This is my first DSLR. My photography needs are just wanting to shoot quality pictures of my family in everyday life, holidays, & special events like graduation. My experience with digital photography over the past 10 years is Fuji Finepix A200, GE A730, 2 Sony Cybershots (not sure of the models), Fuji Finepix F900EXR, Fuji S8200, Samsung Galaxy S II, & Samsung Galaxy Note II (yes the latter two are not technically cameras but since many use their smartphones for point & shoots I will include them).

I wish I would've made the move to dslr sooner. This is only an entry-level & the image quality compared to point & shoots is amazing.

Autofocus using the viewfinder is immediate (if looking for this on a p&s check out the Fuji Finepix F900EXR). Using the LCD screen, autofocus is slower, but I am beginning to understand the benefits of the viewfinder. I can definitely see the benefits of manual focus but not very good at it yet. I'll keep practicing.

Colors turn out true to what I see with my eye. There is a lot of detail in each image. Possibly the term for the images I'm getting is "true to life".

Images are noise free, atleast to my untrained eye. My main problem with newer p&s cameras is the level of noise & grain in the pictures. I think it has something to do with the high megapixels crammed into a tiny sensor, b/c my first digital camera did not produce that much noise, & it was only 3 megapixels (Fuji Finepix A200). The sensor was even slightly smaller at 1/2.7" compared to the typical 1/2.3" sensor in most p&s today.

I am only using full auto mode right now, but I am slowly reading through the entire manual to hopefully learn some things to take even better pictures. But if the pictures never get any better than they are in full auto mode, I will still be pleased having this level of image quality to preserve family memories.

I was concerned about not taking as many pictures, b/c it would require toting a large camera around, & I am used to the convenience of p&s and smartphones. But I bought the smallest bag that would fit my dslr with lens attached. It also holds the charger & usb cord, but that's not necessary. I carry the bag on my shoulder along with my purse, so it's not a problem.

I was also concerned about the issue I hear about dust on the sensor. But for now, I'm using the lens that came with the camera & don't plan on changing lenses in the near future (although the Tamron 18-270mm looks interesting & seems it would give the zoom flexibility you get w/point & shoots w/o changing lenses), so I keep the lens attached. From what I understand, this should minimize dust entry into the camera. *Experienced DSLR users, correct me if I'm wrong.*

Video was not a must, but I do like having all-in-one for photo & video. It's 720p instead of 1080p. It does not have continual autofocus. I took a short test home video, & this did not seem to be a problem for home videos. I'm not sure about recording a child's school program or something like that.

It looks like the Nikon D3100 might be the better entry-level option, atleast looking at specs. It has the auto sensor dust cleaning, 1080p video, & full time video autofocus. It's slightly more expensive, and this Canon was really the most I could spend on a camera.

I'm sure I have a lot to learn, but coming from a point & shoot, you will not be dissapointed, if for no other reason than image quality.

I bought the T3 thinking I was buying a used T3i to replace the one that was stolen from my home earlier this year imagine my surprise when I opened the box from Amazon and found a T3 instead.
.I gave it 3 stars for three reasons.
(1) its a Canon
(2) Like most of the Canon cameras I've owned it takes a nice clean clear photo
(3) it's light weight and easy to handle when you have to sit for hours on end to get that one perfect shot with out a tripod.
With all that said now for the down side I've found which for anyone that reads this is by no fault of the seller.
The shutter is loud and very noisy no photographer armature or pro wants to hear the sound of metal again metal when the shutter goes off.
The shutter in auto mode is some time very sluggish or won't close at all.Action mode on the T3 is incredibly slow compared to the T3i. and unlike the T#i the LCD screen can not be flipped out. Also the T3 does not like to focus in low light. So if you have to work at night or your attempting to make a shot at the moon I suggest you go buy a T3i, T5i or a Nikon D5200, or D5300.
If you like to copyright your work its not going to happen with this camera there is no place on the options menu to add your information.

In retrospect I probably should have read the ad much closer and paid more attention when I placed the order for this camera. I'm just glade I didn't get sucked in to paying full price for a brand new one. Would I recommend this to any one else or buy another one. "NOT ON YOUR LIFE!"

I haven't tested this product out but I just got it in the mail! It is more than I expected. It came with a neck strap, charger, battery and USB cable all for 229$ from TEXTBOOKRUSH! NO this is not sponsored and Im not getting paid for this opinion. Although I was expecting a T3i not a T3... but that's my fault for not reading the name correctly. Other than that Im happy with this product! IT DOESNT COME WITH A MEMORY CARD. Oh and I just ordered this 5 days ago and it barely came in the mail!

This is such a great camera for the price. I've had it for about a year and it functions wonderfully and take some great pictures. I bought this camera ideally for my wife who wanted something a bit nicer than the standard point and shoots that she had been using. I purchased this as a gift for her and she fell in love right away. My wife doesn't delve too deep into the fancy stuff, like setting exposures and whatnot, but for her it doesn't really matter. The auto mode works great it just about every situation and with our two young children just having something that can take a shot after shot quickly is key. The only thing I wish this model had that the higher T3i model has is the leather type grip on the shutter button side. We've not had any issues with the camera falling from our hands but it always makes me a tad nervous if I ever see my wife holding it one handed without the strap around her neck. Without that extra grippage it "feels" slippery but it hasn't ever actually slipped. I've recommended this camera to a few friends of mine that were looking for higher end starter DSLR's.

Let me start by saying I am no way an expert with cameras, I do own a 35mm camera with multiple lenses and took good pictures with it through the years and for the past ten years have used a small very simple Canon digital camera but I am strictly a novice when it comes to photography and this is my first "big time" Digital SLR camera. My wife and I just returned from a trip to the mountains of Colorado looking for a new house, this was my first experience with this camera and it performed wonderfully. The pictures came out great both indoors and out. It didn't matter if the pictures were of close details, of far away views, landscapes or wildlife, the pictures are clear, in focus and the colors great. I have also downloaded pictures to my laptop and can zoom in with amazing quality. I used the basic zone modes of the camera all of the time and the only issue I had was I accidentally changed a feature where the pictures were delayed about 10 seconds and would take 2 pictures at a time but once I got back to my vehicle and walked through the menu I changed the camera back to "normal" mode without having to dig through the manual. Being the stereotypical man I just breezed through the instruction manual before starting to take pictures so I do not know all the ins and outs of the camera but I found this camera to be very simple to use and the menu system very easy to follow. I also purchased the Canon EF-S 55-250mm telephoto lens with this camera and I am very pleased with it as well. I took a few pictures of some Mule Deer 70 yards away and tucked back in the trees with no problems finding the subject and taking clear pictures. The lenses swap out quickly and easily and the lenses are very simply to use. If you are a camera aficionado you probably should check out another review but if you are a novice and concerned about this camera being complicated to use that is not what I experienced. I am very pleased with this purchase and with the accessories I purchased along with it (Case Logic DM1000 case, the extra Canon lens and some lens cap holders).