Advise for a budget EOS camera

Hi DPR members,

Well, our Japan spec Canon Kiss N/EOS 350/Rebel XT has finally gave up the ghost. We're having focusing issues...no doubt it was related to when I dunked it when I fell into a river

We want to get another camera and want to stay in the EOS family as we already have EF/EF-S mount lenses we still want to utilize. We have the Canon kit lenses 50mm/18-55mm and also an older Sigma 18-200 DC F3.5-6.3 zoom.  We are amateur photographers.

Our budget is under $300-$350 (body only) and our next purchase will be sourced from the secondary market (eBay/amazon).

Obviously, we are excited to move up from a 8MP sensor :). We need a solid value buy with obviously more resolution and newer AF systems/processors. Video capability is not that important to us; our Sony NEX-5N and Pany HDC-700 will handle that responsibility.

I am currently looking at the T2i and possibly bust our budget to a T3i or SL1 model while the T4i, T5, and T5i are little bit out of our budget (at least from what I have seen on the secondary market.

Here is what I have researched so far:

T2i: 18MP. Digit 4, ISO 100-6400.  77% DPR Gold Award

T3i: 18MP. Digit 4, ISO 100-6400 expandable to 12800.  77% DPR Silver Award

SL1: 18MP, Digic 5, ISO 100 – 12800.  78% DPR Gold Award.

User reviews seem to be favorable for all cameras on this forum.

We are not OCD about IQ as we were happy with the Rebel XT expect we would over the moon with the T2i. The question is whether the extra $ upgrade to the T3i or SL1 is worth the move up.

Your astute advice is most appreciated!

I had a T2i/450D and then upgraded to a T4i/650D. I wouldn't go back, not because the T4i gave poor results (of course it was fine) but because (1) Manual mode with Auto ISO allows me to set the shutter speed and f/stop with the camera choosing ISO, (2) flippy screen keeps me from sometimes having to lie on the ground, (3) touch-screen focus point in live view is often useful, and (4) live view AF with half-press shutter button is way better than AF with a separate button.

Here's a shot that makes use of all of the above features. Also, I bought my 650D (body only) from ebay almost two years ago for $400; should be less now.

The SL1 seems to be a favorite around here. I don't have experience with it, but am thinking about grabbing one for my daughter.

I strongly recommend an SL1 for its image quality and superior user interface. I also strongly recommend you get a refurb from Canon USA on sale for $330 at the moment with 18-55 STM lens and a 1-year warranty. (http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras#facet:&productBeginIndex:36&orderBy:&pageView:grid&minPrice:&maxPrice:&pageSize:&)

I bought this camera for my wife about 18 months ago but I now prefer it to my 60D for 80% of my shots. It's a terrific camera in many ways and can handle a lot of photo situations as well as any body. You can look at the other reviews and for the price, nothing comes close.

The Canon online store also has a refurbished T5 with both 18-55 and 75-300 lenses for under $300.

Why not just get a refurbished camera direct from Canon? They have some SL1's in your price range, and they're almost giving away some T5's. Canon refurbs are guaranteed to meet new-camera specs, and they have the same warranty as a new camera.  The T5 is a lesser camera, though.  I would go for the SL1.

Hurry, the offer lasts only until the cameras are sold.  Oh, I see others have replied already.

Get the SL1 refurb direct from Canon - can't beat it for the money right now.

Heck, yes.  And they have a white one with a lens for the same price as body alone.  A white one will stay cooler in bright sunlight.

Just because no-one else has mentioned it... you could get a nice 60D for that money.

T2i: 18MP. Digit 4, ISO 100-6400. 77% DPR Gold Award

OLD. Great camera 4-5yrs ago, but why buy outdated tech with high shutter-count?

T3i: 18MP. Digit 4, ISO 100-6400 expandable to 12800. 77% DPR Silver Award

OLD. Great camera 4-5yrs ago, but why buy outdated tech with high shutter-count?

has articulating LCD....however, T3i do not do Continuous AF in video. You have to manually hit the shutter to get it in focus. Not good for making vlog.

SL1: 18MP, Digic 5, ISO 100 – 12800. 78% DPR Gold Award.

Digic 5 processor is so much faster and speedier in menu

most importantly are these 3 features:

1. TOUCH-SCREEN. Very important in making video, enable easy focus-pull (AF focus selection) with a simple finger touch.. On older T2i/T3i DSLR w/o touchscreen, you have to manually focus using the MF ring. This create camera shake that is recorded on the video. That is why videographer have to invest in complicated & expensive focus/pull mechanism like this to avoid inducing camera shakes. With a touchscreen, I don't have to used these bulky setup anymore.

2. Continuous Live View (Video Tracking focusing)

T2i/ T3i do not do Continuous Video Tracking in video. You have to manually press the shutter to get it into focus. If the subject moves about, then you have to press the shutter again. With newer Canon DSLR (T4i, T5i, T6s, T6i, SL1) you don't have to do this anymore.

3. Quiet 18-55 STM lens

T2, and T3i comes with the old and loud 18-55 lens. There is a night/day difference in video recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn7pwnl0Wmk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiXq6HC3V9g

Although it seems like it wouldn't matter as much, the t3i articulating screen comes in very handy and I'd get it for that alone. I love the size of the SL1 but IQ is slightly degraded due to some pixels being used for AF. If you do any video, the t3i also offers "digital zoom" which allows you to record using a smaller area of the sensor so it's not the typical digital zoom since it's still using roughly the same amount of pixels as if you weren't zooming in.

dpreview.com/buying-guide