Suggestions for a new replacement camera

[UncleJoe]

 Hello and thank you in advance for your help with this matter. I've had a Canon Rebel XT for the last 12 years and I want to upgrade at this point. Over time I have accumulated some accessories for the XT that I obviously want to be able to roll over for usage with what ever I chose to replace the XT with. I am hopeful and assuming that the lens I have will be of some standard, I also have a remote for the shutter the additional battery pack that mounts to the bottom of the body a standard mount flash ect. I can provide specific model numbers if that would be more helpful. At a glance I was looking at the t7i model on the belief that being part of the rebel line it might be compatible, but I am open to any and all suggestions. I am old enough to know that one can reach a point where one is better off starting from scratch if that is the case than so be it. 

 My interest in photography is general but I have been thinking of doing some star field shots (astronomical), landscape some occasional portrait work and as a grandfather I would not mind having some basic video capabilities available. Thanks again for any assistance! 

[Mr_Fusion]

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@UncleJoe wrote:

I guess one you could say the hand writing is on the wall. The t7i seems to be in the cards and a purchase from the refurbished store goes without saying. The current zoom lens that I am using is the EF 70-200 2.8 IS USM and has been my goto so long I don't even know if I will be able to remove it from the body, I think I paid a good deal for that lens when I purchased it is the difference in the new technology worth retirement for her? I believe that would be the only other decision I would want to make with this purchase. If anyone would care I will try to let you what I wind up with at the end of this venture. 

 I would like to once more express my appreciation for everyone's responses I feel in the company of kindred spirits if I might be so bold. Thank you all!

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I agree that that is a good upgrade and will keep you happy for a few years. 

My suggestion for a shorter lens would be the EF-S 17-135 IS STM. This covers a broader range and you will probably seldom take it off. It would perfectly compliment the EF 70-200. The 18-135 isn't fast as the EF 17-55, but the zoom range compensates for that and it is half the price. The T7i offers sufficient increase in (quality) ISO that you most likely won't notice the 2 stops you lose. The T7i's increased sensitivity on the lower EV shouldn't let the 18-135's slower aperture be a problem in lower light.

Reviews:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/17-55mm.htm (available for around $550-$600)*

http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/18-135mm-stm.htm (available for around $250-$280)*

All your other equipment should work with the T7i, except you will need a new SD card as the XT uses CF. Because your file sizes are so much larger, I recommend a 32 or 64 GB*. Leave the card in the camera and use a USB cable to down load the pictures to avoid wear on the card.

* - you can usually find better deals on line. BUT, be careful of the grifters. Buy from recognized outlets such as Adorama, B&H, KEH, Tiger Direct, and the like. Some people like Amazon, but I'm leery when buying their electronic equipment. Canon is probably the safest, but they are also the most expensive. You can often find good deals on Adorama and B&H's used equipment too.

Whatever you buy, good luck and enjoy.

[TCampbell]

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@UncleJoe wrote:
The current zoom lens that I am using is the EF 70-200 2.8 IS USM and has been my goto so long I don't even know if I will be able to remove it from the body, I think I paid a good deal for that lens when I purchased it is the difference in the new technology worth retirement for her?

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I own both the original EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM as well as the new EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II.

The optics and performance of the original lens was (still is) extremely good.  The new version is fractionally sharper -- not so noticeable near the center of the frame but slightly noticeable near the edges.

The other difference is that the image stabilization on the new version is improved and now claims about 4 stops of image stabilization.  I'm not sure what the original lens claimed.

So while the new lens is better, since the original is quite good (and I still haven't sold my copy), it may not be "enough" better to be worth trading up.  Another way to think of it is... since a new copy is going to cost about $2k ... where else might you spend that $2k and would it do more good if spent elsewhere?  Maybe you'd like some speedlite flash strobes.  Maybe you'd like an extra lens or two.  etc.

[Waddizzle]

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@UncleJoe wrote:

I guess one you could say the hand writing is on the wall. The t7i seems to be in the cards and a purchase from the refurbished store goes without saying. The current zoom lens that I am using is the EF 70-200 2.8 IS USM and has been my goto so long I don't even know if I will be able to remove it from the body, I think I paid a good deal for that lens when I purchased it is the difference in the new technology worth retirement for her? I believe that would be the only other decision I would want to make with this purchase. If anyone would care I will try to let you what I wind up with at the end of this venture. 

 I would like to once more express my appreciation for everyone's responses I feel in the company of kindred spirits if I might be so bold. Thank you all!

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Unfortunately, the Rebel T7i is not yet available through the Refurbished Store, and neither is the 77D.  The good news is that the 80D with the 18-55mm STM lens is available.  If you're thnking of upgrading your lens, then you may have the budget for a 6D at the Refurbished Store, which has low noise performance that the APS-C sensor body cameras cannot approach.

