DSLR and zoom lens for ~$1,000.00 USD?

[danski0224]

Given a budget of $1k USD, what new (new as in not used) items would you buy?

If that budget could be stretched to $1.5k (max, no more), what changes?

Looking for "ease of use" (amateur, no prior DSLR experience) and a zoom lens.

I am initially drawn to the T4i with the 18-135 IS STM lens kit and possibly the 40 shorty.

PowerShot?

Thanks.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

With a limited budget, I'd definitely consider a refurb camera body from Canon.  You can trade in a broken film SLR or Powershot using the Canon CLP program and get an additional 20% off. 
If you must have new, Get a low cost camera and put your money where it counts most, in a good lens. 
Money spent on a good lens is going to be the best bang for the buck.

[jdramirez]

Given a budget of $1k USD, what new (new as in not used) items would you buy?

If that budget could be stretched to $1.5k (max, no more), what changes?

I am initially drawn to the T4i with the 18-135 IS STM lens kit and possibly the 40 shorty.

I'm going to be completely unhelpful because I have changed my opinion on new v. used v. refurbished.  I used to only be willing to buy new, but with lenses, they don't have many problems and most of the refurbs with Canon are basically new.  I'm also going to assume that you would wait for a 15 or 20% off sale canon periodically has.  Also, when you buy used/refurbished, your resell price of the lens is about what you paid for it to begin with.  So it is like a really cheap rental period of 1 or 2 years. 

My first choice would be for the body:
http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_267071_-1
$383 with 20% off plus whatever tax you might have to pay.  It is a good camera with video options and has the same sensor as the t3i and the 60D.  It has good low light performance and while I have a 60D, I think the t2i is a really good camera for the money.  And Canon refurbs are usually returns and sometimes new because of overstock.  So you might get a camera with zero clicks or less than 100.

Next would be your walk around zoom lens:
http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_269486_-1
$512 - The 15-85 offers good performance (near tack sharp at certain focal lengths) and while it's aperture is variable, I would suggest getting a speedlite flash.  Bounce light off walls and ceilings and you will be pleased with your shots. 

http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_204273_-1
$192 - Here's the 430ex ii speedlite.  It's good, I have it.  You can get it around 200 or so which isn't bad. 

http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_269492_-1
$454 - The 55-250 is a very good performer and you can get that for around $150 lately.  But I really like the L series lenses and if you have the extra money, this is a very good option. 

Total for the above is 1541 plus sales tax unless you live in NH, DE, or OR. 

If you don't think you need the L lense, I'd suggest getting the 55-250 plus the 50mm f/1.8 which would cost you $1341 ish. 

[RLPhoto]

Given a budget of $1k USD, what new (new as in not used) items would you buy?

If that budget could be stretched to $1.5k (max, no more), what changes?

Looking for "ease of use" (amateur, no prior DSLR experience) and a zoom lens.

I am initially drawn to the T4i with the 18-135 IS STM lens kit and possibly the 40 shorty.

PowerShot?

Thanks.

5Dc

28-135mm + 50mm 1.8.

Done.

[tiger82]

For a newbie, a T3i or T4i kits with 18-135 is a good starter kit.  At least if you don't do much with it, it is not a  big investment.  As you get more involved, get some nice glass then think about a pro or prosumer body.

[bbasiaga]

+1 on the T3i/18-135 kit.  Great walk around range in a single lens, and much better IQ than a P&S.  I'd get that, and then see what focal range you like to shoot in.  Add a nice prime that you can use for more formal shots, maybe a 35 F2, shorty 40, 50 1.8 or 85 1.8, depending on what you end up liking.

-Brian

[sjp010]

5Dc

28-135mm + 50mm 1.8.

Done.

That would be my advice as well (would possibly swap in 40/2.8 for 50/1.8 ), except that the OP said it has to be new.

I like the advice of a refurbished (effectively new) T2i and 15-85.  That will be around $1000 and will be a very nice beginner setup.

[RLPhoto]

5Dc

28-135mm + 50mm 1.8.

Done.

That would be my advice as well (would possibly swap in 40/2.8 for 50/1.8 ), except that the OP said it has to be new.

I like the advice of a refurbished (effectively new) T2i and 15-85.  That will be around $1000 and will be a very nice beginner setup.

Yep, there is alot of gently used 5Dc on eBay and Craig'slist. If I had to start all over again, I'd never buy a crop rebel for 799$ when I can get a FF body again.

