Canon EOS D30

[emily21]

Hello,
I'm new to the market and am interested in the canon 30D, any suggestions, pros, cons, quality to price would be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
Emily

[coldrain]

First, the topic title is wrong ;)... the EOS D30 actually is an old DSLR from canon, 3.x mp. Confusing, I know.

For the rest? The EOS 30D is a very impressive DSLR, with image quality that is unbeatable by anything below the EOS 5D. It is well designed, sturdy, has good ergonomics, and a complete feature set. It performs very well in higher ISOs... So, all in all a very good buy.

Of course what is very important what lenses you will get with it. This makes a bigger difference in image quality than the camera itself... so, determine your budget and the lens types you would want in the beginning... and then ask us for instance what the best lenses for your budget and wishes would be.

[aparmley]

Hello,
I'm new to the market and am interested in the canon 30D, any suggestions, pros, cons, quality to price would be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
Emily

Don't let the Nikonians sway you - George we are well aware of your tactics! ;) just kidding. :D

but us Canonites for the most part feel that the 30D, for the money, is the best DSLR you can get - Some may say if you don't need the added features of the 30D - then the 20D is the best DSLR you can get for the money. It could be overkill for some people - so that doesn't always means one should buy it. I bought the XT because of that very reason. I wasn't sure I'd need the 20D - I've learned alot with the XT and I've learned enough about cameras and my skills and my desires to now know that the 30D is for me and I will buy it sometime. . . . However, If I would have discovered only a fond enjoyment of everything related to Digital photography perhaps the XT would be fine for the many many years ahead, but because I discovered a passion and love of and a desire to continue forward, I will continue forward and begin the upward path with Canon bodies. . .

Another area of concern and many wise individuals will recommend the following: If you can't afford the 30D + at least one good lens - but you can afford the XT + one good lens - it would be more wise to get the XT + good lens. something to consider. . .

Good luck. . .

[emily21]

So from what I understand the most important thing to consider is to get a good lens, either with the canon 30D or XT. I have a canon 28-90 lens from a (non digital) reflex canon 3000V so I hope to be able to put it on a digital. What can you tell me about a recommended lens for the digital 30D? And prices?
Thanks,
Emily

[coldrain]

So from what I understand the most important thing to consider is to get a good lens, either with the canon 30D or XT. I have a canon 28-90 lens from a (non digital) reflex canon 3000V so I hope to be able to put it on a digital. What can you tell me about a recommended lens for the digital 30D? And prices?
Thanks,
Emily
Two things about that 28-90 lens you have. First, you are aware of the fact that in cameras like the EOS 30D the sensor is smaller than the film used in your EOS 3000v, and that it is like cutting off the 4 edges, making the field of view more like a 45-144mm lens? you will miss the whole wide angle range.
2nd, the 28-90 is a very cheap lens, and will be a huge disappointment on the 30D (or XT). I have the 28-80 which predates yours, and it is really very crap (not sharp, not contrasty and a vail over the colours).

So all in all, it will work fine, but will miss in the wide angle part, and the image results will be disappointing.
I do not know what budget you have in mind, nor do I know what focal range you want to cover. So I will keep it relativily affordable and standard.

You can consider a Sigma 18-125mm (200$?) or 18-200mm (under 400$?)lens to start with, to cover all in one lens and learn what you would want/need later.

Or you can get the 18-55mm kit lens for wide-ish angle stuff (18mm will be 28.8mm in comparisson to what you are used to... so it will get you the same wideangle you now have on your film SLR... due to the 1.6x crop factor. So it will translate in a 28.8-88mm, same as you had before). Then get a canon EF 28-105 f3.5-4.5 USM II lens as very affordable (around 220$) and good (sharp, good colour, great focussing) lens with a nice range besides the wide angle part (translates into a 28.8-168mm lens).
These two will replace and exceed your old 28-90 for a very moderate amount.

If you do not mind to spend a bit more, you can think of a Tamron 17-35mm f2.8-4(bit above 300$?) instead of that 18-55 kit lens. It will buy you better optics for still a moderate amount. If you want to go wider, you can consider a Tokina 12-24mm f4 (bit above 400$), a canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5(bit under 700$?), or a Sigma 10-20mm (bit above 400$).

