Just Got a T3, very excited.

[swanysto]

So I was looking into the T3i, and then the T2i, and I finally decided on the T3 after talking to some friends and checking my money situation(I am not rich like everyone in ATOT). Obviously I have a lot of learning to do now, but just playing with it for the past hour has been exciting.

Here are a couple pictures of my cats I took. They are large so I just linked to my photobucket account.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g181/swanysto/IMG_0035.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g181/swanysto/IMG_0009.jpg

 

[elitejp]

too bad it looks like you received your dslr at night. Once your able to take it outside in some good light im sure you will be very pleased with what you have. Congrats and enjoy

oh ya...so what lens/lenses do you have?

 

[swanysto]

I have the stock lens right now. As soon I as learn a bit more about DSLR, I will move up. My parents want to get me something for my bday coming up, so I might be upgrading sooner than I thought. However, I know it is difficult to get a sweet lens under $200.

I have a question though. When I hit the AF point selection button at the top right, it zooms into my subject. Then when I hold the shutter button half way, it focuses the image really nice. However, when I then push the shutter button down all the way, it takes the picture, but the picture then looks like it was taken from far away, instead of that close up I had on the screen. How can I fix that?

 

[Nohr]

Sounds like you're using the magnification on the lcd screen. That's generally used for manual focusing. To zoom you twist the barrel of the lens where the focal lengths (18-55mm) are marked.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

for a <200 lens look at the EF-S 55-250mm IS

 

[randomrogue]

Also look at the 50 and 35 mm f1.8 primes. They're very good for the money.

 

[XZeroII]

Just keep taking pictures so you figure out what works. Here's something I took at a friend's house after christmas:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73890691@N07/6662605033/

 

[swanysto]

Sweet pic. I have been playing around with it a lot, trying to figure everything out. So are auto focus lenses preferred?

 

[speedy2]

Sweet pic. I have been playing around with it a lot, trying to figure everything out. So are auto focus lenses preferred?

Get a 50mm f/1.8 II

They're cheap enough for any budget. Have great IQ. And you'll find out how much you'll like a prime.

 

[XZeroII]

Sweet pic. I have been playing around with it a lot, trying to figure everything out. So are auto focus lenses preferred?

You definitely need auto focus. Some of the best pictures are the ones that are spontaneous. I have some amazing pictures that I took when I just had my camera at a restaurant or some other public location. Just keep snapping away and over time you'll discover some gems. Don't worry about getting expensive lenses. I spent my first 4 years with a DSLR with just the kit lenses and I have some pictures that you might see in a magazine. Having nice lenses is nice but not necessary. You can do some great things with the 18-55mm.

 

[swanysto]

I put the canon af 50mm f/1.8 on my list. Is it just a higher quality than the stock lens?

 

[randomrogue]

It's still plastic but it's prime. So instead of 3.5-5 or whatever the kit lens is you can stop this thing down to 1.8. That's a lot more light. It's really nice for images at night if you're handholding and you can get some very nice depth of field too.

Walk around with your kit lens at 35 for like a week and 50 for a week and see which one you prefer. Don't just arbitrarily pick.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

It's still plastic but it's prime. So instead of 3.5-5 or whatever the kit lens is you can stop this thing down to 1.8. That's a lot more light. It's really nice for images at night if you're handholding and you can get some very nice depth of field too.

Walk around with your kit lens at 35 for like a week and 50 for a week and see which one you prefer. Don't just arbitrarily pick.

I don't why people make a big deal over the plastic. Lots of really high quality thing are made of plastic.

And the 50mm prime, is an extreamly sharp lens. I've been constantly amazed by how good it is.

 

[speedy2]

Sweet pic. I have been playing around with it a lot, trying to figure everything out. So are auto focus lenses preferred?

It's higher image quality for sure. I wouldn't rely on it as your only lens though. 50mm is a bit long for a crop sensor. You'll find yours self wanting wider in certain situations. 30mm is also a good focal length. Sigma makes a nice 30mm f/1.4, but they're around $300 I think.

 

[randomrogue]

I don't why people make a big deal over the plastic. Lots of really high quality thing are made of plastic.

And the 50mm prime, is an extreamly sharp lens. I've been constantly amazed by how good it is.

Plastic is fine for enthusiasts. It's lighter but I don't believe you can get a weather sealed lens made of plastic. I could be wrong though.

 

[AkumaX]

It's higher image quality for sure. I wouldn't rely on it as your only lens though. 50mm is a bit long for a crop sensor. You'll find yours self wanting wider in certain situations. 30mm is also a good focal length. Sigma makes a nice 30mm f/1.4, but they're around $300 I think.

Market value on the Sigma 30 1.4 went up, its around ~$400-$430 now :\

I learned the most w/ the 50 1.8 II, you learn about composition and "focusing with your feet". You learn about the limitations you have at a fixed focal length, you learn about what type of shots you like taking the most, you learn about how much aperture/shutter speed affects everything, you use this lens to help you decide on your next lens! Best of all, you learn all of this at only ~$100

 

[slayernine]

What is the difference between the T2i and the T3i. I was looking up the specs online and they looked like the same camera to me.

