Change from T3i to 70d, or invest in a new lens?

[preppyak]

Before anybody jumps into some sort of comparison you need to share what kind of pictures you take, what are you unable to take and why you are unable to take them with your current gear.

Yep, without this info, every response you've gotten so far won't be very useful. If you are shooting pictures of your kids and family you'd want a very different lens than if you were doing landscape work, or sports shooting.

Likewise, I can't tell if you'd benefit from a camera upgrade without knowing if you shoot action (frame rate and AF would be worth it), or if you shoot a lot of video (70D + STM lenses would be an upgrade).

 

[unfocused]

Agree with those that say it depends on what you like to shoot.

My thoughts: if you find that the 18-55 is consistently a little too long at the wide end and little too short at the long end, consider the 15-85 EFS. It's a great, sharp lens and the extra mm at both ends makes it much more versatile for a walk-around lens.

If you find that you need need a faster lens for low light shooting, look at the 17-55 mm 2.8 EF-S. But, understand that you'll be paying a premium for a small gain in aperture.

If you find that the 250 mm on your telephoto just isn't long enough then...well...frankly the only Canon lenses I would recommend would be the 70-300 "L" or the 100-400 "L" but both are expensive and the 100-400 is pretty good sized to be carrying around as your main telephoto zoom. A good budget solution is the newer Tamron 70-300 VC zoom. It's better and cheaper than the Canon consumer grade IS 70-300 zoom.

While the Tokina 11-16 is a great lens, you really have to like the wide-angle perspective to make either it or the Canon 10-22 zoom worthwhile.

The main limitation with the T3i over the 70D or 7D would be the autofocus. If you find the autofocus of the T3i is causing you to miss shots, then it's probably time to consider an upgrade.

In short, the simplest answer is a question: what do you feel you are missing with your current setup? If you find yourself unable to make the shots you want because of your lenses, look for new lenses. If you find yourself unable to make shots because of your camera, look for a new camera that has the features you need. If you find that your final pictures aren't what you envisioned, then invest in better software.

 

[m8547]

While the Tokina 11-16 is a great lens, you really have to like the wide-angle perspective to make either it or the Canon 10-22 zoom worthwhile.

Wide angle opens up new possibilities. If you look at the most popular camera settings for Reuter's best photos of 2012
http://petapixel.com/2012/12/02/the-most-popular-cameras-and-settings-for-reuters-best-photos-of-the-year-2012/
you will see that 24mm and 16-35mm on full frame are both very popular. Those are equivalent to 15mm and 10-22mm, respectively. The Canon 10-22 might be a bit more versatile, but the Tokina is inexpensive and along with the 18-55 covers most of that range. You can click through and see what photos are taken with those lenses, and see if you want that look.

 

[DanielW]

Figuring out needs and priorities should come before new gear.

In short, the simplest answer is a question: what do you feel you are missing with your current setup? If you find yourself unable to make the shots you want because of your lenses, look for new lenses. If you find yourself unable to make shots because of your camera, look for a new camera that has the features you need. If you find that your final pictures aren't what you envisioned, then invest in better software.

You won't get better pieces of advice than those two.

 

[mwh1964]

Get a 50mm F1.8 or 1.4 and learn to use these before further money into photo hobby.

 

[mkabi]

My advice, buy yourself a new lens.
But before jumping the gun, see the difference between your 18-55mm and a simple 50mm 1.8 II

 

[WPJ]

If your just shooting with kit lenses on a rebel, I would really recommend going for a Sony RX10. If your traveling around a lot, it's perfect! No need to change lenses and a constant F/2.8 lens.

Constant f2.8, yes, but due to it's smaller sensor it's not better in low light or DoF options than an f3.5-5.6 lens on APS-C throughout the zoom range. Take a look at this comparison to the 18-135 lens from dpreview:

F8 I don't get your comment. I have a 7D and I find a huge difference from my 18-200 3.5-5.6 to my 24-105f4 and my 70-200f2.8 dog bokeh you name it can you explain to me Tue graph and your perspective please?

 

[rs]

If your just shooting with kit lenses on a rebel, I would really recommend going for a Sony RX10. If your traveling around a lot, it's perfect! No need to change lenses and a constant F/2.8 lens.

Constant f2.8, yes, but due to it's smaller sensor it's not better in low light or DoF options than an f3.5-5.6 lens on APS-C throughout the zoom range. Take a look at this comparison to the 18-135 lens from dpreview:

F8 I don't get your comment. I have a 7D and I find a huge difference from my 18-200 3.5-5.6 to my 24-105f4 and my 70-200f2.8 dog bokeh you name it can you explain to me Tue graph and your perspective please?

The RX10 has a f2.8 lens, but it's sensor is smaller than a T3i's, so it's not the same as an f2.8 lens on a T3i. It's the equivalent of a theoretical 15-125/4.7 lens on a T3i. That's all.

If you have a selection of lenses to use on one camera, then the sensor size is no longer a variable. Which means there's no need to do any calculations to do any comparisons. So in your case that f2.8 lens is greater than f4, which is in turn greater than f5.6.

 

[WPJ]

Gotcha, I thought you were trying to say that on a crop sensor the aperture didn't matter but on full frame it does. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[tntwit]

I also have the T3i.

I went from the original 18-55 (from my 300D) to the 15-85. Shortly after that, I also bought a 50 1.8.

As noted, you need to look at your needs.

