Canon 800D - new lens or new body?

Advice required please (bit of a long one... sorry)...

I have a Canon 800D and have around £750 to spend but not sure what to buy next. I enjoy macro photography as well as night sky, landscapes, birds and nature. I wanted my next lens to either be a Canon 100mm macro (means I’ll need to wait till later next year when I have enough saved) or the sigma 150 600 which will give me that extra reach for photographing birds and nature which I can purchase sooner.
I have had my eye on the Sigma 150-600 contemporary. What are your thoughts on this lens with a crop sensor bearing in mind that at 600mm there is no auto auto focus at f8 with this camera body? Is it overkill on a crop sensor (x1.6)...?

My second question is this... I really love night photography but find it incredibly difficult with my current arrangement (Canon kit 18-55 & 55-250, 50mm f1.8 and canon 10-18mm ef-s). Part of me wishes that I had saved more to start with and purchased a full frame camera for better low light photography as well as better overall features & control that cameras like the 5dmk3 offer. Also more future proof in terms of abilities. I know that I need better lenses but money is tight (it took ages to save £750 and the wife is adamant this hobby is to be funded via monthly trickle savings) and I am now wondering if I should rather flog my 800D and lenses (keeping the 50mm) and buy a used 5dmk3 (they go for around £750 with low shutter count) If I do that I might just be able to stretch and buy the Sigma lens at the same time... Then going forward I can save for decent ef lenses.

Is this a terrible idea or would that £750 be better spent on better lenses for my 800D?

Oh... would to do...? 🧐😬

I will try to I’ve you some clues to the best of my knowledge.

Goggatjie wrote:

Advice required please (bit of a long one... sorry)...

I have a Canon 800D and have around £750 to spend but not sure what to buy next. I enjoy macro photography as well as night sky, landscapes, birds and nature. I wanted my next lens to either be a Canon 100mm macro (means I’ll need to wait till later next year when I have enough saved) or the sigma 150 600 which will give me that extra reach for photographing birds and nature which I can purchase sooner.

From what I researched, the 800D (t7i) is not the best camera for birds (especially birds in flight) because it lack some customization features (such as Custom modes). The t7i is an entry level camera. Not sure how long you had it but if you want to get serious you may need a more pro camera. In the Canon DSLR world, there are a few models available to you such as the 90D or the 7D2.

I have had my eye on the Sigma 150-600 contemporary. What are your thoughts on this lens with a crop sensor bearing in mind that at 600mm there is no auto auto focus at f8 with this camera body? Is it overkill on a crop sensor (x1.6)...?

The only Sigma 150-600 I found on the Sigma website is f6.3 at the long end so it should focus even properly at f8. I am not sure what you are referring to. I have seen some references of people doing birding with it also. Just keep in mind that at f6.3, you will always shoot birds at higher ISO. My lens setup is f5.6 400 mm and I am constantly above ISO 1600. As for the length, 600 mm is a lot but in a few cases it would come in handy for me even on a crop sensor so I think 600 mm on a crop sensor is not an overkill.

My second question is this... I really love night photography but find it incredibly difficult with my current arrangement (Canon kit 18-55 & 55-250, 50mm f1.8 and canon 10-18mm ef-s). Part of me wishes that I had saved more to start with and purchased a full frame camera for better low light photography as well as better overall features & control that cameras like the 5dmk3 offer.

Since I have no experience with full frame cameras I will let someone else answer this part of your question. In my opinion, night photography requires a very good tripod with a very precise and steady head. Again here, your t7i might lack a few helpful options here (although you can use the manual setting with bulb exposure which is the basics). From what I understand, you have a range between 10 and 250 mm with all your lenses which is not bad at all for general photography. It all depends what kind of night photography you wish to do. The quality of your lenses also play a role in there. For example, my Sigma 10-20 mm is way too soft for my taste.

Also more future proof in terms of abilities. I know that I need better lenses but money is tight (it took ages to save £750 and the wife is adamant this hobby is to be funded via monthly trickle savings) and I am now wondering if I should rather flog my 800D and lenses (keeping the 50mm) and buy a used 5dmk3 (they go for around £750 with low shutter count) If I do that I might just be able to stretch and buy the Sigma lens at the same time... Then going forward I can save for decent ef lenses.

