Bipod

Absolutely: BUY BUY BUY!
(But to avoid gray market, be sure to always buy at the highest price you can find.)

You can't beat the versatility of the Canon 21 - 1365 mm f/3.4-6.5 -- buy one today!
You'll be a world-famous photographer in no time.

(Yes, Canon actually makes such a lens. Why? You'd have to ask them.)

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

B & H Photo is very reliable. It is considered by many members of UHH to be one of the top sources for online purchases of camera gear. I would recommend dealing with B & H. Adorama is another great source for cameras and photo gear. Personally, I use Amazon quite a bit, but buy directly from Amazon, and usually avoid their 3rd party sellers. Amazon is an authorized Canon dealer. Some of the 3rd party sellers on Amazon offer grey market items without noting that they lack a U.S. warranty. The SL2 would be a good DSLR to start with. It has Canon's newer Digic 7 processor and a 24 Megapixel sensor. The compact size would provide a great transition into DSLR photography. It is a very capable camera. I would recommend buying the 18-55mm lens with the camera in a bundle, as that will save you some money. You can add other lenses, such as the Canon 70-300mm USM II Nano lens after your initial purchase. As other mentioned, stay away from the 75-300mm lens. You should also avoid packages that come with a lot of accessories, as these items are often worth little or nothing.

Bipod

B&H was great for years. Now it's mainly video, with reduced listings for still photography
and used equipment almost eliminated. But you can still pay top dollar for new equipment.

BTW, in 2016 B&H was sued by the US Dept of Labor for discrimination against Hispanics, paying
lower wages to female employees, and for and racially segregated bathrooms (!).
https://nypost.com/2016/02/25/bh-forced-hispanic-workers-to-use-separate-bathroom-feds/

B&H paid $3.2 million in fines to settle the lawsuit.
https://hyperallergic.com/396180/bh-photo-settles-department-of-labor-lawsuit/
'
In 2007, it paid $4.3 million to settle a separate discrminiation case.

But you think women are doormats and discrmination is cool, then by all means, buy from B&H.

CO

That 75-300mm lens does not have stabilization and is one of the worst lenses made by Canon. You would really want stabilization on a long focal length lens like that. Their 70-300mm lens has image stabilization. Take a look at this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4lKsyb4UeQ

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

Why the sarcastic response to a sincere post seeking recommendations?

Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA

Just checked the Canon web site (refurbished cameras). They have the SL2 with the 18-55 for $400. I started with a refurbished T6 with the 18-55 about 2 1/2 years ago. I now also have a 77D. My walk around lens on the T6 (now my grab camera) is a EFS 17-85 IS USM Macro. On the 77D my walk around is EFS 18-135 IS USM NANO (a very sweet lens). The NANO accepts a power zoom adapter which I have just added. I have 5 other lenses.
My point - I would start with just 1 kit lens. My 18-55 STM now sits unused. Learn the camera and shoot. After maybe 6 to 8 months you will have a better idea of what glass you really need. I am a risk taker. I have bought glass from Adorama, E-bay, and grey market from Amazon.

Canon USA - www.shop.usa.canon.com

Bipod

I'm thinking of taking up smoking. Which brand of cigarettes should I smoke:
Marlboro? Camel? Lucky Strike? Newport?
Please give your sincere and helpful recommenation on which brand to smoke.

Any prime lens made by Canon has better optical quality than any of those
zoom lens--and is cheaper to build. No one should buy a zoom lens unless he/she
is planning to do photojournalism or sports photography--especially not to start
out with. Zooms are complex to use (do you know the sharpest aperture for
each focal setting of your zoom?) and promote bad habits.

Consumers think they absolutely must have a zoom. But not Henri
Cartier-Bresson (50 mm), Bill Cunningham (35 mm), Annie Liebovitz (35 mm),
Terry Richardson (35 mm), Herb Ritts (100 mm). They rarely even change lenses.
But of course every idiot who wants to buy a camera knows better than these great
photographers.

Not to mention that every still photographer before 1959 did all their work
without zooms.

Hence the sarcasm. It does absolutely no good to point out these facts
(just watch!). Convenience is king. Technology is magic. It said so on TV!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

My Canon kit was the 18-55 and 55-250, BUT I use a Sigma 18-200 now
and a 50mm.

I would probably opt for the kit at Costco that includes the 50.

CO

Are you saying the OP is an idiot?

PRC-NH Loc: New Hampshire

I agree. I made the jump from Nikon to Canon when I finally went digital. Never looked back. Everything Canon does is first rate. Their lenses are incredible, metering is amazing. AllI need is more time to spend behind the viewfinder. Canon T6s.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Did they have zooms before 1959? Were they common?
Those photographers used what lenses they wanted to use. I like to use a zoom. SO???
I'm not interested in becoming one of them, I'm me, and very comfortable with that.
I like Ansel Adams' work. Does that mean I should get a 4x5 view camera and do my own B&W processing?

Are you always snarky? Or do you walk to work.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Another reason I use and like Canon is their menus they are very intuitive much simpler to use than some other manufacturers also I like how the Canon fits my hand my hands are large. But before you purchase do check them all out, All of the manufacture make fine products!

queencitysanta Loc: Charlotte, North Carolina

Br sure you are buying a US model not gray market. My recommendations B&H, Adorama, Used KEH Don't get stuck with a gray market camera because you may service in the USA.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

I would seriously consider used or open box from B+H, KEH or MPB. Now all the lenses I buy are used. Unless the kit lens has a good review I would not but it.

royden Loc: Decatur, GA

I second the Canon refurbished store, you get the same 1 year warranty as if you bought new. They have some great deals right now. Probably not for long.