Customer Reviews: Read 105 more reviews...
  Puts any rebel to shame July 8, 2008
People can show off their Rebel tsi and say it has 12 megapixels, but you can show off your 30d and say, "mine's not cheap plastic." This camera is perfect for a semi-pro, student, or just about anyone who can afford it. I warn you not to buy it from DBROTH though. They scammed me out of 99.99 dollars worth of photoshop, and I'm still trying to settle it with them. The hi-speed shooting is great for my hobby of shooting skate pictures. I think my customer image is number 82 or something. If you want to use it for landscapes, you'll need to get something with a really wide angle, because of the 1.6 cropping factor. If you're into sports photography like me though, it just gives your telephoto zoom lens a little more reach.
I love this camera!!! July 7, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I absolutely love this camera! If you are contemplating an upgrade from the Rebel digital series, go for it. My SLR voyage has been long, starting with a Canon T70. I went from that to a Canon Rebel G, then the Digital Rebel, then the 20D, and now the 30D. I don't think I will ever need to buy another digital SLR until I wear this one out. The shutter speed is brilliant. The ability to switch from manual to automatic is freeing---you don't have to worry about any setting. I'm very glad I bought this camera!
Canon EOS 30D - SI Business Trends, Bits & Bytes Review, Bill Dubovsky, January, 2007 July 3, 2008
Canon EOS 30D, Bill Dubovsky, SI Business Trends, Bits & Bytes, Jan, 2007.
Did You Know? Higher-end SLR (single lens reflex) digital cameras are now getting more affordable and user friendly...they're not just for professionals anymore. This month I will review the technology behind the digital SLR and specifically the performance of the Canon EOS 30D, about $1,300 with standard zoom lens.
What is it? SLRs or single lens reflex digital cameras are becoming even more popular as their costs decrease. Once a replacement for film cameras for professional photographers, many digital SLRs can be purchased from about $500 and up. Some popular makes are: Nikon, Olympus, Canon, Pentax, Sony and even Kodak. According to market researcher NPD Group Inc, a digital SLR has an average holiday price of about $942. Baby boomers, brought up with film SLRs are flocking to the digital mode as they can afford the newer cameras and appreciate the difference in quality and performance.
Digital SLRs create better photos for a number of reasons, including the larger size of the sensor (collects more light, faster and more accurate - especially in low light situations) and are much better in taking action shots. The superior optical quality of the larger lenses is also a major factor in getting crystal clear photos.
The Canon EOS-30D, has 8-megapixel resolution and a 2.5 inch LCD, and it shoots continuously at 5 frames per second with a 30-shot buffer, so you don't miss the action shots of your kids, sports or wildlife. It's not too bulky or heavy and has good hand feel and balance. It provides good high-sensitivity photos which are crisp and not grainy and has image stabilization which reduces blur when using extended zoom.
How it works: Folks with compact digital cameras know the frustration of shutter lag and the inability to frame your pictures accurately through the small LCD screen. Typically compact digital cameras take the photo a fraction of a second or so after you snap, often missing the action you wanted to capture. It's also hard to frame and focus with the smaller cameras smaller LCDs. With SLRs, you view the action directly through a viewfinder and actually look through the lens via a mirror that moves up when you press the shutter button. You get what you see. The viewfinder is also a blessing when you are in a bright light situation where the image on an LCD is hard to see due to glare.
Other benefits to the advanced amateur include: saving film costs and not dealing with chemicals if you used to develop or print your own photos. If you choose to do your own printing and editing, there are many good programs that allow you to do some impressive work right on your Windows or Mac computer.
In the past you would have to take and develop a whole role of film to see if you got the right shot. With digital photography, you can just take as many photos as you'd like and delete all except the "keepers." You won't have to pay for, or keep a large inventory of poor photos as you only keep and print the good ones. Unlike film, digital CF memory doesn't go out of date, and can hold hundreds of photos before you have to download them to your computer.
What you need: Besides buying the camera kit, which should include the standard 18mm-55mm zoom lens, buy extra CF memory card. Most cameras don't come with a memory card. Additional accessories may include a heavier duty flash and/or a better quality lens. You will probably need a Mac or Windows XP computer with a USB slot for downloading the photos from the camera. The Canon comes with software for both Windows and MAC that is quite good and easy to use. While I have used the Canon software, I prefer to use iPhoto on the Mac.