If you buy a full frame camera, your EF-S lens will not work on it. Also, should you want to go mirrorless I don’t think EF-S is compatible also With these newer cameras.

Is this a terrible idea or would that £750 be better spent on better lenses for my 800D?

Oh... would to do...? 🧐😬

In your place I would buy myself a more advanced crop sensor camera (a 90D for example or the older 7D mark II which is a bit older however), a good wildlife lens and a very good tripod (with a couple steady heads for night photography). As for the Sigma 150-600 mm lens, make sure you shop around because there are lots of lenses for wildlife. I have an older Canon L lens and it works fast and it is very sharp (it took me time to master it however on wildlife, especially birds in flight). As for the camera, there is now this new debate: mirrorless or not (as well as full frame or not). My 7D is getting old and one day I will want to replace it. Maybe I’ll switch both lenses and camera body even if older EF lenses can work on newer mirrorless cameras (but you need an adapter).

Or you could throw away everything and go mirrorless as I believe that it will replace DSLRs and EF lenses at some point... The choice of lenses in mirrorless in the Canon lenses is still more limited however.

Hope this helps.

Goggatjie wrote:

Advice required please (bit of a long one... sorry)...

I have a Canon 800D and have around £750 to spend but not sure what to buy next. I enjoy macro photography as well as night sky, landscapes, birds and nature. I wanted my next lens to either be a Canon 100mm macro (means I’ll need to wait till later next year when I have enough saved) or the sigma 150 600 which will give me that extra reach for photographing birds and nature which I can purchase sooner.
I have had my eye on the Sigma 150-600 contemporary. What are your thoughts on this lens with a crop sensor bearing in mind that at 600mm there is no auto auto focus at f8 with this camera body? Is it overkill on a crop sensor (x1.6)...?

My second question is this... I really love night photography but find it incredibly difficult with my current arrangement (Canon kit 18-55 & 55-250, 50mm f1.8 and canon 10-18mm ef-s). Part of me wishes that I had saved more to start with and purchased a full frame camera for better low light photography as well as better overall features & control that cameras like the 5dmk3 offer. Also more future proof in terms of abilities. I know that I need better lenses but money is tight (it took ages to save £750 and the wife is adamant this hobby is to be funded via monthly trickle savings) and I am now wondering if I should rather flog my 800D and lenses (keeping the 50mm) and buy a used 5dmk3 (they go for around £750 with low shutter count) If I do that I might just be able to stretch and buy the Sigma lens at the same time... Then going forward I can save for decent ef lenses.

Is this a terrible idea or would that £750 be better spent on better lenses for my 800D?

Oh... would to do...? 🧐😬

Sounds like you need to figure out what you really need instead of what you want.  You're kind of all over the map...macro lens, super zoom lens or a body.

I know nothing about super zoom lenses, but the Canon 100mm macro lenses are very nice.

As far as night photography, what is the difficulty you are having. Do you use a tripod?

If not, I wold get that first.  I will make you nigh shots much easier to get and will be handy if you decide to get a macro lens.

Goggatjie wrote:

Strange having regrets 2 years after the camera purchse...

I know what you mean. I've had my 80D four years now and have never really warmed up to it. It was cheaper and had more features that I thought I needed than a 6D....but knowing what I know now....wish I got the 6D.

Used prices are getting better, if I ever get back to work I'd love to pick one up.

Goggatjie wrote:

Thank you all for the time to comment. Yep. I definitely need more money lol... this is abundantly clear now!!

I do know that I need to move on from my 800D but, considering my limited budget, I think I’ll go for the Sigma lens for now to compliment my current set of lenses. Then start some serious saving for a new body in a couple of years time. 90D looks like the next step up for me.

Strange having regrets 2 years after the camera purchase but then its all a learning curve and I realise I have so much more to learn.
I think quality night photography (plus a quality macro lens) will need to wait for now. Cant have my cake and eat it too... For macro, i have a set of extension tubes which while finicky (in my opinion), they do rather well, the only issue i find being their very narrow fov.

Thanks again everyone, really very much appreciated.

We have all the same story... Maybe you should buy a money printer. Should you find one, let me know where you bought it!!!

Hello! I found your post while I was doing my own research for night photography.  I am ready to upgrade and I am at the point I do not think a lens is all I need.

