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Question

Need advice on a new DSLR.

Feb 27, 2012 12:49AM PST

I am looking to upgrade from my current camera, a Kodak Z980, to DSLR that will take better quality photos. My Kodak camera is a nice camera and I like the control that I have with it, but I'm looking for a camera that takes crisper pictures and handles movement better. I've been doing some research but it's a little overwhelming.

I don't really care about being able to take videos, so that's not a factor in deciding on a camera for me. I had been looking at a Nikon D3100, but some of the reviews left me with concerns. My price range is between $500-$800 and I don't want to settle on the D3100 if I could get a better camera for a little more.

This would be my first camera dealing with changeable lenses and I don't really know much about them. So while crispness and movement are my main concerns I would also like a camera that has a decent zoom without having to purchase an expensive lense.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much in advance.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Decent Zoom
Feb 27, 2012 6:19AM PST

What do you see "decent zoom" to be?

The Canon T3 kit comes with a 18-55 IS lens and sells for about $500.
You can get a kit with the 18-55 IS and a 75-300 lens for about $600.

There are many other lens choices:

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup

Are you thinking about two lenses or just one lens?

There are many third party lenses available too.

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More info.
Feb 27, 2012 9:01AM PST

Well I guess this is really where my inexperience shows. I don't use the zoom very often, but I'd like to have zoom available to me if I needed it. I've never had a camera where I needed a seperate lens, all my cameras have had built in zoom. My sister has a Canon and she always tells me that her zoom isn't good enough. I'm not really sure what the difference is between the two lenses that you listed. With the 18-55 am I going to be able to take pictures of say, a flying bird or an animal at the zoo? Or will I need the 75-300 lens for that? And with the 75-300 lens on would I be able to take "normal" pictures of like, people around me or would I have to switch the two lenses out?

Sorry if that's a lot of questions, I'm just kind of new to all of this still.

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Lenses
Feb 27, 2012 11:07AM PST

The two lenses I mentioned cover different focal lengths and as the need occurs you would switch lenses.

You will find that over 95 % of your pictures will be taken with the 18-55 lens.

And generally when you switch to the 75-300 lens you will take a series of shots with that lens and then go back to the 18-55 lens.
The 75-300 lens is longer and heavier, and not comfortable to keep on the camera for long periods of time.
If you have the camera on a strap hanging around your neck, with the larger lens the camera tends to point at your feet.
It is nose heavy.
With the smaller lens, the camera hangs (from the strap) upright and points straight ahead.

I suggest you buy the T3 kit (18-55 lens) and buy a larger zoom lens later.
That gives you time to think more about which lens to get.
My first SLR film camera had a 50mm lens and I used it for 5 years before getting a 200mm lens.

The 75-300 lens is a budget lens, Canon has better lenses but they cost more too.
I doubt that you need the 300mm focal length, you might consider a lens that stops at 200mm.
That is long enough for most people.

You may discover that you don't really need a long zoom lens at all.
With software you can crop a photo and effectively achieve a zoom.
Here is an example of a crop being used as a zoom:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v159/randol9p9/Crop01.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v159/randol9p9/Crop02.jpg

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Answer
Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Feb 27, 2012 6:59PM PST

No doubt Nikon D3100 is among one the most preferred camera but you too know there are some pros and cons in every technology. I am currently having canon EOS Rebel T3i and this comes up with a lot of exciting features.
I was also much confused when i was about to buy the camera but I finished my search on Rebel and would say till now i haven't came across any drawback of its which can be considered as a point of concern. This camera enables me to click brighter and crisper images and also the videography from this camera is just awesome.