T2i vs. T3i vs. 60D

[Penguin3195]

I'm having great difficulty deciding which DSLR camera I should purchase.... I'm not totally new to the DSLR world, and I consider myself an advanced beginer/intermediate and I want to take my photography to the next level.

I've found some amazing deals on the Rebel T2i and T3i but now I've also found that by saving for just awhile longer (and working a little harder and learning a little more) I could get the 60D.

My question is, what are the pro's and con's of getting a T3i vs a 60D? or vise versa?

My dreams are to someday break into the pro photography world, and I've been stuck on trying to decide whether I should get my camera faster by buying a less expensive entry level DSLR like the T2i or T3i and have to upgrade in the future or should I save awhile longer and get the mid level 60D which will last me a very long time?

[ishootRAW]

What exacly do you shoot?

The 60D is a more "pro" body. Better built, top LCD, etc.

Do you care about video? If you don't, I'd get a refurbed 40 or 50D. (the 50D has video via Magic lantern.) and put the difference toward getting a better lens.

[ceremus]

Well, the T2i and the T3i are very, very similar. Same sensor, same processor, same overall shooting characteristics and options, you're not really going to notice any difference in terms of image quality.

The primary difference in the T3i from the T2i is the articulated LCD screen, which basically is the exact same LCD that's on the 60D. Personally I am a big fan of articulated screens so picking up the T3i was a no-brainer for me once it was announced. It's a big plus for low-level, overhead, and macro shooting, so if you're interests are there you might consider the T3i or 60D. The T3i also has a couple extra video options compared to the T2i (video snapshots), and it gains remote flash control in the pop-up flash. If you're on a budget and those differences aren't critical for you, the T2i is a solid choice. With either Rebel, you're getting a pretty nicely spec'd body for an intermediate/beginner's camera. There's a lot of functionality and very good image quality in that package considering, which Canon has done to try and remain competitive in the increasingly crowded "Step Up From A Point-and-Shoot" market.

As far as the 60D, it's more on the professional side than the Rebel line, not so much like the 7D, 5D, or 1D lines are, but a step up from the intermediate range. It's not exactly the same sensor as the T2i or T3i, although it is an APS-C @18MP, so I have to imagine it performs similarly. It would be better for sports or wildlife on the move as it has a higher FPS and larger buffer than the Rebels.

60D: Burst buffer * • Approx. 5.3 fps (speed maintained for up to 58 JPEGs, 16 images (RAW))

T2i/T3i: • Continuous: 3.7 fps up to 34 Large/Fine JPEG / 6 RAW frames *

And as mentioned, the 60D has a beefier grip, top LCD and controls, electronic leveler, and the rear dial instead of the 4-way control for Rebels.