A bit confused on what to buy!

[thgmuffin]

I currently am a 15 year old who has taken on photography as a hobby. As of now, I own the following: T2i, 24-105 F/4L, 40mm F2.8 Pancake, 55-250mm 3.5-5.6 IS II, 18-55mm 3.5-5.6, a minolta Auto280PX flash and 2 Minolta lenses. I am a bit confused as to whether the 70D would be the ideal upgrade, or possibly holding off to the 7D Mark II!

I take pictures of my friends and RC cars. Currently, with the T2i I can definitely take pictures of people, but I find the camera really struggles with moving subjects. I know the T2i isn't really geared towards sports photography, and in my own experience I found this to be true. While taking pictures of RC cars I can only get about 40% of the shots actually in focus (AI Servo and center point) and it's a bit disappointing.

Here's an example of the RC cars:

IMG_9858 by THGBrian, on Flickr

Here's one that is out of focus:

IMG_9826 by THGBrian, on Flickr

They move VERY fast!

With stationary objects (people) there is absolutely no problem:

Porsche GT3RS by THGBrian, on Flickr

I am looking for something that will be able to get these shots in focus, have better low light focusing, and possibly better low light performance.

I have considered the following:
Don't do anything at all! (Parents would love this! : )
Purchase a few fast primes. (Sigma 50mm f1.4)
Buy a Fujifilm X-E1 due to it's size and low light performance. Then down the road, buy a 7D Mark II or some "upgrade" to my T2i. <--- Most money spent here
Buy a Canon 70D during black friday. (No tax day at two of my local camera stores)
Wait for a 7D replacement



I really like the autofocus and video features that the 70D has (touchscreen!!!), as I like to make videos. However, with the possibility of a new 7D replacement that will only improve on the 70D (without the touchscreen and possibly wi-fi) I am really not sure if I should purchase anything at all! I'm not trying to sound like some rich kid, as I do work to get these items. Maybe I should be grateful that I even own these items and hold off until I really need a camera. Thanks for reading!


If you guys need any more info, please ask!

 

[Zv]

You shoot things that move so having a good AF system with decent AI Servo functionality is important. The 70D hasn't been released, reviewed and rated yet. No doubt it will be a solid performer but I'd hold on a bit before buying it or preordering it if you can.

In the meantime try renting a 7D so you can get a feel for the 19 point AF system and ergonomics that will be similiar in the 70D.

The 7D2 is still a fair bit away. No announcement until 2014 it seems. And then? Who knows.

Personally, I would sell the t2i and get a 2nd hand 7D for the meanwhile. Depending on how you treat your files (LR or CS6 etc) you can get rid of the noise easily at the higher ISOs. Do you often shoot at night?

Then once the 7D2 is announced you can make a decision. Upgrade to 7D2 or 70D.

The 7Ds Center AF point works best with lenses that have an aperture of f/2.8 or larger. If you are sticking with crop bodies in the future you might want to consider getting hold of a 17-55. It focuses really fast and the wide open performance is really good. F/2.8 and center AF point with AI servo and back button focus enabled is the way to go. You'll be able to track those cars with ease!

 

[Vossie]

70D has the AF of the 7D, so surely a major upgrade from your current cam. The 7D2 still make a long while to come out and it surely will have a much higher price tag (probably double the 70D price).

I'd go for the 70D.

 

[IceAgeDX]

I just think it's an issue of technique, not camera.

I mean all you have to do is focus on the point where the cars will pass through, stop down a little if you need to on the aperture. That part doesn't look to be out of focus you're just getting motion blur. So either use a flash and maximum sync speed (1/200?) or get the shutter down to 1/250 or 1/500 using ISO if you have to.

 

[Rienzphotoz]

I currently am a 15 year old who has taken on photography as a hobby. As of now, I own the following: T2i, 24-105 F/4L,

I take pictures of my friends and RC cars. Currently,

I know the T2i isn't really geared towards sports photography, and in my own experience I found this to be true.

it's a bit disappointing.

