Looking to upgrade from 10D

[birish21]

So years and years ago my father gave me his Canon 10D along with a EF 75-300 1:4-6.5 IS as well as an EF 28-135 1 : 3.5-5.6 IS.  I know these are pretty nice lenses so my decision to stick with canon has already been made for me.  I really want to upgrade the body of this camera but I really do not have the budget to spend a whole lot for a new body.  What would be a decent upgrade over the 10D that wont break the bank? 

[TCampbell]

The T3i is 515g, the 10D is 790g (body-only weight) -- so the T3i sheds 275g (about 1/4 of a Kg -- a little more than half a pound.)

The Rebel SL1 is the smallest & lightest in the line.  It's 370g (407g by CIPA standard -- which weighs the camera with battery & memory card inserted -- but without a lens attached.)  Still... that's less than half of what the 10D weighs.

The newer kit lenses are MUCH lighter (especially the 18-55mm f/3-5-5.6 IS STM lens.  I've bolded STM because it's much better and also lighter than the non-STM version Canon still offers.)

Lenses have come a long way and even the kit lenses are getting very good (kit lens are the lenses that Canon includes with the camera when you buy it as a "camera body + lens" kit vs. the "camera body only" option.)

Something else I've noticed about "weight"... I have a "gripped" 5D III and most of the time it's got either the 70-200mm f/2.8 or 24-70 f/2.8 -- it weighs a lot.  It used to bother me to wear it around my neck for any period of time.  I eventually switched to a sling type strap (I use a Black Rapid RS-7 strap) and that made a HUGE difference.  I can now wear it all day long and not be bothered by it because the weight is now on my shoulder instead of my neck.  The Black Rapid RS-7 is only mildly padded, but there are some sling straps that are heavily padded and even more comfortable.

[birish21]

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@amfoto1 wrote:

You may want to look some other places, too, but a good place to start looking is the Canon Online Store. They often have refurbished cameras available at discount prices. Refurbs have the same warranty as new... might be demo units, out-of-box, overstock, returns for various reasons. They've been inspected (probably more than a brand new camera gets coming down the assembly line) and any repairs needed are made.

Here's a link to the Canon Store, refurbished cameras.

If the 10D seems "big and heavy" to you, you won't get much relief, I'm afraid.

The SL1 (body only, refurbished is $308) is the most compact, lightest weight DSLR. Of all the Canon models, it's the only one that's significantly smaller, though some of them may be abit lighter weight.  

The other Rebel series (current and recent models: T3, T5, T3i, T4i, T5i, T6i, T6s) are not substantially smaller than 10D, but are a bit lighter. They use more plastic, while the 10D has a magnesium body over an aluminum frame.

60D and 70D are the models that superseded your 10D (with 20D, 30D, 40D and 50D in between).  They are all pretty similar in size and weight to your 10D.

Your lenses are fully usable on any of these... and in fact  will give same angles of view that your accustomed to, with your 10D. If you need a wider lens (such as for landscapes), I might suggest a Canon EF-S 10-22mm or EF-S 10-18mm. Those sell new for roughly $600 and $300 respectively. EF-S lenses won't work on a 10D, but are fully compatible with all the later models mentioned above. (You also can find refurbished lenses at the Canon Online Store).

10D was a very nice camera... in 2004 when I bought mine. Any of the above will be an upgrade in many ways: faster startup, improved autofocus, faster frame rate, higher resolution and higher usable ISO, and a number of other features that have become standard in the more recent cameras.

Have fun shopping!

***********
Alan Myers

San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7D(x2), 50D(x3), some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR & PRINTROOM 

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Yea I think maybe the weight isn't as big a deal as I was making, I think it really boils down to wanting newer/faster tech.  I went and tried some cameras last night at best buy and it's amazing how much faster these cameras focus and process images.  I held a T5 and it felt great in my hands, I tried to hold some of those nicer point and shoot cameras but they just felt really small and akward in my hands.  I halso tried to go to the Canon store but I can't click or type anything in that site.

[birish21]

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@TCampbell wrote:

The T3i is 515g, the 10D is 790g (body-only weight) -- so the T3i sheds 275g (about 1/4 of a Kg -- a little more than half a pound.)

The Rebel SL1 is the smallest & lightest in the line.  It's 370g (407g by CIPA standard -- which weighs the camera with battery & memory card inserted -- but without a lens attached.)  Still... that's less than half of what the 10D weighs.

The newer kit lenses are MUCH lighter (especially the 18-55mm f/3-5-5.6 IS STM lens.  I've bolded STM because it's much better and also lighter than the non-STM version Canon still offers.)

Lenses have come a long way and even the kit lenses are getting very good (kit lens are the lenses that Canon includes with the camera when you buy it as a "camera body + lens" kit vs. the "camera body only" option.)

Something else I've noticed about "weight"... I have a "gripped" 5D III and most of the time it's got either the 70-200mm f/2.8 or 24-70 f/2.8 -- it weighs a lot.  It used to bother me to wear it around my neck for any period of time.  I eventually switched to a sling type strap (I use a Black Rapid RS-7 strap) and that made a HUGE difference.  I can now wear it all day long and not be bothered by it because the weight is now on my shoulder instead of my neck.  The Black Rapid RS-7 is only mildly padded, but there are some sling straps that are heavily padded and even more comfortable.

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I never thought about strap options, I have the basic cannon strap that prob came with the camera.  Thing digs into my neck when I am carrying it around.

[ebiggs1]

"Yea I think maybe the weight isn't as big a deal as I was making, I think it really boils down to wanting newer/faster tech"

All the info given above is good and true but ignors your price limit!  Sometimes they get a liitle off the question.  Any camera made today, especially in the $300 to $400 range, is going to do everything better than your 10D. It is that simple.  You just need to choose the one that fits your needs and budget.

" I have the basic cannon strap that prob came with the camera.  Thing digs into my neck when I am carrying it around."

Nobody likes that strap.  Take a look at the Black Rapid.  BTW, the EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens is an outstanding lens.  I consider it the "Best Buy" in the Canon lens line up.  Considering what you get and for how much it cost.  It is made for a FF camera, however, so like Bob from Boston said, it will feel pretty much like a tele.  But that can be an advantage.  Right?  Of course right!