Canon EOS Rebel T3i Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (discontinued by manufacturer)

This has been my go-to camera for years and still my favorite! The only real downside is in the video capture is great, the audio recording is poop. I use this for web videos and I added a Tascam dr05, an SG-108 mini shotgun mic and connected them with a https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004YUAGFG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and bingo. A simple semi-pro video rig. a brilliant still photo camera. Even after upgrading to a Sony Pxw-fs5, I still use this in film production. From everyday user to the prosumer, still a great camera.

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When I was doing research on SLR Digitals, I read a lot of good things about this particular camera. It was easy to use, it had fully auto settings, and also has an array of auto settings which allow creative shooting, along with a fully manual mode to use as you please. I ordered the camera in December of 2012 and used it through the year, relatively sporadically. It takes great photos and it is a very good quality camera. I would recommend the T3i (as this one is) over the T3, as the T3 is only 12 MP, and the T3i is 18 MP, which is much better in terms of digital performance. So all good up till now... HOWEVER... I took the camera with me to my Florida home for Christmas this year, and noticed that the lens would not auto focus. It then would not shoot. I took it off, cleaned it, tried to get it to work, and no luck. I then took it to a camera store and the clerk told me the lens (which comes with the camera) was shot. It was under a year old, and I take very good care of my equipment. So it mystified me as to why this would have happened. Then, I reread the warranty and saw that the whole thing is warranted for one year. By the time I had done this, I was already a few days over and I had no choice but to order another lens for $200 so I could shoot pictures at Christmas. My daughter has the same camera and has had no trouble, but I have to say this was a black mark for me on this Canon camera. Other than the lens issue, the camera takes great photos, and is a great camera for those uninitiated in photography, as it has fully auto functions which allow good pictures anytime. I am just sorry that this lens issue popped up for me, because I was thoroughly impressed with the camera until this happened.

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I received this camera as a Christmas present. I already have the Canon T1i and have used it and loved it and thought that it would take a lot to beat it but the T3i has. Using the kit lens from my T1i which is basically the same lens available with the T3i I took fantastic low light shots of my daughters Christmas tree without a flash. I used the "P" setting with auto ISO and was very happy with the results. I used a Tamaron 18-270 MM lens to take some low light shots of my house and the Christmas lights and again was amazed at the results. Noise levels at even high ISO are very minimal and can be cleaned up with a good editing program. I have yet to explore all the features of this camera or use the HD video feature but if it is as good as the results I have already seen, it will be amazing. I am retired and have taken up digital photography as a hobby and while I am no expert or even close, I do consider myself to be an informed amateur and always research any camera before purchase so when I received this from my wife without my input I was a bit surprised but seeing the results very very happy. The camera can be used by someone new to a DSLR with great results and I am sure that someone who is familiar with all the bells and whistles this camera has will produce amazing results. I used the T1i while my friend used a Canon 1D and I feel my pictures where as good as his despite that the 1D is a superior camera so I am sure that the T3i will produce even better results. I would recommend that any person interested in a great DSLR purchase this camera. I also suggest that while the kit lens does a great job you invest in at least one good zoom lens that will expand your ability to take fantastic pictures.

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As a stay at home mom with a new baby I wanted to be able to take high quality pictures ALL the time. My old point and shoot was terrible and I missed a lot of precious moments. The Canon EOS Rebel T3i is amazing! I love how user friendly the functions are on the camera along with the amazing quality of the pictures. I have zero training in photography. I probably only know what five of the buttons are on the camera, haha, terrible I know! I wish I had the time to take a class or read a photography book but until then I use the camera as a point and shoot and have never been disappointed. My only complaint would be the size. Its a big camera and lens but I bought a case and use that to carry it around and it has solved the bulky size "issue" for me.

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this is not your basic point and shoot camera by no means. it is awesome! lighter in weight than the older 35mm film cameras (which i do miss since i like a camera that has a little weight to it. helps me steady it) it still is a dream to handle. I am still learning the different functions. It has a lot of functions that i doubt i will ever use but thats the way that the digitals are done. the older film 35mm cameras were easier to manipulate- less choices like instant iso/shutter speed/exposure times changes without having to go through a menu- but the possibilities are still huge and just take time to master. i always recommend getting a uv filter to protect any lens you use and a lens hood that collapses. fits in the camera bag better. lenses change easy. very nice grip also. if you have older equipment, such as tripods, mini tripod clamps, lens hoods/filters they do integrate on the new lenses and fit on the camera bodies. if it doesnt fit, work it a little bit but to not force it. the filters are cheap-cheap-cheap compared to messing up the filter threads on the lens. I had many older filters/special effect filters/hoods etc that only required a step-up ring to mount on the new lens. try to integrate your older equipment. even though this was a package lens/camera bundle, i have gotten some awesome close ups just using the lens that came in the bundle and the macro setting. i am going to play awhile before investing in a macro lens or a more powerful telephoto zoom lens. camera is stable. i do not use the digital viewer to shoot. i use the viewfinder and use the nice sized screen on the back to review the shot. saves battery life.

