I have nearly the same set-up as the two of you as well. I use a Canon EF 28-300mm, L IS UM, on my Canon 60D (Spec'd really close to your T3i's) which I mount to a 1980 (yes that is the year) Mead 8" SCT (Schmidt Cassegrain), Multi-Coated Silvered Group with LX Quartz Drive.
Two problems with the Meade. One is the silver tarnishes really fast. The good news is I called Meade and they agreed a life time guarantee is a life time guarantee and gave me a RMA to have the coatings polished and re-coated with their finest coatings to date. Not bad after 33 years. Do not forget the late 70's early 80's was not a proud era for telescope makers as there was too much Halley hype and they could not get them out the door fast enough.
Second problem is the Quartz LX Drive. Quartz is fine for the timer but the controls are 1980's and really hard to dial in. So once you switch off Quartz and go to the comet's timing good luck. Also the gears, I gotta believe, are rather large and therefore give way too much slop. Combine the extra heavy weight of the 28-300mm and you can literally see the teeth in my photographs. An easy way to test this is to purposely let your stars trail in the opposite direction. Your trail looks like a flat liner cardiogram with nice gearing. However with my gearing the cardiogram looks like a healthy patient with a beautiful pattern in the trail.
The good news with the Meade is the legs and wedge are completely solid though also completely electronics free - no Go To on this oldie-goldie. I do have a friend who owns a 12" SCT Celestron with equatorial mount and when he goes to cemented pier I could end up inheriting his Go To German Equatorial - amen brethren.
And my camera is FINALLY being delivered back from warranty today!!!!!
Now I am just rambling sorry...