Is the Canon Rebel t3 ok to start woth?

[luv2sleep]

I will be new to DSLR cameras and this is priced under $400 on amazon. The newer models look great but they cost a few hundred more. I'd rather not spend more for what I will be doing. The t3 I'm looking at comes with an 18-35 mm lens. I plan on taking outside soccer photos, some indoor swim photos, and inside/outside photos. I'd like to add on the 55-250 mm lens later if necessary.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

The T3 (without the "i") is Canon's basic bottom line entry level camera. It has a mix of old and new technology including a non-rubberized plastic body to keep the price down. It will work, however remember there is a reason the T3i/T4i and up are more expensive.

 

[luv2sleep]

The T3 (without the "i") is Canon's basic bottom line entry level camera. It has a mix of old and new technology including a non-rubberized plastic body to keep the price down. It will work, however remember there is a reason the T3i/T4i and up are more expensive.

Thank you for replying. This is my first time on the photography board. The T4i looks wonderful. Just a little more than I want to spend right now. I will hold off and wait a bit though to see if I'm ready to spend the money. Thx!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It's generally an expensive endeavor one way or another.

 

[luv2sleep]

It's generally an expensive endeavor one way or another.

Definitely true.

 

[rachel09985]

That is the camera I started with and still have. It is a perfect camera to start off with. I have had it over a year and still don't know exactly what I am doing.

 

[luv2sleep]

That is the camera I started with and still have. It is a perfect camera to start off with. I have had it over a year and still don't know exactly what I am doing.

Did you buy an extra lens or has the one it came with been good for everyday use?

 

[photo_chick]

I will be new to DSLR cameras and this is priced under $400 on amazon. The newer models look great but they cost a few hundred more. I'd rather not spend more for what I will be doing. The t3 I'm looking at comes with an 18-35 mm lens. I plan on taking outside soccer photos, some indoor swim photos, and inside/outside photos. I'd like to add on the 55-250 mm lens later if necessary.

The T3 is very capable camera but as already said it's bare bones so don't expect a lot of bells and whistles. As far as lenses, the 18-55 kit will cover you for most general situations. Shooting soccer you will probably want a longer lens like the 55-250. Indoor swim meet though.... depending on how you plan to shoot the meets you may find that neither of those lenses will do well and at some point you will likely find yourself adding some faster lenses to your bag.

 

[boBQuincy]

I recently photographed an indoor swim meet (at Triangle Aquatic Center) and found the exposure to be 1/100 at ISO 3200 (with a telephoto lens at f/5.6 as the Canon 55-250 would be). 1/100 is not fast enough to stop action so you would probably be using ISO 6400 which may be a bit noisy. If indoor swim meets are really a big part of your photography a faster lens would be helpful.
Or find an aquatic center with better lighting.

 

[rachel09985]

Did you buy an extra lens or has the one it came with been good for everyday use?

I got the 55-250mm lens and the 50mm ( the one thats around 100).

 

[luv2sleep]

I held the T3 and T3i today. The T3i had a much better grip. More natural.

 

[luv2sleep]

I got the 55-250mm lens and the 50mm ( the one thats around 100).

Which lens did it come with?

Trying to decide on which combo for the T4i (went to another store, talked to a sakes associate and checked all 3 [t3, t3i, and t4i...decided on the t4i]):

18-55 alone?
18-135 alone?
50 mm lens + one of the above?
18-55 + a 55-250?

Any thoughts? I'd like to take outdoor and indoor pics. Would like the ability to take indoor swim, gymnastics, and soccer pics for now. My son will pick up other interests I'm sure along the way also. We also vacation so I'd like to take outdoor and indoor pics on vacation too. I'd also like a good walk around lens. I'm thinking the 18-135 is too long for that but I don't know.

 

[wbeem]

The important thing about a camera is if it lets you control the aperture, shutter speed and ISO. As you gain more experience, you'll want more features. However, you can make excellent quality photos with some very inexpensive cameras.

My own thoughts about where to invest your photo dollars are:

1: Lenses
2: Camera Body
3: Lighting

 

[luv2sleep]

The important thing about a camera is if it lets you control the aperture, shutter speed and ISO. As you gain more experience, you'll want more features. However, you can make excellent quality photos with some very inexpensive cameras.

My own thoughts about where to invest your photo dollars are:

1: Lenses
2: Camera Body
3: Lighting

Hi. Thank you for responding. I'm not sure what this means exactly. So by a relatively cheaper camera body and get a more expensive lens to start out with?

 

[wbeem]

Hi. Thank you for responding. I'm not sure what this means exactly. So by a relatively cheaper camera body and get a more expensive lens to start out with?

