Calling Canon Camera Experts!

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OriginHacker21

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Photography is a big hobby of mine. I've had a number of point and shoots over the last 5 years (have about 10GB of pictures). Well, in July I bought my first DSLR - Canon Rebel XT. I also purchased my first lens: Canon 28-105MM USM. Yes, I'm brand loyal to Canon so Sorry Nikon & others.

Now, after doing research and meeting friends with Canon EOS 30Ds and Nikon D100s ... I'm ready to upgrade to a 30D. However, I see the 40D is going to be coming out in September.

I've pre-ordered the 40D but am seriously thinking about saving ~$200 and getting the 30D because the 40D doesn't seem that much better. I'd stick with the Rebel XT but I'm almost 6 foot with huge hands. The Rebel XT = my first 3 fingers and my thumb - my pinky hangs out on the bottom (yes, it is that small). The XT is way too small of a camera and the autofocus is horrible... (One reason why upgrading along with the 30D being much bigger).

Would you get the 30D (because I'm no where near pro enough to use all of its features) or would you keep the pre-order on the 40D (spending $200 more)? If I got the 30D I'd probably save up for a 5D (or its upgrade) late next year and keep the 30D as a backup.

Thanks for any advice.
cheers.gif


http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigmcguire/
 
I have Rebel XT and it actually is a little too big for me (compared to my old EOS Rebel X). If it's too small for your hands, you might want to get a battery grip.

Why don't you like the autofocus? It seems to auto focus for me just fine except for the night sky. When it's not a quick shot I usually manually focus it - I like the 7 focus points which makes the manual focus a little easier.
 
To answer your question - I would rather keep the 350D and get a new lens than spend money on the 30D. I think the features of rebel XT are good enough.
 
Why did you buy the Rebel in the first place? (If it's too small for your hands?) What do your really like and use on your current cameras? What features do you really need? (better optics, faster shooting,etc)

What was bad about your previous purchases? Good?

Go through all this - mentally or on paper. Then see which model matches your needs. If the 30D does, then no thrill spending an extra $200 you can use for accessories - or maybe the 50D will offer features that are truly to die for (For me - speed - digital cameras are still too slow, espcially in limited light but they are way better than dig. cameras 3 or 4 years ago)
 
Thanks for the advice all. My previous P&S cameras were for recording family events (camping, hiking, visiting family in Iowa, birthdays, holidays).

I'll admit I did not try out the Rebel XT before I bought it as I buy everything online through Amazon.com. Via the many reviews I read - people were happy with its size (even the guys with big hands).

From what I've read Rebel XT has a 70% chance of getting autofocus right. The 20D and 30D have a 90+% chance and the auto focus is much faster. The viewfinder is bigger, etc...

Main reason to get 30D or 40D = bigger camera, faster FPS, the lens that comes with it = 28mm-135mm IS (image stabilization)., and then keep that for a few years.

I can sell my Rebel XT to family - so cost isn't a huge issue.


CivicFan - Did get the battery grip for the XT. However, it makes the camera really heavy and bit more difficult to carry on hikes/travel due to size. But it definitely helped with the grip issue. Just can't set it down on the table because the lens causes it to tip forward.

Pablo - thanks for the advice, am going to do that right now.
 
Mine tips forward too - I have the tripod attachment thingie screwed at the base of the camera.

I haven't noticed any problems with the auto focus. If the shutter speed is fast then the images are sharp. At slow speeds the images may be blurred. Nighttime photography has been a major pain for me but I just bought a remote control and now don't have to keep the shutter button pressed for the 'bulb' setting. Can keep the ISO to 100, aperture to 12 and still take great pictures of the starry skies.
 
I viewed my film SLRs as 'film backs' and spent most of the budget on lenses and film. A good wide angle or macro or good fast telephoto will make more of a difference than a fancy body with a slow, moderate range, probably humble zoom.
 
dSLRs are all about the lenses. If you only have one lens, then you don't have a lot invested in this system yet. Why upgrade the body to only afford one lens still? If you're stuck on Canon, buy another lens or two and wait for a real upgraded body to come about.

I'm a cheapskate; if I went dSLR, I like the Pentax K100d right now - in body IS, great deal, and a bunch of old lenses and primes work on it.
 
and the other thing is to remember, the most expensive equipment can't take good photos unless you're out there taking them! I used my camera a good bit when I first got it, but now its just on trips, after the novelty wore off. An XT can take great pics, use it, learn it...but if another body is more comfortable for your hands, buy it, if it means you'll use it more often.

clear as mud?

Digital camera buying is a little like oil shopping - its way too easy to overthink it.
 
