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Plaese Help... Need thoughts on DSLR Camera

Discussion in 'Photography' started by mws4ua, Dec 19, 2013.

  1. Dec 19, 2013 at 7:48 AM
    #1
    mws4ua

    mws4ua [OP] I'll try being nicer if you try being smarter.

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    Don't worry... This isn't just another "What camera should I get?" thread... I have a question that's a BIT more specific than that...

    My wife and I have been considering a DSLR camera for a while and we've decided we're going to get one for christmas. (It will be a gift from my parents to us.)

    We pretty much settled on a Canon T3i, and planned to pick up a 18-200mm lens, too.

    I was poking around craigs list, though, and I found a guy selling a Canon 60D purchased in June 2013 with a Canon EF-S 18-200mm IS Lens, a bag, a lens hood, and an aluminum monopod for $850, which is less than a new T3i and a 18-200mm lens would cost me.

    He has the original receipt and the warranty card, so I'll have 6 months (ish) of Canon warranty on the camera.

    He says he's never had any trouble, but he's upgrading to a Canon 5D Mark III... so apparently he's more of a photographer than I'll ever be!

    I'm meeting him today or tomorrow... Any and all thoughts are VERY much appreciated.
     
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2013
  2. Dec 19, 2013 at 8:18 AM
    #2
    916TacoTruck

    916TacoTruck BallzDeep is how I go

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    If you can find a canon 7d on craigslist for a price in your budget, get it. You will be very happy. The autofocus is very good for its cost. If you have kids or dogs this camera can keep up. I sold mine to my dad cuz I have the 5d mk2 and I always end up borrowing it from him. Sellers remorse.
     
  3. Dec 19, 2013 at 8:29 AM
    #3
    mws4ua

    mws4ua [OP] I'll try being nicer if you try being smarter.

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    Thanks for the advice... A quick look didn't find any 7D cameras in the price range. Cheapest one was $875 for body only.

    Are you saying that the 60D WON'T keep up with kids? I have a 2yr old and one due in April, so we're not taking pictures of soccer games just yet.
     
  4. Dec 19, 2013 at 8:41 AM
    #4
    916TacoTruck

    916TacoTruck BallzDeep is how I go

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    60d is a fine camera. 60d will do just fine with a 2yr old. You may find yourself at times in conditions that are too far out of the capabilities of the 60d. Typically that would be due to lighting conditions indoors for autofocus. Daytime light the 60d will do all that you need it to. The 7d was a suggestion from my experience with it.
     
  5. Dec 19, 2013 at 8:43 AM
    #5
    916TacoTruck

    916TacoTruck BallzDeep is how I go

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    Also, there is a digital photography thread on here where you can post and get a lot of good info.
     
  6. Dec 19, 2013 at 8:44 AM
    #6
    CRU

    CRU Well-Known Member

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  7. Dec 19, 2013 at 8:48 AM
    #7
    A3umph

    A3umph Well-Known Member

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    I've got a 60Dand love it, 18-175mm and 55-250mm lens. Easy to use takes great pics. I use the sport mode a lot for auto racing and it does excellent. Only tried the video mode a couple times but it worked great too. Good thing with the digital cameras is take a computer with a card slot and you can check how good the pics are before you buy it.
     
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2013
  8. Dec 19, 2013 at 11:36 AM
    #8
    belone12

    belone12 Well-Known Member

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    Hey OP I am in the same position right now and searched T3i in here to see if i could get some help.
    Here is the bundle I was looking at: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/914091-REG/canon_digital_rebel_t3i_18_55mm_is.html

    $600 for the Canon T3i and 2 lenses, although from what I read the 2nd lense isn't the greatest it is a start. I am between this and the Nikon 5200.

    BH is a reputable electronics store here in NYC. Extremely fast shipping and very good customer service.Hope that helps!
     
  9. Dec 19, 2013 at 11:54 AM
    #9
    mws4ua

    mws4ua [OP] I'll try being nicer if you try being smarter.

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    Thanks all for the advice and for the link. I've saved that deals link for future reference.

    Yeah, I've done enough looking to know that I really want a 18-200mm lens, which apparently doesn't come with any T3i kits. I'll end up paying money for a lens or two that I don't want at all by buying that's normally out there. There's a T3i on Amazon for $437 that comes with a pretty standard 18-55mm lens. Oddly, a T3i body only is $499 on Amazon.

    I really appreciate the link and help. I think I actually saw that deal (or another one on that site) as I looked around over the last several weeks.
     
  10. Dec 19, 2013 at 12:00 PM
    #10
    coffeesnob

    coffeesnob Well-Known Member

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    I have a t3i Nice camera and I bet you can get it a lot cheaper now than what I paid for it.
     
  11. Dec 19, 2013 at 12:02 PM
    #11
    skidooman

    skidooman I'm your huckleberry

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    I bought a T3 and an 18-135 lense two years ago and have been very happy with my purchase. Sure there are better out there, but don't get caught up in a gear frenzy. Buy what you can afford and get good with it. If someday you outgrow it, then upgrade.
     
  12. Dec 19, 2013 at 12:09 PM
    #12
    mws4ua

    mws4ua [OP] I'll try being nicer if you try being smarter.

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    Yeah... the T3i was right in our price range, and looked like it would be the perfect fit for our needs. I read (and talked to a friend who has one) enough to know that a 18-200 lens would be ideal. I was getting close to ending up with a T3i with a 18-135 kit right in the budget I wanted to spend.

    This 60D just kind of appeared and is right in the budget, too, so I figured "why not?"

    I can see how somebody could get carried away quite quickly with all of this. Good cameras and equipment can get so expensive!
     
