Recos for camera with fast shutter speed and EOS Rebel T3 card spec question

[Zeke2]

2 Questions. 1. About a camera 2. About an Sd card.

1. Does anyone know a really fast shutter speed ef camera under $1,300 new and not refurbished/renewed that works with the sigma 150-600 contemporary ef?

2. Will this SD card work good with the canon camera eos rebel t3? SanDisk 256GB Extreme SDXC UHS-I Memory Card - C10, U3, V30, 4K, UHD, SD Card - SDSDXVV-256G-GNCIN

Also someone inform me what does it mean if a SD card has a fast writing speed. Does that equal fast photo taking so that it puts photos on the card faster to then be able to take more photos faster? 

[Tronhard]

Hi Zeke:
Q1:  What do you define as a really fast shutter speed? 
Most cameras are capable of very high shutter speeds, but the camera max shutter speed does not define shutter speeds you can actually achieve in the real world.  The maximum performance of the camera sensor in handling ISO (and noise), and the speed of the lens will have significant impacts on whether a camera can achieve a theoretical high shutter speed.  
The Sigma 150-600c is an excellent lens, and will work with the Rebrel T3. However, any lens of that type with a similar focal range is going to be challenged to get anywhere near allowing the shutter to operate at its maximum speed. You would have to be shooting in extremely bright conditions and have the ISO set high, which is not a strength of the crop sensors such as on the T3.

It would be helpful to have an idea of the context within which you are operating.  The description you give seems to suggest you are shooing subjects at distance that move extremely rapidly.  So, what subjects are you looking at and lighting conditions are you operating in?  Knowing this will help us to tell you what shutter speeds you practically need to be able to freeze action.

2. The Rebel T3 is one of the older and most basic cameras, if you are considering that as a choice, the maximum shutter speeds are in the specs you should be coming familiar with, as are the types of SD card that are compatible.  Going through the specs and the user manuals for a camera you are considering getting should be part of your buying process - we get a lot of folks who buy first and then get surprised by a feature that was clearly specified but the buyers didn't do their due diligence.

Here are the product specifications: 
Canon EOS 1100D (EOS Rebel T3 / EOS Kiss X50) Specs: Digital Photography Review
If you have not done so, download a PDF copy of the manual from this link: eosrt3-eos1100d-bim2-c-en.pdf

According to the specs, the camera will support SDXC cards.  ONLY buy full-size SD cards, never micro-SD with adapters, and always from a reputable source - there are a lot of counterfeits out there. 
Do not use the card as permanent storage, they are not meant for that.  Download images to a computer and then format the card clean in camera - do not just delete the files.  Format is better and faster.

[Zeke2]

Hi,

thanks for your reply! I am shooting at Yellowstone soon wildlife and I want to get many shots of the gysers but the photo capturing speed of the t3 just isn’t cutting it. I shoot in the day. Is the lighting at least good with the sigma 150-600c and t3?

[Tronhard]

If I was starting from scratch, and assuming that you have $1300 to spend on the body alone, then I would suggest going with the EOS R8.  This is a mirrorless body with a full-frame sensor.  There are multiple advantages to this:
Mirrorless cameras have better light performance (and many other respects) than DSLRs
A full-frame sensor is better in low light and offers an excellent 24MP sensor
You get an accurate sense of exposure looking through the viewfinder, which DSLRs do not do
You can use a Sigma 150-600c with the EF-RF adapter, and it functions perfectly - I have used that lens with my mirrorless bodies.
For wildlife, you get face and eye tracking

You can get this within your budget, by getting a refurbished unit from Canon, which may be new but overstock, new but opened box, demo or show units - but 'good as new' and come with a Canon warranty.

Refurbished EOS R8 Body for $1079 
Shop Canon Refurbished Mount Adapter EF-EOS R | Canon U.S.A., Inc. $79

So, you could have this combination for your Sigma lens and it will be far better than the T3 and still be under budget.

[stevet1 · Accepted solution]

Zeke2,

Here is one person's recommendations for a memory card for your T3i:

https://havecamerawilltravel.com/canon-rebel-t3i-memory-card-recommendations/

He seems pretty level-headed.

Steve Thomas

[Tronhard]

I agree Steve.  The maximum practical speeds achievable will not really be defined by the card speed and capacity, more by the capability of the sensor to gather enough light, the processor to convert light energy into digital data and the buffer to hold that data.   The speed of the lens is a major factor here too.  I fear the OP is concentrating on two factors when there are many more at play here and shutter and card speeds may not need to be as fast as they believe - depending on that is being shot, at what distance and under what lighting conditions.

[stevet1]

Trevor,

What I got from David Colemans article was that you can buy cards with an unlimited storage capacity and has blazing fast write speeds, but if your camera doesn't have the processing power to process your photos/videos, you're just wasting your money.

With my camera, I personally have settled on 128gb SDXC cards as the best balance for me.

Steve Thomas

[Tronhard]

I agree that everyone has to find the right balance for their needs, be it in terms of what one shoots (video and/or stills), the throughput for file size and write speed, and from that the capacity.  They are all variables that can change with each situation.
I agree with your statement: "if your camera doesn't have the processing power to process your photos/videos, you're just wasting your money."  That was one of my personal disappointments with the R7.  The data bus is, IMHO, extremely unbalanced.  However, I also recognize that some folks get great results from it.

What I push back against is the idea that I come across where folks get enormous capacity cards as a permanent storage solution, and they just aren't that robust - and were never intended to be.  Perhaps the name "Secure" digital was misleading, I don't know.

[Zeke2]

Thank you!