first time looking for a dslr; suggestion.

[Semidevil]

I am not a photographer, but I would like to pick this up as a new hobby and am looking for a camera. I would like to also get past the point and shoot, and learn to operate a dslr camera.

What do you guys suggest? I"m still reading a bit on it, so I don't know what I want to look for, but from a cost perspective, it looks like the canon rebel T3 is w/in my price range (under 575 USD).

Is this a good beginner camera? I know it's not the newest camera out there as of 2011, so is there a better bang for the buck?

suggestions?

 

[Throckmorton]

Buy one of the superzooms. You'll get all the controls but for 1/3 the price and you won't end up spending thousands of dollars on lenses.

Or you can buy a DSLR, sink thousands into it, and become the typical gear nerd fauxtographer that the digital age has facilitated.

 

[Griffinhart]

I am not a photographer, but I would like to pick this up as a new hobby and am looking for a camera. I would like to also get past the point and shoot, and learn to operate a dslr camera.

What do you guys suggest? I"m still reading a bit on it, so I don't know what I want to look for, but from a cost perspective, it looks like the canon rebel T3 is w/in my price range (under 575 USD).

Is this a good beginner camera? I know it's not the newest camera out there as of 2011, so is there a better bang for the buck?

suggestions?

Something to consider. Do you have any friends that have a DSLR? I generally recommend the starter camera for the same brand most of your friends use. It opens the possibity for borrowing or buying used lenses.

 

[Sp12]

Canon T3 is teh sux. No really. It's a terrible value.

What are you looking to shoot? Is video an important feature? Do you have a tripod?

 

[Semidevil]

Canon T3 is teh sux. No really. It's a terrible value.

What are you looking to shoot? Is video an important feature? Do you have a tripod?

nothing specific really. maybe take some pictures at sporting events, take pictures of people, family pictures, animals, objects. not as much scenery, but some.

 

[Sp12]

The other two points? Video and a tripod?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I kinda regret not getting a body and an 18-105 mm zoom lense. I instead have more range but switching lenses can be annoying on occasion.

There is an 18mm to 270 lens that is tempting me.

For bodies, just get something capable of the resolutions you want. The cheapest body (Canon) did the trick for me.

 

[RobDickinson]

T3 is the 600D? Decent camera though not so different from the 550D ( has the fold out LCD).

There isnt a bad SLR, some do some stuff better than others, but they are all very competent.

I dont like superzoom lenses, I dont see the point of buying an SLR then putting on a very compromised lens.

 

[nboy22]

T3 is the 600D? Decent camera though not so different from the 550D ( has the fold out LCD).

There isnt a bad SLR, some do some stuff better than others, but they are all very competent.

I dont like superzoom lenses, I dont see the point of buying an SLR then putting on a very compromised lens.

the T3 and the T3i (600d) are two different things, I think there is like a 6 megapixel difference.

 

[Subbaculcha]

Last xmas, i got a Canon Rebel XS, 18-55 stock lens and Canon 55-250 zoom. For $490 (Amazon). Then bought the 50mm 1.8 for $100. Great beginner set up. Does everything pretty well (No video). Great beginner / learning / hobbyist DSLR.

You could probably get the same deal or better off season by buying slightly used.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Last xmas, i got a Canon Rebel XS, 18-55 stock lens and Canon 55-250 zoom. For $490 (Amazon). Then bought the 50mm 1.8 for $100. Great beginner set up. Does everything pretty well (No video). Great beginner / learning / hobbyist DSLR.

You could probably get the same deal or better off season by buying slightly used.

Holy crap, I got he same exact deal but I don't remember if it was Amazon. I later picked up the same 50mm. LOL!

I rarely use that 50mm though. That is more aof a hobby lense that you have to really intend on using. For general use, the 18-55/55-250 combo is nice. I do want to replace the 18-55 with a 15-120mm (or so) though. Want a 12-55 type lense for indoor stuff like birthday parties. And an 18-120 would be way more useful as a walk around lense. Might get the 18-120 for my wife on her birthday. her lense anyways ... granted I make it better through better lenses.

Might get a 12-24mm lense or similar but right now I am considering sometihng like any of these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/searc...8+4261208187+4261208189+4261208191+4261208192

 

[alkemyst]

like since the beginning of photography...your first 'kit' should be really cheap (unless going right to the top is not a financial thought).

Pick up a bargain $100 digicam that fits in your pocket...take shots, figure out the issues you have. Profit, then shop.

Now always carry that cheap cam in your pocket. More profit.

 

[Munky]

Buy one of the superzooms. You'll get all the controls but for 1/3 the price and you won't end up spending thousands of dollars on lenses.

And still be stuck with sluggish shutter lag and mediocre image quality of a point and shoot, except now instead of fitting into your pocket, you'd be walking around like a typical nerdy tourist with a ridiculous bulky superzoom hanging around the neck.

Or you can buy a DSLR, sink thousands into it, and become the typical gear nerd fauxtographer that the digital age has facilitated.

Nonsense. A good photographer can make great-looking photos using only the kit lens. Not every DSLR photo enthusiast is a gear-hoarding junkie.

 

[MadScientist]

My daughter who is on her 4th digital camera in 6 years has a superzoom and had the same problems with it that Munky stated. She wanted a DSLR but thought she could save some bucks with the superzoom which was ~$300.

I found this deal from Abe's of Maine (they are actually in Edison, NJ) on a Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm VR & 55-200mm VR Lenses and a free 32GB SDHC card. http://www.abesofmaine.com/item.do?item=NKD31002LK&id=NKD31002LK&&kbid=nikon%20d3100 With a $15. off coupon, LOYALTY15, and 2% cashback from MrRebates the total was ~$717., with free shipping.

They have a good rating at Resellerratings. http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Abe_s_of_Maine

A received a followup phone call from them to confirm the shipping address since it was different then the billing address, and a low pressure upsale pitch for an extended warranty.

For the record, I do not work for or am I affiliated with Abe's of Maine.

 

[ElFenix]

Buy one of the superzooms. You'll get all the controls but for 1/3 the price and you won't end up spending thousands of dollars on lenses.

Or you can buy a DSLR, sink thousands into it, and become the typical gear nerd fauxtographer that the digital age has facilitated.

i was a gear nerd fauxtographer well before the digital age!

 

[iGas]

Get a cheapest body with a kit lens that available. And, after a few years of using it you may have a better idea of what type gears you need that fit your style.

 

[Subbaculcha]

Here ya go: Rebel XS refurbished (@ canon store), with kit lens $399.
http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_204269_-1?WT.mc_id=C126149

 

[MadScientist]

Here ya go: Rebel XS refurbished (@ canon store), with kit lens $399.
http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_204269_-1?WT.mc_id=C126149

I looked at their refurbs, good price for camera and lens; adding a refurb 75-300mm zoom lens, shipping, tax, and a 32Gb SDHC card brings it up to ~$660.

 

[Doppel]

Point and shoot do deliver good value, solid pictures and they're small. Still tremendous shutter lag, though. I was looking at one the other day and still a good two seconds between shots. Even a cheap DSLR you can throw multiple images a second. They are huge and most people who buy them are poseur-photographers using them for little more than pics of their kids (guilty as charged), but they certainly do take nice pics.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

That Canon 75-300 is not very good. there is a reason it is cheap. You might want to look into the 55-250 instead.

Just google both lenses and start reading reviews.