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Newcanonuser

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Hi all, I'm soon to be a new canon user. Need help on choosing a body. Having sold my fuji x20 and replaced it with a more pocketable compact and also bought myself a few older canon ef lenses, I'm now on the hunt for a suitable body. Have been looking primarily at the 350, 400, 450, 30 and 40d. Are they all much of muchness with only slight improvements in each model. Or is they're one model that stands out around that budget? Thanks in advance
 
Newcanonuser said:
Hi all, I'm soon to be a new canon user. Need help on choosing a body. Having sold my fuji x20 and replaced it with a more pocketable compact and also bought myself a few older canon ef lenses, I'm now on the hunt for a suitable body.
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You mention "cheap". What's your budget?
Newcanonuser said:
Have been looking primarily at the 350, 400, 450, 30 and 40d. Are they all much of muchness with only slight improvements in each model. Or is they're one model that stands out around that budget? Thanks in advance
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All those are very old.
 
A refurb SL1 with a 1-year warranty and an 18-55 STM lens is $330 in the Canon online store right now. Is that in your budget?

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shop.usa.canon.com
 
I'm in the UK so no canon refurbs available I'm afraid. Budget wise I'm looking at £150 for body only, hence the above mentioned models. Could be raised if it was to make a significant difference to picture quality. Not bothered about having the latest craze. Is having an older cheaper camera a false economy?
 
For less than $250 (USD) you might find an old 18mp Canon T2i (550D) camera. Try to find one with low shutter clicks. That camera won Dpreview's Gold Award (see the review). I have two of them that I'm still using. I show pictures from them on the Show Your Snaps thread nearly every week.

This was posted last time.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/58367881
 
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I agree. The 550D and SL1 are both great options. I have both. Image quality is basically identical. The 550D is a little larger and easier to hold. The SL1 is tiny and great for travel. It also has a touch screen and better video features, including autofocus. You can't go wrong with either of them. I just recommend getting one of the newer STM lenses. They focus faster and are much quieter.
 
I have the SL1 (100D in the UK) and it provides significant upgraded capabilities and image quality compared to the lower-cost used camera's you're considering. However, beyond the image quality, the touch-screen user interface is significantly better. That's important because a camera that's easier to use makes it easier for you to get better photos. Not that you cannot get great photos with those other cameras. You can. It's just easier and faster with the SL1.
 
Newcanonuser said:
Thanks, and if I was to up my budget would an Sl1 be a huge leap in performance?
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Absolutely. Just so long as you realize it's very compact and doesn't have a flippy screen.

Canon still has refurbs availble (with a 1 yr warranty). The current screaming deal is this one that includes the great 18-55 STM lens + 75-300 zoom (the zoom is Meh, but can be useful).

Or go with just the SL1 + 18-55 STM for the truly incredible price of $329

If you really want a bigger grip and flippy screen, then you might find a good used Rebel, but it'll likely be at least a generation back from the SL1. Good luck,

R2
 
+1 on the SL1. I've had a 60D since fall 2010 and stopped carrying it for travel due to weight. The SL1 had flown under my radar. I discovered it finally and got the deal mentioned above - $329 including the kit lens. I added the 55-250 zoom for $129. I like this so much I bought the full identical kit for my 11th grade niece to take photos for her high school yearbook.

The performance of all my lenses on the SL1 is essentially the same as on my 60D, and in my testing the kit lens, although a shorter range, gives results that are practically indiscernible from my Canon 15-85. The 55-250, even more surprisingly, is almost as good as my 70-200 f4 IS L. The colors are not quite as good and it's a stop slower through most of the range, but it's shockingly close.
 
I would not go for anything less than a T2i, (550D). That camera was their first 18 mp camera. T3i, T4i, and on up are all fine.
 
100D + 18-135STM is all you need ;-)
 
According to the first two sources I saw on the internet this evening, the Canon T2i (550D) provides slightly better image quality, better color depth and dynamic range. I prefer the larger Rebel sizes like the Canon T2i (550D) and Canon T3i (600D) cameras. I saw a Canon SL1 (100D) camera at a Best Buy store and it appeared too small for my liking. The Canon T2i (550D) should be less expensive also since it's used (from what I saw in my location). It would be up to the OP to decide. I have purchased new and used DSLR cameras. All of my used DSLR cameras worked out well. I try to get the ones with low shutter clicks. These would be like the ones where people would take occasional photos but most of the time the camera sits in a closet or drawer etc.
 
Yeah I can always up my budget for a better body but I'm trying to find the sweet spot of the best value around my budget. From what I've been reading maybe the 550d is that sweet spot. Going by used prices locally if I buy now I could get the 450d or 40d and if I save for a bit and hold off I'd be looking at a used 700d or 60d with kit lens.

As a bit of background I currently have a canon 50mm f1. 8, 100-300 USM and canon 24mm lenses. None are modern stm. Is the 18-135mm stm a good kit lens? I intend to shoot family shots, kids and dog, Sports a and some wildlife.
 
The 18-135 STM lens is very good and should cover 80% of your snapshot imaging needs.

If you want to see some recent images from my 18-135 non-STM (supposedly not as good), check out:

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artpartysj.com

--Steve
 
The best all-round lens in my mind at the moment is the 18-135 STM. It's $439 in the Canon online refurb shop or $549 on Amazon. (There's a suspicious "white box" version of this lens listed on Amazon for $279 but I question whether it's really an STM. I've walked that path before with such sellers. You're taking a chance in exchange for the savings.)

Note: there's a 17-85 lens on the market that preceded the 18-135 and you can get it cheap. There's a reason for that. It contains a time bomb in the form of a failing internal cable. Cannot be repaired economically. Do not buy.

Want a second lens? Either the 10-18 STM or the 55-250 STM are inexpensive extenders to the 18-135 depending on your needs (if you prefer shooting wide or long).

If you want the SL1 to be a street-shot camera, the 24mm f2.8 pancake is a steal and makes for a fast and very compact street shooter.

These are all EF-S lenses for APS-C cameras. Pros will tell you that you should buy EF lenses for "when" you move up to full-frame cameras. I've been shooting APS-C since 2005. I expect I'll continue. But I'm not shooting weddings, landscapes, or interiors professionally. I shoot product photos mainly for the Web and travel photos for myself. I'm comfortable with APS-C though I know I could get "better" images with a full-frame camera. It just weighs more and costs more.
 
Well I have absolutely no intention of ever buying a ff camera, so those lenses would more than fill my requirements. I have the non pancake version of the 24mm. So with my revised budget I'm leaning towards a 550d, 700d or 60d and a 18-135mm stm.
 
Newcanonuser said:
... I save for a bit and hold off I'd be looking at a used 700d or 60d with kit lens.

... I intend to shoot... Sports and some wildlife.
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The 60D will do that sort of thing better than a comparable Rebel due to the improved ergonomics and deeper buffer depth. The shots won't look better but you'll get more keepers and have a more satisfying experience doing it.
 
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