Here's an example of the RC cars:

My opinion here is purely based on the photos you've posted.
I don't think your gear is the limiting factor here ... sure the T2i + 24-105 f/4 L IS is not meant for sports photography but that combo is capable of producing results that are far more compelling and pleasing than what you have posted here. Going by those photos, you are limited only by your skill, therefore, I think your money would be better served if you spent some of it on enhancing you photography skills ... I suggest some online training from accomplished photographers like on Kelbytraining.com, Lynda.com etc will do you a world of good ... they only charge $25 a month for unlimited access to all their tutorials by some highly acclaimed photographers ... alternatively you can check out Creative Live who provide free online learning if you log-in to their live streaming ... or try youtube ... you should also spend some money on good software for post processing. What you have going for you is your age ... you are only 15 and spending time/money on training now will only make you an awesome photographer and once you out grow the capabilities of of your T2i + 24-105 combo you would have probably saved up enough money to buy even better gear than what you currently have in mind.
Peace

 

[schill]

I agree that I don't think it's necessarily the camera that's standing in your way. If you look at the second picture, I think the blur on the white car is mostly due to motion. The stripe on the roadway at the same distance from the camera as the car is a lot sharper. It wasn't moving, the car was.

What shutter speed are you using?

If you do decide you need a new camera, you also don't need to jump to the latest available ones. The 7D is a really nice camera (that's what I usually use) but I don't think you really need it. You may want to look at a newer rebel-series camera (and not necessarily the latest), although I'm not really familiar with the progression of their autofocus in new bodies.

I photograph animals running 40-50mph a lot. I typically use my 7D with a 70-200/2.8 II to do that these days (the animals aren't too far away so the 200 isn't too short on a crop body). But I've also used the new SL1 with a 55-250 to do the same thing and it tracks the focus pretty well. It's not a high end camera at all, although it is new so I expect the focus is better than other lower end models. The big thing I miss when using the SL1 is going down from 8fps to 4fps.

I would definitely investigate your technique first, starting with the basic settings like shutter speed, and see what you can do. Then, you will better be able to decide if you need a new body or if you want to wait to see what reviews say.

While the 7D is a really nice camera and I'm very happy with mine, if I were looking right now I'd probably wait to see what reviewers say about the 70D before deciding on any large purchase.

 

[sunnyVan]

I have to admit I misjudged you as a rich kid upon reading the first paragraph. You have to understand you are playing very expensive toys compared to when I was 15. But I applaud you for working hard and pursuing your passion at a young age.

Personally I'm not drawn to action photography so much. When I had my 60d I never thought it was too slow. Would you consider getting a used 60d and a fast prime? Both 7Dii and 70D will be very fine for sure. But the price will be steep at introduction. You would have to work many hours to earn enough to pay for brand new camera. I personally think it's better to invest in glass. A used "recent" camera may be good enough. Ultimately it's your decision.

 

[schill]

Another thought...

I wouldn't worry too much about getting "only" 40% of your pictures in focus. If it really is just because you are pushing the edge of your camera's/lens's capabilities that isn't bad. Remember, the pictures are all "free" so unless your are missing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities I wouldn't worry about it - just take a lot of them (40% of 100 pictures is a lot of good pictures).

I often shoot in situations where I can't even get 10% keepers (low light and motion, no flash) but it doesn't stop me from trying. The good ones are worth it.

 

[Dylan777]

Keep in mind...camera bodies loose value fast and alot.

I doubt CR members here could give you good opinions at this time. Since most of us haven't touch the 70D or 7D replacement yet.

I agree...start saving money NOW and try it out 70D @ local camera stores.

BTW...welcome to CR thgmuffin

 

[Jay Khaos]

My opinion here is purely based on the photos you've posted.
I don't think your gear is the limiting factor here ...

I agree here. In general, higher shutter speed is what freezes motion—but higher shutter speed also decreases the amount of light that is taken in. So I think a fast lens is the key. I'm surprised you don't have a 50 1.8...

I used a t2i for years and that was pretty much my go to lens. I think all of these shots could have been accomplished with it.

 

[bholliman]

First of all, welcome to CR!

Photography is a wonderful hobby you can enjoy your entire life, so I agree with those suggesting that you invest some time and possibly money on education on the finer points of the craft. This has been my hobby for over ten years and I am still learning new things every week. I watch training videos, read books, attend seminars and workshops and learn from others here and at other photography forums. Then go out and try to apply and experiment with what I've learned.

In the meantime try renting a 7D so you can get a feel for the 19 point AF system and ergonomics that will be similiar in the 70D.

I like this suggestion. Renting a 7D for a week will not cost you much, but give you a good feel for what the AF system and handling. You will notice quite a difference from your T2i!