If you really really really really enjoy night and landscape photography, I would suggest a full frame camera. Especially for night landscapes. I have been shooting with a Canon T3i (600D) for about 10 years now, getting into night time lapse and landscape about 5 years ago. After lots of practice and learning settings and all of that, I find myself just getting frustrated now whenever I go to get a shot. So I guess my experience and needs have finally outgrown my camera. It still performs well and gets great shots, especially in the right lighting, but low light is noisy at the ISO's I need to shoot at.

I am not sure which system to go with, I need to buy all new lenses regardless so I keep looking. Your post and thread caught my attention and I had to comment.

If you have EF vs EF-S lenses, you could get a full frame 6d Mark II for about the same price as a really nice lens needed for what you want. That seems to be the top contender for Canon in terms of night photography. Reviews put Sony and Nikon(which uses Sony image censors, FYI) above Canon time and time again it seems. For nightscapes/MilkyWay captures I mean.

Goggatjie wrote:

Thank you all for the time to comment. Yep. I definitely need more money lol... this is abundantly clear now!!

I do know that I need to move on from my 800D but, considering my limited budget, I think I’ll go for the Sigma lens for now to compliment my current set of lenses. Then start some serious saving for a new body in a couple of years time. 90D looks like the next step up for me.

Strange having regrets 2 years after the camera purchase but then its all a learning curve and I realise I have so much more to learn.
I think quality night photography (plus a quality macro lens) will need to wait for now. Cant have my cake and eat it too... For macro, i have a set of extension tubes which while finicky (in my opinion), they do rather well, the only issue i find being their very narrow fov.

Thanks again everyone, really very much appreciated.

I just wanted to make sure to mention, if you know you will get into night photography later, make sure the lens you buy now will fit a full frame camera. I feel APS-C just can't compete at all with a full frame in that dept.

Don't be like me and have to buy a whole entire system down the road. I am really bummed I can't use my 3 lenses with a new body.

Goggatjie wrote:

This is exactly how I feel about my 800D. I’ve taken some incredible pics. with the lenses I’ve got but i do know that need to move on. Night photography leaves me feeling frustrated. If I sell all my ef-s lenses and the camera, then together with my savings, I’ll be in a position to afford the 6DMKII which should see me through many years to come. I’ll only have my old faithful nifty fifty to serve me for a long while until I can afford to purchase another. Not sure i can go without my lenses for so long..

Ahhh man... Make up your mind Goggatjie!!!! LOL.

I rented a 6D for a while.

I found 50mmnof FF way more useful than on APSC.

I think everyone wants a new and better everything. And IMO, night photography does present some unique requirements.  But in general, lots of folks take some pretty nice pics with your camera - see the Flickr pool for your camera: https://www.flickr.com/groups/3503367@N21/pool/

I have the Canon 550d, and am also wondering what camera might be the right upgrade.   Seeing what the average photographer does with the camera on Flickr can be illuminating.

KShaneH wrote:

I think everyone wants a new and better everything. And IMO, night photography does present some unique requirements. But in general, lots of folks take some pretty nice pics with your camera - see the Flickr pool for your camera: https://www.flickr.com/groups/3503367@N21/pool/

I have the Canon 550d, and am also wondering what camera might be the right upgrade. Seeing what the average photographer does with the camera on Flickr can be illuminating.

If you are really going for star/milky way and night landscape photography I definitely recommend a full frame body with a good dynamic range.

I tried out a Mark 6d II and D780 and decided on the D780 due to some of the features it has including a shutter speed of 1/8000 of a second up to 900 seconds!!!!! Also, the low light ability is quite a bit better than the Mark 6d II. So much less noise at higher ISOs. I was noticing significant noise around 6400 vs the D780 which I didn't see much noise until hitting 12,800!

I am coming from a T3i/600D and while I felt the Mark 6d II was a big improvement, it did not blow me away in low light ability as much as the D780. I have to buy all new lenses for any full frame camera I go with anyways so chose Nikon this time around. The image sensor is the same as in the Z7 which takes stunning night shots so I'm really excited to get out in the field and really put it to the test.

If you want to stick with Canon and want decent low light performance, I would go with a Mark 5d III or IV vs the 6d II.