topic Re: Upgrading in General Discussion

Upgrading

and2morrow — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 02:40:24 GMT

I'm looking to upgrade my t2i. I'm on a pretty tight budget tho and I'm really not looking to spend more than $4-500.

I've saw used/refurbished on Canons website and I was curious if you have any insight or advice on what would be good. I seem to do more portrait photography these days. I find myself looking at t6/ and I saw a used 50d body for a decent price. Are any of those going to be an upgrade to what I already have??

I guess I'm looking for a bit more sharpnesss in my photos. I currently shoot with an 18-135mm. Or would a lens upgraded be a better option?

Thanks in advance!!

Re: Upgrading

ScottyP — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 03:04:55 GMT

Lens first. Lens. Lens. Lens.

Two ideas:

1.). An EF-S 17-55 f/2.8. A very sharp lens with a larger lens opening (aperture) that lets about 4x more light into the camera on the long end than the kit lenses do.

2.). A really large aperture prime (fixed focal lens, not a zooming lens) like an EF 50mm f/1.4 for like $250.00 or an inexpensive 50mm f/1.8 STM ( the "STM" part is critical) for like $115.00). This lets in like 8x more light and also gives the ability to do the shallow depth of field you get from a large lens opening (aperture) that makes images better than snapshots.

Re: Upgrading

and2morrow — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:20:48 GMT

I have a 50mm and I feel like I don't like shooting with it because I can't zoom? As crazy as that sounds lol

Re: Upgrading

and2morrow — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:27:35 GMT

Thoughts on this lens? I'm clueless when it comes to this!

Canon 17-85mm F4-5.6 IS USM EF-S C/AF

Re: Upgrading

RobertTheFat — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 13:36:36 GMT

@and2morrow wrote:
I have a 50mm and I feel like I don't like shooting with it because I can't zoom? As crazy as that sounds lol

Not at all crazy; zoom lenses are where it's at these days. Many are of very high quality, and their versatility is obvious. Indeed, I don't understand why so many people keep recommending primes (lenses that don't zoom). Most people will never need them.

My wife and I have 14 lenses, and only two of them are primes: a 60mm macro that she uses occasionally and a 30mm f/1.4 that neither of us ever uses.

Re: Upgrading

and2morrow — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 13:47:22 GMT

I just feel like I have a little by more control with a zoom lens!! I'm just on a tight budget!

I guess now I'm looking for lens suggestions on a budget then!! 🙂

Re: Upgrading

ebiggs1 — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 19:05:55 GMT

Re-read Scott's post.

"Lens first. Lens. Lens. Lens." Always lens or at least mostly always!

" I seem to do more portrait photography these days." And, you already have the ef 50mm f1.8 ?

On a T2i this is THE portrait lens. Of course if you purchased it with your T2i they have made a better version of it currently.

There is no doubt the T2i is a little long on the tooth but I think I would still go for a better lens. My choice would be the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens. Large constant aperture. Very sharp. Handles that best portrait range of 50 to 55mm on a Rebel. If you do buy that lens, sell the 50mil you have. You won't use it ever again.

Forget the used 50D notion.

Re: Upgrading

and2morrow — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 19:58:41 GMT

I have probably only used the 50mm once. And I bought it a few years ago. My t2i was lightly used when I bought it and the guy sold it to me with the 18-135.

I just hate not having the flexibility on a non zoom lens.

I believe a new body is completely out of question. I'll be searching for a good budget friendly lens now.

Re: Upgrading

ebiggs1 — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 20:06:25 GMT

If you are doing portraits, do you really need to zoom? I don't. The more open aperture also helps portraits.

Remember just any lens may not improve anything. Only better lenses than what you have will help IQ. Don't be buying just to be buying. You'll only waste your money.

Re: Upgrading

and2morrow — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 20:19:57 GMT

I definitely want to improve my photos. However I think being able to zoom with children is way easier than focusing on one position.

I'm wondering if I could get something out of a 24mm tho. Any thoughts on that?

