Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR1271812

For my money, the Canon EOS Rebel T3  is probably one of the finest digital single lens reflex (DSLR) available in the under US $500 class.

The Canon EOS Rebel T3  is a fine digital single lens reflex (DSLR) available in the under US $500 class. It is a camera that a pro can easily use as the framing through-the-lens is what SLR photography is all about, but, there's an interesting 2.7-inch (okay three-inch) screen that you can also use to frame your photos, as well. It's really a matter of taste, although if you are shooting over your head having the three-inch screen is nice.This is a very capable DSLR that has improved with age. Canon has now included a 63-zone sampling system in its autofocus chain. Indeed, you have the choice of letting the EOS focus for you or you can go the old-fashioned way and focus it yourself. I used a combination to tell you the truth. And, one little feature that I found very thoughtful was the diopter correction lever that lets you set the viewfinder to your own particular eyesight so you can shoot with your glasses off (just remember to put them back on - I forgot in one or two cases and almost had a couple of eyeglass catastrophes as I'm as nearsighted as they come). It's the type of thoughtful feature built into the EOS, aside from the fact that it has Canon's autostabilization feature built into the camera/lens combination so that you can use a long lens and handhold shots that normally would look like a drunken whirlwind.Canon has used its DIGIC 4 processor as the heart of this DSLR and it works in so many ways. For example, if you want multiple exposures, you just push a couple of buttons on the back, bring up the photo menu to change from single to continuous shooting and press enter and you are all set for multiple imaging. There's also a video mode that will allow you to create videos that you can display on any HD TV or computer, as long as you have the right mini-USB/HDMI adapter cable in your gadget bag.I could go on and on about the Rebel as it's that good a camera and I have used it extensively with excellent results. At the pricing I've seen now, this is a no-brainer for the serious photographer on your gift list of if you want to use it yourself. It uses the entire range of Canon lenses and that means you will have all of Canon's features available such as autofocus, autostabilization and a photo range that is effectively ISO 100 to 6400 (F100-F6400 for f-stop people), which means you can shoot in incredibly low light, which I have done and had good results to broad daylight.A nice feature that you'll like is the autostrobe. If the Rebel senses there's not enough light for a particular scene, unless you override it, u [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI2JIXYwE5A p pops the strobe and it gives you fill light. I've also used it in ] high light for good background fill light.