Can I pick your brains? I am about to take the jump from P&S to DSLR. I'm really excited but it is hard to make decisions when I have no experience and limited knowledge! I was so...

Mandonan Loc: On the Road full time!

I am about to take the jump from P&S to DSLR. I'm really excited but it is hard to make decisions when I have no experience and limited knowledge! I was so happy to find this group and I have really been enjoying my time here and I'm excited seeing the wonderful photos you take! I have decided on a Canon T3i body for sure. I just got an ad from SAMs Club that they have a kit with the body and two lenses, EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Type II and EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS, battery and charger and a bag and 8 GB card. I checked in the store and this kit is $749. The coupon is for $100 off. So, if they don't raise the price before next week, this kit should be $650. This sounds too good to be true.....is the camera from SAMs just the same as from a camera shop? Thoughts and opinions? I know these aren't the very best lenses but can I be happy with them as a beginner and then decide what else I want? Thanks for all your help! Sorry if this is too long! :lol:

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Same camera as the other stores are carrying...Won't be a "gray market" item since it's from Sam's, so no worries there...Once you get accustomed to the camera, then you can proceed to invest in better lenses for it...

crimesc324 Loc: West Palm Beach, Florida

should be the same camera you buy anywhere else

Mandonan Loc: On the Road full time!

Thanks for your quick relpies! That's what I thought, with the Canon name on it. Do you think I will be frustrated with these lenses? Should I get just the body and a single lens?

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Whether or not you will be frustrated depends on what you shoot. If you shoot at the extremes of the lenses range, you could be. Shooting in very low light , just about any lens can be problematic, but more so with these kit lenses. Want to shoot macro?, not with these lenses. As you learn the limitations of the kit lenses, it will guide you in your quest as to what focal length lenses & how fast they need to be to satisfy your desires

Mandonan wrote:

Thanks for your quick relpies! That's what I thought, with the Canon name on it. Do you think I will be frustrated with these lenses? Should I get just the body and a single lens?

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

Check craigslist

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I have same camera and lenses. The wider angle does beautiful scenic shots, the medium-telephoto gave me gorgeous colors with pleasing out of focus background (bokeh) on flowers and other close-ups. I even got a nice 1/2 moon shot at night, hand-held (then cropped and sharpened a bit in pp) What is your area of interest for shooting?

As for price, this is a good time to buy the T3i as the T4i just came out. The camera and the 55-250 lens were both listed by Consumer Reports as good value for the price range.

Mandonan Loc: On the Road full time!

Linda From Maine wrote:

I have same camera and lenses. The wider angle doe... (show quote)

Thanks for the first hand input Linda! Right now I think I want to photograph everything! I have two Grandkids in sports and dance I have always photographed insects and flowers (my whole family teases me about trying to get that perfect dragonfly pic!). We are going to Hawaii next year for a once in a lifetime vacation, so I want to take landscapes. We retire next year and will sell our house to live full time in our motorhome. I can't wait! Need to get used to my new camera first. I'd rather buy from our local camera shop but they want $899 for the camera and lenses that I can get for $750 and maybe $650 next week at SAMs Club.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

The $650 would definitely be a competitive price. I see that Best Buy has the body with 18-55 mm lens for $600. And I know you can get the other lens for around $130 - $175. Does Sams Club have the same return policy as Costco? 30 days on cameras, no questions asked? Just in case you hate it. :)

Here is a link to a dragonfly photo I took with the t3i.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-102177-1.html

Mandonan wrote:

Thanks for the first hand input Linda! Right now I... (show quote)

Mandonan Loc: On the Road full time!

That's a GREAT pic! That would show all the nay-Sayers! Did you use the rapid fire to get it? Was this with one of the kit lenses?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Mandonan wrote:

That's a GREAT pic! That would show all the nay-Sayers! Did you use the rapid fire to get it? Was this with one of the kit lenses?

Thank you! I was really pleased with the way the wings and background turned out.

Actually I remembered a few minutes ago that the shot was with my 5-year old 8 mp Canon Rebel. I didn't buy the T3i 'til Nov. However, the lens was the 55-250 mm kit lens (which I bought separately in Sept.). I was using aperture priority and manual focus, single shots. I don't think there are a lot of naysayers for the T3i as far as that class of camera goes.

Mandonan Loc: On the Road full time!

Linda From Maine wrote:

Thank you! I was really pleased with the way the wings and background turned out.

Actually I remembered a few minutes ago that the shot was with my 5-year old 8 mp Canon Rebel. I didn't buy the T3i 'til Nov. However, the lens was the 55-250 mm kit lens (which I bought separately in Sept.). I was using aperture priority and manual focus, single shots. I don't think there are a lot of naysayers for the T3i as far as that class of camera goes.

The Nay-Sayers I spoke of are my family who continually ask how many pictures of dragonflies I have taken every time we go out! I've looked at your other posts and I'm excited about the quality of pictures you have taken with the kit lenses! I'm getting excited.....Wed the sale at SAMs starts!

olcoach Loc: Oregon

I have purchased stuff at Wal-mart which is same outfit. It sounds like a good price to me.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Mandonan wrote:

Thanks for the first hand input Linda! Right now I... (show quote)

Mandonan, welcome to the Hog. I'm glad you're enjoying yourself.
The kit you are looking at will serve you well. Not because I have used it, but simply because the camera is VERY popular and would not be so if it did not do a good job. And the lenses will be great if not pushed to their extremes. You may struggle a little with indoor action shots. Learn to use the camera and max it out. You'll know when it's time to start adding lenses and additional camera. Good luck and enjoy. Again, welcome to the Hog.

WYp8riot Loc: Wyoming

Mandonan wrote:

Thanks for the first hand input Linda! Right now I... (show quote)

I paid that price ($650) for a T4i with the 18-55mm lens. If you know how to shop online you might find a better price. My opinion... get T4i if you spend that much.