New here. Looking at T3i. Lens dilemma

Hello everyone.
First an intro. I've been shooting P&S for the past, hmmm, don't even know, so many years. Last SLR I've handled was way back when, with the Canon A-1. Within the past 10yrs, I have done wedding and event videography with a Pro camera.

My teenage daughter has been very interested in photography and one days asks if we can get a DSLR. She does well with the P&S but I can see that even with a P&S, she can make some shots look good. Since I like photography and videography, I'm here at P.O.T.N. researching. The T3i caught my attention because it can do both. The T4i is nice and all but a little over my budget.

Anyways {sorry for the long intro}. I called CLP and I can get into the program and grab the T3i body.

Locally, I found 2 lenses, the 18-55 kit lens and 55-250 lens as well for $200.
However, I also located a new T3i with the 18-135mm lens for $825 {still negotiating on the price}

Been researching high-and-low on the 2 different lens options I have and I'm kinda leaning towards the 18-135m. Slightly faster @ 3.5 but falls short on the max focal length. The 18-55 and 55-250 is very appealing as it covers a broad spectrum.

Am I going the wrong path in leaning towards the 18-135? Or would you say that's a good all-around beginner lens for my daughter {and of course for me}?

Btw, she loves nature and up-close shots. (attached is a pic she recently took with her Canon SD1200 IS)

Thanks in advance

3648 x 2736

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If you are pretty serious about the videography part of things, I would reconsider the t4i and keep saving up for it paired with the new 18-135mm STM kit lens. Assuming of course the new video features on the t4i such as continuous autofocus and built in stereo microphone are important to you.

If your needs skew more to some video but mostly photography, the t3i is still a great camera.

As for the lenses, again, if you mostly want to do photography the 18-55 and 55-250 are a great range and very good performance for kit lenses. I would also add the 50 1.8 to the mix in any case.

If you want to do a lot of video, the new 18-135 STM with the t4i is supposed to be a great package, with silent focusing during video recording.

*disclaimer* I do almost no video with my DSLR's, so I don't consider myself an expert in that area, just wanted to point out what I understand about the t4i v t3i since you mentioned wanting a dual purpose camera.

Thanks Billginthekeys. It will be primarily my daughter's camera so more photos than video. Though I probably would use it for home and vacation videos as well, not serious videography. That's the reason for considering the T3i over the more expensive T4i.

Also, I just negotiated the price of the brand new T3i with the 18-135 IS lens to $700 so makes the T3i more appealing.

I started with the XS and the 18-55 and 55-250. These lenses are great for getting in without spending a bundle. I bought the T3i and later the 18-135 just to keep from changing lenses so much. My opinion is the 55-250 is the sharpest of the 3. I think your daughter would be better off with the two lens setup to start, but that is just my opinion.

The 55-250 mm is really not a good lens I'm unhappy with it.

There are bundles of T3i and 60D on sale right now at B&H photo. Check them out!

alexjk24 wrote in post #14772930
The 55-250 mm is really not a good lens I'm unhappy with it.

Really, I don't have any first hand experience with it, since I was well beyond kit lenses by the time it came around, but all accounts on the lens are that it is extremely good for the money. What in particular are you "unhappy" with?

All accounts I've seen have the 55-250 a better lens than the 18-135, but as a first lens, I doubt your daughter could tell the difference. Since budget is a concern, I would recommend going with which ever saves you the most money.
The t3i will serve you well and I would venture to say, your daughter may enjoy a macro lens, or extension tubes for less.

Make sure the 18-55 is the IS model.

alexjk24 wrote in post #14772930
The 55-250 mm is really not a good lens I'm unhappy with it.

Compared to an L lens true, but inherently it's not a bad lens. Check out the lens review section for the 55 to 250.

alexjk24 wrote in post #14772930
The 55-250 mm is really not a good lens I'm unhappy with it.

I have one and find it very good .. especially for the money. I throw it in a bag along with an XSi fitted with a 18-55IS and leave it in the trunk of the car.

alexjk24 wrote in post #14772930
The 55-250 mm is really not a good lens I'm unhappy with it.

Agreed with everyone's replies to this. I think this guy may have gotten a 'bad one' or something..?

the 55-250 is a phenomenal lens for the $$! I would EASILY opt for this and an 18-55IS vs the 18-135IS(was NOT a fan of this lens. at all)

But I also STRONGLY agree that if she is so passionate about this, I would definitely add a 50mm F/1.8 II to my shopping list. can be found easily for ~$85-100 used(or new for ~$130 IIRC) and is worth every penny.
I still leave one in my bag at all times..and i use it quite often even though I have the SIgma 50mm F/1.4 and a bunch of L lenses..the "Nifty-Fifty" is great!

btw, congrats on having a wonderful daughter with great taste in art/hobby/etc!

Wow! Thank you everyone for the comments/advice/tips. Very valuable for someone delving into this hobby.

I have discussed the T4i with my daughter. I'm leaning towards the T4i for the video AF alone and the STM lens but it's still $500 more to get into compared to a T3i with the 18-135. Guess I have to keep my Vixia HF100 for videos.

Probably would go with the T3i. For the deal I'm getting with the T3i and 18-135 lens, I'll probably go with that and quickly turn around, sell the lens then pick up the 18-155 + 55-250. Seems that the latter is a much better combo than the former.

Video is important to me as photo is to my daughter. Given that, The T3i seems to fit the bill. With the money I save, I can get a nifty-fifty.

Hopefully we'll be in the DSLR world soon.

HyperCams wrote in post #14776071
... I would definitely add a 50mm F/1.8 II to my shopping list. can be found easily for ~$85-100 used(or new for ~$130 IIRC) and is worth every penny. ..

I can't agree with the latter. While it's a good lens to have around, and is VFM when purchased used (I got mine for $30 including an old EOS film camera), I would not have dropped $130 on it. It's slow to focus, a PITA to manually focus, hunts like a tortiose in low light, and is flimsy and easily broken if you even sneeze with it in your hand

francis_a wrote in post #14777307
Probably would go with the T3i. For the deal I'm getting with the T3i and 18-135 lens, I'll probably go with that and quickly turn around, sell the lens then pick up the 18-155 + 55-250. Seems that the latter is a much better combo than the former.

I wouldn't count on selling it quickly!
The 18-55IS and 55-250IS are a good but inexpensive combination. Get the body and 18-55IS and then buy the 55-250IS for $169 at Adorama