Canon EOS 650D Digital SLR Camera (with 18-55mm IS Lens)

Have a yard sale, apply for credit, donate plasma. If you have kids don't waste your time with anything less than this. It is by far the best camera I have ever owned. I have had tons of the point and shoots, high zooms and phones with cameras (which I don't really even count, but had to mention since I see so many parents using apples to document graduations???) My kids have been in sports for years and I have been spending money on progressively more expensive cameras for 16 years. I finally decided to buy this since my kids are getting into high school and I'm running out of time to find an inexpensive camera that will take pics of them in motion.So far I have used this to take about 1,000 pics. It is amazing. The dial on the top allows you to select many generic settings that will make all the adjustments for you and give you reasonable pics. I say reasonable like I'm a pro, not the case. I'm an leaning as I go with this. Once you get the hang of that you can switch to more advanced settings. I have played with this some and they are easy to change and do change back when going back to the auto modes. (thank goodness for that)Compared to other cameras in its class I cannot say how it measures up. All I know is Nikon and Canon are the best. I compared features for months before deciding to go with this one. It came in just under my budget and had the features I was looking for. Plus the price dropped upon the announcement of the T5i. The T5i has better Video I think.The 5 frames a second is spectacular. I have taken photos of my son at base ball games and it freezes the ball to the point where you can see the colors of the letters and stitching on the ball. I think if I get better at the focus you will be able to read the lettering. But I'm zoomed in with the stock lens so this may affect shutter speed.I also purchased a 75-300mm lens and it is impressive. I went the cheap route and did not get the motion reduction one. I do not see that taking pictures in good lighting that I will need it, or I can just prop it up on a tripod.I cannot express how much I "enjoy" taking photos now over it being a chore with point and shoot cameras. This is what photography should be. The Canon T4i makes taking photos easy and although I am new to these type of cameras I feel like a pro and my pictures are turning out like I want them to for the first time.Of all my electronic purchases including TV's, tuners, keyboards, etc, etc this is the one item I can honestly say I am most proud of.As a side note: If you keep a couple different lenses in your bag, you will have people asking if you can take their kids senior pics, prom date photos, blah blah blah. I may take up a few offers to off set the payments of this thing. But could not be happier with money well spent.

I am astonished at how much more this camera provides than the lower-priced digital cameras I've owned in the past -- but, for this still-a-tyro photographer, it provides its challenges.Yes, you can use the camera as a point-and-shoot in auto mode, but why pay all this money to use it as a fully automatic camera? The fun . . . and the challenge . . . is to play with aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. But, learning how to do so is, simultaneously, a challenge, a process, and where the fun and results are.The camera gives you several ways to do virtually anything -- and that can get confusing. Where do I find this? What is the point of my doing this or that? How do I find out?My first and best suggestion is an excellent course from the Great Courses ([...]) called "Fundamentals of Photography" by National Geographic photograpgher Joel Santore. It is NOT a course in the Canon Rebel T4i, but it IS a course that will explain aperture, shutter speed, depth of field, composition, and a lot about digital cameras. Whatever he covers is doable with the Rebel T4i. And, he'll have you WANTING to do it. The only question is, "How?" The course is frequently on sale and should be bought only when it is on sale since the "regular" price is considerably higher and unnecessary. On sale, the course goes for around $60.That's where the second reference comes in, Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D For Dummies by Julie Adair King. You can get it for about $16 from Amazon.Sartore's course will provide knowledge, motivation, and a clear idea of what you might try. The King book will help you fill in the gaps on how, specifically, do you do it with the Canon.Some random notes:o Sartore's course is, IMHO, the best by far of the Great Course offerings (although some of the music courses by Robert Greenberg are pretty good). He gives "homework" assignments to help develop you as a photographer. They're worth actually doing!o Those whose prior experience with lower-priced digital cameras had them disappointed because of the slow focusing and shooting speeds, can rest easy. This camera focuses quickly and its burst speed is remarkable, allowing you to take a barrage of pictures in very rapid order. Those people who you find attractive but not photogenic will now take a good picture because, by taking several pictures rapidly, you'll catch those micro expressions which account for their attractiveness. (Everyone is photogenic if you take enough pictures of them. And, since there is no cost to taking lots of pictures, why not?)o Aperture, the size of the opening through which a picture is taken, determines the depth of field (i.e., whether the background is clear or not). Learn to use it to take pictures that blur the background when the subject is more important and to provide 3-D effects. (The more the background is blurred, the more the subject seems to leap off the page ... or canvas if you have the picture printed out on canvas and blown up.)o Shutter speed -- the faster the shutter speed, the more an action is frozen rather than blurred. At the higher speeds, a moving fan will appear to be a picture of a stopped fan or a kicked football will appear frozen in the air. At the lower speeds, more light is admitted and a tripod may be necessary.o ISO speed. With modern cameras, one can shoot at night without a flash if the ISO speed is set high enough. The downside? The shots may appear grainier.And there is the photographer's trio -- smaller apertures and faster shutter speeds, which are sometimes desired, admit less light. So, one has to decide whether to use a flash or a higher ISO (film or memory sensitivity to light). Or, if one doesn't use fully manual mode, one can pick a setting that allows you to take control of any one of the Big 3 and allow the camera to take care of the other 2 -- which is, in fact, what I usually opt to do.==================================================================The camera is highly capable and flexible. Go with a high speed, high capacity memory card to avoid handcuffing it. Then, get out of automatic mode and explore it.NOTE: I know. I know. This review is useless for those who know photography and cameras well. But, you're not my audience. I'm writing for those who want to take the next step to assist in their finding an approach to learning more about this camera.I haven't said a lot about the camera itself, per se, other than that it's capable and flexible. But, others have covered its capabilities far better than I can. I'm just telling the other tyros who are considering stepping up that the water is fine and where to get their swimming lessons.I feared that I had bought too much camera but have been glad to find that the camera is like Excel. You can use it immediately and get some fine results. But, when ready, you can use it at far deeper levels and will find that whatever you want to do with it you can do with it . . . if you dig a little deeper to learn more of its capabilities. You won't outgrow it, but you can certainly grow as a photographer with it.

