Advice on Canon Camer Upgrade: I am looking to upgrade from my current Canon T3i. It's time. I'm looking at the Canon 7D which would be cheaper or maybe the 80D. Thinking to go a...

deg122 Loc: Buffalo, NY

I am looking to upgrade from my current Canon T3i. It's time. I'm looking at the Canon 7D which would be cheaper or maybe the 80D. Thinking to go a little more expensive because I won't be upgrading again for a significant amount of time. Agonizing over if it's worth the additional money, what I really need etc. I do mostly portraits, some landscapes, families and children. Have a Canon 24-70 and I'm good lens wise I think so a new camera is the next step. My biggest goal is increased sharpness which I don't always get with the T3i. Thanks.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Deg122 - Assuming you mean the original 7D, don't. Go with the 80D. They 80D provides much better ISO performance and can autofocus at f/8. It has a wider spread of AF points. F/8 is an issue for using Canon extenders. These may not apply to your shooting / lenses, but they provide a platform for growth into very advanced lenses and make the 80D a body that possibly could be the last one you need.

Now regarding 'sharpness', changing bodies likely has nothing to do with it. Your T3i sports a 18MP sensor and the 80D sports a 24MP. This difference is subtle, not magnificent. And, it effects the level of detail, not sharpness. If you're not getting sharp images from one of Canon's sharpest lenses, that's technique, not equipment.

Japakomom Loc: Originally from the Last Frontier

With what you shoot either the 80D, if you want to stay with a crop, or the new 6DII. The 6DII would pair wonderfully with your 24-70.

hj Loc: Florida

Before you put $1200 in the Canon 80D compare with the Canon 70D for four hundred dollars less - available at B&H for $799 body only. Go to DPReview.com and make the comparison. Many reviewers said the 80D was not worth the extra price over the 70D considering how good the 70D is. I recently bought the 70D from B&H and find it to be a fantastic improvement over my Canon T3i for sports. Love the articulated touch screen.

Carlo Loc: Maryland, NW.Chesapeake Bay

hj wrote:

Before you put $1200 in the Canon 80D compare with the Canon 70D for four hundred dollars less - available at B&H for $799 body only. Go to DPReview.com and make the comparison. Many reviewers said the 80D was not worth the extra price over the 70D considering how good the 70D is. I recently bought the 70D from B&H and find it to be a fantastic improvement over my Canon T3i for sports. Love the articulated touch screen.

SS319

Are you sure your resolution/sharpness is behind the lens flange? The number one controller of image quality is lens quality. You mention that you have a Canon 24-70 but you fail to mention if it is a L lens, if it is the 2.8 or 4.0?

The T3i and the 7D are both 18MP 4.3µ sensors operating with a Digic 4 processor (7D is dual Processor)
The 7D Mark II is a 21MP with a slightly smaller pixel size of 4.1µ, but it uses the newer DIGIC 6 (dual) processor
The 80D steps up farther with a 24MP 3.7µ sensor and a single digic 6 processor.

Going from the T3i to the 7D you gain weight - only. OK, slightly faster processing and the ability to use CF cards, both of which are sports and motion stopping functions.

Stepping up to the 80D or the 7D II gets you the newer processor with slightly smaller pixel size so resolution should increase.

Have you considered the EOS T-7i - it has the sensor of the 80D with an even newer, more advanced processor and the feel in your hands of the T3i.

Good comparison page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Canon_EOS_digital_cameras

chaman

Until you dont get consistent sharpness with your current equipment dont bother upgrading. If you have bad images now you will also get them with new gear. The problem may be you, not the gear. Your argument for changing gears is all wrong.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

deg122 wrote:

I am looking to upgrade from my current Canon T3i.... (show quote)

You might want to check your in camera sharpness setting before worrying about a new camera. You have a very sharp lens. Also your micro adjustment might be off.

deg122 Loc: Buffalo, NY

Can you say more about "checking the in camera settings"? What would I be looking at............

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

deg122 wrote:

I am looking to upgrade from my current Canon T3i.... (show quote)

Are your lenses EF, or EF-S lenses?

Are you thinking about a Crop Sensor, a Full Frame, or a Mirrorless body?

Portrait photography would need low light capability, where family photography could encompassing sporting events which would need faster shutter speeds and frames per second capabilities. Those won't be covered in the same body and be handled well over the complete spectrum.

So you need to decide which is the most important situation for your new body to handle, and if your existing lenses will work on the new body. You can't use EF-S lenses on a Full Frame body.

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

deg122 wrote:

Can you say more about "checking the in camera settings"? What would I be looking at............

Check your users manual that came with your camera or download the larger manual from the Canon website.

Each camera has built in menus with multiple options to choose from. You need to take the time to read about the options and experiment with them if you haven't already done this.

What do you currently have your camera set on for the AF settings?

How many focal points are selected?

Continuous Auto Focus, or Spot Focus?

Do you focus on a particular single spot, hold down your shutter button part way down, then recompose the shot and finally depress the shutter button the rest of the way down?

Continuous shooting or single frame shooting?

If you don't understand my questions, you need to read your users manual, or watch some tutorials.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

I have the 70D. Will spend the rest of my life discovering its full potential. So glad to hear that "upgrading" to the 80D is not the best step! I've been very happy with the 18-135mm lens as my general use lens. Covers most situations. Personally, I don't think you'd go wrong with the 70D 18-135 combination.

photomom Loc: Southern CA

CHG_CANON - why do you say don't go with the 7d? Just curious ...... thanks!

leftj Loc: Texas

hj wrote:

Before you put $1200 in the Canon 80D compare with the Canon 70D for four hundred dollars less - available at B&H for $799 body only. Go to DPReview.com and make the comparison. Many reviewers said the 80D was not worth the extra price over the 70D considering how good the 70D is. I recently bought the 70D from B&H and find it to be a fantastic improvement over my Canon T3i for sports. Love the articulated touch screen.

You don't need to put $1,200 into an 80D. I purchased refurbished Direct from Canon last November for $899. It looks like a brand new camera and is an improvement over the 70D.

alskoj

How about the full frame 6D? Now that the Mk II version is out, you should see prices drop on it. Anyone have a take on the 6D vs. the 80D?