T3i Vs. 7D Or 60D
A few friends and I were arguing about the T3i vs. 60D or 7D yesterday. My friend who is a shooter is debating on buying a T3i, since the sensor is the same as the 7D and the 60D. He wants to keep the cost down and figures he can just switch out the lenses. What do you guys think and why? He’s mainly going to be using the camera for photography but will also be shooting video.
Here is DigitalRev’s review of the T3i vs. the 60D.
60D, 7D, Canon T3i, comparison, DSLR, photography, video
i own a 7d. i use it for both photo and video and i’am very happy with it.
two advantages i see for the t3i (or 600d here in europe) is the price and the display which is flexible. this can be great for video shooting.
The 7d is much faster (dual digic processor) if you need to shoot for example sport pictures and i read it should be shooting better picutres in low light than the other cameras. also the build quality is better compared to the t3i. this makes the camera heavier and it feels more solid.
i dont know how big the difference between the 60d is, but if he wants to save money i suggest go for the 600d
I bought a 60D this spring, with the same decision in mind. T2i, T3i, 60D or 7D? I’m shooting about equal photo and video, and I decided the 7D was out of my price range for the body. I liked the physical size of the 60D, as the Rebel series cameras are just a little too small for my likes. The 60D also uses the same batteries as the 7D and 5D, which is nice for working with other operators, or if you already have a 7D or 5D. The 60D’s construction is also a higher quality than the Rebel series, and I liked the vari-angle screen of the 60D as well. I also had already invested in SDHC cards rather than CF cards. the 60D also has a slightly higher photo burst rate than the Rebels. The 60D also has that rotating ring on the back like the 5D and 7D for moving thru files on the card. These were some of my deciding factors.
I had this thoughts one month ago – I bought a Nikon D7000.
Just to clarify…. the 7D has Dual DIGIC 4 sensors while the 60D has a single DIGIC 4 sensor. So they are not the same. The 7D will have better and truer color reproduction than the 60D or T3i hands down.
In terms of feel overall, I prefer the 60D for the perfect balance between video and photography. The T3i may have similar specs, but it feels really cheap in my hand. The 60D is weighted properly as is the 7D.
60D All the way!
One thing that nobody seems to mention are the controls. The Rebel cameras don’t have the top LCD so you have to wade through all of the menus at the back to do anything. Whereas with the 60D, you just click a button and spin the dial. Far, far better controls. The 60D also has a higher resolution LCD, which makes a difference. I wish they’d follow Nikon’s lead and allow the camera to use multiple cards. Would be great to be able to use CF and SD.
they *Seems* to have the same sensor, but is not. All shares same cmos except 7D. I’ve deeply investigated on the matter.
In response to Janssen-The 7D has dual Digic 4 sensor which allows for faster still bursts and also to output a full HD signal to a monitor while recording, but it’s really the same sensor being used at any one time. The color reproduction doesnt have anything to do with there being 2 of them.
Yes, that is exactly what I meant to say. Thanks for clearing that up for all… I fully agree.
After much deliberation, I got the 60D. Main advantages: expanded ISO range i.e. multiples of 160 yield lower noise; built-in electronic level helps with jib adjustments, dial-in Kelvin is a must for serious shooting control and Kelvin matching with the 5D and 7D, manual audio control, live histogram for exposure control, better ergonomics, battery compatibility with 5D and 7D when/if I upgrade. Also on the photo side, faster shots per second and triggering of remote IR flash units. I know there is some duplication, but the T3i just does not have as many pro features as the 60D and the cost is not enough to justify going with the lower end model, especially since the digital zoom is only useful at the 3x zoom end of the range; above that, tests show more grain and less sharp video. I have not been disappointed with the 60D. It seems like the best video HD DSLR all things considered right now, unless you’re not doing still photography at all, in which case the Panasonic GH2 might be an alternative.
