First Pictures With My Refurbished Canon EOS Rebel T3i with 18-55mm IS II Lens.

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by Anura Guruge

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Related posts:
0. Nikon Coolpix L820 — Aug. 22, 2014.
1. Bob Ness photography — Aug. 19, 2014.
2. Thomas Lavoie photos — July 31, 2014.
3. J. Richard Hale photography — July 31, 2014.
4. Alton photographer, John Bishop — Dec. 12, 2013.

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As I intimated, in a roundabout way, in this post last week, I have, of late, been dabbling in ‘new’ — meaning ‘new’ to me, though they are manufacturer refurbished — DSLR cameras. As I mentioned in that post, I, last Friday, August 22, got delivery of a Canon refurbished . My life is such, and I am NOT complaining, I did NOT get to try the camera out, not even attach the lens to the body or put the battery in, until yesterday, Tuesday, August 26. That in a nutshell sums up my dilemma about getting into, AGAIN, ‘serious’, i.e., interchangeable lens (D)SLR cameras. I don’t really have the time!

Anyway I took about 20 pictures yesterday. All in JPEG at the 18MB maximum resolution. The above two were among the firsts. I was using fully automated mode.

Not sure I am 100% happy, especially when I compare them to the first pictures I took with the refurbished Nikon L820 I had for a weekend at the start of this month. The L820 just did not have the ‘non-automated’ functionality I think I want.

I am no stranger to Canons. I had an A-1 with a lot of ‘stuff’ for a very long time. Last night we also discovered, when I was rooting around looking for old camera bags, that we also have a Nikon N6006. That is a film camera. I checked on eBay just for fun. Cracked me up. They have NO value. Sad.

I did do some research on the T3i before I bought it; but not that much. Time. That is the problem.

That is also the reason I am sticking with refurbished, though unlike computers (which I insist on buying refurbished) DSLRs do have some critical mechanical parts, e.g., mirror and shutter. BUT, I don’t want to spend too much money. For one I don’t have much money and the second being that I don’t want photography to become a consuming passion. So, in my perverse mind, what I am hoping is that IF I don’t spend as much I will not take it that seriously.

I used to be BIG into photography for about 3o years starting in the early 1970s. Had all sorts of Olympus and Canon cameras. Given that I was a ‘diplomat brat’ I could get cameras duty free (and not from airport shops) — and that, in those days, made a big difference. Plus, once, while in Bangkok (Thailand) I flew to Hong Kong to buy a camera. I think that is how I got the A-1. But, now I don’t want to get serious. Just want a better camera than the 2006 Panasonic DMC-FZ5 I have. It has a 1.5″ LCD screen and will not support memory cards larger than 2GB. But it can take some stunning pictures. These Paul Warnick STILL pictures were taken with it and I was amazed at their quality. For the last 6 – 7 years I would buy point-and-shoots for Deanna. So she had the newer cameras. 

The T3i feels OK. The ergonomics are good. I am using a wrist strap rather than a neck strap — though I ordered a detachable neck lanyard, that I can attach on the other side, when I need both hands free — such as when I am clamouring on rocks.

Right now I am so, so. Not that thrilled with the picture quality. I really don’t want to start shooting in RAW. Time. Hhhhmmm.

Life’s little problems I have to contend with — but I know better than to complain. These are nice problems to have.

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