The above shot was made with a 6D and the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM.  There was no special lighting, and the ISO was 10000.  There was someone out of the line of sight on the left shooting a video.

[UncleJoe]

That's almost unfair, it's a beautiful shot by my standards any way ( no disrespect meant). I saw the 80D with the lens that you spoke of oand $1249 is certainly within budget for these kind of results. I guess that I did not have great concept of the deference that the , is it the sensor that determines the image size, makes? I have begun the process of purchasing the t7i but even after shipping I can still return it and replace it with what seems far superior from the point of view of coming out of an XT if you get my meaning. I think I need a major rethink. Thank you for saving me from what might have proven to be a impulse purchase.

[RobertTheFat]

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@UncleJoe wrote:
That's almost unfair, it's a beautiful shot by my standards any way ( no disrespect meant). I saw the 80D with the lens that you spoke of oand $1249 is certainly within budget for these kind of results. I guess that I did not have great concept of the deference that the , is it the sensor that determines the image size, makes? I have begun the process of purchasing the t7i but even after shipping I can still return it and replace it with what seems far superior from the point of view of coming out of an XT if you get my meaning. I think I need a major rethink. Thank you for saving me from what might have proven to be a impulse purchase.

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Be careful, though. Note that Waddizzle's picture was taken with a 6D, not an 80D. The 6D is a full-frame camera; the 80D is not. FF cameras generally have better low-light performance (because their sensors have larger pixels), and the 6D's is unusually good, even for a FF camera. You won't get that kind of result with an 80D.

If you were to decide to buy a FF camera, remember that it won't be able to use EF-S lenses. The 70-200's are not EF-S lenses, but the rest of the lenses we've been discussing in this thread are.

[ebiggs1]

"I think I need a major rethink."

Yes you do but it isn't where you think it is from.  In your normal real world use the T7i and or the 80D or even the 6D are all going to make nice photos.  The distinction comes from pixel peepers not form actual users.  The T7i and the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens are going to make beautiful photos.  Adding your already good 70-200mm and you will have the ability to do some nice work.

That same photo that you think is so good, and it is nice, could have been done with the T7i/ EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens combo and most will not be able to tell the difference.  That combo is going to be hard to beat.  Now it makes no difference to me which camera you decide on but if you think you have to get a 6D to do that photo, you are living in fantasyland.

Let's imagine for a bit; the T7i with EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens or perhaps the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens for Canon. You own the Ef 70-200mm f2.8L.  Let's add the EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens.  Pretty nice outfit don't you think?  Lastly stop reading posts and go make some pictures!

[UncleJoe]

Well put! Thank you for all the insight!

[Waddizzle]

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@UncleJoe wrote:
Well put! Thank you for all the insight!

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You can buy the 80D for the same price, or less, of a T7i or 77D from the Canon Online Refurbished Store.

[Waddizzle]

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@RobertTheFat wrote:

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@Waddizzle wrote:

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I wouldn't recommend that you buy a 77D unless you were to find it priced lower than the T7i. I see nothing about the 77D that justifies its higher posted price.

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The differences between a T6i and a T6s, are similar to the differences between a T7i and the 77D.  In fact, I think the 77D should have been named the T7s, IMHO.  

The biggest difference is that the 77D adds a top LCD display, a built-in level, and the new 5-axis, in camera, stabilization system.  The extra cost of the T6s over the T6i is well worth it, as is the extra cost of the 77D over a T7i.

The 80D is a MUCH better build, beefier battery and battery grip option, and a much better overall performer.  Even though the ISO range specifications might suggest otherwise, the 80D produces noticeably lower noise images at ISO 1600 to ISO 6400 than the 7D2.  

I used them side by side for a couple of months, and was comparing their AF systems when the noise differences just jumped out at me.  I guess the 80D must do more in-camera noise reduction, because it is closer to my 6D than it is to the 7D2 between ISO 1600 and ISO 6400. 

The lower noise in the 80D is significant because you when you are using a lens like one of the 150-600mm super zooms, your ISO is going to fall in that range with shutter speeds around 1/1600.  Given the fact that the 80D has 27 f/8 AF points compared to just the center point in the 7D2, the 80D wins in all but two categories: weather sealing, and dual card slots.  The 7D2 offers GPS, while the 80D offers Wi-Fi.

What good is the more subtle AF tracking when the images are noisier?  The new 6D2 has the same AF system as the 80D, and the In-camera, 5-axis stabilization as the 77D.  It also has a 26MP full frame sensor.  Seeing how the 7D2 has better AF and slightly more resolution than the 6D,  I am anxious to see what all that a 7D3 is capable of doing, just as long as they do not give it a fold out display.  Although, a tilting display might be a good thing.

[UncleJoe]

I can see I'm going to learn a great deal here! I hope that at some point I will be able to repay all of your kindness and the tremendous amount of knowledge I have received from you and all of the contributors in this forum!