Then again, I bought my first camera used in a pawn shop and knew nothing about photography then. I ran that rebel into the ground until its shutter died, but that's just me.

[jdramirez]

In regards to image quality, the 18-55 = 18-135 = 18-200.  So mediocre.  Not awful, but mediocre.  So any kit lens that you have to begin with isn't a good use of funds. 

In regards to image quality and low light performance, the t2i = t3i = 60D = 7D.  If you don't need an articulating screen or 5+ frames per second shooting, you will do just fine with the t2i.  Off camera flash is nice and that is one of the biggest benefits to the t3i and above, but most people don't begin with that and by the time you are ready to do off camera flash, my guess is that you will be looking at an upgrade for the body.

When I first got into SLR photography, I had a 18-55 (medicore but not awful), a 75-300 (awful), and a 50mm f/1.8 (remarkably sharp when stopped down to 2..  The only good lens out of those three was the 50mm so I kept it on my camera 90% of the time.  I sold the 75-300 and got a 55-250 and the percentages were 5% for the 18-55, 50mm 70%, and the 55-250 for 25%.  That's what I shot.  Some people prefer wide angle photography, some prefer shallow depth of field portraits, some prefer telephoto zooms above 200mm focal length.  If you don't know already, then you should figure out what type of photography you will gravitate to.  But I think your best options are to have multiple lenses to cover a large focal area and then when you know what you like, then invest in upgraded lenses and sell the old.  The 16-35 is excellent for full frame wide angle photography ($1300+) and the 10-22mm is a good option for crop sensor cameras ($600ish).  If you shoot things at a distance, primes will get you excellent photo quality, or a 70-200mm f/4 IS is EXCELLENT at a $1000, or for indoor shooting, the 70-200 f/2.8L USM will suffice without tradining in your first born.

If you find that you are only doing portrait photography, a GREAT lens is the 135mm f/2.  But again... all that will come in time and my initial suggestion of covering the range from 15-250 (or 200 with the L) is a good start. 

Keep in mind that camera bodies depreciate in value SO MUCH FASTER than lenses.  So you can buy a $500 camera body that is worth $200 after 4 years whereas that lens you may $500 may actually increase in value during that same period of time.  So there is greater risk associated with the purchase of a body than there is with a lens. 

[elflord]

Given a budget of $1k USD, what new (new as in not used) items would you buy?

If that budget could be stretched to $1.5k (max, no more), what changes?

Looking for "ease of use" (amateur, no prior DSLR experience) and a zoom lens.

I am initially drawn to the T4i with the 18-135 IS STM lens kit and possibly the 40 shorty.

PowerShot?

Thanks.

Would suggest a cheap body with good glass -- because that's the way to obtain good image quality.

40D + Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 non vc or maybe the 15-85mm canon lens. Add the 50mm f/1.8 or the 50mm f/1.4 if your budget allows it.

Wider zoom range == lower image quality. The best zooms have a shorter zoom range. Pay attention to the aperture spec, not just the zoom range. For example there's a reason the 17-55mm f/2.8 is much more expensive than the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6. The reason is not the 1mm at the wide end, it's the faster (f/2. aperture on the 17-55mm lens.

Would generally recommend against the "latest and greatest" bodies, especially the rebel bodies (e.g. the T4). The video features have improved substantially but in terms of image quality, advances have been incremental and consumer level bodies are released frequently (which means you often see three or more releases with little to no discernable change in image quality)

If you have more money to spend, consider either a decent flash (e.g. 430 EX or better) and an extra lens (e.g. one of the 70-200mm lenses or an ultra wide). The original 5D (often called the 5DC) also sounds like an interesting choice depending on what you photograph, but I haven't used one. The main advantage of that path is that it's full frame at a very affordable price.

[jdramirez]

Given a budget of $1k USD, what new (new as in not used) items would you buy?

If that budget could be stretched to $1.5k (max, no more), what changes?

Looking for "ease of use" (amateur, no prior DSLR experience) and a zoom lens.

I am initially drawn to the T4i with the 18-135 IS STM lens kit and possibly the 40 shorty.

PowerShot?

Thanks.

Would suggest a cheap body with good glass -- because that's the way to obtain good image quality.

40D + Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 non vc or maybe the 15-85mm canon lens. Add the 50mm f/1.8 or the 50mm f/1.4 if your budget allows it.

