DSLR rookie... advice appreciated...

Seadog927 · Apr 28, 2013

The sad news? My Canon PowerShot S3IS point and shoot camera has begun to fail after 7 good years. I have taken many photos that I really love with this camera, but its limitations were clear on certain occasions.

The good news? I am excited about getting a new camera and, this time, want to jump into the world of DSLR. We have a new baby due in June (our first) and pictures will be very important. Beyond that, I would like to learn more about photography and develop my skills beyond "auto" mode. I want to learn, experiment, and try capture great shots.... largely of landscapes, but really of a wide range of subjects. I am not looking to open my own studio, but having a some shots I could enter in a contest or offer for sale at a fair price would be great one day!

I have been reading and researching, and reading and researching, and of course looking at my budget. Right now, I am looking at 3 models. Those are:
1) Canon t3i for $565
2) Nikon D3200 for $550
3) Canon t5i for $899

Yes, the t5i marks a big budget jump... really pushing the limits... but it was new in the store today and I just liked it.

So, I want a camera that I can have fun learning the basics on, but also have plenty of room to grow as I try more challenging photos and try to get shots that look more professional. Also, I want to be able to take pictures out of the box, as I am learning. I would hate for my daughter to be born and be like "I'd take pictures, but I am still learning how this camera works".

I lean towards Canon just because I have liked my Canon point and shoots, and also I saw another site where it was suggested Nikon lenses are priced higher than Canon... but that may be wrong?

I would love advice on which of the 3 choices you recommend I get and why. And, of course, if you want to suggest a different camera that I am not looking at now, that is great too!

If I were buying right now, I would get the t3i. It seems like plenty of camera that will take some great pictures, be easy to learn on, and give me that room to grow. Yes, the t5i seemed great to me as I played with it, but I think I might be better directing that extra $350 elsewhere, like at a 2nd lens. If I can start out with a t3i and two lenses, that seems more logical than a t5i with the basic lens.

But... I am all ears. I am eager to hear the opinions, tips, and suggestions. I have already garnered some info from other threads but wanted to ask about my specific situation and these cameras. Thanks so much!

David8 · Apr 28, 2013

Seadog927 said:
The sad news? My Canon PowerShot S3IS point and shoot camera has begun to fail after 7 good years. I have taken many photos that I really love with this camera, but its limitations were clear on certain occasions.

The good news? I am excited about getting a new camera and, this time, want to jump into the world of DSLR. We have a new baby due in June (our first) and pictures will be very important. Beyond that, I would like to learn more about photography and develop my skills beyond "auto" mode. I want to learn, experiment, and try capture great shots.... largely of landscapes, but really of a wide range of subjects. I am not looking to open my own studio, but having a some shots I could enter in a contest or offer for sale at a fair price would be great one day!

I have been reading and researching, and reading and researching, and of course looking at my budget. Right now, I am looking at 3 models. Those are:
1) Canon t3i for $565
2) Nikon D3200 for $550
3) Canon t5i for $899

Yes, the t5i marks a big budget jump... really pushing the limits... but it was new in the store today and I just liked it.

So, I want a camera that I can have fun learning the basics on, but also have plenty of room to grow as I try more challenging photos and try to get shots that look more professional. Also, I want to be able to take pictures out of the box, as I am learning. I would hate for my daughter to be born and be like "I'd take pictures, but I am still learning how this camera works".

I lean towards Canon just because I have liked my Canon point and shoots, and also I saw another site where it was suggested Nikon lenses are priced higher than Canon... but that may be wrong?

I would love advice on which of the 3 choices you recommend I get and why. And, of course, if you want to suggest a different camera that I am not looking at now, that is great too!

If I were buying right now, I would get the t3i. It seems like plenty of camera that will take some great pictures, be easy to learn on, and give me that room to grow. Yes, the t5i seemed great to me as I played with it, but I think I might be better directing that extra $350 elsewhere, like at a 2nd lens. If I can start out with a t3i and two lenses, that seems more logical than a t5i with the basic lens.

But... I am all ears. I am eager to hear the opinions, tips, and suggestions. I have already garnered some info from other threads but wanted to ask about my specific situation and these cameras. Thanks so much!

All of those cameras will satisfy your intro to dslrs. I'm not going to suggest one over the other. Just go into a store that has all three and pick them up, hold then. See how you like the buttons and controls and go from there. If you really like the t5i an can afford it, then buy it. You won't be disappointed. Or, if the t3i is similar enough to the t5i for your liking and you can't afford the t5i, then get the t3i. Or if you like the nikon. See where I'm going?

To use one example of lenses (i know this doesn't make a fair comparison). The nikon 50mm f/1.8 is more expensive then the canon 50mm f/1.8. But it's quality is much better... There is a trade off. =)

Hope this helps.

texkam · Apr 28, 2013

Consider the T4i. It's basically the T5i, but it's a notch above the T3i.

Learn to shoot in manual mode first. If you can learn how and why iso, aperture and shutter speed affect the final outcome, everything thing else will just fall into place. Try to understand what is going on with exposure instead of trying to figure out all the auto settings while not really knowing why they do what they do.

gmazz · Apr 28, 2013

You could always go with a used camera, then you would have more money down the road for lenses.

Designer · Apr 28, 2013

There's nothing wrong with having a Canon P&S, AND a Nikon DSLR. I keep the P&S for times when I just want a camera in my pocket, but my "other" camera is a D5000.

uflraptor · Apr 28, 2013

I’m sure you can find many to comment on the models you mentioned.

I will agree with some of the comments about buying used or factory refurb. You can really get some good deals.

Always better to invest in good glass. Oh and an external flash one day.

Seadog927 · Apr 28, 2013

Wow, 5 replies in a short time! Great forum!

Thanks so much for these suggestions and the advice. It is all very helpful. I'm definitely taking it all into consideration and getting my ducks in a row before making the purchase. Thanks again...