Looking to upgrade.

[Photoluvr]

Currently own a t3i and looking to upgrade. I love to photograph nature, landscapes, birds. Considering the t6s or the tried and true EOS 7d. Helpful comments would be appreciated . Thank you!

[Photoluvr]

On BandH the 7d is on sale for $999..$150 more than the 6Ts. I can afford either. Where I get confused is the low ISO settings on the 7d. Also, when shooting video (albeit I don't do much on my camera) it doesn't have AF where the 6Ts does. However, I am really impressed with its speed and 8 fps. Confusingl!

[Photoluvr]

My budget is $700-1000. The 7d is on sale now. My t3i shoots only 3.7 fps...too slow. Plus the buffering time lag is ridiculous. Just not real happy with it anymore. Thank you for your honest feedback.

[RobertTheFat]

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@Photoluvr wrote:
My budget is $700-1000. The 7d is on sale now. My t3i shoots only 3.7 fps...too slow. Plus the buffering time lag is ridiculous. Just not real happy with it anymore. Thank you for your honest feedback.

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I have two 7D's and have been very happy with them. Last year I bought a 5D Mk III and have found it to be significantly better in both autofocus and low-light performance. But it's way over your budget, and the 7D isn't.

Despite what some have been telling you, the 7D is not a weatherproof camera. But if you give it reasonable protection and don't expose it to a driving rain, you'll be fine.

An important feature that pro and semi-pro cameras (including the 7D) have that the T6s doesn't is autofocus microadjustment. If you use only "L" lenses, you probably won't need it; but you probably won't, so you may.

We pretty much know everything there is to know about the 7D, but the T6s is new and untried. Some new Canon models have been fine from Day 1, but others have had significant startup problems. The effect of that on your decision depends on how risk-averse you are.

[JoeN]

See if you can find a link to the Canon Loyalty Program.  They sell refurbished cameras and if you send in an old Canon camera you get an additional discount.  I think the 7D is under $1000 now but that is body only.  However, any lenses you have for your present camera will fit the 7D.  You can call 866-443-8002, Option 2, and they can tell you what is available and the present cost.  I have purchased 2 cameras through this program, a 7D and a 5DIII, and they both were like new.  They have other bodies available so you might find the deal you want through them though you probably won't see a T6 in this program for a while since it is such a new body.

[ebiggs1]

Bob from Boston,

"Despite what some have been telling you, the 7D is not a weatherproof camera"

Ah, my friend, it at least has an attempt to weather seal it.  Certainly not to the level on my 1D Mk IV but it does have some.  And like I said, some is better thasn none.  None of them are totally weather-proofed.

Still not trying to sway either way. He really does need to decide which meets his goals most.  I made good use of Rebels for years, so I can appreciate a person's affection for them.  Given the choice today, it would be the 7D or 7D Mk II.

[Photoluvr]

Question...the lack of poor performance for the 7d in dark situations, a true concern or not? Btw...I am female. 😃

[TCampbell]

The 7D has essentially the SAME sensor as our T3i.  The resolution and ISO performance will be the same.  The focus system on the 7D is noitceably better... as is speed (the 7D is optimized for action photography).  But sensor performance really wont be different than what you have today.

Cameras with improved sensors would include the 7D II, 70D, and the new T6i & T6s (for the T6i & T6s I haven't personally seen how it performs at high ISO... all the sample images I have found are shot around ISO 100 or 200).

Full frame cameras (6D, 5D III, & 1D X) will have a very noticeable jump in ISO performance (low noise).  But these are in a different price category.   The most affordable is the 6D.  That's Canon's "entry" level full-frame body (though for full frame "entry level" is actually fairly high end.  Previously it wasn't really possible to buy a new full-frame body for less than $2k for the body-only.)  BTW, I omitted the 5Ds and 5DsR from the list because those are not high ISO sensor cameras.

When in doubt... rent the camera body for a weekend before you buy (although the T6i & s aren't shipping yet, so you can't rent one... it's "pre-orders" at this point.)  

[RobertTheFat]

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@Photoluvr wrote:
Question...the lack of poor performance for the 7d in dark situations, a true concern or not? Btw...I am female. 😃

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I try to notice that when I can. After all, my wife and daughter are photographers too. 

No, the 7D doesn't perform poorly in dark situations. Some cameras are better, but in general they cost a lot more. If it's really a concern, you could consider a 7D Mark 2 instead. But at what I take to be your current level, I think you'd be happy with the 7D.

As for the T6s: I'd probably buy one for my wife tomorrow. (She has back problems and won't carry anything heavier than a Rebel.) But I'm put off by its lack of AFMA.

[ebiggs1]

" But sensor performance really wont be different than what you have today."

The fact two different bodies have the sane sensor and there won't be a difference is wrong.  Cameras have other factors that determine the sensor output.  The IQ is dependent on the entire camera sysyem not merely the sensor.

[Photoluvr]

Thank you. Since I currently own a t3i I think I will go with the 7d. The price makes it too hard to pass up.