New Camera Choice T7i or T8i (or if really worth it 90D)

[foreverteachabl]

Good day all, I am soon to be a Canon user. I look forward to joining what appears to be a great community. I fish a lot, metal detect (treasure hunt,) just got into mushroom hunting, and I love taking macro pictures, and nature scenes. I have the Nikon D3500 and love it but my wife wants a touch screen and gave me the OK to get a new camera for our first trip to Iceland 🙂 Her friend has the T7i so I was thninking of that or the T8i and invest in the 18-55 f2.8 for the trip along with the Rokinon 16 mm f/2 that I purchased prematurely after doing some research before joining this community. 

I would like help deciding on the better of the 2 cameras that I mentioned above. (or if really worth it, the 90D, which would cut down on lens options due to budget) I am an amateur with aspirations but mainly want to enlarge some of my own photos and frame them since friends on Facebook keep telling me to do so. In terms of functions on the body, I  found that I like to adjust ISO's and exposure manually, and have never used the premade setting on the Nikon. I may still choose to do so though on a new camera though. 

I would also like some lense suggestions as well please. I really only used my Nikon nifty fifty and the kit 70-300 lens. Both served me well but I was hoping for a little better quality for the zoom and with image stabilization since I have a slight essential tremor and not the steadiest 🙂

Thanks everyone for your help

[Wandalynn]

I kind of lost track of which camera you decided to go with but since you're new to Canon, may I suggest that you spend another $30 and get David Busch's book specific to the camera you purchased? I bought mine on Amazon. I find his manuals useful because where the Canon manual tells the "how", David's books tell the "why." He doesn't go into technique or post processing but you can look up any setting on the camera and find an explanation of what it does and the setting he recommends, also how auto focusing works, etc.

Two more tips: The paper copy of the camera manual that comes inside the box is not a complete manual. To get the complete manual, go to the Canon website and then to your camera's page (which you should bookmark anyway to check for any firmware updates, utility softwar, etc.), and under the tab "Manuals", you will find the complete user manual which you can download. It's nice too because you can search for key words.

Next tip: you might already be using a post-processing program that you're happy with but don't overlook the free app that Canon offers called Digital Photo Professional. I find it useful in many ways, just two being that if I want to see exactly where the camera was focusing, I can see that on my computer screen. Another really handy feature is photo stacking. If you get the 90D, it has a focus bracketing feature that automatically take a series of photos at different focusing distances so you can achieve maximum depth of field (especially handy for closeups and macro). With DPP, you just select the first picture in the series and activate the "Depth Compositing" feature, and it will automatically stack the pictures for you. You can get this app by going to your camera's page on Canon and choose the tab "Drivers & Downloads."

Have a great trip to Iceland and I hope you will have time beforehand to get to you know your camera and the settings customized.

[jrhoffman75]

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@Wandalynn wrote:

I kind of lost track of which camera you decided to go with but since you're new to Canon, may I suggest that you spend another $30 and get David Busch's book specific to the camera you purchased? I bought mine on Amazon. I find his manuals useful because where the Canon manual tells the "how", David's books tell the "why." He doesn't go into technique or post processing but you can look up any setting on the camera and find an explanation of what it does and the setting he recommends, also how auto focusing works, etc.

Two more tips: The paper copy of the camera manual that comes inside the box is not a complete manual. To get the complete manual, go to the Canon website and then to your camera's page (which you should bookmark anyway to check for any firmware updates, utility softwar, etc.), and under the tab "Manuals", you will find the complete user manual which you can download. It's nice too because you can search for key words.

Next tip: you might already be using a post-processing program that you're happy with but don't overlook the free app that Canon offers called Digital Photo Professional. I find it useful in many ways, just two being that if I want to see exactly where the camera was focusing, I can see that on my computer screen. Another really handy feature is photo stacking. If you get the 90D, it has a focus bracketing feature that automatically take a series of photos at different focusing distances so you can achieve maximum depth of field (especially handy for closeups and macro). With DPP, you just select the first picture in the series and activate the "Depth Compositing" feature, and it will automatically stack the pictures for you. You can get this app by going to your camera's page on Canon and choose the tab "Drivers & Downloads."

Have a great trip to Iceland and I hope you will have time beforehand to get to you know your camera and the settings customized.

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Great advice. 

Here is another source of good material: I can't link to it, but search for Nina Bailey books. 

[ebiggs1]

I also think that is good advice, too, but actual shooting is best. Shoot and shoot a lot. Notice what works and what doesn't. That's another reason why post editing is so very important. It allows you to see more of what can and can't be done. What works and what doesn't.

[foreverteachabl]

Wow just saw your comment. Thanks so much for the great information!

[foreverteachabl]

Thanks so much!

[foreverteachabl]

Thanks again. I did get the 8Ti. I tried the 14mm f2.8 Rokinon which was a great feeling lens with built in lens hood and great cap, but must have got a poor copy since image quality was affected. I got a used Canon 100mm macro, a canon 35 mm macro, tested us to a new 70-200mm F4L, and returned the Sigma 18-35 F1.8 due too image quality. I'm still looking for the wide angle lens with northern light capabilities and think your suggestion for the Canon 17-55 f2.8 might be the best unless the 16-35 f/4 would work

[jrhoffman75]

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@foreverteachabl wrote:
Thanks again. I did get the 8Ti. I tried the 14mm f2.8 Rokinon which was a great feeling lens with built in lens hood and great cap, but must have got a poor copy since image quality was affected. I got a used Canon 100mm macro, a canon 35 mm macro, tested us to a new 70-200mm F4L, and returned the Sigma 18-35 F1.8 due too image quality. I'm still looking for the wide angle lens with northern light capabilities and think your suggestion for the Canon 17-55 f2.8 might be the best unless the 16-35 f/4 would work

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Rokinon lenses are noted for inconsistent quality control. If yiu get a good copy they are a good buy at the price, but it cna take several tries.

I have an Irix 15mm f/2.4 that I usew for my astro shoots - start trails and MW.

[ebiggs1]

Nice shots John. 

[jrhoffman75]

Thank you. 

[foreverteachabl]

Thanks everyone for all your help!!!