Repair or Replace EOS Rebel T3i body?

[courtroakes]

I’ve owned this Canon Rebel T3i since I bought it brand new, in 2012.

The past year the battery cover would randomly pop off, causing the camera to power off.

Now the camera is powering off without this occurring.

However, the cover was still having issues.

I’ve replaced the cover, but the issue still occurs.

Should I bother to send it in, since it’s so old, or buy a replacement body?

If a replacement body, what do you recommend that is compatible with the lenses, if not the exact same type?

[shadowsports]

Greetings ,

This is your opportunity to upgrade to something more modern.  We don't know what your budget is and since the T3i is over 10 years old, you would also need to account for inflation.  You can use your existing lenses with any R-series body based on an APS-C sensor.  You'll need an adapter for this.  

The R100, R50 or R10 all come to mind.

You can buy another DSLR, but a mirrorless body is better from a performance and long-term investment standpoint.  Their level of performance will amaze you.  

[krahe]

Before recommending an R50 or R100 to someone who won't be using strictly RF-S lenses, especially if they're coming from a DSLR with a likely larger body, I would suggest they actually handle the new camera with an RF (not RF-S) lens or an EF->RF adapter attached, to be sure they're okay with the ergonomics.

[jrhoffman75]

Keh camera has an excellent condition T3i for $155.

Any Rebel would be compatible with your lenses.

[shadowsports]

@Kevin,

We have no idea what lenses he's got, but the adapter will allow him to use any EF / EF-S lens with an R series APS-C based body.  I think at this point the OP is still in the research phase.

The body's I recommended are actually a little smaller with less depth, so with adapted lenses, the footprint will be nearly identical, and a little lighter too.  😉

I fully expect there to be more questions.  

[krahe]

Technically you're correct. But I've seen reviews of the R50 from people with smaller hands than mine that complained about the difficulty of gripping the camera with "larger" lenses attached, to the point that they said it wasn't suitable for use with such lenses. While it wasn't clear what they meant by "larger" (e.g. longer or wider meaning non-RF-S), I can see where gripping these cameras (as well as possibly the R10) with anything but an RF-S lens attached is probably going to be more challenging than gripping a similar-sized body with an EF-M mount.

[shadowsports]

Hi @courtoakes,

What lenses do you currently own and do you have a budget for this upgrade?

[courtroakes]

I have an EFS 55-250mm lense and EFS 18-55mm lense that came with the Canon when I purchased it in 2012.

I could spend a couple of hundred to upgrade in a few months, if I need to.

[shadowsports · Accepted solution]

Greetings,

With this budget, only a used identical T3i replacement would be possible.  See John's recommendation above.  

[Tronhard]

Hi and welcome to the forum:
As my colleagues have alluded to, it is unlikely that you will find it practical to attempt to repair this camera, given its age. There is no indication that the camera was unsuitable for your purposes, so one would expect that the same of slightly better camera at an acceptable price point would be a solution.  As I see it you have a couple of options, given you current minimalist budget:
a) stick with the same budget and, as Rick suggested, get a better copy of the same body.  This has the benefit that you can, if necessary, have spare parts for it as long as the model does what you want it to do.  That is the least disruptive.
b) Save up for a longer period and look for an upgraded or newer model.  Assuming you want to stick with a DSLR, you could look at Canon's Refurbished camera site - HERE or go to KEH and look at their wide collection of cameras.