Upgrade my T3i or get a new lens? I've been thinking of upgrading my t3i. It's been a great camera for me for the past couple years, but the sharpness of the pictures and the slower...

wtompkins Loc: Northern Michigan

I've been thinking of upgrading my t3i. It's been a great camera for me for the past couple years, but the sharpness of the pictures and the slower speed leave me wanting more. I have the Canon 50 and 85 mm's, Tamron 18-270, and Canon 70-300 lenses. None of these are L lenses. My budget is around $800. I've been looking at the 60D.
I do mainly landscape, but some portraiture, too, and may do small weddings in the future.

Any thoughts?

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

wtompkins wrote:

I've been thinking of upgrading my t3i. It's been a great camera for me for the past couple years, but the sharpness of the pictures and the slower speed leave me wanting more. I have the Canon 50 and 85 mm's, Tamron 18-270, and Canon 70-300 lenses. None of these are L lenses. My budget is around $800. I've been looking at the 60D.
I do mainly landscape, but some portraiture, too, and may do small weddings in the future.

Any thoughts?

Wanting lower noise in images justifies the thought of up-grading to a different camera body, wanting sharper images has not a lot to do with the camera, but 99% with the lenses one uses. Your budget is very, very small, use it wisely.

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

The 60D will not really improve your image quality. I believe the sensors are the same in the cameras as are the basic specifications. The 60D is about six months older.

The Canon 50mm (f/1.8 or f/1.4) and the Canon 85mm f/1.8 are very sharp lens. With my old T2i I was able to get extremely sharp photos with these lens. Perhaps if you posted a couple of photos that you are displeased with, we could give you a few pointers on getting the best out of what you have.

Concerning the 70-300mm Canon lens, I am not really too pleased with it. I can get sharp photos using a tripod and not going too much about 250mm on the telephoto end.

Saying in the Canon food chain, the 70D would a good upgrade.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

haroldross wrote:

...
Saying in the Canon food chain, the 70D would a good upgrade.

I'd been thinking the 70D would be a big upgrade, but now I'm checking comparison sites. This one certainly doesn't convince me to let go of my own T3i:

http://www.2cameraguys.com/Canon-EOS-Rebel-T3i-vs-Canon-EOS-70D.htm

wtompkins Loc: Northern Michigan

speters wrote:

Wanting lower noise in images justifies the thought of up-grading to a different camera body, wanting sharper images has not a lot to do with the camera, but 99% with the lenses one uses. Your budget is very, very small, use it wisely.

Yes, my budget IS small, and I'm only about halfway there, so I do need to use it wisely. :)

wtompkins Loc: Northern Michigan

Linda From Maine wrote:

I'd been thinking the 70D would be a big upgrade, but now I'm checking comparison sites. This one certainly doesn't convince me to let go of my own T3i:

http://www.2cameraguys.com/Canon-EOS-Rebel-T3i-vs-Canon-EOS-70D.htm

Yes, I just now checked a couple of comparison sites, too, Linda, and am seeing that the 60D is not a whole lot better for the money than my t3i. But the 70D has more to offer, I think, looking at the comparisons.

I think you and I own the same cameras... don't you also have an SX50? I need to start using that one more maybe :)

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

wtompkins wrote:

I've been thinking of upgrading my t3i. It's been a great camera for me for the past couple years, but the sharpness of the pictures and the slower speed leave me wanting more. I have the Canon 50 and 85 mm's, Tamron 18-270, and Canon 70-300 lenses. None of these are L lenses. My budget is around $800. I've been looking at the 60D.
I do mainly landscape, but some portraiture, too, and may do small weddings in the future.

Any thoughts?

You also refer to the "slower speed" as being a deficit. The t3i has a fps rate of 3.7 which while too slow for sports is irrelevant for landscapes and portraits. What do you mean by "slower speed" and how is that impacting you?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

wtompkins wrote:

...
I think you and I own the same cameras... don't you also have an SX50? I need to start using that one more maybe :)

We do, yes!

I just bought a Canon 18-135 mm, used but in great condition, from B&H. I was very happy with it on first try yesterday - I think it'll be perfect for landscapes.

Probably the Canon 10-18 mm is the sharpest I currently own; it's a delight, but has more limited use with its challenging features.

I've actually been thinking about picking up another T3i body! Only B&H has them, that I can find right now. Don't want more weight, and as you're seeing, the next leap price-wise is a big one :)

I'm also curious to know more about your "slower speed" mention (mwsilvers's question back to you).

