Which do I choose? T3I, 5D or 7D

F

Foster Kane

Well-known member
If I save for a couple of more months, I could pick up a T3I. However if I wait a couple of more months, actually make it almost a year, I could stretch getting a 7D or 5D.

Money is always an issue but the ability to use this equipment is also an issue.

I have never used a DSLR in my life. I have tested them out a stores but I have shot footage with them. I have been told that the T3I is a great starter camera for beginners which is good for me. But I think they I will have to upgrade after learning how and using the T3I.

Should I just go for the 5D or 7D? Why buy two cameras when I can get one?
 
I think going with a Canon 7D is a better option, definitely you will get a much better body. Canon T3i is for entry level from which everyone has to upgrade to higher level if he is really serious about photography. It really depends upon for what purpose you need a camera for taking pictures of the kids and family, even Canon T3i will do the job well.
 
Buy the T3i asap! Go film and take pics as soon as possible. Content is king! Waiting a year so you can possibly have some tiny advantage due to controls or sensor size is crazy. For that matter, go buy a Sony WX9 for $300 and learn to capture what your minds eye wants to see. Telling the story you want is not so much about the tools you use, but how you use those tools you have. The T3i with great glass is indistinguishable from the 7D and nearly indistinguishable from the 5D. Either way it's almost exclusively in the glass and you're going to have to save more for any of that. In the mean time go perfect your craft :)

Cheers,
Pete
 
Uh get the 60d without a doubt! Why didn't you mention it? it's WAY better than the t3i as far as processing, lowlight and most importantly ergonomics/button layout. It's only a bit more. It's also WAY cheaper than a 7d but has the advantage of the rotating screen, manual audio etc. The body isn't magnesium like the 7d but it is some kind of metal/composite and feels heafty unlike the t3i and t2i. Phillip bloom likes the 60d more than the 7d (though he wishes it used cf cards). I like it better than my friend's 7d. I also owned a 5dii for a year and I ended up selling it. I wish I still had full frame but now I have 60p, manual audio, and I don't loose that much money when it inevitably depreciates in a year. 1.6x is still a big sensor/similar to super 35mm. Best of all the results you get from the 60d are amazingly close to the 5d for $1500 less! Also the 60d's buttons are laid out better than the 5d because there is a dedicated video mode etc. So save 1500 bucks, get shooting right away and in a year or two when you sell you will only be down 1-200 bucks whereas when I sold my 5d I lost $700 off what I bought it for.
 
I am in the video a long time, I enjoyed my beautiful DVX100 mostly filming documentaries. Now, I make my first shots with my new canon T3i. The video is simply fantastic. No noise, no overheating, no moire (contradicting many alarmist reviews) and a comfortable ergonomic (I have big hands). She is soft and sexy! (of course is not a video camera, I´m still adapting). Only the audio sucks, but not yet tried it with a good microphone. In a couple of weeks I´ll get my GH2 and see who will be my best lover... The revolution is REAL.
 
Jackson Miller said:
Uh get the 60d without a doubt! Why didn't you mention it? it's WAY better than the t3i as far as processing, lowlight and most importantly ergonomics/button layout.
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Actually the processing and lowlight are the same. The APS-C Canons are all almost identical for video. Most of the differences are external; build quality, size, button placement, swivel LCD etc. The t3i/60d have the advantage of a swivel screen and audio control (which is still pretty useless as you can't adjust or monitor anything while recording). The 7D's advantage lies with those who need a pro-level stills camera too. The 60d has better build quility and the 7d has the best. The t2i's strenght is Magic Lantern which makes it far more feature-packed and functional than any of the others.

mady said:
I think going with a Canon 7D is a better option, definitely you will get a much better body. Canon T3i is for entry level from which everyone has to upgrade to higher level if he is really serious about photography. It really depends upon for what purpose you need a camera for taking pictures of the kids and family, even Canon T3i will do the job well.
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At this stage the 7d is probably the last one I would consider unless you desperately need the 8fps stills, weather sealing or HD monitoring. It's more expensive, has no swivel screen, and has been rumoured to have the worst overheating of all the bodies. It's original advantages (incremental ISO's, kelvin WB) have all been added to the much cheaper t2i via Magic Lantern - and while we're discussing Magic Lantern, it's safe to say the 7d will never have it because something about the hardware/software makes it unhackable.

Personally, I would not spend a year saving for a 5d or 7d. You might find that after saving for a year, an updated version (5dmkIII or 7dmkII/8D or something else) comes out and the price is much higher and you still need to keep saving. Even worse, you might spend a year saving up, buy a 5dmkII and have a new one be announced the next day, instantly halving the value of you cam.

I'd buy something cheap now. Don't count out the t2i, because it is available at crazy cheap prices right now. It also has some awesome features added via Magic Lantern that make it a far better (video) camera than the 7D. If you don't want to mess with the firmware or if you desperately want a swivel screen, go for the t3i now, and start shooting!
 
deltoidjohn said:
Actually the processing and lowlight are the same. The APS-C Canons are all almost identical for video. Most of the differences are external; build quality, size, button placement, swivel LCD etc. The t3i/60d have the advantage of a swivel screen and audio control (which is still pretty useless as you can't adjust or monitor anything while recording). The 7D's advantage lies with those who need a pro-level stills camera too. The 60d has better build quility and the 7d has the best. The t2i's strenght is Magic Lantern which makes it far more feature-packed and functional than any of the others.
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Sorry but you are wrong about the processing and lowlight being the same. The SENSORS for the 60d, t2i (and I'm guessing the t3i), and 7d are the same but if you read around you'll find that the 60d and t2i are nearly identical in the processing of the information from the sensors but that the T2i is a step below. This is not from personal experience it's from what I've read in dozens of posts here. If you don't believe me read around or maybe someone else can confirm it.

