Upgrade from Canon 1100D?
Discussion
A plea for advice please. Other half enjoys her photography but admits to being an amateur. She has a six year old Canon EOS 1100D with several lenses and would like to get a new one for her birthday. She’d like to remain with Canon and is looking for a reasonably price Canon option. Any suggestions welcomed.
The 1100D is not a bad camera, unless you are wanting to shoot in low light (where it is a limited at high ISO) or want to print really big (where resolution counts), then I'd stick with the 1100D.
My advice would be either
a) if she thinks she is an amateur, then looking at some tuition, a few hours on a 1-2-1 workshop is likely to advance her skills.
or
b) spend the money on a trip to somewhere/something that she wants to photograph
My advice would be either
a) if she thinks she is an amateur, then looking at some tuition, a few hours on a 1-2-1 workshop is likely to advance her skills.
or
b) spend the money on a trip to somewhere/something that she wants to photograph
I'd echo the above. What doesnt her current camera do that she would like it to?
It's easy to splurge cash on a new toy with the expectation that it will make her photography better, but this isnt necessarily the case. Admittedly, if she is struggling getting nice low light shots, or fast action, then a new camera body may help with the noise from high iso or lack of fast focus tracking.
If it were me, I'd be investing in better/more lenses, and if needed some photography workshops/courses.
Having said all of that, it's always nice to have a new shiny toy
It's easy to splurge cash on a new toy with the expectation that it will make her photography better, but this isnt necessarily the case. Admittedly, if she is struggling getting nice low light shots, or fast action, then a new camera body may help with the noise from high iso or lack of fast focus tracking.
If it were me, I'd be investing in better/more lenses, and if needed some photography workshops/courses.
Having said all of that, it's always nice to have a new shiny toy
The thing with a six year old digital SLR is that almost anything even slightly newer on the used market will be ‘better’ in many ways. So she’s in a good position to improve her situation for not much of an outlay.
Does she like the small body of the 1100? If she has (shudder) large hands, she might prefer a xxD body or even a used 5D.
And here’s my oddball suggestion: take her to a few art galleries. A budding photographer can learn a lot from the true masters.
Does she like the small body of the 1100? If she has (shudder) large hands, she might prefer a xxD body or even a used 5D.
And here’s my oddball suggestion: take her to a few art galleries. A budding photographer can learn a lot from the true masters.
Edited by Tony1963 on Saturday 9th February 12:02
Apologies. We have come overseas for a long weekend (with camera!). Thank you all for the feedback. She took an amateur photography course last year but it wasn’t the best. 6 lessons of the tutor showing off his skills more than anything, although she did learn a little more about the settings.
She likes the body size of the 1100D and has three lenses (not sure of details, I know I bought her a 50mm). I think I’ll take your advice and perhaps explore further courses, tutorials etc. until she has maximised the use of the current camera as looking at the 7D as advised above, I don’t think her current skills justify that sort of cost just yet.
Types of photography are typically wildlife and scenery so she’s not in need of anything too extreme.
Again, thanks for the advice.
She likes the body size of the 1100D and has three lenses (not sure of details, I know I bought her a 50mm). I think I’ll take your advice and perhaps explore further courses, tutorials etc. until she has maximised the use of the current camera as looking at the 7D as advised above, I don’t think her current skills justify that sort of cost just yet.
Types of photography are typically wildlife and scenery so she’s not in need of anything too extreme.
Again, thanks for the advice.
Just to add, I found myself held back hugely by the small sensors and EF-S lenses. Yes, I know that Bathe It Daily could take great photos with a 10D and a hole in the body cap, but my creative side was properly released once I went full frame with my 5D3. So ‘maybe’ keep holding off until she’s feeling held back, then try a 6D2?
One more add. Does she do any post-processing? That’s where good photos can turn into something eye-catching.
One more add. Does she do any post-processing? That’s where good photos can turn into something eye-catching.
singlecoil said:
Tony's point is a good one. Basic competency in Photoshop will do far more for the quality of the finished product than will a better camera.
If there is nobody nearby who can provide some one-to-one starter training then it's available online via Skype.
I questions that statement slightly. If she isn't competent using the camera, Photoshop won't suddenly turn a blurry out of focus and under exposed photo to something super sharp. If there is nobody nearby who can provide some one-to-one starter training then it's available online via Skype.
By all means get a better camera. If its whats needed to encourage more use, then why not. However, I would alos see if she can get on a few courses. Even the cheap Meet Up ones can be quite good (I have done a couple)
bakerstreet said:
singlecoil said:
Tony's point is a good one. Basic competency in Photoshop will do far more for the quality of the finished product than will a better camera.
If there is nobody nearby who can provide some one-to-one starter training then it's available online via Skype.
I questions that statement slightly. If she isn't competent using the camera, Photoshop won't suddenly turn a blurry out of focus and under exposed photo to something super sharp. If there is nobody nearby who can provide some one-to-one starter training then it's available online via Skype.
First, the Canon 1100D is a very competent camera and on full auto (which is where any complete beginner will have it) will rarely produce such a picture and second, the OP didn't mention that such was happening.
A good photographer will get pretty good pictures straight out of camera a lot of the time, but there will still be things that can be done afterwards in post such as the removal of unwanted objects in the scene, the application of gradients to, for instance, skies. The ability to raise or lower contrast, highlights, shadows (a very important one), shift black and white points etc etc are all things which can greatly improve an otherwise ordinary snap.
Thanks all for your advice but I really think this is getting far too deep for her expertise. She does mostly use the auto setting and doesn’t edit much. I think I shall go with the advice and look for some one on one sessions to develop her more then maybe review the camera situ for Christmas.
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