Request for Advise on Purchasing a dSLR Canon

[Tony Rook]

I've been using Canon Powershot point-and-shoot cameras for the past 10 years... and have always been satisfied with their performance. And based on some of the posts in this forum - I may have already succumbed to the Dark Side...

At any rate... I want to purchase a dSLR camera. The major choices for Canon these days are:

Canon-EOS Digital Rebel T2i EF-S 18-55mm IS

Canon-EOS Digital Rebel T3 with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens-

Canon-EOS Digital Rebel T3i with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens-

Canon-EOS 60D Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens-

Any opinions on the Digital Rebel's - are they good to build on..?

Thanks,

Tony

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Tony - the Rebels are very good cameras - plenty of image quality, access to manual functions as you need them - full auto modes for easy use.

The AF is good, and you can add any of the Canon lenses as you wish.

My wife had the first digital Rebel - she's only just upgraded to the 30D, after son #1 bought himself the 60D and sold his nearly new 30D to mom!

Size is something you should check out - go pick up the cameras in best buy or another store - see how they feel in your hands. I believe the T2 models are 'very small' to hold...

Resolution - your range covers 12 MP to 18 MP - not really a huge difference, both give plenty of resolution for prints, web etc. I'd personally go for 18 MP, but that's just me.

Sensors are all APS-C, no nothing to choose there.

Controls: 60D has easier access to manual controls, more of a pro layout - may or may not be important to you, depending on how much you want to play with creative settings.

Video: Is this important to you? The tilt rear screen of the 60D is what convinced Son #1 to get one - he shoots skate videos, and wanted to hold the camera low, and still see the rear screen. T3i has this as well I believe.

AF: very similar between the models - 9 point AF standard - good AI Servo tracking for moving targets. T3i has more sensitive AF points FWIW.

Lenses: My wife's original Rebel had the 18-55, her 30D has the 18-55 IS - I'd get the IS given the choice. Image quality is good - perfect lens range for the crop sensor, and does a super job at most everyday shooting requirements. AF is quiet and pretty fast.

Build Quality: All are built to take the punishment - Rebels with paint finishes do scratch more easily, and eventually look worn. The black finish on the 60D is harder wearing, and the chassis inside the 60D is also more rigid.

There are deals from Canon for Christmas - worth shopping around - your price range looks to be $500-$1200 approx.

You should be very happy - great way to get into DSLRs.

 

[Pete Askew]

Sounds like very good advice to me. Not being someone who has drifted to the 'dark side' I cannot comment but you will at least be able to try it out in Prague in March!!

 

[Tony Rook]

Thanks Chris - How about Macros.... I'm a big fan of extreme close up images... must be a job-related effect - I'm a microbiologist too, similar to Pete!

Do any of the Canon Choices particularly favor my ability to capture effective macro images...

Pete - Since I am an now at a cross-roads... I'm open to hearing your perspective on other manufacturer's equivalent camera's. Can't remember if you shoot Nikon...

Tony

 

[Brian Moore]

Not being someone who has drifted to the 'dark side'

Pete,...I'm curious to know what it is you consider "the dark side." DSLRs? Canons?

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Chris - How about Macros.... I'm a big fan of extreme close up images... must be a job-related effect - I'm a microbiologist too, similar to Pete!

Do any of the Canon Choices particularly favor my ability to capture effective macro images...

Pete - Since I am an now at a cross-roads... I'm open to hearing your perspective on other manufacturer's equivalent camera's. Can't remember if you shoot Nikon...

Tony

A key feature on the newer Canon's for Macro has been Live View mode - displaying what you're shooting on the rear screen.

This is great for macro, as you can fine tune your composition, and use the live view focus mode to pick the point on the object you want to focus on very precisely.

They all do Live view, but the T3i and 60D have the articulated rear screen, making viewing easier when you're working low down for macro.

Another potentially useful feature is a wireless flash trigger - which is built-in to the T3i - this would allow you to use a Canon Speedlight flash unit to illuminate your macro work, and have it sync to the camera without cables. Might be useful, or you might not mind a wired connection - If you're a real macro head then you may go for the dedicated macro flash units from Canon, which are all hard wired units, so negating the advantage of the cameras wireless flash trigger!

Lots of macro lenses to choose from, including a very high end (priced) L Macro at 100mm f2.8

I use the older non-L 100mm macro, and the quality is excellent - don't see the need to buy the L version.

There are macro specialists on the forum who could recommend the specific focal length you might want to buy, based on the subject matter. I use the 100mm for a variety of non-biological shots - mostly extreme closeups of retro tech like cameras, watches etc.

This shot was on a 5D2, so on your crop sensor camera you'd be even 'closer' using the same lens.

The full current range is here: Canon Direct Store - Macro Lenses

Note, many people try macro, don't really use the lens much, then sell on EBAY and Craigslist - so you can pick up an almost new lens at a great price - that's how I got mine!

 

[Allan Batchelor]

Following closely as im think I might venture to the dark side myself as looking for a backup to my Nikon lol

 

[Tony Rook]

Thanks Chris - I should be heading out to the shops sometime this weekend... Sounds like the T3i is my leading choice so far.

 

[Pete Askew]

Hi Tony, yes for 35mm SLRs and DSLRs I shoot with Nikon and have done so since the late 70's. One of the nice things about Nikon is that pretty well all of the lenses fit and can be made to work on even the most recent bodies - and I have a lot of older lenses, as well as modern glass). I also love low light photography and the D700 and D3 are fantastic in low light (I was using a D3 inside in Prague - and a Leica M9 when we were out-and-about). However, if you don't have older glass (although this can be a very cost-effective way of adding lenses, especially primes, to your armory) then either system would make sense.