I like that its touch s6

I'm a novice and I bought the camera just a few days ago. I am happy with it. The touch screen is the function of the camera I am enjoying the most of all. Its accurate in its touch sensing, intuitive in the information provided as you select the different settings and offers many options I have not even gotten around to use. I have taken a few pictures and I am pleased with most of the photos. Some of the photos have blurriness when I zoom into them but I contribute that to my rookie status. Its very snappy in its picture taking functions. I never felt it lagging or slowing for any of the pictures that I took. For a beginner I think this is a great camera.P.S. this camera came with 18-55 IS II lens and I additionally bought a 50 mm 1.8 lens and some filters. Also, one day shipping is not worth it. I got to eager to get the camera and wasted my money.

I started my research on which video camera to get 4-5 weeks before Christmas and decided on a Video Camera, once I received it I decided the quality was not what I wanted. I have been seeing for months on youtube many videos which were created by DSLR's. Note: I was trained in Videography when I was in college and although not working in that field any longer I still appreciate great quality video. So I decided to try a DSLR and with all my research I found that Canon Makes some of the Best DSLR's for Video especially the 5D III. Since I couldn't really afford the 5D I decided to try the T4i. What a great decision. This camera shoots great Video and great photos. You will like the quality of the video and if you've ever shot professional video you'll like the Manual features.Also these days there are multiple companies that make accessories specifically for DSLR Video that you'll love. Most of which you can find on Amazon. You probably want to check out some Blogs and Youtube videos on how to shoot with DSLR's because it is different than your typical consumer video camera.Warning... if you expect to have exactly the same features as Consumer video cameras this is not the product for you. It does have similar features like Auto Focus and image stabilization (stabilization is great) but the Auto Focus is no near as good as a consumer video cameras. You can hear the lens trying to focus in all the audio. Don't get me wrong it is good you just need to be aware of the extra noise in the background of the lens moving to correct focus. This is what I expected going in and I like to have more control of my cameras so this is a great camera for me. And for the price you can't beat it.Lastly you'll want to get a good Prime lens, something like a telephoto 50mm (I purchased the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens) A great lens for the price. Again this was expected and really another reason to get a DSLR, the ability to change out lens is great and again you can get everything you need at Amazon.All in all this has been a great purchase and of course Amazon is great.