As somebody else pointed out, camera bodies depreciate quickly. For example, 6D's were selling for $2200 when introduced last December. Prices dropped to around $1900 by spring and are currently around $1700 in the US. So, holding off on a 70D purchase until after Christmas will save you some money.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[amigo]

As others have mentioned. If today only 40% of your action shots are in focus, don't expect that spending a thousand dollars on a new camera body will bring that percentage to 100%.

Also, how long have you been photographing RC cars? I mean at your age, it is normal to explore your passions, different activities and hobbies. Do you know for sure you're in for the long term with action photography? All the money you spend on a more expensive camera is money you won't be able to spend on something else.

Also, when the 70D will come out, it will be expensive. If you can wait one year the price will come down significantly.

I own a Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 which is around 100$ and with such a wide aperture allows much faster shutter speeds than your F/4 lens, freezing the action. I also own an EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 which has a fast focus and is a very sharp lens.

Try before you buy! You should rent the camera you consider before buying. At my local camera store, I was able to rent a camera body for 35$ for an entire week-end, likewise for each lens. This allowed me to test the camera and lenses in the field and see for myself whether the purchase would be worth it.

 

[RLPhoto]

Try F/5.6 - F/8, Bump ISO, Pre-focus and ETTR. You might get that 40% to 60% keepers if you really try hard. Your not being paid and the T2I's IQ is still very good.

 

[rs]

I am looking for something that will be able to get these shots in focus, have better low light focusing, and possibly better low light performance.

I have considered the following:
Don't do anything at all! (Parents would love this! : )
Purchase a few fast primes. (Sigma 50mm f1.4)
Buy a Fujifilm X-E1 due to it's size and low light performance. Then down the road, buy a 7D Mark II or some "upgrade" to my T2i. <--- Most money spent here
Buy a Canon 70D during black friday. (No tax day at two of my local camera stores)
Wait for a 7D replacement

Low light AF of stationary subjects is very different to low light AF of moving subjects. For that reason, I'd stay clear of anything which can't keep up with very rapid moving subjects, which means forget the X-E1 and the Sigma 50/1.4 as they'll both give worse performance that your current kit. (I have a good copy of the Sigma 50/1.4 which AF's very accurately. However, AF is slow, and in AI Servo mode, just forget it)

I'd recommend a fast focusing lens of at least f2.8 - if you stick with crop, the Canon 17-55/2.8 IS springs to mind, or the 24-70 II if you have money to burn and something like a 5D3 might be on the horizon soon. Both give very fast and accurate AF, even in challenging conditions. If you're after a fast prime, steer clear of slow focusing lenses like the Sigma 50/1.4 or 85L.

As for the body, the 70D with what appears to be an inherited 7D AF system should be a huge step up from your 550D. While rumours suggest the 7D mk II will have an even better AF system, that is largely an unknown at the moment. However, a camera with a good AF system still can't operate at its best with an f4 lens or with a painfully slow focusing lens such as the Sigma 50/1.4.

If a 7D mk II is potentially just about affordable for you, what about instead getting a 70D and 17-55? The combination of lens and body will bring big benefits to you.

 

[thgmuffin]

OK!

For the RC cars, I shoot at around 1/320 to 1/400 at ISO 3200. Not that big of a problem in terms of noise, though the buffer fills up quickly on the camera (7 shots continuous RAW). I am using a Class 10 Sony SD Card which can do around 22mb writes last time I tested it.

I use PS Lightroom to edit my photos!

As for renting cameras.

Two of my good friends at school both own 7D's. One of them just upgraded from the t2i and the other owns the 24-105 too! I have gotten to use them both throughout the school year and I know exactly how the 7D handles compared to the t2i. We mostly hand off cameras to each other (t2i with the 24-105 for the wide shots and 7d/t2i with the 70-200 F2.8 mk ii) when we photograph school rallies and other events.

An example of either lack of skill, or hardware issue:

Out of focus goodness by THGBrian, on Flickr
The camera will track pretty decently and then suddenly it'll just go into something like the photo above^^

I am taking pictures of these cars in a hobbystore. This hobbystore might not have the best lighting out there either...
Here's a video of the store:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siFtxBa1W4A

As for lenses, I REALLY have been spoiled by the Canon "L" series. The build quality is absolutely amazing! For those of you guys recommending the 17-55 F2.8. While I do like the 17mm wide angle, most of my shots are done on the telephoto end of the 24-105. This is due to me not wanting to get in the way of other drivers on the track. A common courtesy, as I know how annoying it is to have people in the way of your sight when you drive around the track. Maybe a 70-200 F2.8? I know Tamron makes a pretty decent one.