Re: Upgrading

Waddizzle — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 21:16:46 GMT

@and2morrow wrote:
I definitely want to improve my photos. However I think being able to zoom with children is way easier than focusing on one position.

I'm wondering if I could get something out of a 24mm tho. Any thoughts on that?

Take a few "test portrait" shots wth your 50mm. The STM version of the lens is really sharp. It has a metal connection to the camera body, while the older version has a black plastic mount.

I have used the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM on my T5, and it is a great wide angle lens for an APS-C camera body. I think it could be a good add, but what would you use it for? Wide angle lenses can tend to make things look further away than what they actually are.

I found the 24mm lens to work well indoors for two reasons. One, it was pretty fast. Two, it was wide enough to take in much of an average sized room. For outdoor use, you may want to dust off that 50mm lens, after all.

Re: Upgrading

and2morrow — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 21:32:05 GMT

I have tried shooting with it, I just don't feel as comfortable as I do with a zoom? Lol

I mostly photograph children, seniors and families.

I find it easier to photograph children with a zoom because when times get tough I let them do their own thing and I snap away!

Re: Upgrading

and2morrow — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 21:45:34 GMT

Canon EF 28-80mm II F/3.5-5.6

Thoughts on this?? Any?

Re: Upgrading

Waddizzle — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 21:47:42 GMT

@and2morrow wrote:
I have tried shooting with it, I just don't feel as comfortable as I do with a zoom? Lol

I mostly photograph children, seniors and families.

I find it easier to photograph children with a zoom because when times get tough I let them do their own thing and I snap away!

A 50mm lens on an APS-C body makes for a good portrait lens combo. It is a little long for photographing backyard fun and games.

The recommended EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 STM lens has a great zoom range for an APS-C body. It has an angle of view that is almost similar to the popular 24-70mm zoom lenses on a full frame camera body.

Re: Upgrading

RobertTheFat — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 21:56:11 GMT

@and2morrow wrote:
I have probably only used the 50mm once. And I bought it a few years ago. My t2i was lightly used when I bought it and the guy sold it to me with the 18-135.

I just hate not having the flexibility on a non zoom lens.

I believe a new body is completely out of question. I'll be searching for a good budget friendly lens now.

Consider the 17-55mm f/2.8 lens that Ernie recommended a couple of messages ago. My wife and I each have it and have gotten excellent results. She used hers on a T2i for several years and still uses it now on her 7D Mark II. It's a perennial favorite and can often be found new or refurbished at a very good price. Its only annoying drawback is that it casts a shadow in the built-in flash's illumination field. But many lenses do these days, and an add-on flash is a better idea anyway, for several reasons.

As for the T2i body, it's old, but it was an improvement over its predecessor to a degree that didn't happen again in the Rebel line until the T6i. You'll want to replace it eventually, but there's no obvious reason why you should feel you have to do so now. Use it until it wears out.

Re: Upgrading

and2morrow — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 22:31:32 GMT

I rarely ever use flash anyways but I'm seeing this lens in the $3-400.00 range everywhere. Am I looking correctly?

Re: Upgrading

Waddizzle — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 23:05:05 GMT

@and2morrow wrote:
I rarely ever use flash anyways but I'm seeing this lens in the $3-400.00 range everywhere. Am I looking correctly?

Not at $300 to $400. Not offered by Canon, or an authorized dealer. You might be looking at the EF-S 17-85mm, instead of the EF-S 17-55mm.

There are similar 17-55mm lenses made for APS-C bodies that are made by third party manufacturers, not made by Canon. Sigma seems to be selling their version at clearance prices, 50% off the regular list in some places.

Re: Upgrading

and2morrow — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 23:27:32 GMT

Help me out, where should I look?

Re: Upgrading

Waddizzle — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 00:40:55 GMT

I buy Canon gear from two online sources, Canon and B&H. There are other online Canon retailers, but none have the post sale service like B&H, and none have the best pricing as the Canon Online Refurbished Store.

Stay away from Amazon and eBay when it comes to big ticket purchases.

Re: Upgrading

and2morrow — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 01:54:22 GMT

It's $800+ there. 😕