How to get it: Be careful about buying on-line. I saw a great deal on the Canon and bought it. I then had to call a number for delivery options and they told me I had to buy the battery charger for an extra cost (which would have brought the total price up to what everyone else was selling it for). I declined and asked them to send me exactly what was on the product description on their website. After much going back and forth, they told me they couldn't fulfill the order - they were out of the ones without the battery charger! I "Googled" the online company and found quite a list of disgruntled buyers - apparently they pull this routine all the time. Lesson learned - check out the on-line company before you spend any time with them. I immediately cancelled my order with them and bought the camera locally with no problem. You can watch for sales and rebates at consumer electronics stores for good deals or check with camera stores. Sometimes the camera is sold "body only" and you need to purchase the lens separately. This is good if you want to purchase a specific, upgraded lens of your choice.
How hard is it to use? The automatic mode is very simple. You can learn to use in 10 minutes or less. The manual settings require a bit of reading and playing, but you can get some awesome results. The combination of digital photography and photo editing software are a great match.
Findings: Not surprisingly, I love it. I have been an amateur photographer from my college days and grew up using Nikon and Nikomat 35 mm film SLRs. While they are heavy and clumsy by today's standards, they took great photos, mostly because of the control you had over shutter speed and f-stop as well as the great Nikor lenses. I find you can get the same control (if you choose) from the Canon EOS-30D along with a wide variety of Canon and other lenses. While the Canon EOS-30D is about the same size as the older film SLRs, it is much lighter. This camera has made me retire my film cameras.
Pros: Convenience; not having to buy and store film, lighter camera, getting what you see, ease of use, professional results. The Canon EOS-30D also came highly recommended by my professional photographer friends. While I have been partial to Nikon, the earlier digital SLR models seemed to have had some mechanical defects, which took time to repair. However, I have not heard of any major shortcomings with the major SLR manufacturers' new models.
Cons: Cost. They are more expensive than compact or viewfinder cameras. They are heavier and bulkier than compact cameras. You'll want accessories such as: additional or better quality lenses, heavy-duty flash, gadget bags, tripods and a host of other attachments. It's too big to keep in your pocket or purse to use for snap shots. I have also found the built-in flash to be weak - only good to about 10 feet. Good enough for snap shots. An upgraded professional quality Canon flash is about a $400 accessory.
Bottom-line: In general, I am very happy with the feel, performance and results from the Canon EOS-30D and would recommend it to any serious amateur photographer.
For more information: See the January 2007, Consumers Reports or Google for more information and user's comments. You can contact Bill Dubovsky at billdubovsky@gmail.com with your feedback, experiences and questions. As always, check with www.Amazon.com for user feedback and good, reputable deals.
30D SLR vs. Rebel XT June 9, 2008
I upgraded from the Digital Rebel XT to the 30D and am extremely happy that I did. Compared to the Rebel line, the camera is bigger and sturdier. The camera fits in my hands much better, and the magnesium body feels like it will last much longer than the plastic body of the Rebel.
The shutter for this camera is also rated for 100,000 actuations compared to the 50,000 for the Rebel XT and 20D. The LCD screen is much larger also. I have not experienced any problems with dead pixels or coloration problems with the screen. The viewfinder is bigger and easier to see through than the Rebel as well.
One of my favorite features is the wheel in the back as opposed to the 4 buttons of the Rebel. The wheel allows for quick changes to exposure compensation as well as much easier scrolling through the pictures when in the review setting.
In a nutshell, if you are new to photography, are on a tighter budget and want to see exactly how interested you really are in Digital SLR's, I always recommend the Rebel XT or XTi. It is a great starter camera that wont break the bank. However, if you know you want a great camera or already have a Rebel, the 30D is a very nice upgrade. Personally, I think this camera is the best value for your money out there.
Beautiful Images June 4, 2008
You cannot go wrong with this camera. With the 40D recently lowering in price and Canon preparing to release another model soon, I would expect to get this camera for a real deal from many retailers (e_tailers) in the near future. Camera functions are amazing and very similar to the 20D and 10D. Of course there are many newer features including the BIG pretty 2.5" LCD. For many, the 30D is sufficient which means you can save money instead of buying the 40D. Spend that hard earned money on optics...where it should go anyway!
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