You can make it as expensive as you want... or you can try to keep the cost down and get the best performance for your money. The above options fall into the best performance for your money category.

[D70FAN]

Don't let the Nikonians sway you - George we are well aware of your tactics! ;) just kidding. :D

but us Canonites for the most part feel that the 30D, for the money, is the best DSLR you can get - Some may say if you don't need the added features of the 30D - then the 20D is the best DSLR you can get for the money. It could be overkill for some people - so that doesn't always means one should buy it. I bought the XT because of that very reason. I wasn't sure I'd need the 20D - I've learned alot with the XT and I've learned enough about cameras and my skills and my desires to now know that the 30D is for me and I will buy it sometime. . . . However, If I would have discovered only a fond enjoyment of everything related to Digital photography perhaps the XT would be fine for the many many years ahead, but because I discovered a passion and love of and a desire to continue forward, I will continue forward and begin the upward path with Canon bodies. . .

Another area of concern and many wise individuals will recommend the following: If you can't afford the 30D + at least one good lens - but you can afford the XT + one good lens - it would be more wise to get the XT + good lens. something to consider. . .

Good luck. . .

Not a problem. This is, after all, the Canon board. Like the Nikon board, is for Nikonians, it should be a sanctuary for Canonians.

There is little argument that Canon's image quality, at high ISO, leads the pack...

... how's that for diplomacy?;)

[JTL]

it should be a sanctuary for Canonians.It's "Canonites", thank you! :D

Although, with this crew, sometimes it seems like CanonKnights...;)

[coldrain]

It's "Canonites", thank you! :D

Although, with this crew, sometimes it seems like CanonKnights...;)
CanonKnights and NikonDragons?:confused: :eek:

[aparmley]

So from what I understand the most important thing to consider is to get a good lens, either with the canon 30D or XT. I have a canon 28-90 lens from a (non digital) reflex canon 3000V so I hope to be able to put it on a digital. What can you tell me about a recommended lens for the digital 30D? And prices?
Thanks,
Emily

[Looking both ways; coast is clear] Primes are the best bang for your buck! :D

Not a problem. This is, after all, the Canon board. Like the Nikon board, is for Nikonians, it should be a sanctuary for Canonians.

There is little argument that Canon's image quality, at high ISO, leads the pack...

... how's that for diplomacy?;)

Very nice George! You know I was just foolin though, couldn't help myself.

[DonSchap]

"Budget" is probably the nastiest word on this forum. It forces us to make decisions based on the stupidest part of the process... an amount of coin... which DIRECTLY impacts the quality of our work.

If you could, just for a moment... forget the amount you will spend on your EOS 30D's accessories... and just wanted to get a decent set of glass to go with it... what would you buy? (Man, I love this kind of question... it just seems MORE FAIR and a heck of a lot more satisfying.)

What is the maximum aperture you want? (f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.8, f/3.5-5.6, f/4?) (lower numbers will be the most versatile)

What range are you most often shooting in?

Wide angle Zoom? (10mm - 24mm) - Group shots... real estate... ball parks!
Normal Zoom? (24-70mm) - People, places, inanimate things
Telephoto Zoom? (70-200mm) - Distant people, field sports, nature
Extender (1.4x)? (optional) gives you a little more reach for your telephoto

Wide-range Zoom? (utility lens - compromises all ranges for convenience) (18-200mm) (often a good first lens, gets just about everything)

Primes? (14mm (opt), 24mm (opt), 28mm, 50mm, 85mm (somewhat opt)) Sharp, razor like photos... usually best in studio or fixed areas.

When you buy a dSLR... all of these are important questions and considerations. Actually, the answers to these are some of the most entertaining and educational aspects to enjoying this art form.

So, go ahead and answer these questions... get help on anything you can... get the best prices you can... with warranties of course, then close your eyes and write the check. Honestly, don't look back... because now you have every right to look forward... you will have your perfect "tool" to capture the sun and all you see! :D