Other than that I agree with you completely, however ergonomics and external differences are enormously important. On a t2i shooting is much harder, less efficient and clumsy than when you have two scroll wheels etc.
 
Strange; I've not read anything like that. Can anybody chip in here to confirm the 60D has better quality processing and better lowlight ability than the 7D & 550D?

I know the 550D, 60D and 7D all have the same image processor (Digic 4). In what way is the video processing/lowlight better on the 60D? Less noise? Better compression? Better sensitivity? More dynamic range?
 
On a t2i shooting is much harder, less efficient and clumsy than when you have two scroll wheels etc.
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Second this. I have shot with all of canon's lineup at one point or another, and the T2i is utterly frustrating with its button layout after shooting with a 5D/7D. If you're going to buy a Canon, you'd be crazy not buying used, and if you don't want used I'd get the GH2. I personally hated shooting with the Canons, but the GH2 is awesome. Don't underestimate the swivel lcd if you don't have a monitor!
 
Foster:

I'm going to side with those who advise you get what you can afford now. Unless you're totally inflexible you will adjust to the controls and ergonomics of what you have and can get right to work with any of the current models. I have the 7D, T2i, and just got a 60D; I use all three of them although the 7D probably sees the least use (but I still grab it and use it enough to keep it on hand).

In a very practical sense ALL of the current models will get you outstanding video (once you've acquired the skills), and super still images. If you are looking for the best overall compromise between the current available models, the 60D may fit the bill. It has the "articulating" LCD, intermediate ISO settings, nice heft and solid feel to it, and otherwise stills and video will be indistinguishable from the 7D.

But get what you can afford NOW before existing stocks either disappear from shelves or prices really shoot up (or both).

The outlook for any camera products shipping from Japan is uncertain for the forseeable future.
 
Bruce Foreman said:
Foster:

I'm going to side with those who advise you get what you can afford now. Unless you're totally inflexible you will adjust to the controls and ergonomics of what you have and can get right to work with any of the current models. I have the 7D, T2i, and just got a 60D; I use all three of them although the 7D probably sees the least use (but I still grab it and use it enough to keep it on hand).

In a very practical sense ALL of the current models will get you outstanding video (once you've acquired the skills), and super still images. If you are looking for the best overall compromise between the current available models, the 60D may fit the bill. It has the "articulating" LCD, intermediate ISO settings, nice heft and solid feel to it, and otherwise stills and video will be indistinguishable from the 7D.

But get what you can afford NOW before existing stocks either disappear from shelves or prices really shoot up (or both).

The outlook for any camera products shipping from Japan is uncertain for the forseeable future.
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Looks like I am going to the T3I.

Your right about the prices. Prices are shooting up the roof and stock is rapidly disappearing.
 
Jackson Miller said:
Sorry but you are wrong about the processing and lowlight being the same. The SENSORS for the 60d, t2i (and I'm guessing the t3i), and 7d are the same but if you read around you'll find that the 60d and t2i are nearly identical in the processing of the information from the sensors but that the T2i is a step below. This is not from personal experience it's from what I've read in dozens of posts here. If you don't believe me read around or maybe someone else can confirm it.

Other than that I agree with you completely, however ergonomics and external differences are enormously important. On a t2i shooting is much harder, less efficient and clumsy than when you have two scroll wheels etc.
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This is total hogwash. The t2i, 60d, 7d and the t3i, All have the same sensor, and processor. (7d has dual) If you need to justify spending more on the 60d, than the t3i, then have at it. But from the tests I have done and seen, the cams are almost identical. In fact the t2i was a tad bit sharper than the 7d, and thats with the same glass. I have no idea why.

I have used and tested them all, I have owned a t2i, and now t3i. I compared the 60d and t3i, the only real difference was the 60d was bigger and had a different layout. If I recall, the 60d had kelvin temps. I think that was the only other difference. But as where I was use to the button layout of the t2i, the t3i was a perfect upgrade. Believe me, if the 60d was better, I would have paid the few extra bucks to get it. Honestly I didn't feel the extra was justified.

If the gh2 was around when I bought the t3i, I would have gone with that, so I could use my Pristine FD lenses. I do like the look of the Canon footage better though. It looks more film like to my eyes. The gh2 is sharper, And maybe thats why it looks more like video than canon. Maybe it's the sharpening, or the colors. Frankly, I could care less. It's never around for purchase, unless you make a job out of finding one, which I dont have the time to call camera shops everyday.
 
Foster Kane said:
Found a good price for a T3i body but it needs the Lens. Any recommendations to on where to buy it?
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I bought mine at Bestbuy. I hate that store, but I didn't want to wait for shipping. Not to mention the price was the same at BHN. Tax was fifty bucks, shipping would be around twenty, it's only a matter of twnety five or thirty bucks give er take. Im happy with it. Controllable audio, and swivel screen was worth the upgrade in my eyes.
 
Walmart is cheaper, but they charge tax.

I would buy a used t2i and put magic lantern on it. Some of the features of ML are absolutely awesome.
 
Since you're already talking about waiting almost a year, maybe you could even wait for the EOS 1Ds Mark IV to come out...
 
Well I am going to say perhaps I was wrong HOWEVER I've definitely read it and heard it in several places which were most likely wrong. Sorry. I still say that the ergonomics on the t2i are friking horrid and if the t3i has the same ones, I wouldn't get it. You can get a refurb 60d for 899 or new for 999. The t3i body is $830. That difference is so small that I don't think you can justify getting the t3i. I seriously recommend holding them both in a store if you don't believe me.
 
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