Thinking about a new Canon body

Tilz

Tilz

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Tilly
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Hi guys, just looking for some advice on things I should be looking at. It's not that I don't like my 1100d and in most situations it does the job just fine but having had it for a couple of years now i think it could be time for an upgrade. Most of the photography I do is outdoors of landscapes as that's what I enjoy most. I know it's as much the lens as the body in these situations and I've a couple of new lenses I'm looking at too.
The problem I have with my 1100d is when indoors in lower light levels. It's ok when the subjects are still or in smaller rooms as I just use my flashgun but I was taking photos at a party last weekend and even at the 1100d's max ISO of 6400 I couldn't get the shutter speed up high enough to stop any motion blur without dropping the aperture lower than I wanted to.
I've been looking at the Canon 550d, 600d, 650d and 700d but I'm not rushing into anything, need a couple of months to save some money first. I've not set my heart on anything yet I've just started looking. I'm looking at second hand and not much more than £250 as for the photography I do I can't really justify spending much more.
Any advice would be appreciated as always guys
 
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Get the best you can afford, newer the better. They improve the low light performance and auto focus gradually over the years
 
One thing to mention, is that in the situation you describe, every camera would struggle. You have to get light onto the sensor somehow, so you have the choice of widening the aperture, slowing the shutter or raising the ISO.... or using another light source.

Some cameras will allow a higher ISO but even so I would avoid such high values as the image will be so degraded.
 
I'm not convinced changing the body is going to make worlds of difference. Maybe if you bought a full frame camera but tough on a budget.

Why do you not want to shoot at a wider aperture? I think it's probably your best solution here and preferable to maxing out the iso.
 
Tilz said:
It's ok when the subjects are still or in smaller rooms as I just use my flashgun but I was taking photos at a party last weekend and even at the 1100d's max ISO of 6400 I couldn't get the shutter speed up high enough to stop any motion blur without dropping the aperture lower than I wanted to.
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You need to learn how to balance your flash, those are impossible situations for natural light photography and learning how to use your flash better will improve your pictures aesthetically as well as technically.
 
Thanks for all the advice guys I appreciate you all taking the time to reply
 
Perhaps get a different lens?
A 50mm f1.8 can be had for around £50 and that will potentially make a difference (depending on what you are using at the moment).

I'm sure a newer body will help, but bang for buck.....
 
Thanks for the reply Meeten, I have a 50mm 1.8 which I switched to during the party I was at and what did help
 
Does anyone have or has anyone had a Canon 60D, the weather sealing on the 60D caught my eye as I do most of my photography outside in the elements. It's a year older than the 1100D but having looked at the features on it it does look to be quite an improvement on the 1100D I have at the moment
 
I used to have the 60d, Nice camera which I would recommend. I haven't used your current camera so not sure how it compares feature wise

I'm not sure to what degree the 60d is weather sealed compared to pro models, I've never really put it to the test that much. I've definitely used it in the drizzle and it's been fine.

I think weather sealing is useful in dusty environments, in which case you would want to make sure your lens is weather sealed as well
 
Tilz said:
Does anyone have or has anyone had a Canon 60D, the weather sealing on the 60D caught my eye as I do most of my photography outside in the elements. It's a year older than the 1100D but having looked at the features on it it does look to be quite an improvement on the 1100D I have at the moment
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Hi Tilly. I've not used the 60D, but do have the newer 80D and I used to have the 1100D.
The 60D is going to be nicer to use, more control buttons, far less diving into menus, but will it solve the issue you've mentioned re low light, no I don't think so. The sensor is not really going to be any better. Even the 80D, which is a couple of generations newer isn't significantly better (albeit you can choose far higher ISO settings if you're happy to accept the degradation).
If I know I'm going to be doing low light without flash then I pick up the 5D3, so is a 6D (original) an option you could consider (it's slightly better than the 5D3 in low light), though you wouldn't get the weather sealing and you may not have suitable lenses.
Of course, this is really only an option if you're looking at 1, *maybe* 2 stops more light needed.
As Phil V says, sometimes flash is going to be the only answer.
 
Thanks for the reply Tim. Unfortunately unless my lottery numbers come up I won't be buying a 5D3 or a 6D any time soon :). Landscape photography is my thing hence why I was looking at a camera with weather sealing. Low light photography is something I do very rarely so isn't at the top of the things I'm looking at when looking for a new camera body. Practicing with my flash will be what helps me with this as Phil says.
 
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