I have the 20D, and quite pleased with it. I always advise people to try a camera out before buying, even if it is just in the store. How a camera feels to you is very important, one person likes smaller cameras, another likes something he can get his hands on, as is your case. Viewfinders can vary a lot, especially for eyeglass wearers. Some menus seem intuitive, others will drive you crazy, all personal preferences. I think you'd be pleased with either 30D or 40D, in this day and age camera life cycles are very short. What ever camera you buy try not to look at new models after you buy it, because it will drive you crazy. Your pictures look very good by the way. Review and comparison: web page
 
I retired in 1998 and turned into a fotog in 2000, quickly shooting little but landscapes. I bought a D30 in the fall of 2000, had pairs of '30 and '60s, and bought a 1Ds a few years ago when it was new. Loved that body but eventually stopped going to shoot landscapes last year. Sold all my serious gear--the 1Ds, Canon 200/2.8, 135/2, 50/1.4, 1.4X and 2X extenders, $1000 tripod/ballmount, etc.--this summer. Bought an XTi with 17-85 IS lens and am QUITE happy with it except it was too small. Bought the Targas batterygrip--which with 2 batteries in it added only 10 ounces to its weight, so I sure don't understand your 'too heavy' comment--and am very happy with what I have now. I often illustrate posts with pics like this of the Magnaflow muffler in my 2007 Edge exhaust system...
Muffler41_700w.jpg


I'm quite pleased with the this camera/lens combo.

About the camera tilting forward, I use Cokin-P rings on my 2 lenses--I kept this Sigma 20/1.8--and use the flat-front slide-on lens caps.
Cokinfront_500w.jpg

This lens uses an 82mm filter thread, about as big as Cokin goes.
Cokincapoff_500w.jpg


I place my camera/lens down on its nose, and it'll stay there even with a Canon 420 flash unit attached to it.
Cokinlensnosedown_500h.jpg

I'd fotograf it that way but I have one one camera. Because the Cokin-P rings are fairly large in diameter--3-3/8" (85mm)--a body and lens so equipped can be placed on its bottom and then allowed to tilt down/forward so that it rests on the Cokin lenscap and NOT the lens.

Try a Cokin-P ring and cap--it's quite useful AND it allows you to use the Cokin P-series filters, the only one of which I now use is the circular polarizer.
P-ringcirc-pol_600w.jpg
 
I've used the 20D quite a bit and own a rebel XT. I have not used the 30D. the only difference I found between the two is the "feel", they seemed to function identically. the 20D/30D/40D are all metal cases v. plastic case on the rebel series so they are built more rugged.

I still like my XT, I don't care that it's a bit small. if you put an "L" series lens on it you get amazing pictures. I beat mine up hiking with it in a backpack so I like it's smaller size and weight I'm not a gearhead, I just go out and shoot, and let my pictures show my skill.


you haven't been hanging out over at DPReview.com have you? nothing is ever good enough for those guys.
 
I'm currently using an Olympus FE-230, here's some pics I've taken with it:

Close-up (look ma' no sludge!):
p3210059jv8.jpg


The dreaded leaking cam-plug:
p3240098zz3.jpg


An outdoor pic:
p4190010nt8.jpg


The only thing I don't like about it, is it's auto-focus.

They look better before imageshack resizes them.
 
Quote:

I've used the 20D quite a bit and own a rebel XT. I have not used the 30D. the only difference I found between the two is the "feel", they seemed to function identically. the 20D/30D/40D are all metal cases v. plastic case on the rebel series so they are built more rugged.

I still like my XT, I don't care that it's a bit small. if you put an "L" series lens on it you get amazing pictures. I beat mine up hiking with it in a backpack so I like it's smaller size and weight I'm not a gearhead, I just go out and shoot, and let my pictures show my skill.


you haven't been hanging out over at DPReview.com have you? nothing is ever good enough for those guys.

Click to expand...


They seem to be satisfied with the XT cameras. They don't like the Canon customer service.
 
Quote:


you haven't been hanging out over at DPReview.com have you? nothing is ever good enough for those guys.

Click to expand...


Um... maybe?
laugh.gif
. Actually, the first time I went there I was really interested in what they said. Now, I realize those people are just crazed for the latest and greatest stuff. They're more worried about the camera than going out and taking the pictures (most of them). I do not plan on visiting the forums there again - it is just not safe there.

I've got a buyer for my Rebel XT so I've put that towards a new Canon EOS 40D (which will arrive today).

Thanks for the advice - once I get the 40D - I do not plan on buying any camera for the next 3+ years. After all, the camera doesn't take the picture.

Nice shots of your cars people! If I had something better than a Pontiac Sunfire - I might offer a few of my own.
cheers.gif
 
I used to read there quite a bit but I got tired of the posts about;
"do i have a good copy of...?"
"how does my ___ compare to nikon?"
"is this backfocusing?"
"do I need to send this back to canon?"
"why are my pics not focused?" (the answer is usually motion blur)
"why don't we have spot metering?"
"what will the 40d features be?"
"what will the XT__ features be?"

I'm not sure they discuss anything else.
 
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