Review : Canon EOS 30D 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens

Price : $1,149 with Free Super Saver Shipping

First of all I won't get into all the features on this camera, that's been covered enough. I agree with everything that was said concerning those features. I'm also happy that there are those that think this camera is the best thing ever. Where my disappointment takes place in the photos themselves. I'm not a newcomer to photography (I started in 1955), nor am I new to digital. I have the Fuji S7000 (6.3MP) and the pictures it produces are fantastic. I assumed if I were to upgrade to 8MP or 9MP things would be even better. I spent the better part of three weeks researching and reading everything I could get my hands on. Everything I read about the 30D was overwhelming, so I purchased one. I would like to say that in the past seven weeks I've shot 3700 photos and barely half of them are equal to my S7000. That's not to say I haven't produced some very creditable shots. I have. It's just that I expect the majority of them to be that way. If I were to have shot the giraffe, that a customer attached, with my S7000 you'd be able to see every hair. The birds shots would have been more distinct. You'd not only see the individual feathers but the patterns in the feathers as well. When I spend $1400 on a camera I expect it to produce unequaled photos. I'll continue to use it, but for those photos that are must have's I will more than likely use my Fuji S7000. I still have all my 35mm SLR's and both of my twin-reflex type cameras. I'm finding it hard to give them up. I got my first digital camera five years ago. It was only 1MP and I grew tired of the shots it produced. So I kept upgrading. It's been a good trip. I'm not sorry I bought the Canon 30D because I can change lenses, which I cannot do with my Fuji. But I'm not thrilled...yet. Since I wrote my review some time ago my 30D began acting up. It would only take time exposure shots. No matter what setting I chose to put the camera in it would only take a time exposure. Needless to say the shots I attempted were a disaster. I tried everything imaginable and nothing worked. As a last result I contacted Canon Service Representative and we went over a dozen different scenarios with no result. Finally, I was directed to send it directly to Canon with a letter explaining the problem. In less than a week I had the camera back and it appears to be working fine. I have to commend Canon for their fast and thorough corrections to the problem at no charge to me because it was still under warranty. Also, I've noted since my first review of this camera that if I put the camera on a tripod the shots come out a little better; however, I don't have to do the same with my other cameras. I still don't feel like I should have to do it with this camera...but I'll live with it for now. I gave the camera 4 stars, because a distinct photo means a great deal to me. I would have rated 3.5, but there are a lot of features that are noteworthy.

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Review : Canon EOS 30D 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens

Price : $1500 with Free Super Saver Shipping

"I consider myself an amateur/semi-pro photographer who uses my photo equipment for travel pics for the most part. I wanted to move from film (EOS-3 and EOS-1V) to D-SLR and have waited many years to do so. I could neither justify $4K or $8K for the two high-end cameras either for cost or use. Then the 5D came out and I seriously considered it because it was a true pro-level camera for photographers truly not in the business. And, it has a FF CMOS to boot--no FOVCF to deal with. Then, Canon brought out the 30D and after doing the comparative homework, the quality is, for the most part, equal and sometimes better than the 5D. For those of us who are not in possession of 300mm+ lenses, the 1.6 FOVCF is super, except, of course, for ultra-wide FOVs. But camera to camera, function to function, versatility to versatility, or any other category you might wish to compare, the 30D is a superlative camera and a photographer's dream. This camera is truly "WOW! to the MAX." For those who think that having a pop-up flash should NEVER be on a pro level camera, think again! It's a true plus. With 5FPS for use at sporting events or other fast-moving venues vs. 3FPS for the 5D, this makes the 30D all the better. So, the 30D along with the unbelievable EF-S10-22mm f/2.5-3.5 USM lens, the EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, the EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS UMS, the EF100 f/2.8 macro USM, the Battery Grip BG-E2, the Speedlite 580EX along with the Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX and/or the Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, which is the total equipment I have in my bags, you can't do better. Oh, I am sure Canon will soon come out with a 40D, but I can't imagine what they could add without moving to the 5D level-camera. In fact, we may soon see the demise of the SLR with less than a FF CMOS, so I advise that if you want the advantages of the 1.6 multiplier SLR, get this camera now. Don't wait; there's no reason to do so and at $1500 give or take, it's very inexpensive for what Canon gives us in return. What I have not told you is that I purchased both the 30D and the 5D and returned the 5D--for the reasons I iterated above. And I don't regret it, even for a minute. Nikon can't come close to this camera. There are far more Nikon to Canon convertees than Canon to Nikon and it's for cameras like the 30D that has caused this to occur. Friends of mine that were diehard Nikonites are now Canonites. And I am not aware of any of them who have regretted the move."

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Review : Canon EF 50mm f1.2L II USM Standard Lens

"Compatible with all EOS dSLR camerasAspherical lens element suppresses aberrations and ensures excellent imaging performance Ring-type USMHigh-speed AF and circular aperture create a shallow depth-of-field 7-group 8-element design Focusing range: 3.2' to infinity Filter Size: 72mm3 3/5" dia. x 3 3/10" L; weight: 36.2 oz"

Product Dimensions: 2 pounds
Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
ASIN: B000IDYM1M
Average Customer Review
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,501 in Electronics
Date first available at Amazon.com: September 14, 2004

Canon EF 50mm f1.2L II USM Standard Lens

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