For landscape photography on a budget, should I upgrade my Canon T3i body or buy an ultra-wide lens first?
Asked 4/23/2015
1 views
2 answers
0
I shoot with a Canon T3i and currently have an 18-135mm lens plus a 50mm f/1.8. I’m preparing for a trip and can only afford one upgrade right now: either a Canon 70D body or a Canon 10-18mm lens. My main goal is to improve my landscape photography in the short term. Which choice is likely to make a bigger difference?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
5
Without the 70D, you cannot print that image that little bit larger.
Without the 10-18mm, you cannot get that image at all.
Remember: This does not hold true in general. The 70D might as well be the key equipment required to get a certain shot, but that shot will not be a landscape shot.
Originally by user35348. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user35348
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For landscapes, the 10-18mm lens is the better short-term upgrade.
Your T3i and 70D are both APS-C cameras with very similar resolution, so the body upgrade won’t dramatically change image quality for landscape work. A newer body may offer usability and performance improvements, but it won’t transform what kinds of landscape compositions you can make.
An ultra-wide lens will. Compared with your current 18-135mm, a 10-18mm gives you access to much wider views and compositions you simply can’t capture now. In other words: the 70D might help you improve a photo a little, but the 10-18mm lets you make photos you otherwise could not get at all.
There’s also the value argument: lenses usually stay useful longer and hold value better than DSLR bodies, which depreciate quickly.
So if your priority is better landscape capability on this trip, buy the wide-angle lens first and keep using the T3i.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI11y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Which lens should I add to a Sony a6500 for an Iceland landscape trip?
Which upgrade matters more for birds in flight: a longer lens or a better camera body?
Is it worth moving from a Canon 700D to a 6D if my only full-frame lens is a 50mm f/1.8?
Would a Canon T7i improve low-light wildlife photos more than better lenses over a T3i?
Do I need an ultra-wide zoom for travel landscapes on a Canon APS-C DSLR?