thinking of upgrading my EOS Rebel T6i camera

[sportsMom4]

looking for suggestions on what i should upgrade to.  I primarily shoot my daughters sports (soccer and softball).  It has been suggested the MARK 5D or 7D

[sportsMom4]

May just add a camera body and lenses to my collectionat this time. So if one needs serviced Im not without a camera, like i was last soccer season.

[ebiggs1]

"Are you saying these are or are not good lenses? will work with mirrorless camera body or not?"

To be quite frank and on the edge of being brutally honest your,

"CANON ZOOM LENS EF-S18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS STM

 CANON ZOOM LENS EF 75-300 mm 1:4-5.6 III" are not the best lenses to make a decision based on still using them.  But it is possible to adapt them to a current mirrorless model. That could soften the hit on the ole bank account until proper R series lenses are feasible. The camera will automatically produce cropped images that match the smaller image circle of EF-S optics.

Here is what I am saying, again just to give you an honest idea of the picture. The lenses you have are the very basic low cost first time camera lenses. They are fine for the market they are intended for. However, if you are in the upgrade mode, the biggest bang for the buck is in the lenses not the camera.  Basing an upgrade question based on keeping these lenses isn't wise.  Example if you bought the T8i vs your current T6i and kept the current lenses, the photos would hardly be noticeably better. Oh, yes you will get some upgraded features and such but the actual photos, not so much. The lens makes the shot.

"...will work with mirrorless camera body or not?"

I have not done it but they say you can adapt them to R series. They should work as well as they do now. But a true upgrade would be an R series camera with R series lenses.

[sportsMom4]

Staying with same camera body what would be a step or two upgraded in lenses

[Waddizzle]

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@sportsMom4 wrote:
Staying with same camera body what would be a step or two upgraded in lenses

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I think the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.6-5.6 IS STM lens is actually a pretty decent lens.  But, I would definitely look to upgrade the 75-300mm lens.  Most places are out of stock on the EF 70-300 Mark II lenses, which would be my first choice.

But, B&H Photo Video seems to have the EF 70-200 f/4L USM in stock, and on sale.  Go for it!

[ebiggs1]

"I think the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.6-5.6 IS STM lens is actually a pretty decent lens."

I agree! For what it is the standard kit lens(es) is pretty decent. However there are better options and lenses.  These are the bottom of the Canon inventory of lenses.  For people that just want a decent DSLR camera they are fine.  They are not the best choice for a person that wants to upgrade.

The first and obvious upgrade in lenses is the outstanding Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens. It is a fast and constant f2.8 aperture. It is not cheap but quality and constant aperture is not easy to make. 

"... B&H Photo Video seems to have the EF 70-200 f/4L USM in stock, and on sale."

Absolutely! Fantastic lens and super sharp. Again a fast f4 constant aperture. Plus is is "L" quality.

[Waddizzle · Accepted solution]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"I think the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.6-5.6 IS STM lens is actually a pretty decent lens."

I agree! For what it is the standard kit lens(es) is pretty decent. However there are better options and lenses.  These are the bottom of the Canon inventory of lenses.  For people that just want a decent DSLR camera they are find.  They are not the best choice for a person that wants to upgrade.

The first and obvious upgrade in lenses is the outstanding Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens. It is a fast and constant f2.8 aperture. It is not cheap but quality and constant aperture is not easy to make. 

"... B&H Photo Video seems to have the EF 70-200 f/4L USM in stock, and on sale."

Absolutely! Fantastic lens and super sharp. Again a fast f4 constant aperture. Plus is is "L" quality.

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I would be far more inclined to upgrade the 75-300mm first, though.  

[FloridaDrafter]

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@Waddizzle wrote:

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"I would be far more inclined to upgrade the 75-300mm first, though "

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Totally agree. My wife uses the EF 70-300 f/4-5,6 IS USM (nano) II with her R6, with adaper obviously, and I am amazed at the IQ. She used it on a T7i, and although it was OK, it's much better oh the R6. She is disabled, so she needs something light and the T7i, R6 and the 70-300mm II are perfect for her. I have the 70-300 L, but it is just too heavy for her.

Obviously, L glass would be the best choice, but the non L version is still a good choice if you are on a budget, JMO.

[ebiggs1]

"I would be far more inclined to upgrade the 75-300mm first, though."

Me too! The ef 70-200mm f4L is just begging to come home with the her.

[ebiggs1]

"...but the non L version is still a good choice if you are on a budget,..."

It is always a balance but upgrade means you want something that is better than you currently have. Still keeping or buying new bottom end lenses is not much of an upgrade. That is just an exchange!

[FloridaDrafter]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"...but the non L version is still a good choice if you are on a budget,..."

"It is always a balance but upgrade means you want something that is better than you currently have. Still keeping or buying new bottom end lenses is not much of an upgrade. That is just an exchange!"

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The 70-300 mark II is a significant upgrade from the 75-300. I have both, the 75-300 came as a kit lens with a T4i I bought years ago. I quickly bought the 70-300 L, LOL! Yup, the 70-300 II is a budget lens, as mentioned, but it still has good IQ. It focuses extremely fast and nearly silent, has at least one UD element, IS is as good, maybe better, than my 70-300 L, but it's older, and has "full time MF" if that's your thing. It's just a nice budget lens and light as a feather, comparatively, (which is the reason my wife bought it) but far from being just an exchange.

I have tested it on my 7D2 and 5D4, for what it's worth, and it does a fine job, not L quality, but it's sometimes hard to tell the shots apart. I am the dreaded "pixel  peeper" and I see the difference at 100%, heh heh. My wife bought it for her T7i and her images look pretty dang good, but remember, she is a retired pro photographer. It shines on her new R6 w/ring adapter.

Newton

**EDIT: to clarify, the 75-300 wasn't actually a "kit lens", that was an EF-S 18-55, but the guy at Wolf Camera threw it in to get me to buy the T4i 😉