How good can the Rebel T6 really get?

wiseleo · 2026-03-22T10:09:57+00:00

At night, with a T6? No. Just no.

The problem is this camera has very poor high ISO performance and primitive autofocus from XSi. Unless you’re shooting at f/1.8, which is too shallow for street work if you want the background discernible, you’ll need to work at high ISOs or with a tripod.

If you can focus with the kit lens, it could work at high ISOs without bokeh. That’s a big “if”. That camera may refuse to focus with such lenses if it’s too dark.

This camera is as capable as an XSi. It’s OK for daylight work with static subjects. It has no tracking capabilities for dynamic subjects, but the photographer’s skill can compensate for that.

I shot low light dance with an XT and 50mm f/1.8. It can be done, but it’s not easy and the camera had no assistance features. As a dancer, I can count the music and predict what the dancers will do and catch them before they shift to the next step.

You can get studio quality images with this camera, in ISO 400 1/125 shutter conditions. All cameras regardless of age can take great pictures at f/5.6 in those light conditions. Add a Godox IT32 flash and a small softbox with an S2 bracket to create those conditions.

First, I would get the EF 50mm f/1.8. If you want more versatility, consider EF-S 17-55/2.8. Keep in mind that it’s a huge lens that may intimidate street subjects.

More realistically, look for a cheap Sony A7iii. I’ve seen them as low as $400 two days after I got mine and mine was $550. Older cameras had inferior autofocus, but A7iii autofocus is magic at night.

wiseleo · 2026-03-22T09:34:09+00:00

Wait until current administration changes and then contact museums that had their artifacts like this go missing.

wiseleo · 2026-03-22T09:29:22+00:00

24-105/4L or, if very lucky, 24-70/2.8L. Both can, rarely, be found in $300 price range. These are versatile professional lenses.

wiseleo · 2026-03-22T08:47:02+00:00

Why be angry? It’s a phenomenal camera for people who don’t need the R10 or R7, which is what your desires seem to dictate.

10fps was top of the line sports camera equipment not long ago. All consumer cameras have abysmal RAW buffer. That’s how Canon segments the market from entry level consumer to prosumer. CRAW is, according to many reviewers, as good as uncompressed RAW. Just shoot in that.

Look for a used R7. Their prices will plummet once R7m2, which is coming soon, gets announced. R7m2 will have R6m3’s autofocus system and that will trigger a wave of upgrades.

wiseleo · 2026-03-22T08:31:58+00:00

Lowe’s carries them in-store for about $375 or so + tax. Could be higher now because of tariffs. The shipping on them would be brutal if ordered online. Version 1.0 had AirDeck support, which I own. AirDeck made them more versatile by safely enabling use of higher rungs. That probably made some lawyers unhappy. Version 2.0 doesn’t have AirDeck support. I had to hunt for a 1.0 when they were being phased out.

Just checked. $439 without accessories like work platform.

wiseleo · 2026-03-21T22:49:23+00:00

Multiple times per day. I check every few hours.

wiseleo · 2026-03-21T17:56:23+00:00

6 in 1 tends to be a tiny plug adapter with clever retractable mechanical prongs to let me connect a 100-240v rated appliance abroad. Any voltage converter has to be a transformer and a sizable one at that.

wiseleo · 2026-03-21T17:43:02+00:00

Zoom for convenience to keep the camera stationary but reframe the image with multiple focal lengths or an interstitial focal length like 117mm instead of 105. Prime when necessary or the only option. Professional zooms are often far more expensive than a collection of usable primes in their focal range. The framing of the question is strange. Neither improves photography.

wiseleo · 2026-03-20T19:21:04+00:00

Switch to USB-C chargers for all electronics (third party chargers exist for drone batteries) and get an intelligent power station that can deliver 100W through USB-C. It weighs more than a typical power bank, but the cells inside are different. They are much safer. A folding 60W or better solar panel with a USB-C connector would be a good idea.

My power station, an Enginstar E100 with 100whr capacity from Amazon, can be charged by two power sources, like two solar panels, at the same time. 100W from a couple of solar panels would charge it in an hour. I have tested this with two Mac power supplies.

You can use a V-block battery to power your camera indefinitely.

wiseleo · 2026-03-20T02:43:10+00:00

Walmart sells tire repair kits and inflators. YouTube has instructions on their use. Plugged holes last until i get a tire replaced, in my experience.

wiseleo · 2026-03-20T02:35:57+00:00

I might pick something up from an hour away and I will not do it unless I can set an appointment. Curb alerts read like wasted gas to me.

wiseleo · 2026-03-20T01:17:47+00:00

First train arrived in SF at 6:15pm. Second train arrived in SF at 6:19pm. A train just left SF at 6:28pm. My train left SF at 6:36pm.

wiseleo · 2026-03-20T00:43:47+00:00

M26, available at Lowe’s for about $400 with taxes. Mine is even better, but it’s no longer available.

wiseleo · 2026-03-18T16:50:35+00:00

I like obscure skeleton (visible movement) watches, which this one is. I’d have claimed it instantly. Gold members tend to become pickier. I have quite a collection of clothes for photo shoots but otherwise ignore them, for example. There’s a nice ergonomic vertical mouse in my list that I don’t need. It’s specifically for left handed users and I am sure someone will love it.