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Since I have switched from Nikon to Canon, a lot of my review is based on comparison to Nikon. Pros: Canon service is apparently better than nikon. Will edit this if this does not turn out to be true. My switch was mostly due to pathetic nikon warranty service. The IS works really well and I think better than nikons which I had tried for a week with a borrowed D5000. Digital 3x zoom in video mode. The 430EX II external flash can be supported by the camera wirelessly. On nikons this is only true for the more expensive SB800s flashes. Cons: Auto focus in "live view" mode (seeing through the lcd instead of the viewfinder) is extremely slow. Makes me not ever wanting to use it. Most canon lenses have loud autofocus motors. The lenses with the nicer USM AF motors are too expensive. No mode in canon to set Av mode and set min shutter speed while letting the camera pick the ISO. Standard in Nikons. Canon seems to pick the shutter speed based on the zoom (focal length selected). White balance in Full auto mode sometimes messes up. Some pictures came out blue-ish. No good priced "normal" 50mm/35mm lens available. There is only one 50mm el-cheapo which apparently looks extremely cheap but I will buy it anyway. I upgraded from nikon D50 to this. So of course the pictures are much much better. In hindsight, The nikon D5100 has a better (larger DX sensor vs canon APS sized sensor) sensor. So less noise on the Nikon. Also, I think that video modes in SLR cameras are fairly useless unless you are good with manual focussing and use the tripod. BTW, the lens IS does work in video mode. I will edit this review as I play with this camera more. The 18-135 lens is nice but a bit large. Maybe its large thats why the image quality is very good.

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We have really enjoyed this camera! We have close to no knowledge of photography, but we got this camera as a gift before our first child was born. With a little experimentation, we have learned to take some great pictures! We took newborn pictures that rivaled some of our friends professionally done pictures. I even had people asking who took the pictures! The controls are easy to use and understand. The battery rarely needs to be charged. We can tell a big difference in quality between the pictures taken with our camera vs. the pictures we take with our phone. Im really glad that we have this camera for special life events and family pictures.

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I bought this around thanksgiving as a huge surprise gift from myself and a bunch of other friends for another of our friends, she was a fantastic photographer, down on her luck and living paycheck to paycheck working off of a not so fantastic little point and shoot. We all planned to get together and buy her this camera and we made a whole big ordeal out of it when she would be receiving it and it ARRIVED EARLY to my very great surprise and excitement! I was so excited that I couldnt wait any longer and I buried it in mounts of tissue paper and ribbons and headed to work to give it to her. We told her mother what we had done and she started crying right on the spot nearly ruining the surprise. At first when we gave her the present she thought it was a joke, her family didnt give each other presents and she was extremely unused to people doing genuinely nice things for her for no reason, threw the tissue paper around at everyone and then she got to the box and when she opened it she froze and just started bawling her eyes out. It was the happiest I have ever seen her, and every time she looks at that camera I see how excited she is and how happy it makes her that she can photograph everything how she really wanted. This camera ended up being wonderful and I hope it makes everyone else as happy as it did her. :)

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I enjoy this camera. I got this after having 2 different Nikons, mainly because I had heard for so long that Canons are the grown up version of DSLRs, and Nikons are more beginner model. Maybe I wasnt ready for the transition, or maybe I heard wrong, but I think Canons are a lot more confusing. It took me a long time to understand all the controls, but even having all of those understood, I feel like the controls are not as responsive. (maybe too responsive?) When I mess with the White balance, even small adjustments seem to just throw it completely off, and yet when I adjust back, its fine... as if it needed a refreshing like a web browser or something. It makes me think its user error, which is part of the reason I cant fault Canon too much for that, but I do think that if they are trying to make this DSLR a wider audience friendly camera, the user friendliness should be taken seriously. To me, I feel like Im dealing with a pro level camera at times, and that isnt what I do. Considering this camera costs under 900, thats no where near pro level costs, and shouldnt come with the mind muddling pros deal with. If youre just stepping up from a point-and-shoot camera, I would be really hesitant about choosing this as your next step unless you have a friend with one, or a class you can take. This camera is not something you can power up and start taking the kinds of magical pictures you see on pinterest with. It takes time to learn, and hone your skill with. If you give this as a gift, make sure the recipient is wanting THIS camera, and knows what theyre getting in to, to ensure it doesnt end up on a shelf unused. There are other Canon cameras a step below, as well as other brands that are not quite as complicated but take great pictures for hobbyists. I would really suggest this for people going in to photo/media studies, or photo business.

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I was not a photo enthusiast like some of the reviewers who were seasoned to the "DSLR" terminologies and technology and I can associate with the few that have come from the "point & shoot" camera experience & the typical knowledge gained through this type of interaction. My choice to move to a DSLR was not an easy one but what I can say is that I had to do some homework like some of the buyers from which I would have been previewed to two names having made their mark in the DSLR photography world being Canon and Nikon. The pros and cons of which I would not go into because the fact remains in the ultimate choice of a person and in the finances they have at their disposal sine both these brands have similar features with "+s and -s" in their own distinctive categories over which they have ruled and still improving on respectively. What I can say from my interaction and use of the camera has improved my photos tremendously and this is mostly in part to the extended and fully capable feature set of this camera. It has been a great introductory DSLR experience for me and this is what I can base my recommendation on and it has only served to improved my thirst for creating better images which has led me to researching materials and training videos to get my skill set up to scratch. I bought the camera with the standard EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens and it is a great learning lens for beginners I can definitely see myself progressing to other high-powered lens as I immerse further into the DSLR world and image photography. All with the ultimate goal of transforming what the eyes see on a daily basis into photography, capturing the moment in time and translating it into a story that can be felt by many through their own eyes. I will definitely recommend this camera to those who want to take the bold leap into the DSLR photography world, I can assure you that you will be amazed....

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