Thanks for all the tips guys!

 

[Sporgon]

Looking at the last picture the barrier is almost in focus. You're not tracking with all AF points selected are you ? I would use centre point only. Also if you know precisely where the subject is going to be at any time try zone focusing as RL suggested. If you haven't already done so change your AF to back button only, keep on AI Servo so you can readily change from auto tracking to pre focus.

Reality is a Rebel can do 90% of what a 1D can do in the right hands.

 

[thgmuffin]

Looking at the last picture the barrier is almost in focus. You're not tracking with all AF points selected are you ? I would use centre point only. Also if you know precisely where the subject is going to be at any time try zone focusing as RL suggested. If you haven't already done so change your AF to back button only, keep on AI Servo so you can readily change from auto tracking to pre focus.

Reality is a Rebel can do 90% of what a 1D can do in the right hands.

I am using center point AF! Though it is supposed to be a lot more sensitive with an F2.8 lens.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I currently am a 15 year old who has taken on photography as a hobby. As of now, I own the following: T2i, 24-105 F/4L, 40mm F2.8 Pancake, 55-250mm 3.5-5.6 IS II, 18-55mm 3.5-5.6, a minolta Auto280PX flash and 2 Minolta lenses. I am a bit confused as to whether the 70D would be the ideal upgrade, or possibly holding off to the 7D Mark II!

I take pictures of my friends and RC cars. Currently, with the T2i I can definitely take pictures of people, but I find the camera really struggles with moving subjects. I know the T2i isn't really geared towards sports photography, and in my own experience I found this to be true. While taking pictures of RC cars I can only get about 40% of the shots actually in focus (AI Servo and center point) and it's a bit disappointing.

Here's an example of the RC cars:

IMG_9858 by THGBrian, on Flickr

Here's one that is out of focus:

IMG_9826 by THGBrian, on Flickr

They move VERY fast!

With stationary objects (people) there is absolutely no problem:

Porsche GT3RS by THGBrian, on Flickr

I am looking for something that will be able to get these shots in focus, have better low light focusing, and possibly better low light performance.

I have considered the following:
Don't do anything at all! (Parents would love this! : )
Purchase a few fast primes. (Sigma 50mm f1.4)
Buy a Fujifilm X-E1 due to it's size and low light performance. Then down the road, buy a 7D Mark II or some "upgrade" to my T2i. <--- Most money spent here
Buy a Canon 70D during black friday. (No tax day at two of my local camera stores)
Wait for a 7D replacement



I really like the autofocus and video features that the 70D has (touchscreen!!!), as I like to make videos. However, with the possibility of a new 7D replacement that will only improve on the 70D (without the touchscreen and possibly wi-fi) I am really not sure if I should purchase anything at all! I'm not trying to sound like some rich kid, as I do work to get these items. Maybe I should be grateful that I even own these items and hold off until I really need a camera. Thanks for reading!


If you guys need any more info, please ask!

The T2i is capable of capturing moving items with sharp focus. There is no camera available that will track focus for a vehicle speeding away from you at high speed.
If autofocus won't track, pre focus on a area that the vehicle will pass, and use a high shutter speed. You can also stop down to improve the depth of focus.

I happened to be browsing thru a few National Geographic Magazines from 1919 yesterday, and several bird in flight photos, as well as photos of sporting events caught my eye, there was no such thing as autofocus in 1919, so photographers used their skill, depth of field, and timing to capture the critical instant in one shot. There was no second shot until you pulled out the plate and popped another in.

Develop your skills, and your camera will do a superb job.

Good luck, and don't get caught up chasing a perfect camera, it doesn't exist.

 

[Don Haines]

Small fast moving objects.... Similar to birds....

Far more important than gear, practice the motions to follow the model cars. If you can keep that center autofocus on the car you will have a much better keeper ratio, but it is a lot harder than it sounds.

A faster lens will/should autofocus faster, but this only good when you can keep the point on your target.

 

[thgmuffin]

Small fast moving objects.... Similar to birds....

Far more important than gear, practice the motions to follow the model cars. If you can keep that center autofocus on the car you will have a much better keeper ratio, but it is a lot harder than it sounds.

A faster lens will/should autofocus faster, but this only good when you can keep the point on your target.

At this point it is probably technique! Though I did practice a little bit and I can track the cars a bit better.

Just Some Drift Stuff by THGBrian, on Flickr

The blur is due to the shutter speed being at 1/320...