New Body or New Lens? Looking for Suggestions...

[LandscapeFan]

I am a relatively newer photographer, but very excited about it...

I have an EOS Rebel T3i and it has served me well to help me learn the basics... Then a year ago, I decided to seriously upgrade lenses... so I splurged on the EF 24-70mm f2.8L II USM Lens...  Same body.

I am especially a fan of landscape photography and my main complaint has been that it doesn't seem wide enough to get me what I am looking for...  So I was looking at lenses again and there is the new crazy wide angle 11-14mm from Canon that seems to be amazing, but again, probably overkill in terms of expense...The Sigma 12-24mm seems like a more reasonable choice...

However, then I realized that I am getting a 1.6x crop factor with my Rebel - yes I am kind of a novice... and thought perhaps I should probably upgrade my body to the 6D instead... 

That is where I am leaning... I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions from all you experts out there...!

Thanks!

[cicopo]

I'm not much of a landscape photographer & I own the first version on the Sigma 12-24 which I like BUT I think you'd be better served by the 6D for now and once you see what it does with your lens then maybe look into an even wider lens.

[RobertTheFat]

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@cicopo wrote:

I'm not much of a landscape photographer & I own the first version on the Sigma 12-24 which I like BUT I think you'd be better served by the 6D for now and once you see what it does with your lens then maybe look into an even wider lens.

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I concur. Your 24-70 is too long to be an effective landscape lens on a crop camera. And the "even wider lens" to which Cicopo alludes could be the 16-35mm f/4L Note that f/4 is plenty fast for landscape photography; only if you go into event photography (especially indoors) are you likely to need something faster.

[ScottyP]

Agree. All day long.

I have never before recommended body over lens but in this case you have the spectacular full frame lens and it is too wide on a crop, and you were about to need another lens, a crop one, to fix the problem with your crop body. Just get a full frame camera and eliminate the problem.

And the 6d can be had quite reasonably now.

[RobertTheFat]

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@ScottyP wrote:
Agree. All day long.

I have never before recommended body over lens but in this case you have the spectacular full frame lens and it is too wide on a crop,

Not wide enough.

and you were about to need another lens, a crop one, to fix the problem with your crop body. Just get a full frame camera and eliminate the problem.

And the 6d can be had quite reasonably now.

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[TCampbell]

The EF 16-35mm f/4L would solve the angle of view problem for landscape... it's $1100 (currently with a $100 mail-in rebate).  

But the 6D is $1400 for a "body only" -- not too much more.  

A full frame camera would really take advantage of your high-end glass (not to mention the ISO performance is amazing vs. your current T3i).

I use a 5D III, but my favorite lens for landscape is the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II -- a tilt-shift lens.  I find 24mm to be a very nice angle of view for landscape photography on a full-frame camera (and tilt-shift lenses have an advantage in landscape and archtecture photography.)  I think you'll be happy with the 24mm focal length if it's on a full-frame body.

Otherwise, go for the aforementioned 16-35mm f/4.  There's a 16-35mm f/2.8, but usually in landscape photography you want a rich depth of field to maximize focus... which means you probably wont be using any of the lower f-stops.

[ScottyP]

Oops. Thanks Robert. Not wide enough.

[cicopo]

I know many here are L series fans when it comes to EF type lenses but the Sigma 12-24 is a pretty good lens relative to cost & it's WIDE

[jrhoffman75]

Refurb Canon 6D on sale here: http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras/eos-6d-body-re...

Since you have the T3i if you call Canon heir Loyalty Program will give you a discount.

[LandscapeFan]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone...!  I think it's official I will be pursuing the 6D... thanks again!