  13. Dec 19, 2013 at 1:09 PM
    #13
    adamant365

    adamant365 Well-Known Member

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    I have a T3i, got it before Thanksgiving last year. I love the camera. I got it in a kit with an EF-S 18-55 IS and the EF-S 50-250. In my opinion, the 50-250 takes cleaner, crisper images than the 18-55 with everything else being equal. The T3i takes superb pictures. Everything I've read about DSLRs is that they all take as good of pictures no matter how much you pay. The difference in the >$2000 bodies is that there are many more features available on a dedicated button on the camera...no need to drill down into menus to access them. Also, unless you are going to pay >$1500 or up for the 6D (full-frame) you are getting a 1.6X crop sensor. That means you must multiply all your focal lengths by 1.6. A 50mm lens becomes 80mm, etc. Also, the processing speed on the more expensive cameras is faster so you can shoot more FPS in continuous mode. You won't necessarily take better pictures, you'll just take more of them.

    The T3i has a 17.9MP sensor. That is plenty for even 10x14 prints. I display my photos on my 47" HDTV and from more than 3 or so feet away, they are razor sharp. How good your pictures are depends on you.

    I do agree that more AF points is better, but the 9 on my T3i is plenty for me. Unless you are taking pictures of auto racing or really fast action sports, you don't need that many more.

    Whatever body you buy, I highly recommend getting the 50MM 1.8 "Nifty Fifty." It's generally around $100 so is the cheapest Canon lens you can buy, but it takes FANTASTIC images. It acts like a short tele on the 1.6 crop but if you want close ups of people, etc., it is a great lens to start with. Remember, since it's a prime, there is less glass and less moving parts but that affords a huge increase in clarity with the drawback being that if you want your subject to fill more/less of the frame, you have to physically move your body. Zooms can suffer from lack of sharpness (unless you break the bank for L zooms).

    The best way to get good at composition, etc. is to start with primes where you have to do the work yourself. Yes, the cheap Canon zooms do just fine for family snapshots, everyday use, etc.

    I also highly recommend Adobe Lightroom. The software that comes with Canon cameras is decent, but Lightroom is FAR more powerful and much easier to use than Photoshop.
     
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2013
  14. Dec 19, 2013 at 3:35 PM
    #14
    JoeTacoma02

    JoeTacoma02 Well-Known Member

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    X2 on the canon 50mm 1.8. If you're wanting to take pictures of your family this lens will be perfect, especially for indoor low lighting situations. My first prime lens I bought and it was on my canon for over a year before I went with another prime lens.
     
  15. Dec 20, 2013 at 5:40 AM
    #15
    mws4ua

    mws4ua [OP] I'll try being nicer if you try being smarter.

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    Thanks all for the quick help. I met the guy yesterday and bought his camera.

    I'm really glad I did it.. he was just about the nicest guy ever. He has a business where he takes photographs and videos for ministries and missions. They were trying to decide if they could ditch their video cameras and start using DSLRs instead for both video and photography. They bought the 60D from B&H in June to test their theory and decided they could, so now they're upgrading to a 5D Mark III and selling the 60D.

    The camera and the lens look freaking brand new. I have to hand it over to the parents so they can wrap it for Christmas, but I played with it last night and really like it so far. The owner's manual is a little beast, but I'm making my way through it.

    I also ordered a "Nifty Fifty" Canon 50mm lens from Amazon for $106 last night... It's scheduled to arrive on Monday, so I should be able to use it with the camera Christmas day.

    Anyway, thanks again for all of the help!


    EDIT: CL Ad removed by the seller already so I removed it from this post.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2013
  16. Dec 20, 2013 at 10:17 AM
    #16
    belone12

    belone12 Well-Known Member

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    Hey matt, no to threadjack but I am glad you posted this initially because it was really helpful to get this information for my own camera search. I am glad that it worked out well for you and everything was legit (even more than legi from how it sounds). Have a Merry Christmas and enjoy the new camera!

    Adam, thanks for posting the comprehensive info on the T3i. I haven't done this much rsearch since I bought new tires last winter ;-) I htink tha is the camera I am going with for my gf and I am going to look into the nifty fifty.

    I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a great 2014 ahead!
     
  17. Dec 21, 2013 at 7:25 AM
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    916TacoTruck

    916TacoTruck BallzDeep is how I go

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    Hey OP, do yourself a favor and leave the manual in the box. From now till you get the camera on Xmas, do research on photography. Photo.net is a great site for all kinds of info. Get out and shoot, don't just keep the setting on auto. You will be surprised what you can do. Enjoy the camera and merry xmas
     
  18. Dec 21, 2013 at 7:51 AM
    #18
    Teniente

    Teniente Well-Known Member

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    I have a Canon T3i, purchased the body only. Ordered a Tamron 28-300mm lens. That is my go-to camera. Takes outstanding photos and I only have to carry/use one lens.
     
  19. Dec 22, 2013 at 10:14 AM
    #19
    adamant365

    adamant365 Well-Known Member

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    Another good site is kenrockwell[dot]com


    Lots of unbiased reviews of not only Canon and Nikon gear, but also Leica, Sony, Tamron, etc.
     
  20. Dec 22, 2013 at 1:04 PM
    #20
    brian

    brian Another Traitor

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    KenRockwell.com is the place to go for reviews. I wouldn't call it completely unbiased, he is a Nikon fan, but he does his best to review the cameras.

    After playing with quite a few Canon Rebels, I'd really suggest staying away from them. Go with the aforementioned 60D or even a 30D. I'm not a Canon fan, but if I were, I would go for the 30D. Megapixels isn't everything :)>
     

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