Camera Labs

I just watched Gordon's videos comparing the canon t3 and nikon d3100 and thoroughly impressed with his work.
I am a novice with ideals of becoming a great photographer! Recently found an ad for a canon t3 package for sale for 670.00 and thinking of taking the leap.
My goal is to take photos of horses in action, architecture, and capturing the beauty of nature and people.
What should I do? Go for it. Or keep looking?
Thanks

If you don't "go for it" sometime, you'll never get anywhere. But I would note that, once you buy an interchangeable lens camera, it's really more about the lenses than the camera body. And you didn't say which lens(es) were included in the package you found on sale for 670 (BTW is that dollars? euros? pounds? Since you used the T3 model designation, I'm guessing U.S. dollars, but you might want to confirm.). I'd also note that, for "photos of horses in action", you'd probably want something longer, maybe 100mm-ish. While architecture often lends itself to something wider, say 20mm-ish. (And "the beauty of nature and people" could be anything in between.)

HTH - Mark

I cannot not recommend buying a T3. Im still using its grandpa the XT (350D) and it does everything you want it to do.
Then the lens. That another story. As Mark said, you need multiple focal lenghts for your purposes. Id think that the cheapest lens that can do it all is the Sigma 18-125 OS, or the Canon 18-135 IS.
If you have something more money consider the ''kit package''; The Canon 18-55 IS and 55-250 IS, though both can be found used easily as most upgrade from those lenses after a time using it and discovering what they want to do with them. The kit package is of higher quality than both the Sigma 18-125 and Canon 18-135 though.

Good luck!

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies

Well I have not heard back from the seller so I doubt it is still available for sale. Which means my search continues. And opens up more questions...
Thank you both for your helpful advice, much appreciated!

The t3 sells for about £315 here in the UK so if that was GBP it would have had to come with a few lenses. I totally agree with whats been said here try and focus on lenses as much as possible. The Canon two lens kit could be a good way to go if you get a decent discount. I would maybe add the very cheap 50mm 1.8 which sells for under £100 and is the sharpest lens you will buy for a long time

Also take a look at the Tamron 70-300mm:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamron-AF-70-30 ... 377&sr=1-1

I bought this lens with my camera and have found it to be surprisingly sharp. I think it probably has the edge over the 55-250mm however it doesn't have IS so you have to decided which is more important to you.

Overall I would go for the T3 with 18-55, 50mm 1.8 and Tamron 70-300mm Canon fit. Although make sure you try the T3 out in a shop before you purchase to make sure you like the ergonomics of the camera.

Hope this helps,
James

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Camera: Canon 550D with battery grip
Lenses: Canon 24-105mm f/4L, Canon 50mm f1.4, Canon 18-55mm, Tamron 70-300mm,
Accessories: Manfrotto 055XPROB with 808RC4 head, Canon 430ex II speedlite, Lowepro Nova 180AW and Lowepro Pro Runner 450AW

Oh that is so lame, every hot girl who can aim a camera thinks she’s a photographer -Stewie Griffin