First post, need advice.

[jjd228]

Hi everyone. I'm moving from point and shoot and after spending some time with the Canon t4i I decided that's what I'm going with. I'm looking to spend under $1,000 on a bundle and I am overwhelmed by the choices online. If someone doesn't help me I'm going to keep searching and researching and never buy!

I'm looking at this link and would love a simple YES or NO from people:

Amazon.com: Canon EOS Rebel T4i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera w/EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens + EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens + LP-E8 Replacement Lithium Ion Battery w/External Rapid Charger + 16GB SDHC Class 10 Memory Card + 58mm Wide

Almost all of my shooting will be of human models in glamour poses, some boudoir etc. I'll be looking to buy additional lenses in the future, but just as a starting point is this bundle good for the money? If anyone can point me to a different bundle that is "better" I would definitely consider it.

Thank you!

 

[im2c0ol]

That's a mistake most newbie does! Buy body and lens seperate. You might want to consider 60D also it's a bit better in low light, weather proof, bigger body better grib with the pro looks bottons layout. As for starter you can pick up a 50mm f1.4 and additianl battery plus all other accessories still going to be under 1k

 

[Designer]

After the first three items, everything else is the lower-priced stuff, some of which you may never actually use.

Except this: "1- External Digital Slave SLR Flash" Now if that is a regular Canon Speedlight with TTL capability, then you are getting some value here.

Somehow I doubt it.

Anyway, I usually recommend that you pare down the kit to what you actually NEED, and don't buy all the fluff first thing.

Yea, you're going to need some of it for sure, but some of it just seems like extra stuff to jack up the sales price.

Why not just look for the minimum camera, starter lens, and SD card, and get used to things before you buy more stuff?

Now since you say you wish to shoot models in glamor poses, you will need a good lens, some studio lights, some light modifiers, a backdrop, and light stands just to get going.

Good luck!

 

[KmH]

You might want to consider 60D also it's ....., weather proof, ......

The 60D isn't weather proof.
IIRC it's not even weather sealed. Weather sealing doesn't make a camera weather proof.
But all DSLR cameras are essentially weather resistant to one degree or another.

While the 30D, 40D, 50D had metal chassis, the 60D is all plastic. Canon basically de-featured the 60D compared to the 50D and bumped the 60D down to the entry-level tier.
Canon EOS 60D Review: Digital Photography Review
Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : EOS 60D

 

[im2c0ol]

You might want to consider 60D also it's ....., weather proof, ......

The 60D isn't weather proof.
IIRC it's not even weather sealed. Weather sealing doesn't make a camera weather proof.
But all DSLR cameras are essentially weather resistant to one degree or another.

While the 30D, 40D, 50D had metal chassis, the 60D is all plastic. Canon basically de-featured the 60D compared to the 50D and bumped the 60D down to the entry-level tier.
Canon EOS 60D Review: Digital Photography Review

I took that weather proof off snapsort review on the t4i vs 60D, and that's why I choose 60D with 50mm 1.4 I just recommend the same kit for my friend who are new to DSLR who want to take portraits for herself.

 

[weepete]

My advice: get good glass.

You will want extra goodies later, we all do! But good glass is an investment worth making.

 

[KmH]

I bet the snapsort review did not say "weather proof".

If it did the rest of the review is highly suspect.

 

[TCampbell]

You might want to consider 60D also it's ....., weather proof, ......

The 60D isn't weather proof.
IIRC it's not even weather sealed. Weather sealing doesn't make a camera weather proof.
But all DSLR cameras are essentially weather resistant to one degree or another.

While the 30D, 40D, 50D had metal chassis, the 60D is all plastic. Canon basically de-featured the 60D compared to the 50D and bumped the 60D down to the entry-level tier.
Canon EOS 60D Review: Digital Photography Review
Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : EOS 60D

The 60D is weather-sealed, but there are degrees of weather sealing. It's the same as the 50D... slightly less than the 7D. But the Rebel bodies don't feature weather seals at all. If you look at this page (The Digital Picture) and scroll way way down, they have a drawing which depicts where the seals, o-rings, and gaskets are all located: Canon EOS 60D Review

Keith's advice is sound as usual... weather-sealed should NOT be confused with weather-proof. If you want weather-proof, get an underwater (e.g. divers) housing (not cheap!).

In any case, those bundles are generally all bad ideas.

