Which Canon Rebel? Help!!

[sandy b]

In yesterday's newspaper there were 3 inserts for Canon Rebels:

1.  Target has a clearance on the T1i incl 18-55mm lens for $550

2.  HH Greg has the T2i w/18-55mm lens plus 75-300 mm zoom lens for $900

3.  Best Buy has the T3i w/18-55mm IS lens for $900

I'm definitely getting a Canon but which one?

My main focus will be taking pics of wildlife and max of course:-) Continuous shooting is very important, video not so much although all 3 have video capability.

This will be my first SLR, so any help is greatly appreciated since I'm not sure which features to look for in these cameras.

Thanks.

BTW, it's my birthday and this is my present to myself. Yay!!

 

[Carol and Banjo]

I bought the t1i and am thrilled with it.   I love the continuous shooting, the video is plenty for my needs.  I think the price is great for this caliber of camera.   Happy birthday!

[Bonne Bouche]

You will be very pleased with any of those cameras. Ive already had 2 Rebels, Xt and Xsi.

My $.02 - Get the t1i. The upgrade to either of the newer versions is not worth the difference in price, and the t1i is a great camera to start with. The price at target is a steal - I'd get it while they have it, the camera's go FAST! (If you can pick up the display model they'll give you it at a 10% discount -- but only if its the last one of that model. Still has a 90 day target warrenty, and you can get an extended warrenty through square trade for cheep).

If you have the $900 to spend, buy a really great lens or 2. I LOVE my 50mm 1.8. (~$100) You can also pick up another with a wider range of distance (like the 75-300). You can pick those up brand new on craigslist or e-bay for people who buy the bundle and sell the lens.

You can upgrade the body in a couple of years when the techonlogy grows much more, I don't think the difference bewtween the models you listed (or the lenses that come with them) even remotely justifies the price difference. ;-]

 

hth

[sandy b]

I'm agreeing with everyone, I think the T1i then I can get more lenses!! Thank you, thank you. It's always so nice to see other's opinions.

[Denice Caouette]

It is amazing how fast these camera become....."old"! I bought my Canon T1i in August of last year...and already it is "old"...lol! That said, I took a photo class in October and someone already had the T2i. Our teacher said that when they are changing so fast there are very little differences...very minute...that don't really affect the overall camera. I love my T1i and it is alot more than adequate! At $550 it is a steal and that is what I would do! That way you can spend more on your lens. I just took another class last week and the instructor there said that the lens are way more important than the camera body itself. As long as you have the manual setting where you can set your own shutter speed, aperture setting, etc. spend the money on the lens!!

 

[sandy b]

Apparently everyone else thought $550 was a great deal because every Target within a 30 mile radius is sold out :-( Best Buy has it for $699 and the T2 for $799, not sure now which one I'll get. Thanks again everyone for your input.

[Bonne Bouche]

Have you heard of a website called Slickdeals? I follow it (a little too closely), and they have been having a bunch of really incredible deals on these cameras. If you are flexible with what you want, and how soon you need it. I can notify you when I see another deal. They have them often, every couple of weeks or so there's a killer deal with rebates and such.