DSLR Camera Upgrade Recommendation

[Icey_]

Hey! I’m a plane spotter/ bird spotter with a Canon EOS T7 and a 75-300mm lens. Whenever I take photos they come out very noisy and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s due to my crappy gear. Any recommendations on what to upgrade? Any better cameras or lenses below $1000? My budget is around there and I’m not planning on spending a LOT of money considering this is just a hobby that I do from time to time. I usually shoot at around 1/1000-1/2000 f7.0 and around ISO100-200 and usually use around 100-200mms of zoom since at 300 the quality drops. Any recommendations?

[kvbarkley]

Can you show us an example?

A lens with IS would surely help, even the 70-300 IS II.

If you are cropping a lot, you can go with one of the Sigma/Tamron 150-600's which are around $1000.

[Icey_]

I’ve been considering the 150-600mm heard it’s good but i just never really got to chance to buy it. Here’s one of the photos I recently took. (I’m not sure if the photo uploaded)

[Icey_]

Yea it didn’t want to upload. I’ll upload it once I get home directly from my pc

[stevet1]

Icey_,

I think you would be hard pressed to get a camera upgrade and lens for that kind of price.

The T7 isn't a bad camera as cameras go, but the 75-300 lens doesn't enjoy a very good reputation.

You could go with a 100-300 USM lens for about $200 or a 100-400 for about $800, if you are willing to buy used.

I noticed that the 100-300 doesn't have image stabilization, but you'd be turning that off anyway if you're on a tripod.

The 100-400 is a big, heavy lens and you'd be using that on a tripod too more than likely.

You could look at the 55-250 IS USM for about $250, That's a nice lens, but it won't have as much reach.

Steve Thomas.

[Tintype_18]

I have a T7 and you will note the lenses in my signature. Yes, some aren't the best but do the job. I like the Sigma 150-600mm for nature shots.

[justadude]

Do you have any camera stores nearby? Most take in used gear in good working order in trade for new gear... then resell the used gear.  I like buying used this way because any camera store with a good reputation is going to make sure anything used is working.  You never know when buying from a private party.  If you do have one locally, go in and see what they have.  Let them know you are looking for better quality glass, and tell them what you shoot.  You might get a few dollars more by trading in the 75-300 as well.  

[Icey_]

Hey! I’ll probably have to go do that. I’ll ask them how much I could get for my lens. Thanks for the recommendation 

[justadude]

Keep in mind that typically camera stores will give you a little bit more for your used gear if you let them know up front that you plan on purchasing a lens at the same time.  Not a lot, but every little bit helps.  Also, used gear prices are not set in stone.  They expect to be talked down just a little bit.

So the way most camera stores price used goods is they go onto eBay, search for the exact item, and see what they have recently sold for (NOT what they are currently selling for).  It might help to do your homework on what you are trading, and what you are buying to know if it's a fair price.  

Now, that being said... they are going to want to make a profit on what they buy from you.  That's why they are in business.  Typically they will find what a lens is selling for (let's just say $400 for example - I have no idea the value of your lens).  They will typically offer you about 30% less - but to me that's worth not having to try to sell it yourself, unless you have a friend or relative who wants to buy it.  If they know you are planning on buying something at the same time, they will most likely offer only 20-25% less instead of 30%.

Chances are they will mark that lens up to $450 hoping to get that, but will sell it for as low as $375 - $400.  That way they still make some profit.  So this gives you an idea on a used lens that you wish to buy.  If you see something nice that fits your needs for $1,000 then ask if they will go as low as $900.  If it's been there a few days, they probably won't, but if it's been there a month, they might.

I know people that work at two different local camera stores.  They both have told me pretty much the same thing for used gear at their respective stores.

[Waddizzle]

Choose the blue pill.  Move up to R Series bodies.  For your budget, I would recommend the R50 kit or the R10 with the mount adapter. 

https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/p/eos-r50-rf-s18-45mm-f4-5-6-3-is-stm-rf-s55-210mm-f5-7-1-is-stm-lens...