In response to Janssen and Paul Frederick, the 7D has only one sensor for imaging (converting light to data). It does have two (DIGIC) microprocessors for reading and processing the data from the sensor. Sensors and processors are completely different animals I’m afraid. I own a t2i myself, mainly because Magic Lantern allows me to set color temp in degrees Kelvin and use those lovely 160, 320, 640 iso settings. I rent a 5D mkII when required. Love the site Olivia.
honestly the t2i and t1i are basically the same, and id get the 50d instead of the 60d because it does (i think) 6.3 frames per second vs the 5ish for 60d.
I actually got a used 20d off amazon for $250 and it works well but no video. it has the same fps as the 60d, and no video. also, the 20d is 10 megapixel versus the 18 megapixel of all 4 in this video… but the megapixels don’t matter.
I enlarged a shot of a lion to poster size, about 3 feet wide, and it looks fine.
You’ll only need the 18 megapixels if you’re getting a crop of the lions nose and printing it 20 feet wide.
save yourself some money and get the 20d or the t1i and spend the saved money on lenses.
a t3i with the 18-55 is not exactly better than a 20d with a 50mm 1.8 and the 70-300 is usm.
trust me, i know from experience. my friend has the t2i and the kit lens, 18-55 and I have the 20d with the 50mm 1.8 and im getting the 85mm 1.4 or 35mm 1.4 by rokinon.
they costed about the same amount.
BTW thanks olivia for all the videos and stuff. it really helps.
does anyone have suggestions weather i should get the 35mm 1.4 or 85mm 1.4 by rokinon. I was origionally going to get a macro lens, but I’d rather have the fast low aperture lens.
I’m leaning towards the 85mm because its really cheap, like 250 versus the 500 for the 35mm.
i’ve seen the two videos that you did (olivia) about those lenses but i don’t know which to buy.
thanks for the videos!!! 
:D:D
@elliot Faster frames per second is probably the most expendable feature for most people, so you can’t really compare a 20D to the 60D. Light years of difference between the two in function and image quality. Plus, most people buy the 60D to use the video function as well. And you can’t compare an 18-55mm kit zoom with a prime. Of course, the 50mm will outperform. How about comparing a 50mm to 50mm on both cameras in low light. Then you’ll see a big difference in noise, AF performance, etc.
I own a 60D.
I wrote an article on why I bought it over the 7D and T3i not to long ago, check it out HERE.
Basically same reasons as John Marc Green said.
@Janssen I’ve looked at many tests and footage between the 60D and 7D and do not notice much of a difference between the dual chip processors for video. Although I could be wrong.
the 18mp apsc sensors are not the same–they are carefully checked for flaws and the perfect sensors go to the best camera 7D and the more flawed sensors are for the lower and lower models—the 7D sensor having passed the best test then gets gapless micro lenses and other coatings added-only the best of the best apsc sensors get to be in a 7D—the 7D is a series 1 camera after all.(series4-1100D) (series 3-600Dt3i) ( series 2-60D) (series1-7D 5Dmk3 1Dx)
Scott, where did you get that info from?
If I shoot fast moving kids, shoot a lot inside where there is not good light and I want the camera to take the shoot at the moment I push the button, and I do not shoot video. At all. And I will print a few 8x10s and maybe an occasional poster (but quite possibly not)… and also I am not the fastest person (so switching exposure controls and settings, etc might result in me losing the shot…) THEN what camera would you think would be best? I can figure out what lenses are best after I choose the body. (I also shoot people 100x more than landscapes or nature.) I was pretty sure I would go with the t3i (I love the articulating screen on my G6 so it is of some importance, but for sure not a deal breaker/maker) but I yearn for a fast reaction when I press that button.
Julie, the T3i is a great camera. For what you’ve detailed, I think this would suit you well. Just keep in mind that the lenses are important. Be sure to purchase lenses that allow you to shoot with auto focus since you will need to capture exposures quickly.
Oh, and I am talking about the t3i or the 60d or the 7d (though I am open to any other choices too.)