Ok, so my old camera finally died, (the original Canon Digital Rebel), and it's time to buy a new one.

Can anyone weigh in on the best camera that will allow me to maintain my Canon Lenses?

I'm considering the Canon SL-1, the T3i, the T4i, and the 60D right now, but would love to hear if anyone has better ideas or a reason I should chose one over the other!

I have nothing to say except...jealous... I have an XTi and it's still running strong...but would love an excuse to upgrade!

I'm partial to the T3i, myself.

Don't be jealous. I've gone for over 6 months without a camera after mine finally died out I don't have a choice You want an excuse to upgrade? Send me your camera

I have the T3i and like it a lot. The only issue is sometimes the auto-focus is a little slow so I would opt for the 60D. The 60D battery hold about twice the charge and is better weather sealed a dis advantage of the 60D is that it weighs more so the wife may not wish to borrow it.

The t4i is going away (and not that more advanced than the t3i) as it has a reputation of rubber parts turning white and chalky but it was to be repaired.

Why not the t5i or even better the new 70D?

The speed and auto focus on the 70D is said to be great.

Ed,

I'm looking at them all, but I didn't see any major differences between the 4i and 5i. The 70D is a little out of my price range.

They say that the 4i will go away. What type of lenses do you have I tried a heavy lens on the t3i that was normally on the 60d (18-135). While it felt balanced on the 60 the t3i felt nose heavy.

FWIW

I use both the 18-55 and the 55 250 and they feel balanced.

The t4i vs the t3i is mainly just the touch screen for $120 difference.

I have an 18-55 and a 55-250 as well from my old non-digital camera

Do y'all use the 18-55 lens much? I find I either use my 50mm f1.8 or my 55 - 250 the most. I really prefer the 50mm, but obviously for anything of distance it won't work. (I also have a macro lens, which I think pretty much rounds out my 'stable' of lenses.)

I do not have the 50 so I use the 18-55 the most, does the 50 work like an 80 is on your (and my) camera?

It's basically for shooting close ups (but not quite macro) and portraits - not really a lot of zoom to it, but it's fantastic for shooting still shots of the kids or things that will remain motionless. Used in conjunction with the portrait setting on the camera, it's awesome.

I also have a 400mm (yard sale0 lens that I converted from a Pentax mount to the canon I have been playing around with it but everything seem to close with it. I need to use the Av setting and it is not auto focus.

I've been talking to some folks, and they are telling me that since my lens, etc. are all almost 20 years old, I should consider not buying just a Canon body, but looking at a whole new camera with a new lens, because it will autofocus better.

So, new question.... anyone have thoughts on Canon vs. Nikon vs. Sony?

BF,
I researched and played with Canons vs. Nikon for the last few months. One sister has a Nikon d3100, another sister has the d5200. They let me use them both. Then I used the T3i of another swim team mom. I ended up with the Canon T3i.

My primary goal was shooting indoor sports (swim team) with low light. I got both a 18-55mm lens and a 75-300mm lens. The 75-300mm is what I use for swim team.

Why did I pick those cameras to chose from? All were available on 6 easy pays from QVC and doing it that way was easier pocket book shock.

I put old canon lenses on it and they just could not keep up. I even have a nice old Tameron. It will not auto focus.

The T3i is quick, I can catch a flip turn with great quality and focus. I am really really pleased with my purchase. Kiddo, is swimming with two Olympians next week, and I am so glad that I got the camera in time. I only wished I had gotten it sooner.

QCL what are the "Old Canon" lenses?

I have the 18-55 and the 55-250 and an old canon lens 28-135. None of these lenses are not considered any where near the quality and build of some of the older lenses. While researching some of the older canon lenses they talk a lot about the build quality and optics on the lens and never mention the speed of the autofoucs. Your comment about speed makes a lot of sense. The 28-135 I have was not known a better canon lens and I have more of an issue with the image quality over the speed. The majority of the older film lenses do not equal the number focal length listed on the lens as the t3i sensor is about 3/4 the size of film lens but would equate if used on a much more expensive camera.

We have an Olympus E-510 and it's just Meh.

Honestly, with all of the new straight digital cameras that are coming out with new tech, an article I read last week said they are almost 90% of a DSLR, but we're not "enthusiasts" like you all.

I just became an enthusiast MB!!! And it's just been with trial and error and playing around and reading. Oh, and my girl scout troop is earning their digital photography badge so we're doing research together. It was so cute, they were taking pictures with the 35mm Canon and asked, "Miss Becca, how do we see our pictures?"

Ed, I have an 18-55 that was made sometime in the late 1980s (I am guessing) and a new 18-55. The "old" one seemed to have a lag.

MamaBear, that's what someone told me to worry about with my old pre-digital lenses. That they wouldn't autofocus fast enough to keep up with the camera.

I'm a Canon girl. I've tried both Nikons and Canons and I just flat out prefer the Canons. However, YMMV - I'd recommend going to a reputable store and playing with them both and seeing what "feels" right to you. I know at least 2 people who swear by Panasonic, too.

(Mr EGB has an Olympus. It's OK, and I prefer it to the Nikons, but I always come home to Canon.)

I find that my "new" 18-55 lens (came with the camera)is to slow but auto focus is much better with the rangefinder than the video screen.

now the 400 that I have is fully manual and from the 50's build quality is great.

True.

I had a series of telephoto and wide angle lenses for my old Cannon Rebel 35mm, they fit the new body that my brother lent me, but they did not automatically function. I changed -

A friend had a mirrorless (SLR equivilent) Nikon (Nikon 1V2) and I tried it, and fell in love. It does everything that the other cameras do, but a lot smaller. Camera is just as sturdy, but instead of the weight and complexity of the mirror, it uses the sensors and has the images on the back and in the viewfinder. I had shot professionally with a Mamaya RB67, and the results are just as good. With both lenses, (35mm equivalent to 27-87 & 87-297mm) it is slightly smaller than the EOS with the standard lens - filters are the same for both lens, so the only one I have duplicates of is the UV haze.
For a closer look:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/897579-REG/Nikon_27606_Nikon_1_V2_Mirrorless.html

I'm a Nikon fan. I don't know anything about Canon. I had a Canon printer once. It was pretty good. I dumped it for a younger one that has WiFi. The Canon went to the Salvation Army Thrift Store.

I shoot a Nikon D50. It's A good enough body (for a consumer grade camera) but definitely getting long in the tooth. I'd like to upgrade to a D700, but I can't justify the expense. Yet.

I love using my iPhone too. Most of my Instagram posts are from my iPhone.