They include only the very lowest grade items (they pay almost nothing for it... basically "junk" grade.) The only extra lens which is a real lens is the 75-300mm zoom, but that's the lowest quality zoom Canon makes. You could get just the camera body and single kit lens (because you really wont need a 75-300mm telephoto zoom for portraiture/glamour/boudoir). Then all you'd need is a bag (very cheap), a memory card (very cheap but get TWO of them) and if you really want a spare battery then get one.

All the other goodies they throw in are junk. Get a decent flash and, for glamour you'd want studio lighting and modifiers anyway... probably not a shoe-mounted speedlite.

This will save you a few hundred which you can then put toward decent lighting and/or a quality prime lens (like a 50mm f/1.4).

 

[Juga]

I love my T4i but all these answers are 100% right. Since you asked for a simple yes or no.

No.

 

[tirediron]

That's a mistake most newbie does! Buy body and lens seperate. You might want to consider 60D also it's a bit better in low light, weather proof, bigger body better grib with the pro looks bottons layout. As for starter you can pick up a 50mm f1.4 and additianl battery plus all other accessories still going to be under 1k

I would strongly disagree with this recommendation unless you feel that you are well enough versed in the attributes of different focal-length lenses to make an informed decision. The kit lens (usually an 18-55) is a good starter lens, and normally packaged with the body at an attractive price. I would also recommend buying your first camera on-line. Rather, go to a real, 'bricks and mortar' camera store (NOT a big-box store that sells cameras), and even if you pay slightly more, the potential pay-off in free advice and assistance will more than make up for it.

 

[bratkinson]

For that Amazon.com kit the OP indicated, a big NO WAY! In short, it's not a bargain at all, as other than the camera and the 2 Canon lenses, the rest is either useless, low quality, or complete junk. Maybe all of the above. Starting with the extra battery..probably a no-name compatible battery that may or may not last long. While there are some very good compatibles out there, I doubt this would be one of them. As remarked previously, the flash is not likely to be a Canon. My biggest problem is those two screw on lenses...the 'wide angle' and '2X tele'. I bought a pair like that not long after I got my first DSLR and they were complete rubbish. My first test with the tele have my Canon EF-S 18-135 hunting non-stop trying to focus. Even going to manual focus, the best I could get out of the lens was 'blurry'. Then, unscrewing the lens, the tele itself unscrewed into 2 pieces and its lenses fell to the floor. The trash can was the next stop for both of them.

So, as mentioned before, one methodology is to buy the camera of choice and indivually buy the lens or lenses to go with it. Instead of either of those two lenses, I'd look for a package deal with an EF-S 18-135 STM. I started with a pre-STM 18-135 as my first lens and found it was ideal in almost any situation. The limitation was that it needed an external flash when shooting indoors. But then, so would the 18-55 and 55-250 in the Amazon kit indicated. Adding a Canon 420EX flash would give you a very well rounded kit, in my estimation.

 

[jjd228]

Thanks everyone! Because of this thread I'm actually going with the t4i body only (I just love the touch screen over the 60D) and the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM. Best price I find so far is $988 total. If anyone can point me to a less expensive place to buy I would appreciate it greatly!

EDIT: The camera actually comes with the 18-55mm EF-S IS II. So is $988 a good price for that package?

 

[KenC]

As much as I love primes, and love my 50/1.8, I'm not sure it makes sense to get anything beyond the kit lens right off the bat. You don't really know yet whether 50 is a focal length that works for you on that body and the cost is a significant part of the package. What if you find that the long end of the zoom is not long enough for some of what you like to do? Then you would want the 85/1.8 instead of the 50. Take it in steps - you'll get there!

 

[Dao]

If I were you, I will just get the Camera and the kit lens first. Use it, learn it and find out what you need next once you know more.

 

[jjd228]

As much as I love primes, and love my 50/1.8, I'm not sure it makes sense to get anything beyond the kit lens right off the bat. You don't really know yet whether 50 is a focal length that works for you on that body and the cost is a significant part of the package. What if you find that the long end of the zoom is not long enough for some of what you like to do? Then you would want the 85/1.8 instead of the 50. Take it in steps - you'll get there!

Thank you. Literally 99.9% of my shoots will be models at pretty close range (at least in the same room), typical boudoir stuff. Lots of low light etc. I actually decided to get the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM after reading countless reviews and even talking to a few people who use that lens a lot for this type of work. Assume money isn't a factor... would you get this lens to shoot what I'll be shooting? I know it's a complicated question that depends on all kinds of things, including personal preference, but if you were forced to say yes or no, what would you say? With money not a factor, do I get this lens or stick with the kit lens the camera comes with?