So I was looking into the T3i, and then the T2i, and I finally decided on the T3 after talking to some friends and checking my money situation(I am not rich like everyone in ATOT). Obviously I have a lot of learning to do now, but just playing with it for the past hour has been exciting.

Here are a couple pictures of my cats I took. They are large so I just linked to my photobucket account.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g181/swanysto/IMG_0035.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g181/swanysto/IMG_0009.jpg

 

[swanysto]

What is the difference between the T2i and the T3i. I was looking up the specs online and they looked like the same camera to me.

I got the T3. The T3i was a bit more money. From what I have read, it offers more megapixels(18.1 to 12.2), it offers wireless flash I believe, a flip screen, and one more that escapes me.

I believe most of the same things apply to the difference between the T2i and T3i, except the megapixels. I decided to save the 100+ and go with the T3 cause I was told the megapixels should not affect me unless I am printing large posters. Also the T3 has only a 720p video as opposed to the 1080 from the t2i and t3i. 720 is fine for my uses, so that wasn't a huge selling point for me.

 

[randomrogue]

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-T3i-vs-Canon_EOS_Rebel_T2i

 

[swanysto]

I have a question about auto focus. It is snowing here, and I was trying to take a closeup of snow on my deck. However, when the auto focus just keeps going no matter what setting I am in. It passes by the really clear shots and just keeps going. I tried to turn off auto focus and do it manually, but I cannot get a clear shot without moving the motor focus, which I know is bad for it.

What can I do to fix this?

 

[Nohr]

Auto focus (AF) will have trouble focusing on something like snow due to it's low contrast. Use manual focus (MF) by flipping the switch on the lens from AF to MF. That disables the AF motor and lets you safely tweak the focus yourself.

 

[swanysto]

So the motor won't be hurt if it is not in AF? Cause when I move it, I can hear the winding sound it makes when it turns. Wasn't sure if that would wear it down or break it.

 

[Nohr]

If you flick the physical switch on the lens to MF, focusing should be noticeably easier to adjust. You shouldn't be hearing the gears moving if it's in MF mode. You won't hurt anything, that's what the switch is meant for.

 

[Zaap]

Nice camera!
I just got a T3i myself, and love it! I second getting the 50mm f/1.8 lens. I'm just learning, but so far I've taken some great shots with this lens that are worthy of the camera. The 18-55mm kit lens -in my novice hands- only gets me 'point and shoot' quality, nothing special at all.

My advice, imparted to me by friends that know cameras: do yourself a big favor and get an M42 mount for Canon EOS. Then you can get inexpensive manual lenses from ebay, or local camera dealers that are a fraction of what you'd pay for the same quality DSLR lenses.

For example, I went to a local camera show and picked up an old Pentax 50mm f/1.4 lens for $25 that fit my M42 mount. (The mount cost me $10). The same lens in modern form would easily set me back $400.

Manual focus of course. But I've taken the absolute best (for my skill level) pictures with it. I've no doubt a pro would do amazing work with it.

And as for lenses being plastic- I can tell from this lens vs. the Canon 55mm 1.8 the difference in long term use. The old Pentax lens is built like a tank, nice metal construction, it feels indestructible. The Canon lens feels like it could eventually break. Not a big deal, but I can tell the difference right off.

I can't wait til the next camera show to get myself a bunch of different lens types to play around with and learn from for a mere fraction of what I'd spend on DSLR lenses. Lots of cheap high quality lenses on ebay as well. So far my investment has been $35 and I've got what is probably my best photo gear- so I can't recommend enough adding to your gear (and learning potential) this way.

 

[dougp]

I love my primes, but they do have limitations. Here's some examples:

This was shot with my 28mm f/2.8 prime: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/805866/DSC02543.JPG

I feel that the perspective on this was great, if I had the 50mm on it, I'd lose the rocks on the beach and there would be less off the clouds for the HDR effect. Using my tele (70-210mm) would have resulted in an even shorter area, all water and clouds.

This was shot with my 50mm f/1.7 prime: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/805866/DSC03212.JPG

Again, I feel this is framed perfectly, and shooting at f/2 let me get the foreground bokeh from the flowers and bushes while focusing on the sunset.

But where do your zoom lenses come in handy? The above photos are from Hawaii last week when we went for a wedding - the groom hired like 8 photogs for photo and video, but I decided to get in on the action while they had them posing. Couldn't use flash in the church, but this is me standing at the same distance using my 70-210mm f/4 lens.

@200mm f/4 - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/805866/DSC03006.JPG
@75mm f/4 - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/805866/DSC03009.JPG

I left my EXIF data and all, but don't limit yourself. It's nice to play with the primes, I really like mine, but I would not have the other pics without my tele.