Jazztrader

Yep! Any Canon camera qualifies for loyalty credit. I have a Z115 point and shoot film camera, and the phone rep I spoke to when I ordered my S100 on sale a few weeks ago, told me it would qualify for loyalty credit. She also said that a large number of refurb Canons are new unsold stock from dealers. What's not to like about refurb? :wink:

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Personal opinion. I never thought the t4i or t5i were worht the upgrade price over the t3i. The t3i is a perfect 1st DSLR. I am still using mine. My next jump will probably be the 7Dii.

But look at a new or refurb t3i and use the rest of the cash on lenses.

Here is a nice kit from B&H for close to your price point $1,048.00.

■EOS Rebel T3i Digital Camera
■EF-S 18-135mm Lens IS Lens
■EF-S 55-250mm IS II Lens
■Camera Bag

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/835325-REG/Canon_EOS_Rebel_T3i_Digital.html

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Indoor sports (and events too, such as school programs) are exactly where the superior sensors used by Nikon (e.g., the D5300, though it applies pretty much across the board to all models) makes a real difference.

Ramled Loc: Victoria, British Columbia

You might want to check the classified section on this site, I see there is a T4i listed with lenses that might be a good deal for you and well within your price range.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Or this from Canon at $899.98

EOS Rebel T3i EF-S 18-135mm IS Lens Kit with EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II

http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/eos-camera-bundles/eos-rebel-t3i-ef-s-18-135mm-is-lens-kit-with-ef-s-55-250mm-f-4-56-is-ii

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

I would go with the 18-135 - it's a really good lens and I rarely take it off the camera. Then if you find you want more reach later, save up for a good longer zoom.

oldgeezer3 Loc: SoCal

I'a T3i owner and use a Tamron 18 - 270mm zoom. Refurb body and lens should be under your budget. But huge range of photo resources!

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The EF-S 18-135 is a nicer lens than the EF-S 18-55. Better built. Nicer range of focal lengths for "walk-around" shooting.

There are two versions of the 18-135 being offered... the "IS" with micro motor focus drive and the "IS STM" with stepper motor focus drive. Both are good optically. The "STM" has faster, smoother, quieter, more precise auto focus. Especially if wanting to shoot video, the STM version is a better choice. But it's also nicer for still photography.

Similar is true of the EF-S 55-250... Currently it's selling in "IS Mark II" and "IS STM" versions. The STM version of both these lenses typically sells for about $50 more than it's non-STM counterpart.

The 70-300 IS USM is also a good lens, but is more expensive than either of the 55-250s. Part of that is because it's a full frame capable lens, which you don't really need on any of the cameras you're considering (they are all crop sensor models).

You mention shooting soccer and any sort of sports/action is where the USM lenses would be superior. They acquire more quickly and are better tracking moving subjects.

For indoor soccer, you might want to start saving up to buy a 70-200/2.8! Or at least an f4. (All the lenses you mention are f5.6 at their long end, which is what you'll use a lot shooting sports.)

Some might tell you Image Stabilization (IS) isn't needed for sports... but having used IS lenses for close to 15 years now, I can tell you it's great to have, even when you are using higher shutter speeds to "stop the action". IS also stabilizes the image in the viewfinder (within reason) and may even help with a bit with focus.

Shooting sports/action using AI Servo is also where you will see some differences in the cameras. The T5i has a 9-point AF system, with all 9 points the more sensitive "dual axis" or "cross" type. The T3i also has a 9-point system, but only the center point is the dual axis/cross type. The T5i's AF system is basically the same as found in 60D, 50D and 40D. The T3i's is more similar to what was found in 30D and 20D, as well as earlier Rebel series.

Also effecting AF performance to some extent, the T3i uses a Digic 4 processor, while the T5i has a newer, faster Digic 5.

Not that either of these is a deal killer... I managed to shoot sports/action with 10D and 30D. I just was limited to using the center point only most of the time... which also isn't that big a deal since that's how I use my 7Ds and 50Ds most of the time when shooting sports anyway.

Shooting sports with any Canon DSLR, you might want to experiment with Back Button Focusing (http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2011/backbutton_af_article.shtml)

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Hello das

I don't know if you have a Costco store close to you but if you do you will get some darn decent deals in your price range.

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Das,

Here are links to Canon's website for refurbished cameras and lenses. Everything you get comes with a 1 year warranty and has been thoroughly checked by Canon's own technicians.

T5i body only:
http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras/eos-t5i-body-refurbished

T5i w/18-55 STM:
http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras/eos-t5i-18-55mm-is-stm-lens-kit-refurbished

T5i w/18-135 STM:
http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras/eos-t5i-18-135mm-is-stm-lens-kit-refurbished

Canon lenses, complete lineup of refurbished lenses:
http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/lenses-flashes/refurbished-lenses

You might, as a matter of saving even more money, consider the Canon T3i which has received a lot of attention and is a personal favorite of many UHH'ers.

Jazztrader

On sale at Canon this week, you might want to pick one up, while you weed through more elaborate and expensive gear:

http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-powershot-digital-cameras/powershot-g12-refurbished

One can always find a use for this one, and the price is right :)

Larryb Loc: Burlington, Ontario

COSTCO in Ontario has a 60D w/ EF-S 18-200 IS and EF 50 1.8II and a bag for under 900.00 Canadian

OonlyBonly

I'd suggest option #1. They are both decent, read that good, lenses and you'll have just about anything you need covered until you really decide you want to do more.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Peter, if you have a non-working t-90 you may send in, I'm glad to trade you a Canon P&S for it that you can send in.
I bought a T-90 the year it came out. That camera was so space age when it came out, that it was a revelation. Mine is long gone, and I'd love to have one just to look at it once in a while to remind me of my roots!! :lol:
SS

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

I had one of the very first AE-1s and also of the first T90s. Both amazing ground breaking cameras in their day. Both got stolen in a burglary in the early 2000s with all my lenses. For some reason, they didn't want the flash guns nor my Cokin filters.

Anyhow, for sentimental reasons I bought an AE-1 and also T-90 on ebay. So now I have 2 working T-90s, plus one non-functioning T-90 body, and usable lenses on each. And a few other things like my mother's box brownie,...

I like some old things, probably why I like this forum! :wink: