Top Five Beginner Digital SLRs

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Canon EOS Rebel T3i / 600D Beginner Digital SLR

Canon EOS Rebel T3i / 600D Beginner Digital SLR

Even though it was announced almost two years ago the Canon EOS Rebel T3i / 600D is still one of the best-selling digital SLRs on the market. And for good reason – it has the same 18-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor as Canon’s more expensive EOS 60D and 7D DSLRs, along with the same excellent video quality and options. In fact, the T3i / 600D has been wildly popular with filmmakers and videographers of all levels because of its small size, low price (compared to higher-end DSLRs and professional camcorders) and excellent video features. Besides a great video and image quality, the T3i also has excellent auto focus, a 3-inch tilt-swivel LCD display and a 3.7 FPS burst rate. And with the recent introduction of Canon’s new EOS T4i / 650D (Canon EOS Rebel T4i / 650D intro), the T3i is an even better deal now.

Article: Why You Should Buy The Canon T3i / 600D >>

  • Street Price: approximately $699 with 18-55mm kit lens
  • 18-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
  • 1920 x 1080 full HD video
  • Sensitivity: ISO 100 to 64000
  • Burst: 3.7 FPS
  • 3-inch 1 million-dot tilt-swivel LCD

next cameraPentax K-30 >>
 



 

Sony Alpha SLT-A37
Sony
Alpha SLT-A37

$499
Nikon D3200
Nikon
D3200

$699
Nikon D5100
Nikon
D5100

$799
Canon EOS Rebel T3i / 600D
Canon
EOS Rebel
T3i / 600D

$699
Pentax K-30
Pentax
K-30

$799


 

About the author: Photo-John

Photo-John, a.k.a. John Shafer, is the managing editor of PhotographyREVIEW.com and has been since the site launched back in 1999. He's an avid outdoor enthusiast and spends as much time as possible on his mountain bike, hiking or skiing in the mountains. He's been taking pictures for ever and ever, and never goes anywhere without a camera.


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  • Thien says:

    Olympus E-PL1 FTW!

  • Photo-John says:

    You like the E-PL1 huh, Thien? Do you think it’s an adequate DSLR replacement? I know you have a DSLR, too. How much do you use it now that you have the E-PL1?

  • derek says:

    Wish I could field test the Sony Alpha SLT-A33 to see how it performs against the A100 I’ve been using for the past three years. I had really good results with some minor peeves with the Alpha A100 and would like to see how the technology has improved up to this point.

  • Photo-John says:

    Derek-
    I’m really curious about the A33 image quality and performance, too. It’s quickly moving to the top of the list of cameras I’d like to review next. There’s no doubt that it’s better than the A100 since the A100 is over 4 years old now and Sony has been making some of the most innovative cameras on the market in the past couple of years.

  • chris says:

    @ derek,

    I compared it to my A550 and had to return the A33. Mine might be a fluke, but the A550 not only had better focus accuracy, but it never overheated. The A33 overheated after using it about 30 minutes in 75-80 degree weather, nothing extreme temperature wise. I would be afraid to use it in anything warmer. While the image size was the same, I had a 2 in 10 shot ratio of spot on focus compared to the A550. This may be ok for portraits, not good when needing to crop the image (where every pixel counts). Last straw was the auto focus during video recording. I found no way to control it for objects running across your focus path. If ANYTHING runs across it, the lens cycles to gain focus. There is no way to program the camera to allow a 1 second pause for light poles, children, or team-mate players that block the shot for a second. The overheat and non-controllable auto focus forced me to return to carrying a camera and video camcorder. Note: also, as a matter of prefference, the A33 never felt right in my hands due to it’s small size. Sony should have kept a traditional size camera and filled it with heat sinks or something. :)

    ~Chris

  • Fivish says:

    I bought the top rated bridge camera of 2005. It was rubbish. Then I bought the Nikon D40 in 2008. WOW!!!
    Now I have been a Nikon man since 1975 with the Nikkormat FT2, Nikon F301, Nikon F601. But the D40 is brilliant.

  • sonny says:

    It is not about the camera. It is about the person using it. We’ve heard about that a million or so times. But the underrated Sony is way too efficient that users of traditional gear do not believe it since they haven’t tried it.

  • jason says:

    Olympus makes some great cameras.I think if I were to pick one for someone starting I would say go with the E-30 though, as it is an actual SLR. And since it has been out a while can be had for about the same as a newer pen.pick up the 14-54 2.8 and you have an amazing camera that will last you through the beginner stages and far beyond.a nice fair to have in a body its dual control knobs- one for aperture and one for shutter. It has a solid AF system as well. Compared to the rebel series and the entry level Nikos the quality its
    significantly higher as well.

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