Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

There are so many lens options available to make taking photos fresh and exciting. There are also accessories for your camera and these can make for growth in your photography. Keep the body and get new creative glass and other accessories. Then when that has been explored look at a new body. Helps give new perspectives to old subjects that a new body generally cannot do.

debbie wrazen Loc: Western New York

I can relate to your situation, Dan. Two years ago I was in the same situation. I loved my T3i but was also at the same crossroads. I purchased a mirrorless and put money into the system's lenses as well . While I am satisfied with it under most situations, I still enjoy my rebel T3i and am looking for a full frame 5d . Good luck.

the f/stops here Loc: New Mexico

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Is there a technical reason why magnesium would cause issues with wi-fi that don't exist with aluminum frames, such as in the 70D? I haven't heard of that issue before.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Definitely glass first. You have the cheapest (and possibly the worst) lenses Canon makes. They simply won't be any better on a new 7DII, than they are on your T3i.

Regarding your lenses...

Instead of the 24-70/4L IS, I would recommend either the EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS or the EF-S 15-85mm IS USM. Both those would be a better "walk around" lens on an APS-C crop sensor camera such as you're planning to buy. No need to get the larger, more expensive, heavier full frame capable lens... you won't see any better image quality from it... both those EF-S lenses are capable of "L-quality" images. Plus they both give you IS, USM and wider angle of view. Pick the 17-55 if you want/need the faster aperture.... or the 15-85mm if a bit wider would be useful and/or you want a wider range of focal lengths in a single zoom.

Get the EF 70-200/4L IS... costs a little more but stabilization on this telephoto is more important than it is on the shorter focal lengths. Note that Canon's f4 70-200s do not come with a tripod mounting ring. If you want one, it's sold separately (Canon's is rather expensive... about $150... there are cheaper third party around $50 that seem okay... avoid the $25 plastic ones though!). Really, either of the 70-200/4 have excellent image quality... they rival that of the 70-200/2.8 IS Mark II... part of the reason for the great IQ is that all three use fluorite, which is unusual in a zoom like this.

A cheaper alternative would be the EF-S 55-250mm IS STM... it's a definite step up from the 75-300 (non IS, non USM, sub-$200 version). Actually is quite good optically, but isn't as well built/sealed as the L-series lenses.

Want to shoot macro? Replace the 50/1.8 with a Tamron SP 60/2.0.... it's great for portraits too. It's not fast focusing, so really isn't a sports/action lens, but neither is the 50/1.8 and the AF performance is fine for portraits and macro. The Canon EF-S 60/2.8 USM

Want a wider lens? The EF-S 10-18mm IS STM is amazingly good for such an affordable lens... selling for under $300 (which is $100 to $200 cheaper than any other ultrawide from anyone else, even half the price of Canon's own 10-22mm). It's also the only ultrawide zoom with stabilization (though that might not be as necessary with an easily handheld ultrawide... still, it's nice to have).

Now, with lenses out of the way, let's talk cameras...

I'm really not sure the 7DII is the best choice for you. Yes, it is a fine camera, but may be serious overkill for your needs. Only you can say. The 70D might be a better choice, still would be a considerable step up from your T3i, plus costs less you so might be able to upgrade right away along with the lenses... or at least sooner.

70D has more support for less experienced users, will seem more familiar to a Rebel user, yet still has many of the more advanced, high performance features. It has essentially the same sensor, resolution and higher ISO capabilities as the 7DII (7DII has one stop higher user-selectable ISO, but it's anyone's guess if that's really usable), but 70D is a bit smaller, lighter and costs roughly $500 less. It inherited much of the original 7D's excellent 19-point AF system (a big step up from your T3i's) and can shoot almost as fast (about 7 fps vs 8 fps in original 7D and 10 fps in the 7DII). The 70D also has an articulated touch-screen LCD and built-in WiFi, both of which the 7D-series doesn't have.

If you are a serious sports/action shooter, need it's speed, high durability and weather sealing to shoot in tough conditions, then the 7DII might be a good choice, although you'll likely need to spend a lot more time and effort learning to use it (especially the AF system). The 7DII does have built-in GPS (as well as electronic compass and electronic level), which the 70D lacks (there is a GPS module available for it... or use a smart phone with it). But, aside from these features you really should give the 70D a hard look. It will run circles around your T3i in many ways, without breaking the bank nearly as badly as the 7DII.



