What Second Camera Body Should I Buy?

[poodles_potato]

Hello All! I am looking to buy a second camera body for an upcoming trip I have planned. I typically just do landscape photography and my current camera has been working really well for an amateur like me. (I've included a few photos of mine for reference so you can see the quality that my current camera is working with)

My reasoning for wanting a second body is twofold. One is in order to prevent having to switch out my lenses as much between telephoto and wide angle depending on the shot I need. And second, is because my current camera body seems to be a bit on the fritz. I've had my current camera since 2012. I also want to have less noise in my astrophotography landscape shots and a flip out screen!

I was wondering if people would recommend I just buy the same camera or look to upgrade to something different? I wanted to be able to keep using all my same lenses which work just fine. I don't quite understand a lot of the differences between mirrorless, full frame etc., and how easy it would be to switch over to those or if its even worth it. Ideally I would like to spend under $1000 for this second body as well.

My Current Camera & Lenses:

• Canon Rebel EOS T3
• EFS 10-18mm F/4.5-5.6 IS STM
• EFS 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 IS II
• EFS 55-250mm F/4-5.6 IS II
• Rokinon 16mm F2.0 For Canon EF-S

Should I Buy:

• Another Canon Rebel T3?
• Maybe a Canon Rebel T3i since that has a flip out screen instead?
• A Newer Canon Rebel model? T7i?
• A different model altogether that works with my current lenses?

[Tronhard · Accepted solution]

Hi and welcome to the forum:

First, your photos look excellent - congratulations on the results you have achieved with your current gear.
Given that you have a significant investment in EF-S lenses, I would suggest a couple of options:
1- sticking to a DSLR, but a more modern one.  In that respect you can pick up an EOS 90D, which is the last DSLR model to be made by Canon: $956 - Canon Refurbished EOS 90D Camera Body | Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon have moved from DSLRs to the new Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras (MILCs), that are now the current platform for Canon's line and development for the future. They offer significant improvements in the technology over DSLRs: including being able to see exposure in the viewfinder, sensor performance (dynamic range and ISO performance), and face and eye tracking of subjects.  They are thus an investment in the future.

2- In that respect, within your budget you could get a great deal on an EOS R10 with an RF 18-45mm lens, replacing your ageing 18-55 for $599 - see the listing for specs.
Shop Canon Refurbished EOS R10 RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Kit  To use this body with your current lenses you would need a Canon EF-RF adapter $129 Mount Adapter EF-EOS R (canon.com)

Canon refurb cameras and lenses are either over stock and new, open box but unused, show, demo units or lightly used.  They are 'good as new' and come with a Canon warranty.

[poodles_potato]

Thanks so much for your response! I appreciate the kind words about my photos as well, I'm very happy that I've been able to get some good shots with some pretty entry level equipment! 

So, after much research into the two cameras you proposed and other similar canon models more and less expensive than those, I decided to go ahead with trying out the R10! I'm excited to see how my first mirrorless camera preforms. Thanks again for the recommendations, I had no idea where to even begin my research and this was a great jumping off point for me! 

[Tronhard]

You are most welcome.  It will be worth spending some time with the manual and perhaps a video on the specific features of the R10 such as:
Canon R10 Tutorial Training Video Overview Users Guide Set Up - Part 1 - Made for Beginners (youtube...

Also, remember the manual is your best friend! 😊

[LeeP]

Look at a Canon R100. Ignore the sneering naysayers. Sure, it's a BASIC camera, but it is quite competent. What you get for a very inexpensive price point is good resolution, competent exposure, and ease of handling. I have one as my second mirrorless body and I use it all the time. I do a lot of photography. I've used Canon AF SLRs, Canon DSLRs, and now Canon mirrorless in addition to film in Nikon and Pentax SLRs and medium-format Mamiyas. I like R100 BECAUSE it is a stripped-down, tiny, go-anywhere camera, yet 100% a Canon "SLR-style" camera. The mirrorless viewfinder is bright and contrasty. The non-movable screen is clear. Sure, it's not touch screen, but if you're used to the DSLR Rebels, you can handle the navigation. Buy the EF-to-RF adapter and enjoy. I'm sure there will be snarky responses, but the snarky people aren't open-minded enough to "get" the R100. It's the steal of the century.

[Tintype_18]

My complements on the photos. The green one looks like rice paddies. Where?