Here's what I mean. The quality of your image has more to do with the quality of your lens than the quality of your camera. Most cameras can record great images, but the lens is what transforms the scene onto your sensor.

When you spend money on camera bodies, the more expensive models typically enhance features, but really doesn't enhance the image quality - except for things like lower noise on high ISO photos, etc. You end up paying for things like a faster frame rate, more controls or menu options - things that make it more convenient to take a better picture. The lens will actually make a difference on the quality of your photo.

Buy based upon your needs, though. Photography isn't magic. It just requires knowledge and experience. We're all learning at every level.

 

[luv2sleep]

Here's what I mean. The quality of your image has more to do with the quality of your lens than the quality of your camera. Most cameras can record great images, but the lens is what transforms the scene onto your sensor.

When you spend money on camera bodies, the more expensive models typically enhance features, but really doesn't enhance the image quality - except for things like lower noise on high ISO photos, etc. You end up paying for things like a faster frame rate, more controls or menu options - things that make it more convenient to take a better picture. The lens will actually make a difference on the quality of your photo.

Buy based upon your needs, though. Photography isn't magic. It just requires knowledge and experience. We're all learning at every level.

Thank you for explaining that. I'm kind of lost. I'd like a DSLR and I'm reading such confusing info. Don't know whether to get a Canon T3, save $$ on that and then buy specific lenses (then I don't know which lenses to buy) or buy the T3, T3i, or T4i with the lens it comes with and add on later.

 

[wbeem]

Thank you for explaining that. I'm kind of lost. I'd like a DSLR and I'm reading such confusing info. Don't know whether to get a Canon T3, save $$ on that and then buy specific lenses (then I don't know which lenses to buy) or buy the T3, T3i, or T4i with the lens it comes with and add on later.

Take your time. Determine your needs based upon the kind of photography you want to do and your budget. Sports/action photography is the most demanding on gear, which is why sports photographers spend a BUNDLE on their cameras and lenses. Most everything else you can achieve with very simple gear.

Also, don't forget about post-processing software. The photos you see and love with vibrant colors and details don't just come magically out of a given model of camera. They require some tweaking in post-processing.

 

[havoc315]

Thank you for explaining that. I'm kind of lost. I'd like a DSLR and I'm reading such confusing info. Don't know whether to get a Canon T3, save $$ on that and then buy specific lenses (then I don't know which lenses to buy) or buy the T3, T3i, or T4i with the lens it comes with and add on later.

The "kit" lens is perfectly acceptable for most people. It's not as if you will immediately notice the difference between pictures taken with a $100 lens versus a $2500 lens.
The cheaper kit lenses are made to be decent all around, so they are perfectly acceptable for a beginner.
Future lenses are need specific. Want to take very low light pictures, get a prime. Sweeping landscapes, a wide angle. Close ups of flowers, time for a macro lens. Distant nature shots, birding, etc, time for a telephoto. Indoor sports.. Then you may want a telephoto with fixed aperture.

You usually don't save a ton of money by buying "body only"-- and the kit lens is usually well worth the $100-$200 price.
To cheaply start improving your photography... A nifty fifty lens is usually helpful. 50mm/f1.8. Usually sharper than the kits, great for portraits, great for low light. But won't replace the kit lens in all situations.

 

[luv2sleep]

The "kit" lens is perfectly acceptable for most people. It's not as if you will immediately notice the difference between pictures taken with a $100 lens versus a $2500 lens.
The cheaper kit lenses are made to be decent all around, so they are perfectly acceptable for a beginner.
Future lenses are need specific. Want to take very low light pictures, get a prime. Sweeping landscapes, a wide angle. Close ups of flowers, time for a macro lens. Distant nature shots, birding, etc, time for a telephoto. Indoor sports.. Then you may want a telephoto with fixed aperture.

You usually don't save a ton of money by buying "body only"-- and the kit lens is usually well worth the $100-$200 price.
To cheaply start improving your photography... A nifty fifty lens is usually helpful. 50mm/f1.8. Usually sharper than the kits, great for portraits, great for low light. But won't replace the kit lens in all situations.

Thanks! The kit lens is the 18-55 mm lens on the T3 and T3i. An 18-135 can be purchased with the T4i. I'm thinking starting out with an 18-55 will be enough. Then I can add on later.

 

[luv2sleep]

Take your time. Determine your needs based upon the kind of photography you want to do and your budget. Sports/action photography is the most demanding on gear, which is why sports photographers spend a BUNDLE on their cameras and lenses. Most everything else you can achieve with very simple gear.

Also, don't forget about post-processing software. The photos you see and love with vibrant colors and details don't just come magically out of a given model of camera. They require some tweaking in post-processing.

What software is good for beginners?