Help! Unsure which EOS rebel to purchase

[LB1990]

Hi all!
I have been looking and looking and still am a little unsure of the camera that would best fit my wants and budget.. I am a beginner, will be using the camera mostly outside (pictures of my boyfriend surfing, my horses, dog (moving and still), skies and landscapes. Budget is tight, about $500.
Recommendations, Suggestions, please and thank you!!!

[jrhoffman75]

$500 is too low, but here is a reasonable beginner set for $600.

Canon refurbs come with a 1 year warranty, just like a new camera.

http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/eos-rebel-t5-ef-s-18-55-is-ii-lens-kit-refurbished-with-ef...

[ebiggs1]

"Budget is tight, about $500."

Yes that is a little tight.    Save a bit longer or try the Canon referb store as per suggestion above.  But the Rebel to get is the Canon EOS Rebel T6i DSLR Camera with 18-135mm Lens.  It will stay with you for a long, long time.  This Rebel has all the current featuers of any Rebel. 

[ScottyP]

I'll echo ebiggs on the T6i.  It is not just the most current Rebel, it is also the first major model-to-model improvement in Rebels since the T2i replaced the T1i.  Autofocus in particular is vastly improved vs the T5i. 

[LB1990]

What are your opinions on the rebel SL1?

[jrhoffman75]

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EOS-Rebel-SL1.aspx

[ebiggs1]

"What are your opinions on the rebel SL1?"

IMHO, it is too small for me.  I am 6'3" and 220lbs.  Are you a smaller person?  If so you may like a Rebel SL-1 but I would suggest you try one first.  I use some pretty large and heavy glass which is another reason I wouldn't buy an SL-1.

This is personal opinion and you should really try one.

[LB1990]

Thank you!! I will have to try one out, if that is your only down fall that may be a great starter camera for me! Esp since my hands aren't large and I'm 5'5, 123lb so that's great to hear!! Thank you!!!

[ezpop]

If you don't mind buying an used camera/lens combo, you can find a T2i/T3i with kit lens in your local market asking around $250- $300. Then spend some $$ buying a 50 1.8 STM for portrait/low light photography.

T4i has touch screen features but you may have to pay a little bit more. May be $400. Then you have $100 left for a 40mm F2.8 pancaske lens.

If you only shoot stills, you have a lot of choices with your $500. May be you can consider a Canon 40D($200) or even a FF 5D(350). They produce very very good images if you put on a decent lens.

BTW, you may spend $50 or less buying a vintage manual lens e.g. Helios 44-2 55 F2 and an adapter to use it on a crop sensor camera (not on the 5D - mirror crash). It's a lot of fun.

[TCampbell]

I noticed one of your uses is "pictures of boyfriend surfing".  Be VERY careful near salt-water.  Salt-water will kill the electronics.  

We've had a few bad stories of people who wade out into the water -- or just get too clsoe and a big wave comes crashing over them and that's the end of that camera.

It is possible to get completely waterproof "underwater" housings -- but those are expensive for a DSLR.