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

Price : $1,299.00 with free super saver shipping

"This camera offers a few well considered improvements over the 20D it replaces. The sensor and processor are the same so the image quality will not differ one iota, BUT an enlarged LCD monitor, spot metering, vastly improved shutter life and ISO displayed on the viewfinder are worthy improvements easily justifying the upgrade from the 20D. If one is considering an upgrade from the 10D my advice would be to definitely go for it. The 20D and 30D both have the "instant on" feature and this represents a vast improvement over the 10D. The 10D was felt by many to have focusing issues and though I did not have any significant problem with my 10D in that regard the 30D represents a substantial improvement in this area. Canon still is not offering (in this price range) a camera with eye control or 45 focusing points, BUT the nine focusing points that ARE offered are well placed and the camera focuses quickly and surely resulting in tack sharp photos. The pictures this camera takes are simply beyond belief. Beautifully saturated, tack sharp, NO, and I mean NO noise at 400 or below and barely discernible noise all the way up to 1600 ISO. For all practical purposes 1600 ISO is an entirely usable speed resulting in fantastic pictures. What Canon has accomplished in reducing noise and increasing pixel density proves that they are, for now, the technology leader. Canon for now is doing a better job at controlling noise than Nikon though Nikon with the D200 comes pretty darn close except at 800 ISO and above. The new flash system, ETTL II, available first on the 20D is a vast improvement over previous systems. The in camera processing results in exceptional and pleasing pictures. This camera has a fixed continuous shooting rate which was not present on the 20D. The megapixels stay constant at 8.2 million pixels. Many may be disappointed that the MP count was not increased and feel that perhaps a nominal increase to 10MP would have better justified an upgrade. Canon obviously feels that noise and other features are more important at this point than raw MP's and I would agree. The holy grail of digital photography is now dynamic range. And while this camera offers no improvement in dynamic range I think we can expect to see such improvements in future offerings from Canon and the other manufacturers. One of the greatest things about digital photography is the ability to build a digital dark room for next to nothing. With the included Photoshop Elements you are well on your way to producing pictures that you could only have imagined in the pre-digital days. I am able to recoup pictures that I never would have considered salvageable before this camera. And while Elements is a great program and more than adequate for most needs I would recommend considering Photoshop CS2 for those who intend to plumb the depths of this hobby. Another thing I like about Canon is the lens system which IMO is second to none. Also, Canon continues to innovate at a furious pace driving the price of these digital cameras relentlessly downward. This camera is being introduced at a lower price than either the 10D or the 20D. The 5D is plummeting in price and is approaching my "strike point" for purchase. I expect that we will see a sub $2000 10 MP camera with a full frame sensor in the next 18 months. Such are the economics of digital photography. It would seem that Moore's law is driving the prices down inexorably"

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Review : Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Price : $1,149.00 with Free Super Saver Shipping

"Canon's new cameras at this level are often criticized as "merely an upgrade". This stems from two facts, Canon wishes to produce a desirable camera at a reasonable price, and they are starting from a pretty solid base. Yet if you look deeper, the 40D is the most significant upgrade in the 10D, 20D, 30D line. Of course, most things are much like the previous cameras. As far as size and weight, it's very similar, although I thought the grip improvements made the camera fit a little better in my hands. (I did not have an optional grip to try on the camera). Most of the hype will be on the upgrade to 10 megapixels and the 3" LCD with "Live View". While the former may be criticized as merely catching up to the XTi and competition, we must not overlook the 14-bit processing. This is a huge boost in image capability if used properly. Those that shoot RAW, and those that understand the desirability of the "Hightone Priority", will gain the most benefit. The LCD upgrade is handy, especially combined with its greater color range, but "Live View" without autofocusing my not be that beneficial to most. However, something very interesting for some is "PC Live", which allows the user to connect to a computer, view the image live on that computer, and operate the camera (including focus) remotely from the computer. While the AF improvements usually get second billing, this may actually be the biggest benefit to sports photographers (although the boost to 6.5 fps is welcome). The 30D only used a cross-basis system at the center point, where the 40D uses this system at all nine positions. This should greatly improve the off center speed and accuracy. Additionally, the center point (the most often used) has been boosted in performance. The viewfinder has been increased in magnification, which should be welcomed to all. But people who must use eyeglasses should be amazed at the viewfinder being both larger and better eye relief (meaning they will be able to see the viewfinder better, even though their eyeglasses push their eye further back). Durability has been improved (including extending the internal metal chassis inside the grip) making a good design even better. The sensor cleaning filter is also welcome. Images look sharp, but I haven't really put the continuous AF (Servo) to a real sports challenge (just cars down a city street). Additionally, I don't have any real feedback on high ISO shooting, although Canon has traditionally done well here. Comparisons to the competition are everywhere. Image quality wise, the 14-bit processing and hightone control can come in handy for more critical users vs. all other 10 megapixel cameras that are cheaper. For sports guys, the 6.5fps comes cheap, as $1,000 will only get you 3fps. Only the Pentax K10D comes close in build quality, under $1 grand. As of this writing, Nikon has introduced, but is not close to shipping, the D300. On paper, it's all of the 40D and more (12 megapixel, higher quality LCD, more AF points), but at a price rumored to be $1,800-$2,000, body only. Additionally, Sony will soon have a higher end product. Will they have enough more to justify the price? Your call.

