I should also mention that my grandfather, who is not so tech savvy with cameras, also has a Canon Rebel T4i (which is comparably the same to the T3i model, it's just newer and does not have a flip out display screen) and he loves that he didn't have to read any manuals or go online to learn how set up his camera, because the menus within the camera are easy to understand and change. So, even if you don't think you can handle this camera, I assure you that you can.
What's to like?
The camera is designed very simply, making it so much easier to use than comparable Nikon or Sony models. It works just like a point and shoot (small digital cameras like Kodak) with a knob on the top that allows you to choose what shooting mode you want. There is a digital display, playback button and arrow navigation buttons just like a point and shoot also. The only differences from the small digital cameras and a Canon Rebel camera is that there is an external flash, Automatic focus or manual focus setting, and the quality of photos are so much better with its 18 megapixel resolution (to compare a phone camera typically has an 8 megapixel resolution).
I have three lenses for my camera, and I find that changing a lens does not affect the shutter speed as other canon models I have changed the lens on. Now, this may just be my own personal error or the fact that I shared those cameras with four other classes, but it always seems to affect my shutter speed. Also, adding on another lens is super simple, because you just match up the red and white dots to the ones on the lens, and it slips right in. There is no confusion on if the lens goes this way or that.
It really is a perfect camera to learn on, because it is so simple, and its accessories and the camera itself are fairly inexpensive and great quality.
When you purchase the camera, you get a few accessories with it:
- EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens -meaning that it can take pictures from close and far ranges (the smaller the F-stop or f/3.5-5.6 the more light there is, and the bigger the number the less amount of light there is) a camera lens works just like an eyes iris, so the smaller mm number the clearer a picture will look far away.
- Front and rear lens caps (with lens kit)
- Body cap (or a bag to carry it in)
- Eyecup
- Wide strap
- Battery charger
- Battery pack (which sadly doesn't last very long)
- USB Interface cable
- AV cable
- Software CD-ROMs
- Warranty card and manuals
So what's the bad news?
The only complaints I can tell about the camera is the slow start up and mode switching, sometimes when taking fast moving photos the camera will lock up on trying to continuously auto focus - causing me to miss some great shots, and full sunlight pictures can be over-exposed, but simple editing on the pictures can fix these problems.
Conclusions
Overall, the camera is well suited for any type of photography, whether it be still photos or action shots, and its few problems are out weighed by the quality of camera you get for such an inexpensive price. Basically all you need is to find something you enjoy photographing, and practice photographing it from different angles and lighting to learn what your camera is capable of.
