T3 Rebel

[JH]

Hey guys I'm not into photography so I thought you might be able to help me out. My girlfriend is looking to get into it and is thinking about the T3. Is this a good starter camera? She feels that the 12 mp is enough for her. It will be used for mostly indoor shots but occasional outdoor trips as well. I would love to hear your input for this camera or something else that would be a good starter for her.

Thanks

[Buckmark]

LadyBuckmark just bought a new camera the T3i, a whole setup and loves it, she spent about 6months deciding what she wanted and how much she wanted to spend. She was able through some friends to use a 3Ti, Nikon (not sure which one) for awhile so she could see the difference, the same friends also have a few nikons they use for thier photo business that she got to play with for a few hours, (way out of our price range), For her the 3Ti was her choice, it will do more than she ever will know how and was just a tad more than the T3 and a much better camera.
But if you go the 3t, QVC has a good deal right now on a package with 6 easy pays (thats no interest money) if your not shelling it out at once...
There are alot of good photographers on here that should be some help..

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I love my Olympus Stylus 850 SW. Its shock and waterproof! Takes great pics and very very simple to use. 8 meger,s with zoom!!!

[uplandhunter870]

im sure Phool or Grandpawrichard will chime in later but heres my take;

im getting more and more into photography and looking to get into a dslr what ive found in the Txi line from canon is that the T3 and T3i are basically upgrades from the T2 and T2i. the T3 line has minor upgrades from the T2 line mostly in button placement and some operation upgrades but functionally they are the same camera and the build and pic quality is right about equal between the two except the T3 is the newest and boasts a higher price tag.

if it were me about to drop some major coin on a dslr id take a serious look at the T2 and T2i, a little lower price point for just as nice a camera and maybe she could get the T2i and have a little left over.

again im no expert but my research has me leaning more towards the T2i over the T3 or T3i

[Hornseeker]

I too think you'd be just as happy with the T2/i... My wife has one and its a good camera...it'll do all you want... the kicker is buying good lenses.

[CoachNemo]

I bought my wife the T2i as the swivel screen was not that big of an issue.  I got an entire "starter" package from Amazon and then added a tripod.  She wanted to get into photography and everyone we talked to recommended this camera.

Here is the package I bought her;

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005U512LG/ref=oh_o01_s00_i00_details

Before someone blows me up for cheap lenses, not the brand they prefer or anything else this is what we decided on and what we felt was a good starting package to get someone into photography.  We can and will upgrade components as she upgrades her skill level.

Hope this helps

[quadrafire]

The T3 is a good camera. I purchased the T3i last summer with kit lenses. It took great pictures. The camera for me was too small in my hand, so I changed my mind and went with a larger framed camera.
The salesman (after I wanted to return it) said the T3 target market is women (smaller hands), and an upgrade from point n shoot cameras, but not the larger full body cameras.
You can get some screamin deals on the kit's. If most of your shots are gonna be indoor, be sure to add a 50mm 1.8 to your kit. It will only cost you about another $100 and is a great lens with that camera (or any of the other canons as well)

[JH]

Great, thanks guys I will have her check out the t2i as well. I am trying to talk her into taking a class at the local community college after she gets  it to learn a thing or two. For me I thought that would be a good way to learn, have any of you taken a class from a cc or even a store?

-JH

[huntnphool]

 I don't know if the T3 is video as well but if you are looking to purchase a camera for pics and not video then I would buy pre owned and not new, put the difference into a quality lens.

 

 

[Huntbear]

When it comes to used camera bodies, is there an actuation count that makes you go, nope, been used to much...  or does the actuation count even matter?

[huntnphool]

The xxD series Canon cameras are produced with a estimated shutter life of 100k actuations. I guess it would come down to what you consider to be a low count relative to the cost of the individual body for sale. It would surprise a lot of people to know that Bone shoots a 40D. By pixel count it's significantly far inferior to the new cameras coming out today, yet everyone loves his images. How can that be when these new cameras have more megapixels and buttons?

I'm still shooting a 20D, even less pixels than Bones and my images are okay.

IMO its better to sink the money into the lens until you are ready to really step up to a camera that will make a big difference, like the 1Ds series

[huntnphool]

Unless you find a pro photographer selling his gear I wouldn't expect most used cameras to have more than 25k actuations, in a sense only 1/4 of the estimated life expectancy. You can find 40D's on CL for $400, and if less than 25k actuations I think that's a very nice camera to start out with at that price, 20D's are even less.

The difference between the xxD series and the "Rebel" cameras is the size and materials used. The xxD's are more weather resistant too and balance better when used with a "white lens"

[teal101]

Unless you find a pro photographer selling his gear I wouldn't expect most used cameras to have more than 25k actuations, in a sense only 1/4 of the estimated life expectancy. You can find 40D's on CL for $400, and if less than 25k actuations I think that's a very nice camera to start out with at that price, 20D's are even less.

The difference between the xxD series and the "Rebel" cameras is the size and materials used. The xxD's are more weather resistant too and balance better when used with a "white lens"

I decided on the 40D for my first DSLR.  I picked it up for $375 with 16k actuations.

It was pretty cheap, had a higher pixel count than the 30D I was looking at (only really noticeable if you plan on printing out the photos.  Online it's pretty negligible due to resizing), has "live view shooting" so I can use the LCD screen to take pics if need be, a sensor cleaner, and a few other misc. doodads.  So far I LOVE IT.  Now I just need to sink some coin into a serious telephoto lens, after I learn this thing inside and out!

[huntnphool]

 You have to remember that camera was about $1800 when it came out.