tony

(Download)

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

For the price you are talking, you can go up to the 70D. 1399.00 with an 18-55 and 55-250, bag, extra battery and SD card at Sam's Club.

I have a 70D and the wife has a t5i. The 70 is more advanced, but also bulkier and heavier. Both take very good photos and have all the features most people will ever use.

Bill

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Termite53 wrote:

I bought a 60d a few months ago and am delighted with it....I'm using it with a 28-105 is L series lens and a Tamron 11-18 wide angle, the results are fantastic. I have trouble getting down low owing to an old foot injury, the swivel lens in live view is a real bonus..I have attached a few shots so you can judge....hope this will help you in your decision
Kindest regards
Tony

Termite, you might want to check your lens, its NOT an L lens. Canon does have a 24-105mm L, but not a 28-105mm L.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Pony Mom wrote:

I am shopping for a camera to shoot stills and video of horseback events. My subjects are far away from me, sometimes only a few feet but sometimes off in a field, and they are moving fast. I have always owned Canon cameras, so I have some lenses to use. I am looking at either the T5i or the 60D for my new purchase. I want to stay under $1500. Advice?

Either of those choices would do the job for you, the biggest difference is pretty much the physical size of the body and the control structure. Do you want a Rebel body or a "D" body? If at all possible find someplace where you are able to look at and handle both as they are very different. As already mentioned, the 70D is the newest consumer level "D" body and has vastly improved video capability over the 60D, and it sounds like video is important to your shooting so it may well be the best overall choice, and still within budget.

Termite53 Loc: Peterborough UK

Sorry should have read 28 not 24......senior moment
Thanks
Regards
Tony

Pony Mom

Wow! Great info. I will head to Sam's today to check that out. I did a little 70D research and saw that the video sounds better on that. Video is really important to me. What I REALLY want is a camera that will allow me to take stills while shooting video, but I just can't find that.

Pony Mom

Thank you so much for the tip on the D body vs. rebel body. I have always had rebels--a film rebel years ago and currently a very old digital rebel. But, I might have to make myself get used to a different body because the quality is super important to me at this point.

grusum

Pony Mom wrote:

Wow! Great info. I will head to Sam's today to check that out. I did a little 70D research and saw that the video sounds better on that. Video is really important to me. What I REALLY want is a camera that will allow me to take stills while shooting video, but I just can't find that.

It is my recollection from reading/rereading the manual that the 70d will allow single frame capture during video capture... Have had my 70d for two week and am THRILLED with it but probably never will shoot a video with it. Sold my T2i, T3i, T4i and SX40 and replaced with the 70d - best move have made in a long time.

You could go to the Canon site and download the manual and check see if the camera matches your expectations. It exceeded mine!

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slr_cameras/eos_70d#BrochuresAndManuals

Just not my cup of tea.

Pony Mom

Grusum-
Thanks for that tip! I am so hoping you are recalling correctly. I will be super excited!

Everyone-I went to Sam's this afternoon. They were SOLD OUT of this great deal on the 70D. So, I moved on to Costco. They have the same sale going on. I've got my 70D now, and my 70D for Dummies book is on its way!

Pony Mom

Now, new question. I probably should put this on a new forum deal, but since you all have helped me so much...what lenses would you recommend for shooting moving horses far away in a field? My camera came with 18-55 and 55-250. I'll use those for a while, but I might want to upgrade to a great lens as well.

grusum

Pony Mom wrote:

Grusum-
Thanks for that tip! I am so hoping you are recalling correctly. I will be super excited!

Everyone-I went to Sam's this afternoon. They were SOLD OUT of this great deal on the 70D. So, I moved on to Costco. They have the same sale going on. I've got my 70D now, and my 70D for Dummies book is on its way!

You will be very pleased with your 70d. On page 261 of the downloaded manual you will see the heading Shooting Still Photos. "While shooting a movie, you can also take a still photo by pressing the shutter button completely."

Old man's memory not gone yet! :thumbup: :thumbup:

grusum

Pony Mom wrote:

Now, new question. I probably should put this on a new forum deal, but since you all have helped me so much...what lenses would you recommend for shooting moving horses far away in a field? My camera came with 18-55 and 55-250. I'll use those for a while, but I might want to upgrade to a great lens as well.

I bought the new 18-135mm STM lens and already had the Tamron 70-300 VR and the Canon 70-300 non IS.

My favorite lens is the 18-135 STM. Had the 18-135 IS but non STM with my T4i and almost never took it off the camera.

With the 18-135mm STM lens if you are heavily into video this is the way I would go. There doesn't appear to yet be a LOT of STM lens, yet. Check out its capabilities.

Would have been better off if you had bought the 18-135STM with the 70d - as a kit it raises the price ~$320 but if you have to buy it singly it is ~$580.

Sorry for small piece of bad news.

The 70d with the 18-135 STM lens is $1449 @ amazon.com which is only $50 more than you paid for your kit with the 18-55 and the 55-250. Good kit - but only one lens is STM and the other has a plastic mounting ring... good lens, just not a great lens, whereas the 18-135 STM is a great lens, not L quality but still a great lens.

Gone Off Shore Loc: Philadelphia, PA

grusum wrote:

I bought the new 18-135mm STM lens and already had the Tamron 70-300 VR and the Canon 70-300 non IS.

My favorite lens is the 18-135 STM. Had the 18-135 IS but non STM with my T4i and almost never took it off the camera.

With the 18-135mm STM lens if you are heavily into video this is the way I would go. There doesn't appear to yet be a LOT of STM lens, yet. Check out its capabilities.

PonyMom wrote:

Now, new question. I probably should put this on a new forum deal, but since you all have helped me so much...what lenses would you recommend for shooting moving horses far away in a field? My camera came with 18-55 and 55-250. I'll use those for a while, but I might want to upgrade to a great lens as well.

You're going to be just fine with the 55-250 as long as it's an STM lens.
Also consider getting a remote microphone that you can either mount on the hot-shoe or on a bracket. This will cut down noise from the lens and touching the camera. The Rode Videomic is very good as is the Sennheiser MKE 400 Compact Video Camera Shotgun Microphone - B&H Photo $199.00.

grusum

Gone Off Shore wrote:

You're going to be just fine with the 55-250 as long as it's an STM lens.

True statement, IF is was an STM lens but is not. The 18-55 is STM but the 55-250 is IS but not STM and has a plastic mounting ring.

Still a good lens. I got lots of good photos with mine before I sold it.