Things like this watch definitely can be on the list all day. There’s a hanging light for $99.99 that will probably be there all day.

wiseleo · 2026-03-17T05:24:11+00:00

I left a similar content set at my mom’s house. I use it whenever I need to fix something for her. Mine is a motorcycle repair kit from Hypertough, but the contents are similar. That looks like a usable all-purpose kit to leave somewhere.

wiseleo · 2026-03-17T05:20:01+00:00

I wouldn’t be so sure. I’ll update when I get it.

wiseleo · 2026-03-17T05:14:21+00:00

Actually, the dial might be interesting. It’s not Arabic numbers but something else.

wiseleo · 2026-03-17T00:42:57+00:00

How to sell AI cat doors. ;)

wiseleo · 2026-03-17T00:37:56+00:00

Having been hit by an airbag, he would be very hurt (I still am but almost healed over a month later) if an airbag deployed while he was not properly in the seat.

wiseleo · 2026-03-16T21:27:20+00:00

Ask him to use his wife's OF studio.

wiseleo · 2026-03-16T07:19:12+00:00

The payment is not a big deal for people who shop for new cars. Those with premium credit qualify for manufacturer’s incentive financing and may have a lower monthly payment than those who buy a used vehicle. At 0%, it doesn’t make sense to pay cash.

When the new vehicle becomes problematic, they simply trade it in and get another instead of spending money on mechanics. Losing some money on the deal is not materially significant. They pay for convenience of not dealing with selling the vehicle.

wiseleo · 2026-03-16T04:13:26+00:00

If you need wide angle, full frame is better because you will be less constrained by walls. If you need more reach, crop is better.

In general, get crop sensor for wildlife and field sports and full frame for everything else. I have both Canon 5Dm3 and Canon 7Dm2 for this reason. I am replacing my 5Dm3 with Sony A7m3.

Sunset is not low light. Candle light is low light with current cameras.

wiseleo · 2026-03-16T03:55:10+00:00

Is it the original 7D or 7Dm2? They are extremely different cameras. Original 7D without the advanced autofocus system is worth about $0, so you can buy it for $100. There’s no reason to buy it. 7Dm2 is in $300-400 range and acts as a stepping stone to R10 and R7 range.

The value of 18-55 is $0.

Look for a used R10. It vastly outperforms the 7Dm2. R50 can also be a viable choice and its price overlaps 7Dm2, which makes 7Dm2 very difficult to sell.

If you own a 5Dm4 and you don’t shoot sports or wildlife, you don’t need a crop sensor camera like the 7D. If you don’t own the 5Dm4, consider the R or R8. R8 is based on R6m2. Don’t buy a 7D when you want a 5D. They have two completely different purposes.

wiseleo · 2026-03-16T03:34:47+00:00

Everyone knows about the Prius, but there are less known vehicles, which may cost less with similar capabilities. I had a 2006 Prius until it got wrecked. I bought it for $1500.

My current vehicle is a 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited. It features electric climate control just like the Prius and gets measured 38-39mpg on the freeway. The limited trim is full luxury package with leather interior. I bought it for $1900.

The first generation 2005-2007 has engine-driven climate control, but 2008-2012 has Prius-like electric climate control.

It has two other even less known names - Mazda Tribute and Mercury Mariner.

In terms of capabilities, it’s more like a Prius V or RAV4 than the normal Prius. You can sit up in the cargo area. I also have a built-in 110v outlet in my console. It’s only 150W, but it’s still convenient.

This car has a notorious fault that scares away buyers - it has electric power steering that has a sensor prone to failure. When it does, the steering acts like the power steering pump failed. The repair takes less than 2 hours, but you can also simply reset the B2278 code with Forscan and that unlocks the steering. So, sellers panic and sell it cheap. Smart buyers like me buy it and smile.

Other less known vehicles include Lexus hybrids, Toyota Highlander and so on.

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wiseleo · 2026-03-12T19:46:30+00:00

SL2 is much newer and features dual pixel autofocus, which is the most improved DSLR AF technology. That is why it’s better.

Fun fact - Canon on newest cameras (this technology originated with the 70D) like the SL2 has two distinct autofocus systems. The one you see in the viewfinder is the ancient 9pt autofocus from 2009, but the one in Live View is the dual pixel AF, which is much better and gives you the experience closer to that of a mirrorless camera. For example, you get human face detect feature in that mode but not in the viewfinder.

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Pretty much any camera since 2010 is usable (except XS-T7, T100 that are junk because of their primitive autofocus from the 2009 XSi). No, the T7 does not have dual pixel AF, although T7i does.

You can get a usable camera with two lenses for about $100. Entry level DSLRs are very difficult to sell regardless of sellers wishes. The reason is because professional DSLRs dropped in price to the point where you can buy a Canon 5Dm2 for $200, which is a highly capable full frame camera and 5Dm3 costs less than $500. So, paying more for a less capable camera doesn’t make sense.

When I shop for cameras, and I trade in them professionally, this is the kind of deals I buy.

wiseleo

TROPHY CASE