Need to Upgrade T1i, 24-70 L and Tamron 18-270

Hi All,

It seems like there is a lot of experience wandering around this message board so figured it was a good place to come for some advice.

I need advice on how to upgrade the camera and the Tamron. The 24-70 L spoiled me even if it is the old heavy model.

My intent is to use them on the beach and general sea coast but primarily in the back country. I do a lot of just hanging out in off the trail areas of Northern California and Northern Idaho with some sashshays into the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness between Montana and Idaho. Primarily anywhere I can comfortably pack a fly pole and camera.

So, landscape, near and far, as well as some still life and outdoor creatures, large and small, are my targets.

Will keep the 24-70 L as it is a winner in handling a lot of what I do. The other two just sort of take up space. I don't show many shots from the Tamron to close friends.

One of my biggest bug-a-boos with the old rebel is obtaining proper white balance.

It takes me forever to get into the settings and fine tune things for shots that need a little help. Lots of movement between shade and sunlight and brushy and clearings when I am serious about a shoot. I'm not sure of the workable options as I'm not a professional by any means but do like to see some rewarding work come out of the printer when it is all said and done. I'm also not a real fan of reworking everything a whole lot afterwards on the computer.

I like the lighter crop frame cameras as long as they take EF lenses. Something with better white balance control would be real neat.

Don't have a fortune to spend but can dig up 12 to 1500 bucks without hocking my sleeping bag.

I just had the camera cleaned and inspected in a local shop and the Tamron does not have many clicks on it and never will so I just want to move on.

Thank you

Jim Curts

Wickiup to most who wander around with me...

I would consider the new Canon 77D plus the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM Lens. The body would be $899 USD, and the lens is $549 USD, so within your budget.

Thanks for the tip. Will consider all the advice I can get. Been away from the camera market for some time so things have changed a bit.

My T1i stopped working a few years ago, I got it fixed, it lasted beyond the warranty, and broke again.

So I gave up on it.

Bought an 80D with the standard 18-135mm lens, and am very impressed.

(I have no idea about the brand new Canons)

The titly back is excellent for shooting videos, and low closeups of flowers.

The touch screen is excellent for making changes to settings, including white balance.

You might find yourself very satisfied with the new 70-300, and the 80D and 18-135.

BAK

80D will be cheaper than 77D, a nice suggestion, or a 70D will be good as well it is even cheaper.

Have eyed all of these and and it's tough to balance utility of a particular lens against price and end value.

have sort of got a soft spot for the 77D due to some movie enhancements. Hadn't originally considered that and had a camcorder picked out. Not so sure now.

What are your thoughts on the 18-135? I have the 24-70 L glass that sits in the middle of the range for that lens and use it regularly. Have looked at the 18-135 and would like know what a user of the new version thinks of it.

If it is the 18-135 USM, it is supposedly a decent kit lens for a general purpose superzoom for the price.

I also just upgraded from the T1i and got the T6s.

There were some things about the 80D I liked, but I chose the T6s because it fit better in my hands, was lighter in weight, lower in cost and had the features that I wanted ... touchscreen, newer autofocus and metering system, and newer 24MP sensor. The rear dial was also a feature I wanted.

No doubt the 80D is a better cam, but I spent the money I saved on a used 15-85mm, a lens that I've wanted for some time.

During my research, one poster said something that stuck, "get the cheapest camera that has all the features YOU want and spend the rest on lenses," which is pretty much what I did.

Just wondering if weather and dust proofing is a desire of yours as you travel the wilds? Personally for me it isn't but from the sounds of it you like to hang out with water as well as camp/backpack. If that is the case then you may want to limit your selection to Canon weatherproof cameras such as the 70D and 80D.

That's pretty good advice.

If you shoot raw format, changing white balance is rarely needed. You could get an SL1 and 55-250mm STM for a song.

Good thought. I have gotten by pretty well with the plastic bag thing but will consider this.

I actually shoot in combo but a friend tinkers with the Raw editing. In truth I am sorry I got rid of the kit lenses for general banging around. They seem to be what some of the third party manufacturers base their quality on. The 55-250 was all the lens the Tamron is.

jcurts said:

I actually shoot in combo but a friend tinkers with the Raw editing. In truth I am sorry I got rid of the kit lenses for general banging around. They seem to be what some of the third party manufacturers base their quality on. The 55-250 was all the lens the Tamron is.

Click to expand...

My camera is big.

I have a battery grip on the bottom, and a hood on the 18-135, and either a 580EX flash on top, or a Lume Cube on a little bracket. So lens size doesn't really matter to me.

There are several ways to think of lenses. There's the school of thought that thinks the effects of the lens are parts of the picture. Ultra wides and long focal length compression, etc.

And people like me who think the content matters, rather than how manipulated it is.

The 18 - 135 delivers straightforward pictures. It is sharp and it focuses immediately. It's wide enough. I have an 10-20 in my bag and have never seriously used it.

The 18-135 is usually long enough; I have a 55-250 in my bag and only use it to photograph bids in my backyard.

THAT SAID - I'm anticipating shooting more editorial-style portraits and I'd like some sort of f2 40 - 120mm lens.

And for fun, I'd like one of those new Tamron 70-200 f2.8 G lenses, although I'd use it at conferences.

BOTTOM LINE get the 18-135.

BAK

Now I realize why they still sell lots of P & S stuff.

How to figure it all out??

Thanks for the links. Lots of food for thought there.

Jim

This certainly addresses a field I have considered but not had opportunity to pursue. Thanks