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

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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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