Wider zoom range == lower image quality. The best zooms have a shorter zoom range. Pay attention to the aperture spec, not just the zoom range. For example there's a reason the 17-55mm f/2.8 is much more expensive than the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6. The reason is not the 1mm at the wide end, it's the faster (f/2. aperture on the 17-55mm lens.

Would generally recommend against the "latest and greatest" bodies, especially the rebel bodies (e.g. the T4). The video features have improved substantially but in terms of image quality, advances have been incremental and consumer level bodies are released frequently (which means you often see three or more releases with little to no discernable change in image quality)

If you have more money to spend, consider either a decent flash (e.g. 430 EX or better) and an extra lens (e.g. one of the 70-200mm lenses or an ultra wide). The original 5D (often called the 5DC) also sounds like an interesting choice depending on what you photograph, but I haven't used one. The main advantage of that path is that it's full frame at a very affordable price.

I'm not sure if the OP is an complete novice, but if he is, then he needs to know that a crop sensor has a 1.6 conversion factor.  Which means that a 24-105 on a full frame shoots more like a 38-168 on a crop sensor.  And Ef-s lenses aren't compatible with full frame cameras.  So if he does opt for the 5dc (first time I ever heard it referred to that way), he can't get several nice lenses (e.g., 17-55 by canon, the 11-16 by tokina, the 55-250 by canon, or the 15-85 by canon).  It's just something to be aware of. 

[ScottyP]

Whatever your budget is, whether it's $1k or $1.5k, don't blow it all up front before you actually USE the body and a lens first.  See what you want.  Many people end up buying something, and then almost immediately selling part of it based on what they really like and need vs. what sounded good in one up-front buying splurge!

Please DO:
-buy a tripod
-buy a flash

After 6 to 12 months with a body and a lens (depending on how much time you have had to actually TAKE PICTURES:
-consider other lenses
-consider STROBIST equipment (cheap manual flashes on light stands using shoot-thru umbrellas, etc.)

[ctmike]

I'm in a similar position... probably looking to buy in the next month or so (want to hear what's coming at Photokina first). I did call up Canon yesterday, and through the Canon Loyalty Program, I was quoted $639.99 for the 60D (body only). I would love to pair it with the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8, but that's rarely available via CLP, apparently. So my next option would likely be the EF-S 15-85... would have been out the door for approx $1200 all together.

[jdramirez]

I'm in a similar position... probably looking to buy in the next month or so (want to hear what's coming at Photokina first). I did call up Canon yesterday, and through the Canon Loyalty Program, I was quoted $639.99 for the 60D (body only). I would love to pair it with the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8, but that's rarely available via CLP, apparently. So my next option would likely be the EF-S 15-85... would have been out the door for approx $1200 all together.

I had an xs and I seriously wanted to upgrade to the t2i, but it felt way too much like my XS... and in my mind I couldn't accept paying more for what felt so very similar.  I picked up a 60D and I was very pleased with it.  It has better ergonomics, I love the lcd screen at the top, I use the articulating screen more than I thought I would, and it's shots per second has come in handy.  But what really swayed me was the cross auto focus points.  I switch to the peripheral AF points all the time and I really wanted to the cross points. 

I haven't regretted my purchase yet... though I do think about upgrading to full frame... and I am also annoyed that they stripped some of the features from the 50D that I would like.  But I accept that... I'm not over it... but I accept it.

[danski0224]

Thanks for the input.

I took a 7D and some lenses over to the person that originally proposed the question.

Considering that the 7D has the same sensor as many of the other APS-C format cameras, it seemed appropriate.

The lenses were brought to show "what they look like" to provide some reference.

I showed how to move the focus point and explained that most P&S cameras do not allow this.

Took some pictures to show exaples of depth of field.

The size of the camera was mentioned (I mentioned that the Rebel cameras are a bit smaller). Switching lenses was brought up (not a big deal once you know what you want to take pictures of). The number of buttons is also intimidating.

I tried to convey that really nice and wide range zoom lenses are quite expensive (a big zoom lens was brought up a few times).

I also demonstrated the green square mode, which would be OK to use while the other stuff was messed with.

In the end, I'm not sure this person will make the transition from point and shoot to DSLR.

There is a lot of good info here for those that choose to read this thread. In some ways, I wish I bought a Rebel series instead of the 7D... would have left some $$$ over for a nicer lens (or, just $$$ left over).