Camera Advise

I am not one to buy gifts or even a card but since we are coming up on 30 years of the same woman washing my cloths and keeping me fed I might just splurge this one time.

She has been eyeing a Canon - EOS Rebel T3 12.2 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera (Body with Lens Kit) - 18 mm-55 mm Lens when ever we pass it in the store. I think she wants it; just can not bring herself to spend that much money on a camera.

Since I know more about flying a rocket to Mars than I do about cameras I need advise.

Is this a good camera for the money?
Will be used to take everyday pictures and some; where close up detail is important.

Thanks

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Good camera, and you can get lots of "accessories" to go with it. My wife has one, and takes wonderful photos with it.
 
My daughter just bought one about a couple months ago and she loves it.
She bought the T3i from Best Buy online and paid around 575 for it.
The difference between the T3 and T3i are about 4 megapixels.
 
I'm an electronics clerk and I would recommend maybe the T2i/T3i. T3 was a replacement for the Rebel XSi. Another good choice is the Nikon D3X00 series. That camera is meant for people with limited working experience with a DSLR. Plus the Nikon lenses are cheaper and its easier to use older used lenses as they never really changed the mount.

Think of it like farm equipment before the Ferguson System: mounts are proprietary and once you buy the camera you're buying into the company's lens mount.

Christos
 
Divide the cost by 30 years and it will be quite reasonable.LOL I could suggest looking at a Fuji Finepix series which might save a little cash but the Canon Rebel is a top of the line outfit and I believe it is worth spending a little extra right away rather then buying a cheaper one and always thinking I wish I had spent a little extra.
With the Rebel you have the option of buying special lenses if needed.
I have a Fuji Finepix S1800 with 12 megapixals and can take great long distance shots plus great closeups of flowers and even closeups of humingbirds flying and can stop their wings but I can't change lenses like a Rebel which would be better. My sister has the Rebel and if I had it to over I would have spent the extra cash and got it.
With the digital camera and ability to save or discard before you get to a printer photography has become a reasonable hobby.
None of my business what you do but if you divide the cost by a few years that extra amount you spend up front doesn't amount to that much.
We scrimped and saved most of our life and now retired with some health problems and can't do what we had planned on doing. I lost a friend the same age not long ago so my point is do what you want now while you can enjoy it rather then waiting until you are sitting in a nursing home wishing you taken time or spent a little extra earlier in life.
 
She really needs to consider whether or not an SLR is right for her. They're very capable but big and expensive. I have a Fuji X10 that I love; much smaller than an SLR, but its capabilities are quite advanced.
 
Hey John,
Good for you, buy Her something nice, She deserves it. While on the subject of cameras. The one my wife has is programmable. She says She has it programmed not to take pictures of tractors so there is no reason for me to take it out of the house. Do you suppose that's possible or is she pulling my leg. Anyway I hope Yall have a nice anniversary.
Ron
 
Mark I like that. I have a Fujifilm Finepix Z pocket digital. I don't like it because the lense is in the corner. Real easy for me to get a finger in front of it. Also the on off switch, which is the lense cover, turns on too easily which runs down the battery. Takes OK pictures.
 
In that class of camera, it's top of the line. Professional photographers use it with upgraded lenses.

Others are right in that the average amateur will never use 99% of that camera's capabilities.

I spent around $300 on a Nikon D510, and I'll never use 90% of IT'S capabilities.
 
Normally, I don't recommend getting an extended warranty on anything, but you might consider it on this. I bought a Canon camera a couple of years ago and the thing had an "Error code 5" come up. (Google it. It's common on the Canon) It had taken fewer than 100 pictures and was exactly one month past the warranty. They wouldn't budge on them footing the bill and it cost me $199, plus shipping both ways, to get it fixed. They twisted my arm several times to "let us buy your camera and then you can upgrade cheaper" type of sales pressure. I guess that way they can spend $5 for the fix and resell it for $300. My next camera probably will not be a Canon.
 
Probably not relevant, but I mentioned once on this forum that the Samsung cameras I use on the job are virtually indestructable.

Couple of weeks ago, I had one of my Samsungs on the end of an 8 foot camera pole when I slipped on some ice and fell on my butt. This poor camera landed on an icy sidewalk from about 12 feet up. I thought I'd busted it all to he11. All that happened was the battery door popped open.

I shut the battery door and took another photo. Looked OK. I did take the precaution of using my backup camera for the rest of the day, but I've used the camera that got dropped for real since and no problems.
 
Great Camera but that lens is a looser. You will never need 18mm, and rarely anything under 35mm. Buy the camera and look for something in the 40-80 mm range for a lens.
 
Cannon 28-155 tele photo lense is prefered lense an i have 3 others for my EOS20D Cannon That lense takes shake out when you hand hold.
Only used there service technician help one time but is was very good!!!
 
good camera, would think about T3i like someone else said, yes they are expensive but if she enjoys it she will use it a lot, and get better at it, I have one (sony A55) used it a while, bought a 90mm macro lens and can take a picture of a bugs eye - or serial number off anything a make it so big that 4 numbers will cover computer screen BEFORE you start zooming in. Got some great pics of grandbabies
 
Most any DSLR camera will take GREAT pictures-this one no exception! I take nature pictures, and found I often had the wrong lens on-either too long, or too short, doubler on when did not want it-and would lose the shot because of the immediacy of it. I also wanted to get a longer lens, and it would have cost me about $800.00! SO, a friend, who also dabbles with cameras, found this one for me-it is PERFECT! The Canon SX50HS. Streets at $400.00. Will take most any close or distant photo you want WITHOUT changing lenses. Real easy to use, but has so many features which I have forgotten how to use! Check it out!
 
John No use posting a photo. After two years of looking that is exactly the camera even with the lens My wife got for Christmas. She is still learning all the functions but loves the camera and the photos it produces. We have both been Sony uses for years but she likes the Cannon.
 

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