Upgrade recommendations from EOS Rebel T7

[shantillee]

I want to gift my husband a better camera body to replace his Rebel T7. The T7 works well for general pics and stills but not for indoor sports. He wants to get great action shots as our daughter plays indoor collegiate volleyball. I am looking at the 5D Mark IV. Advice would be appreciated!

[shantillee]

I am editing this to add some lens info...as some of you asked which lenses we have. I was hoping to get a new body that is compatible with his current lenses, but only if that makes sense, moving into the future. He has:

EFS 18-55mm, EF 75-300mm and the big one- Tamron SP 70-200mm...so I am more confused now than ever. I hate to render these lenses useless but more than anything, I want to finally find what will take crisp and clear volleyball  pics for him, as well as nature/family/etc... I would prefer to stay (all in) under $4,000. 

{older post} I want to gift my husband a better camera body to replace his Rebel T7. The T7 works well for general pics and stills but not for indoor sports. He wants to get great action shots as our daughter plays indoor collegiate volleyball. I am looking at the 5D Mark IV. Advice would be appreciated!

[John_SD]

I am increasingly of the mind that a unknowledgeable non-photographer who is considering spending thousands of dollars on gear for a hobbyist or enthusiast could end up with with a case of buyer's remorse. You are going to be making a substantial purchase based on what others like and advise in the hope that the "surprise" is a good one. Has the photographer in question been hankering for a specific camera/lens combo that you could simply purchase? No? Then you are in a guessing game with several thousand dollars at stake. I would try to get a sense of what appeals to your husband and go from there. Get his take on how he feels about mirrorless and what if any model appeals to him. Best of luck. 

[ebiggs1]

"EFS 18-55mm, EF 75-300mm and the big one- Tamron SP 70-200mm..."

OK, Kido, take a deep breath for a moment. With that reply the 90D makes the most sense now or sure. All his lenses will work just fine perhaps even better that they did on the Rebel T7. That is even a bigger savings but after Christmas he can decide whether he wants different lenses to add to the combo. You will have saved enough to buy some really top quality lenses if you choose to.

"...so I am more confused now than ever ..."

I agree don't get lost in all the mostly useless information on the ole inner web. Mostly all it does is confuse people even more. Sometimes the latest greatest is not always the best way to go. And remember the 90D was Canon's best effort in the D series of cameras and is still an  outstanding camera. It will be for years to come. I have no doubt he will love it and you too for getting it for him. 😁

[ebiggs1]

Give it up?  I just got one. You mean they have something better available..

[Tronhard]

Given your update, I am even more convinced that this is a decision that you should leave to your husband and agree with John's comments. The 75-300 you indicate is a mediocre optic and yet that has the longest reach for shooting sports, and he can do a lot better for the use you indicated, and within the price as well as get a new body, but what is the big question.

Spending a significant amount of money, the value of which will essentially commit him to a particular platform for some time is a dangerous game unless you know both enough about the context of the gear and his actual needs, and preferences for an upgrade. 

I am strongly encouraging you that if you are are determined to commit such a significant amount of money to such an enterprise that he should be a part of the decision-making process.  Unless you have somehow investigated his desires in this area, you are flying blind by the advice of others and if you get it wrong it will be a disappointment for you both.
Make a card as a gift that looks like a certificate, telling he has a budget of (whatever) and let him decide how it will be spent. If you show involvement by going out with him for the day, you will add even more to his pleasure and you will learn a bit about his enthusiasm - that bonding is even more positive.   He will remember the gear and the experience in sharing the purchasing of it with you - that's pretty special.

[Waddizzle]

What Trevor said.  Especially the part with letting him decide.  

Some of the best gifts that I have ever given to someone has been a shopping spree.  Let them choose what they want because you were uncertain as to what to buy.

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It sounds like his current gear is a Rebel T7 camera kit, with the 18-55mm and 75-300mm lenses.  This is what I would describe as an “absolute beginner” camera kit.  The kit is designed to introduce you to photography without spending a lot of money.  I would not be concerned about maintaining compatibility with those lenses.  This camera kit can be sold as a complete set.  I gave mine away to younger relative in his early teens.

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The Tamron lens is probably a keeper.  I would still recommend a MILC body over a DSLR.  The availability of lenses for the DSLR EF mount is becoming more and more limited with each passing month.  Canon has discontinued production on nearly all models compared to years past.

Except for the EOS R100, almost any Canon camera you might be will have a  different button layout,  This is because the R100 is also a bare bones, absolute beginner, entry level camera body.

[Waddizzle]

“{older post} I want to gift my husband a better camera body to replace his Rebel T7. The T7 works well for general pics and stills but not for indoor sports. He wants to get great action shots as our daughter plays indoor collegiate volleyball. I am looking at the 5D Mark IV. Advice would be appreciated! “

Indoor sports require good low light performance.  For that reason alone, I would recommend a full frame camera body like the 5D4.  But I think the day of the DSLR has passed.  I would definitely bring the R6 and R6 Mark II to his attention.

The EOS R and RP would not be my choice for sports photography.  Great for grandkids at the backyard cook out, but not for indoor sports photography.  The R8 is another possibility, but it is also an entry level camera with a limited feature set.

[normadel]

You said: "T7 works well for general pics and stills but not for indoor sports."

What does this mean? What about indoor sports can he not do with the T7? Could it possibly be his use/technique/settings? A new, "better", fancier camera will be bad for indoor sports too, if not used right.

[Waddizzle]

Are you aware that all EX series of Speedlites appear to have been discontinued?  

The R Series bodies use a new type of hot shoe.  It seem Canon has almost sold off their entire inventory of EX Speedlites.  The only new models that are available are the new EL Speeldlites.  This means one will need to purchase a third party flash for a 90D, if you wanted to use one.

[stevet1]

shantiee,

What Tbrevor said.

Do you have a camera store near you, where your husband can actually pick up a camera and hold it in hands, or will your buying be strictly online?

You are flying blind here. You don't want to spend that kind of money only to buy him something he doesn't like or can't use.

If you do move into the R series mirrorless line, you can always buy an EOS EF-R adapter, which would let him keep his existing lenses, although I would use this opportunity to buy some better lenses.

By all means, involve him in the buying process. He will thank you for it in the end.

Steve Thomas