Reddit reviews Wasabi Power Battery (2-Pack) and Charger for Canon LP-E8 and Canon EOS 550D, EOS 600D, EOS 700D, EOS Rebel T2i, EOS Rebel T3i, EOS Rebel T4i, EOS Rebel T5i

I've used power extra and Opteka and Wasabi power

Initially they'll all perform the same as the OEM battery but wont last more than a year or two depending on how often you use them.

I'd go with wasabi they have reasonable brand recognition. Pretty popular 3rd party gopro battery supplier. Probably lasts longer than the other lesser known brands but I managed to loose my wasabi battery so I can't vouch for it's longevity.

Still better than buying a bunch of Canon batteries if you're going to be going through a bunch of them in a day.

But if you just need an extra battery you might want to just invest in the Canon branded one since it will last for years.

Since I usually just use my t3i for Macro stuff in a more studio-ish environment. This is a life saver. highly recommend you get one if you use your camera indoors and on a tripod often.

Start slow:

The zoom kit (assuming we're speaking of one of the versions of EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6) will be great for:


a) Well lighted scenes (i.e., daylight)

b) Capturing wide images as well as mildly zoomed in images. Don't expect the extreme digital zooming of point and shoot cameras. The upside of your kit zoom being that it will not lose optical quality like those digital zooms.

c) Figuring out what it is you like to capture more. For example I like the isolation of subjects so I tend to use higher focal length lenses more often (think the 55mm end of your zoom instead of the 18mm).


What will you soon realize:

a) You want to take better images in low light. In this case you need to consider lenses with apertures (aka. f-numbers) of 2.8 or larger. Larger meaning a lesser number than 2.8. This number, the smaller it is, the wider it opens and lets in more light.

b) You have a predilection for one end or perhaps the middle of the focal length spectrum. You will then perhaps look for primes that have the wide aperture (2.8 or higher) OR a zoom that perhaps stays at 2.8 (these can get expensive so watch out!).

Many people get the Canon EF 50mm 1.8II because it works well for portraits and low light. Not ideal for inside the house in your camera because it has what we call a crop sensor. This means that your actual focal length will be the number on the lens, say 50, time a crop factor of 1.6. Read more into this on your own. Lots about it on Google and Youtube

OK, accessories:

I personally recommend aftermarket batteries. I bought these which even inculde a charger. Don't expect the same battery life as your original battery but it will get you out of binds. These are much cheaper, though. If money is not an issue then do as you wish

Post processing software might be something you need. Lightroom is a good way to start,I believe, but I personally use Photoshop. I'll let other experienced members chime in.

Asides from that you'll feel certain needs as time goes on. Your lens will get dirty and you'll need a lens cleaner (look online for best reviews, etc.) Many people like the lens pen, btw.

Anyway you get the point. But the most important thing is to go out and enjoy your camera. This is a beautiful hobby that brings peace, appreciation, and excitement to a lot of people. It can also bring frustration but keep a positive and curious attitude and you'll see your photography improve a lot.

One last thing! Learn these concepts... Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO. Learn what they are and how they interact to provide an exposure/image. This is crucial, imo.

Go with Wasabi batts, best 3rd party brand out there.

I've had good luck with Wasabi Power replacement batteries: https://www.amazon.com/Wasabi-Power-Battery-2-Pack-Charger/dp/B004VTAVLE

Canon T3i goes for $350 Used on B&H
Get two extra batteries on Amazon for $21
Finish it off with a 32GB SDHC Sandisk card for $18

If you want smaller panels you're going to sacrifice by them not charging fast enough. You're trying to get too much.

Instead of going solar why don't you just get Wasabi LP-E8 compatibles. https://www.amazon.com/Wasabi-Power-Battery-2-Pack-Charger/dp/B004VTAVLE/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1466534713&sr=1-1&keywords=wasabi+lp-e8

Real LP-E8s are only 8.1Wh the Wasabi are 14.4Wh and WAAAY cheaper. I use Wasabi GoPro batteries and Wasabi LP-E6s all the time. Way better than the official batteries for either.

http://www.amazon.ca/Wasabi-Power-Battery-2-Pack-Charger/dp/B004VTAVLE/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1416160675&sr=8-17&keywords=wasabi+battery Just spend thirty bucks worth of these little fuckers, their great