[theuncharmed]

Hi all,

Anyone here use the Canon 30d?

I'm looking to buy one at the end of the month and I'm wondering on what others think of it.

I've borrowed a friends for a few hours and didn't experience any problems. Neither has he incidentally, but wondering how the www find it.

Any recommendations on a 1st lens would be a real plus as well. I cover portraits mainly.

Cheers

Sean

[senu]

Originally Posted by theuncharmed

Hi all,
....Anyone here use the Canon 30d?
I'm looking to buy one at the end of the month and I'm wondering on what others think of it.......
Cheers

Sean

Quite a few here do ( Myself included) many moving up from the 300/350 D and even newer 400D series. Quite a few are preferring to wait for the 40D

And I haven't heard anything negative ( I certainly don't have anything but praise for it)

The kit lens is really not going to do it any justice

There are several " kit alternatives" Tamron, Sigma and Canon depending on how much you want to spend insofar as you tend to get better when you spend a little more
The other consideration if you mainly do portraits is to consider a good fast portrait lens
The Canon 60mm, Tamron 90mm or even Nifty fifty 50mm 1.8 ( or costlier 1.4) are good portrait lenses on a Crop body ( sensor)
The 24-105L is popular and will cover both walkabout and portrait focal lengths but 24mm on a crop sensor isn't wide
Anyway these are "random" suggestions Im sure better ones will come .. soon

[Bursar]

*raises hand* Only had mine a couple of weeks so far, but it's great I can't say I've taken any outstanding shots with it yet, but that's more down to me than the equipment.

Lenses are tricky. I bought the 17-55 f2.8 IS as I want it for a family wedding in about 6 weeks. It should work pretty well as a portrait lens too (at least I'm hoping so, as some friends want some portrait shots). It is however, quite pricey.

I also picked up a Sigma 70-300 APO for the long end. Having been used to shooting at over 700mm with image stablisation on my FZ8, I'm finding the lack of it on the Sigma quite tricky to deal with. But again, that's me rather than the equipment.

If your primary interest is portrait photography, then I guess some prime lenses in the 50/85mm range might be your best bet for speed and clarity.

[senu]

Originally Posted by Bursar

Lenses are tricky. I bought the 17-55 f2.8 IS as I want it for a family wedding in about 6 weeks. It should work pretty well as a portrait lens too (at least I'm hoping so, as some friends want some portrait shots). It is however, quite pricey

.

Absolutely agree.. The Pricey bit puts it at the " not cheap " end of the scale

I also picked up a Sigma 70-300 APO for the long end. Having been used to shooting at over 700mm with image stablisation on my FZ8, I'm finding the lack of it on the Sigma quite tricky to deal with. But again, that's me rather than the equipment.

No, its not really you . The Sigma 70-300mm is great with a tripod.. rather tricky without one but the IS versions (Canon) are £150-200 costlier so one learns to live with that limitation but IS is addictive

[Sabretooth]

I picked up the body just before the cashback closed

Didn't get my lens until yesterday.

For my first lens I went for the Tamron 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 AF Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro.

I went for this lens mainly because its a great all round walk-about lens at a reasonable price (£266)

Initial impressions are very good but haven't had much chance to put the camera and lens to full test yet but will let you know how I get on.

[Tobers]

Superb camera. Very responsive, well built, easy to use and great pics!

I too use a 17-55 f2.8IS, plus a 50mm 1.8, plus a 70-200F4L (non-IS). I've also got a 1.4x extender. This lot covers everything I've wanted to do so far, but I wouldn't mind a 10-22 for wider shots.

Quick bit of advice: do not attempt to add up the cost of all your camera gear!

[theuncharmed]

Originally Posted by Tobers

Superb camera. Very responsive, well built, easy to use and great pics!

I too use a 17-55 f2.8IS, plus a 50mm 1.8, plus a 70-200F4L (non-IS). I've also got a 1.4x extender. This lot covers everything I've wanted to do so far, but I wouldn't mind a 10-22 for wider shots.

Quick bit of advice: do not attempt to add up the cost of all your camera gear!

lol

I think you've pretty much listed everything I was thinking about getting.