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Review : CANON 0206B001 8.0 Megapixel Digital Rebel XT SLR Camera

"8.0 megapixel CMOS Sensor & Digic(R) II Image Processor ; Fast 3 fps shooting with a 14 frame burst & 2.0 second start-up time ; High-speed, wide area 7-pt AF with super-imposed focusing points ; User-selectable metering patterns, AF modes, custom functions;& flash exposure compensation ; Direct print support with PictBridge(TM) ;compatible printers ; USB 2.0 hi-speed interface ;for quick downloads ; Compatible with more than 50 EF & EF-S lenses & most ;EOS System accessories ;including EX-series ; Digital Rebel XT body, ;battery charger, ;battery pack, interface cable,;EOS Digital Solution Disk ;v10.0, digital photo;instruction manuals,;camera cap & eyecap"

Product Description =
Shipping Weight: 6 pounds
ASIN: B000KMI186
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,127 in Everything Else

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Review : Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)

"We were using a Digital Rebel 6.3MP and an old Sony 5.0 MP 7X optical when the Sony got wet and began working intermittently. Time to replace the Sony and move up a notch! Having been well-impressed with the Rebel 6.3 and the two lenses we'd added (EF 55-200 4.5-5.6 USM and the superb EF 700-200 2.8 with Canon's 2X extender bought used), we decided to jump on the Digital Rebel XT with the 18-55 lens. It arrived Thursday, and we sent it back Monday. Here's why. It was too small. Smaller is usually better, but the XT started to feel and look like a toy camera, or at least a point-and-shoot. My wife and I both have smallish hands, and the XT was bordering on being too small to be ergonomic for us. With the 70-200 lens attached, the Rebel XT disappeared. The second why is features. This is not a knock on the XT, which is a fine (excellent, really) camera with significant improvements over the original Digital Rebel. When we sent the XT back, we got Canon's 20D. Aha! you say. The XT and the 20D are basically the same camera. Not completely, and here's Canon's language comparing the two: "There are, of course, some very real differences between the EOS Digital Rebel XT digital camera and the more advanced EOS 20D. While the 20D SLR includes performance features such as faster continuous shooting speed (5 frames per second [fps] vs. 3 fps) with larger burst capability (23 frames vs. 14 frames) and custom function settings (18 vs. 9) that more than justify its heftier price tag, this new Rebel XT model was created for those dedicated SLR users who are migrating to digital for the first time and don't wish to give up the flexibility an SLR system offers." After using the Digital Rebel and three lenses (plus extender) we evolved from point-and-shoot to serious amateurs, and now we're knocking on the door of "prosumer." The 20D puts us there. It also uses the same batteries as the Digital Rebel, which is a plus. Like the Digital Rebel, the 20D is the size of a traditional SLR and easier to handle than the XT, even if it weighs a bit more. This is not a rip on the XT, but a word to the wise for folks like us who feel ready to move to the next level. We took some fine photos with the XT, which we aren't discarding just because we sent back the XT. A final note: If you get the XT (and that is not a bad thing), get the body only and a lens other than the 18-55 that comes standard in the Digital Rebel and XT kits. Again, this is a fine lens with good, middle-of-the-road capability. But if you're getting serious, you need all the lens you can afford, or even a little more than you can afford. The Canon EF-S 17-85 4.5-5.6 gives a lot of range and versatility and would be great with an XT if you're trying for really good photos while keeping life simple and your camera-lens package light. Even better is the EF-S 10-22 3.5-4.5. But the prize of our collection is the EF 24-70 2.8. It provides superb performance. Yes, the cheapest of those is about the price of an XT body. You get what you pay for. We were lucky enough to have fallen into a little cash and put it into a 20D and a great lens (24-70), a really good lens (10-22), and a relatively compact versatile lens that performs well in good light (17-85). If you're sitting on the fence as to your photographic future, I hope this helps."

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