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

The XT is amazing. The battery comes partly charged so you can immedietly start using the camera (thank you Canon!) I've already shot about 200 pictures with it and the battery hasn't died yet. I can't give you a comparison between the XT and the 20D as I haven't owned a 20D, I can tell you a few things you may wish to know before buying. This camera, is TINY. Extremely tiny. I'm a woman in my early twenties and I have small hands. The camera fits just right in my hands, but honestly, I don't see how someone with bigger hands would be 100% comfortable holding this. If my hands were any larger, they would be slipping off the bottom. I had tried holding a 20D at a camera shop once and it felt too large in my hands to grip. The camera size is perfect for me, but just beware if you have larger hands. You may want to look into the battery grip, or test out holding the camera at a store before you order it. See the picture I uploaded above to get a size relation and how the camera fits in my hands. For anyone who is migrating to this camera from a standard point and shoot digital camera, you cannot frame the image you are about to take using the LCD screen on the back. You must look through the viewfinder. The LCD screen is soley for menu use and preview mode after the picture has been taken, nothing more. Something I've noticed is the camera makes a ratteling sound when moved around. I couldn't figure out what the heck it was, and then I finally reazlized it's the hinges from the pop-up flash. It sounds like they are loose when the flash is closed. I went to Best Buy and looked at their display model, and yep, it has the same problem. Well, it's not really a *problem* but frankly something ratteling around like that sounds cheaply made to me. My Canon film SLR doesn't make that sound. I use a 420EX Speedlite flash with my SLRs so the popup flash doesn't concern me, but it was something I noticed and thought I would share. I love that Canon gave the option to have a black finish over a silver one. The startup time is instantaneous which is absolutely wonderful. The burst mode is excellent with 3 fps. It's extremely quiet. The image quality is excellent. You can get photo quality prints at 20x30, and even then I bet you could push it further. I really can't elaborate more then what other reviews have said. If you are looking for a step into the digital SLR world, this is the ticket. Or you can even check out the newly reduced original Digital Rebel, but for the extra hundred bucks or so, I would just get the XT. You will not be sorry. Two upgrades I would make right away: Get a Speedlite flash and the Canon 28-135mm lens. Also, I don't know why people are submitting bad reviews grading Amazon on shipping for the Rebel XT. When I preordered the XT from Amazon (not from another 3rd party), it said it would be released March 20th. I got my Rebel XT in the mail yesterday (the 22nd) which if you ask me, is pretty darn good. Want something right away? Then walk into a store and buy it instead of ordering from the internet.

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Review : Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi 10.1 Megapixel

Before I write a review, first let me run a short history of Digital Rebel series since some of you may not know much about Canon DSLR. As some of you already know, Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi(AKA EOS 400D) is 3rd generation of Digital Rebel series. First one was introduced back in August of 2003 and it had 6 mega pixels with sub $1000 price tag. Last year, on February 2005 they brought Digital Rebel XT with 8 mega pixel which was an excellent upgrade to 1st generation camera with extra pixels, instant up time, faster image process with Digic II image processor, increased buffer, E-TTL II Flash to name a few. Canon Digital Rebel XTi(I personally like 400D name better though) is the 3rd version of Digital Rebel and it's got some cool features that you might want to consider when purchasing. I've listed 10 best here. 1. 10 mega pixel CMOS sensor with improved micro-lens array, and lower noise. 2. EOS Integrated Cleaning System ++++ GOOOOOOD ++++ - Anti-static coatings on sensor surfaces - Separate low pass filter with ultra-sonic vibration - Software based dust mapping and removal 3. Nine point Auto Focus sensor (Same as its big brother EOS 30D) 4. Continuous shooting burst up to 27 JPEG and 10 RAW images. (up from 20 & 6) 5. Bright 2.5" LCD monitor with 160° viewing angles (Horizontal & Vertical) 6. Camera settings and adjustment on LCD monitor 7. New viewfinder view includes 9 AF points as well as EOS 30D style status bar 8. Improved user interface 9. Improved print/share/direct print features 10. Lower introductory list price The most exciting feature on XTi is probably the Integrated Cleaning System. No matter how careful you use your camera, eventually the dust will make its way into your sensor somehow. I'm sure you've had same situation where dust got into the sensor and had to find a way to clean it off without damaging the sensor. If you shoot a white paper that covers entire screen and if you see small blurred dark spots here and there - THAT'S THE DUST ON THE SENSOR. It appears to be not noticeable when shooting textured, busy scene, but it definitely shows when shooting solid color such as clear blue sky or white backdrop. I had same issue and I've tried blowing can-air several times, but it only removed a few and sometimes created more dusts. ARRRRR!! This New cleaning system is a heaven's call. To fight the dust problem, Canon has done these to address this issue. 1. Used materials in the mirror box and shutter chamber which are less likely to generate dust. 2. Improved the body cap, again to not generate dust. 3. Used anti-static coating on the sensor surface. 4. Created a new separated anti-alias filter which vibrates to shake off dust. 5. Added a Dust Delete Data(DDD) feature which can map stubborn dust to be removed in software. I believe this feature is going to be present on all future Canon EOS lines from now on. My review space is almost out, so I'll make final comments. The XTi in my opinion is a very good entry camera and if you are thinking of upgrading point-n-shoot camera or from 1st generation Digital Rebel, I'd recommend this camera without any hesitation. Current XT users might want to wait for the upcoming 30D upgrade. XTi is great for Amateur, Semi-pro, or even some of the pros out there and as Pro myself, I am thinking to purchase this camera for back up/2nd camera to my 5D. Price you should expect is between $850~$900. Good luck and Happy Shooting!!!