Thanks for the help all - can't wait to get my paws on it

[one_happy_hippy]

Excellent camera - i upgraded from a 300D for the 5fps high speed burst mode - and with a fast |CF card can regularly get 30shot bursts out of it.

I use mine with a sigma 24-70mm 2.8f DG marco lens for the majority of my photographic work - mountain biking (downhill racing / jumping) Gig photography and some 'artist' work. (www.myspace.com/thecoldlightofday)

30D has many feature above and beyond that of the 300D i was previously using i.e the Iso and shutter range as well as a much easy colour profile / monochrone menu.

If you have larger hands then a battery grip may be in order as the body is smaller than the 300d casing.

All in all an excellent camera.

[Chanser]

The 30D successor is due soon, the 40D. From July to the end of the year major maufacturers are announcing their new models.

[fuzed]

i have one as well only had a few months, still getting to grips with it, but with the 17-55 f/2.8 IS lens, and a speedlight flash its a great camera, I just took 600 shots this weekend at a friends wedding!!! got some good pictures!

Really liked using it, although I had cramp in my fingers after holding it most the day!!!

[senu]

Originally Posted by fuzed

Really liked using it, although I had cramp in my fingers after holding it most the day!!!

600 shots...!!
You would get cramps even with a camera phone!!

[tomson]

Another 30D user here - I shoot weddings with mine and have nothing but praise for it. For the money (and it's available pretty cheaply these days) it's a superb piece of kit - great low light performance too.

Lens wise, as mentioned above, the 17-55 IS a great - it's my most used lens and i'd certainly hang on to a 1.6 crop body for this lens alone.

[tdodd]

I've had a 30D with Canon 17-85 lens since June last year, and added a 580EX flash in September and BG-E2 grip in December. I'm very happy with the camera and the 17-85 lens has served me well, even getting me through a friend's wedding.

You can see some of my pictures by following the link in my sig. A few were taken with my Sony camcorder and Sony digicam but the vast majority are with the 30D, and all are labeled to indicate which camera was used. Any 30D photos taken before June 07 were all with the 17-85 lens. Almost all the 30D photos from June 07 onwards are with "L" glass, except a couple of landscapes which were with the 17-55 f/2.8.

Some people knock the 17-85 but I think it's a great all-rounder. The focal length range is ideal on a crop camera and my copy is very sharp - as sharp as my EF 50mm f/1.8. IS is a great feature. The downsides are the slow maximum aperture and some barrel distortion at the wide end. Some also complain of chromatic aberrations but my copy does not seem to suffer from this. Now I have the 17-55 f/2.8 IS and 70-200 f/2.8 IS I really ought to get round to selling it but I'm in no rush.

[Yandros]

Originally Posted by senu

600 shots...!!
You would get cramps even with a camera phone!!

I've shot over 400 in a day..no problem.

The record I believe is a nutter with a D70s who takes photos of his pack of little dogs running around. I seem to recall he shot 14,000 pics in one day once

I gather Nikon use him as their unofficial shutter destructive tester.

[senu]

Originally Posted by Yandros

I've shot over 400 in a day..no problem.

The record I believe is a nutter with a D70s who takes photos of his pack of little dogs running around. I seem to recall he shot 14,000 pics in one day once

I gather Nikon use him as their unofficial shutter destructive tester.

!!

That was tounge in cheek.. with a burst mode ( even 3fps) , big CF card and a whole days shooting I can imagine 600 shots would happen in no time
I shot 180 over a 90min period just last week

It really is the sitting down and going through 600 odd shots that I foind mind boggling !

[SweetGirl]

Sean

Why have you chosen to go for the Canon 30d.

is it just because you have had the chance to use your friend or had recommendation from your friend to go and buy

Or is it because you have researched all camera's and found this suits you best?

I am a NIKON () user. My experience with the Nikon D40X is has been very good.

Great camera with lots of built in features, very comfortable to hold, great photo (especially portraits), good price.

I have had no problems with my camera and would highly recommend you go to jessops and try out a few camera's before making your mind up.

[Sabretooth]

Good advice from SweetGirl.

Go try them all out

Then buy the 30D

[Yandros]

Originally Posted by Sabretooth

Good advice from SweetGirl.

