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?

[Waddizzle]

While the shortcomings of the EF 75-300mm series of lenses have been identified, the lenses are capable of capturing pretty good images in capable and patient hands.  

I would expect that the performance of the lens to be improved with an R series body, just like most EF lenses.  

I would also expect any of the R series bodies to have better low light performance over the T7.  

[Waddizzle]

T5 and 75-300mm 

 

[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.