Camera Labs

Hi I am considering purchasing a Canon t3i and would like to know if anyone has read any books for dummies type of book for helping me learn the basics and some good tips quickly before I go to the Peruvian Amazon and Machu Picchu.

Which lenses are recommended for wildlife and landscapes?

I also need a good bag. My husband has a nikon d80 with a bag with one shoulder strap and its tough on the shoulder after a long day of hiking through the jungle.

This is the bundle that I am purchasing.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.as ... d=11760020

It may sound like a cliche but what's your budget for lenses?

For wildlife, the 55-250mm lens offers a good amount of bang for your buck but if you're looking for more a bit more reach and sharpness and your budget permits, there are the 70-300mm offerings from Canon and Tamron to consider.

For landscapes Tokina's 11-16mm is sharp even at f/2.8 though it is pretty pricey, in which case Canon's 10-22mm is very good too.

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Bodies: Canon EOS 550D w/ Magic Lantern
Lenses: Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX f/2.8, Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Accessories: YongNuo Speedlite YN-468 Flash, Neewer Macro LED Ring Light, Meike Battery Grip, YongNuo RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger & Receiver YongNuo WR-128 Wireless Remote Control

I realize it may exceed your budget, but considering the amount of rainfall in the Peruvian Amazon, I would strongly recommend a weather sealed camera like the Canon 7D. Sure the T3i may be cheaper in the short run, but what happens if you have to replace it?

Mark

A digital field guide for your camera is a good start to understanding the camera.
The Understanding Exposure book really helps to let you translate what type of picture you want into what you need to do to the camera to get it.

There is also the sister site to cameralabs, dslrtips.com, which has some nice video tutorials on how to obtain certain shots.

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Canon Rebel XTi, BG-E3 Grip
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II, 24-105mm f/4L, 50mm f/1.4, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DO, 85mm f/1.8
Sigma 150mm F2.8 EX Macro
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
Canon 430EX II
Opteka 13mm, 21mm, and 31mm extension tubes