Canon's marketing materials explain that the reason the "high end", metal clad bodies don't have built-in WiFi is because the metal interrupts the signal... But it also might have something to do with the fact that they sell a separate WFT module for those cameras, costing between $550 and $750 additional... But also give much, much greater range, higher reliability and potentially faster data transfer than the built-in WiFi offers.

Built-in WiFi generally has range of about 30 to 40 feet and is fine for remote camera control, but not all that great for image transfer due to distance and speed limitations. The WFT modules have around 400 foot range and are gigabit Ethernet wired (tethered) capable, which is almost 2X the speed of the fastest wireless... or 3X to 5X the speed of typical... so is much more practical for high volume image transfer.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

You can wait for the Nikon D850, 45 mp, articulating screen, 4k cinematic, ISO 32 as base, wi-fi, exceptional.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Now this is an interesting post.
Bill, why don't you post a pic with both your kit lenses and the L lenses at full file on Download, so the OP can consider the IQ of each for himself!!
You of course have a high end camera and can afford the best lenses as well, so your opinion in my perception is a little skewed.
The OP has stated that he can not afford both, and you are suggesting a purely trial and error method!!! If he is not satisfied with one, just take out your wallet and get the other as well!! What's wrong with that picture?
So to put it into perspective, just HOW much IQ gain did you get from your Pro glass? Was it 1%, 5%, 50%, or just "some" ?
Just wondering. ;-)
SS

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

D

The technical issue as I have read it somewhere in Canon materials is that since the 70 is a consumer camera, they simply make the top part of the body where the wifi is housed out of plastic so it causes no transmission issue.
BUT, the 7ll is a semi-pro camera and the entire body is made of metal, including the top part of the camera. Metal also being more rigid is easier to gasket and seal as the 7ll is.
So Canon feels that there is better wifi performance using the separate wifi module which attaches externally.
Canon's philosophy has always been that if it doesn't work properly don't have it there in the first place since users will just complain that it's not a good product.
It's the same reason that Canon extenders won't AF on most bodies but 3rd party extenders do. The 3rd parties could care less just how well the extender focuses, they just want to sell extenders!! Maybe this helped. ;-)
SS

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

All of what you state concerning the construction of wi-fi bodies and performances differences of internal vs module is correct, so far as I know. The 70D is a good example of an open top framework with wi-fi. The statement I questioned seemed to say that magnesium frames were causing a wi-fi problem. So far as I know every Canon DSLR has either an aluminum or magnesium frame and I believe all the wi-fi models use aluminum. I was wondering if there was some type of interference issue with the magnesium frames of the higher end models.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

Bravo! Hear Hear! Many shooters would indeed benefit more by learning than by buying gear.

"Owning a sword does not make you a Samurai!"

henrycrafter Loc: Orem Utah

If your T3i does video and is in good condition go for the glass. Also always try to improve you knowledge and ability with what you have before you go after what you have not!

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

T3i does indeed do video, and can also use Magic Lantern for additional video functionality and other still photo enhancements.

I agree about the new glass, especially if video might be a requirement. The OP's existing lenses are not the quietest and will usually get picked up even with an external mic. The newer STM lenses are not only superior optically in most cases, but virtually silent.

Although L glass is superior and only EF (Full frame), just focusing on EF is not necessarily a good idea. It makes the overall system considerably more expensive than using some EF-S lenses at the shorter end of the focal length range, and lenses such as the EF-S 10 -22mm zoom are considered to be close to L quality by many. If the OP's goal is to move up to full frame then clearly buying EF lenses makes sense, but if the goal is to get a better APS-C body then investing in some good EF-S lenses is a better option in most cases, with EF for the longer focal lengths.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

Unless you have some issues with capability of the body for your intended use, I would go for the glass. Getting more speed would be an issue for me.

rlscholl Loc: California

"I'd nix the EF 200 f/2.8L, Get a Tamron SP 70-200 f/2.8, new $1400, used $700-$900, ... "

The Canon EF 200 f/2.8L is an excellent lens, and is sharper than the Tamron, and less expensive (see Roger Cicala's comments on LensRentals.com). It is also smaller and lighter. It largely depends on how you value the convenience of a zoom versus the attributes of the Canon.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Both