Personally, I love the 15-85 for its range and speed/accuracy of auto focus. Depending on what and how you shoot, the "you already have the 55-85 range covered" argument may be a bit short sighted. I also have the 75-300, so a similar argument is you won't miss the 55-75 range, so your covered. However, for me, the 55 was never quite long enough and I wasn't sure 85 was going to cover it. I really wanted the 18-135 for the range, but we have that lens at work (not the STM version) and I really don't care for it. It just never seems quite sharp enough and it just doesn't have a great quality feel to it (this is perception - not necessarily a practical reality). Having used the lens for about 9 months now, I am pleased with the range for my type of shooting (but maybe not for yours).

The other consideration is that since getting the 50 1.8, my biggest disappointment with the 15-85 is that it isn't a fast lens. Take others advice and pick up a fast prime - it really does add a whole new dimension to your arsenal of tools. I say this because (and this again depends on what you shoot), with slow glass in most lower light settings your going to be as wide open as the lens will go because the other option will be a higher ISO or a slower shutter speed (and you are usually pretty slow to begin with in lower light settings) meaning that adjusting the aperture really isn't an option because you are already maxed out so to speak. I find that most of my shots are wide open. With the 1.8 I now have some flexibility that I didn't have before. The 18-55 lens will be around 5.0 or 5.6 at 50 mm vs 1.8 with this prime. I think that works out to somewhere around 3 stops. With this option I now find myself stopping down for a variety of reasons depending on the situation, where I wouldn't have if I was stuck at 5.0 or 5.6. My favorite feature of this is the OOF background it can produce and because of that alone, I now love this rather cheap lens and really want more fast primes. I can be an addiction.

Having said that, it is not easy shooting a narrow depth of field and one reason why the 50 1.8 is so great. You can practice with one for around $150 and probably get half back later if you decide to upgrade to the 1.4 or better.

For me, what I've come to realize is the 15-85 is a great lens for most of my general photography and the prime fills in where the fast aperture can be a benefit (usually portraits). I plan to add a few others (feel free anyone for suggestions - thinking about the 85 1.8 for maybe the Sigma 30 1.4 - trying to figure out what I'll use more) as I think this is the best fit for my needs.

What I found was, on a crop f2.8 isn't that fast in terms of OOF backgrounds and with the same basic range of the 18-55 I don't think I would have been happy with the 17-55. I prefer the 15-85 with a few primes.

Using the 15-85 with the 430EXII is an exceptional package and if you use a flash frequently then an external flash should be another upgrade path to consider. This combination produce great results for family pictures indoors because the range is ideal, it focuses fast, the flash recycles much faster than the built in and with the ability to bounce off the ceiling, typically more pleasing lighting (this is another art in itself).

One argument I have seen elsewhere, but not here, is to buy the lens for what you are shooting now. FF lenses don't have an optimized range for crop. Again it depends on your needs, but for me 24 isn't wide enough (24-70 lens). The thought here is good glass holds it's value and if you go FF later you can recoup most of it and benefit from the optimized range in the mean time. Many here think of whatever you do lose as a rental fee of sorts.

And I planned on keeping this response short. 8)

 

[greger]

Nice pics streetsandtheaters. lcb if you shoot similar pics then get the 100-400 f4.5-5.6 Big White or wait till vs2. If it doesn't get announced in early 2014 then get vs1 when Canon Rebates are out. Not only will it cover almost all focal lengths that you will need for BIF and wildlife you will get a work out carrying it around. ;D
We bought my wife a 70D and she loves it. She hasn't had it long enough to tire of the 18-135 lens that came with it. You should go body only as you have those focal lengths covered already. I did a search for 70D for sports and haven'tread enough to know how well the 70D is in AI Servo. It is a very good camera and so is my 7D. I get good pics of BIF 7D. My wife has taken a few pics of BIF but hasn't set the camera up to use AI Servo yet.

 

[lcb]

Hi All!

Thanks, thanks, thanks!!

I really didn't expect to get all these answers so fast!
Believe me I learned a lot reading you!
I got good advices from almost all of your messages, and I got the point that first I need to think about the limitations with my current gear and what I expect from a new lens/camera.
I should really reply to each of your messages, but that would not be possible for me now - I need to do my luggage right now, I am heading to Thailand and Vietnam for my honeymoon!

So, summing up, I decided to invest in a lens now (actually I will buy it in Bangkok). I have now to choose if I go for the Canon 15-85 or another one you suggested, the 10-22 or equivalent.
The 15-85 will allow me to go just a little wider, but I like it covers a wider range, and as many times due to my work I can't take all my gear with me to the street, that would be good. I also saw some photos and found it is
very sharp!
As I like taking photos to architecture and landscapes, the 10-22 will be great also...I like wide angles.
On the tele side, I think for the moment I am covered with the 55-250.

BTW I think I will buy some ND graduated filters for my landscape photos. As soon as I come back from my trip to Thailand and Vietnam I will share with you the results.

I take advantage to share with you some of my photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/l_c_b/sets/
As an enthusiastic hobbyist, your comments will be highly appreciated!
Also perhaps looking at them you could see which lens would be better for me.
What it is for sure, in 2014 will dedicate time to learn how to use Lightroom and others.
I think that would be a clever investment...

Again, thanks all for your great suggestions!!

Have a Happy New Year folks!
Leo

 

[dickgrafixstop]

The 10-22 is an excellent addition to the two lenses you already have - particularly for the landscape opportunities that travel provides. I would also buy a 50mm f1.8. It's basically pocket change in today's
photographic market, but an excellent bargain on a quality lens. (If you can double the money, the f1.4
is also a good choice). The 50 will give you some extra light, but it, to my view more importantly, will also
force you to compose your pictures and "think image" much better than any zoom. My next choice would
be the 85mm f1.8 - also a price performing excellent lens. The last two have the added advantage of
working nicely with a full frame camera when you decide to "step up".

 

[rany]

I want to update my canon to 70D