Using STM lens on old Canon DSLR (T1i, T2i, T3i) any Benefit, anything missing?

I bought the 70D a few days ago, and I will never be happy again with a Rebel. Not that I was ever happy with one. The 70D is a perfectly sorted camera. I would go with a 60D as a minimum. The size over a Rebel is a benefit. If you want small, use the M.

Main benefit is in video AF. You need the 100D/SL1, 700D up to get the AF advantage though. Will still work 100% fine on any Canon camera for stills. There seems to be some evidence that AF accuracy & consistency is also better for stills with the STM lenses. On any camera. I've personally found that anyway.

Oh, & some people see the fly by wire focus ring as a negative. No physical connection. It's just different.

I use a T1i, T2i and a 60D and have the 18-55IS and the newer 18-55 STM and the STm lens workks very well on all these and is sharper than the older 18-55IS and seems to focus more accurately.  I would not hesitate to buy all the newer STM lens even for these older cameras.

Also having both the T2i and the 60D I find the 60D a joy to use over the T2i but the image quality is the same.  The 60D is heaver built and a faster operating camera and will sync at 250 where the T2i will only sync up to 200 of a second.  If you are after better image quality the upgrade to the 70D will be slight and the new 24mpix rebels will be higher but the rebel body is not as nice as the 60D or 70D.  It just depends on your preferences as to what you want.

I think the X0D is the starting point where you see how Canon makes its reputation. Going from a Rebel to a X0D is not a small upgrade -- it is a jump from a heavily compromised consumer body to a body that is a small downgrade from a pro body. It's a big jump. Boy, am I glad I made that jump because the 70D is brilliant. Just holding it inspires you.

The M is also brilliant in a different kind of way. I would stay away from the Rebel if you like cameras and photography.

007peter wrote:

I'm thinking about buying the new Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM, but I don't own any Canon DSLR at the moment.

• Does 50/1.8 STM works on older T1i, T2i, T3i?
• If so, is it 100%
• if not, what am I missing out not the newer buyhing T4i, T5i, SL1?

thanks for any quick answer.

Benefits are mainly that STM, being a newer lens, is better optically.   It will also focus faster and more quietly, and it is better built.

While older cameras do not offer movie AF during recording like T4i and later bodies do, you can still benefit from full-time manual override.   That is, you can pre-focus using AF before recording, and then during recording, you can adjust focus without having to switch the lens to MF.

About only drawback I can think of, is if you are a manual focus aficionado, this lens will eat the battery faster.

seri_art wrote:

I find the Canon Rebel series (XSi, now 650D) to be just fine for me and see no reason to spend more $ for a larger and heavier camera. Note that I don't shoot sports action much at all.

kotmj wrote:

I would stay away from the Rebel if you like cameras and photography.

There's not too much wrong with a rebel for sorts & action either. Sure, there are cameras with higher frame rates, but the rebel does just fine.

Plenty more where they came from

I would not consider the STM lenses 100% compatible, since they will not auto-focus in shooting mode with video.  Must also upgrade to at least a T4i, which is why I had to buy another camera to shoot video and use my Rebel T3i for shooting action.  I wear out a Rebel in about 2 racing seasons so can't rationalize buying the more expensive cameras. I was surprised to learn the these cameras did not have auto-focus when shooting video. In order to shoot 120 fps slo mo, I must carry two cameras.

I have a T2i and the STM lenses work fine. STM lenses are primarily designed around shooting video as they are very quiet and can be used with continuous autofocus during video. My T2i does not continuous autofocus at all so you have either focus manually or hit the button. Its one of the big reasons I want to upgrade.

As far as being faster than the ring motor lenses, that I am not sure. I remember reading somewhere the the ring motor lenses are the fastest of all and thats why they cost the most as well.

EOS M's have continuous autofocus for video and all the lenses are STM. They work decently enough for video but they are nowhere near as quick as DSLR for shooting stills, the M5 excluded of course.

I am leaning toward selling all my M's and giving my T2i to my brother and getting an 80D.