Go try them all out

Then buy the 30D

Heh, probably true. The 30D is extremely good value at the moment, so I'd be relucatant (even as a die hard Nikonite!) to put anyone off buying one. I'd just add though that if you don't need the 5fps and other higher end features, you might find a cheaper body and more glass a better use of cash.

If budget isn't much of a problem for you, then the 30D is a bit of a no brainer if you're after a mid range model (unless I can tempt you to the dark side with a Nikon D200 ).

[fuzed]

I didnt even use burst mode that day, they were ALL single shots!
got some great shots and some not so great shots, will post a few with the B&G's permission of course... (well will ask his bro as he's a forum user)

[Radiohead]

Originally Posted by fuzed

I didnt even use burst mode that day, they were ALL single shots!

I should hope so at a wedding as well.

[fuzed]

Originally Posted by Radiohead

I should hope so at a wedding as well.

lol, I don't think the flash would have kept up with the 30d...

[JohnG]

My record is just over 1,000 in one day when I first got my 350D and went out to a local lake
I've had a play with the 30D and it feels just right for me, but I reckon I'm going to wait to see what the replacement for this is like and what the price difference is.

[Bursar]

Rumour is that the 40D (if that's what it gets called) will be priced at about where the 30D was when it was released (around £800 IIRC). Ofcourse it should help knock a little more off of the 30D price, and the 30D won't suddenly become unable to take great photos

[senu]

Originally Posted by SweetGirl

I am a NIKON () user. My experience with the Nikon D40X is has been very good.

Great camera with lots of built in features, very comfortable to hold, great photo (especially portraits), good price.

I have had no problems with my camera and would highly recommend you go to jessops and try out a few camera's before making your mind up.

Anita you certainly use your D40x very competently.... no doubt about that but I'm sure you would find your experience with the D40x is felt by users of the 30D

Even you could find yourself "loving it" size aside

There is no doubt that all the DSLRs currently around are genuinely capable ( and affordable ) some more than others ..

The resulting quality of images is somewhat indistinguishable in good light, identical lenses and with similarly skilled photographers.

It is the ease of interaction, low light abilities and noise limits, access to often used settings and speed of camera reaction to shutter button ect that make some rated above others
Even ignoring the limited lens issue ( screw drive ect) I dont think the D40x and 30D are in the same class in that respect. I would suggest you have a play with one yourself and see why I think so

[JohnG]

Originally Posted by Bursar

Rumour is that the 40D (if that's what it gets called) will be priced at about where the 30D was when it was released (around £800 IIRC). Ofcourse it should help knock a little more off of the 30D price, and the 30D won't suddenly become unable to take great photos

Agreed, I think the main attraction for me would be the anti dust thing that the newer models have these days. I've still not plucked up the courage to clean the sensor on my 350D yet

[senu]

Originally Posted by JohnG

Agreed, I think the main attraction for me would be the anti dust thing that the newer models have these days. I've still not plucked up the courage to clean the sensor on my 350D yet

Just get that blower thingy.. Giotto I think its called
Dead easy
I dont think any Anti-Dust mechanism can remove the need to do that if needed

[Bursar]

Aye, they're only about £8 or so, so not going to break the bank. I actually got mine for £3.99 when I bought mine with my 30D and lenses.

Ofcouse I haven't used it yet...

[theuncharmed]

Reeling the thread back in

I took delivery of the camera today with a 70 - 200mm F4 L lens Went snapping this evening and couldn't be more happy:

Forgive the flare and the noisy foreground.

Sorry Senu.

[senu]

Originally Posted by theuncharmed

Reeling the thread back in

I took delivery of the camera today with a 70 - 200mm F4 L lens Went snapping this evening and couldn't be more happy:

Forgive the flare and the noisy foreground.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t.../Flare_Low.jpg

Congratulations
Well you wont miss the D70s for long!

Shoot RAW, dont be afraid of using high ISOs (DPP) has a very gentle but effective NR

Mod comment: at 900 pixels it needs resizing

[theuncharmed]

I spent 15 mins trying to get the damn images off the camera and then found out they were in jpeg Hence why I miss the easy D70s.

I always shoot raw, but must have changed the settings back to Jpeg somehow :s

Anyway, I'm liking it a heck of a lot, just need to get used to the handling etc and I'll be sorted.

17 - 40mm F4 L is the next lens on the list :D