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

wtompkins wrote:

I've been thinking of upgrading my t3i. It's been a great camera for me for the past couple years, but the sharpness of the pictures and the slower speed leave me wanting more. I have the Canon 50 and 85 mm's, Tamron 18-270, and Canon 70-300 lenses. None of these are L lenses. My budget is around $800. I've been looking at the 60D.
I do mainly landscape, but some portraiture, too, and may do small weddings in the future.

Any thoughts?

I guess I'm not understanding your problem. I've been shooting a t3i for over a year and have experienced no such problems as you mention.

Sharpness? That sounds like a lens issue to me. Or perhaps shooting technique. I've never experienced a lack of sharpness with my t3i. I also shoot lots of video and use my 18-55 for a couple of reasons doing manual focus.
That combination of t3i and 18-55 gives me tack sharp video and stills all the time. I have other lenses as well that also give me tack sharp results.

Bottom line. I'd say it's one of two things either a lens issue with one of your lenses or perhaps shooting technique. If it is one of those an upgraded camera body won't help.

Good luck

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

Linda From Maine wrote:

I'd been thinking the 70D would be a big upgrade, but now I'm checking comparison sites. This one certainly doesn't convince me to let go of my own T3i:

http://www.2cameraguys.com/Canon-EOS-Rebel-T3i-vs-Canon-EOS-70D.htm

Keep the rebel, get the highest quality Canon lens(L-series)that suits your shooting preferances. You will need a few more BUCKS, but staying with one system, one mount, getting a great lens is the best option for satisfying pics. Glass will last, the camera body can become your "second," down the road. You shouldn't regret spending on Great glass. RJM

ronwande Loc: Hendersonville NC

I recently bought a t3i. The 60D has the same sensor and image processor. It is more ruggedly built for "professional" use. It weighs about 6 ounces more than the t3i.

If you hand hold your camera, try using higher ISO and faster shutter speeds. I'm getting old and shaky and this works for me. Noise is objectionable at ISO 3200 but acceptable for prints up to 8 by 10. 1600 works fine. For me it is a compromise between camera motion and noise in the image.

Before you spend your money, try some shots on a tripod using a remote release or the self timer.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Wendy -

You should bookmark the page below. At the bottom is a graphical timeline of Canon EOS cameras and the sensor and processor technology. As Harold already identified, the technology is the same between the T3i and 60D.

Comparison of Canon EOS digital cameras > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Canon_EOS_digital_cameras

As a fellow 500px member, I visited your page. As mentioned by others, I'm unsure of your T3i concerns regarding: sharpness of the pictures and the slower speed leave me wanting more. I didn't analyze every photo, but looking at Petskey Pier that identifies the T3i, I suggest you consider technique rather than technology. Aperture f/22 is a rather small aperture for this scene as well as likely to introduce diffraction assuming the scene was taken with a tripod mounted camera on a solid surface. There was a recent interesting discussion of small apertures at: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-270162-1.html

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

I went Sony,Canon,Sony and yes the canon seems lifeless at first after seeing Sony 'Out of the camera',But Canon does sharpen up much better than Sony with a little PP.

I think its aperture choice and 'in camera sharpening' more than brand.

I would spend a little time with the camera on a tripod finding 'The sweet spot' of your existing lenses, at the distances that you use them the most. Then see which particular lens you need.

Also, remember that at 270mm and 300mm Max zoom most zoom lens will be softer than at 1/2 to 3/4 that setting.

wtompkins Loc: Northern Michigan

Thanks for all the great replies and advice.
I mainly hand-hold my camera, especially when doing portraits, and that may be where the problem is.
I guess the main problem I have is focusing. I normally use auto-focus because I don't trust my eyes to focus manually, but many times I find, after downloading, that the focus was not on the subject, even though it looked as if it was when I was taking the photo. And I use a high enough shutter speed that that shouldn't be a factor.
I guess I just need to continue using the t3i while paying even more attention to focus. I don't wear prescription glasses, but I DO have to use them to read or use my cell phone. I surely hope it's not a matter of aging that is causing my problems :( -- I'm 50, and not ready to give up taking pictures.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

wtompkins wrote:

Thanks for all the great replies and advice. br I... (show quote)

Wendy, posting some example of you images with specific issues would be very helpful. Otherwise we're flying blind. Attach high resolution images from you computer and make sure you select store original.