Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

choosing a canon

T

taytho

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 22, 2005
348
0
KC, MO
i already have a nice Canon SLR but need to join the ranks of those with a digital.
I am looking at the 350d or the 20d. I am not seeing much argument for the price of a 20d. Can someone talk me in to the 20d or in to the 350d. Doesnt any one have complaints about either camera. Thanks so much

tt
 
choosing a canon

images

Simple, classic and effective.
 
taytho said:
i already have a nice Canon SLR but need to join the ranks of those with a digital.
I am looking at the 350d or the 20d. I am not seeing much argument for the price of a 20d. Can someone talk me in to the 20d or in to the 350d. Doesnt any one have complaints about either camera. Thanks so much

tt
Click to expand...

Now there is a new 30D....have you looked into that one? From what I understand that model has some changes/improvements over the previous generation of 10D and 20D. Depends upon what features are important to you, what you really feel you must have or what you think you can live without....

I'm not a Canon shooter, so I can't speak knowledgeably or specifically about any of these, but my recommendation would be to look more closely at the 20D and the 30D over the Digital Rebel. People have mentioned the feel of the Digital Rebel in their hands and some like it, some feel it is too small or too plasticky....

Before you make any decision first read revews at http://www.dpreview.com or at http://www.steves-digcams.com or http://www.imaging-resource.com. The 30D is still new so there may be only preliminary reviews available for it right now.

After that, take a trip to your local camera shop and handle each of the cameras in which you're interested, talk with the store personnel, get a sense of whether or not one of these camera bodies will do what you want and need and also be sure to verify that whatever lenses you already own will work with that camera body. Canon has changed mounts a few times and so there are issues around that if someone has older lenses.

Hope this helps!
 
There are several reasons to get the 20d. I had the 350d then upgraded.

Reasons why:
5fps vs 3fps (not that big of a deal but the buffer on the 20d is much bigger)
Quick control dial (it's a pain and slow to change options by scrolling through menus).
More AF points
Better feeling body (not so small)
Viewfinder is much better
Better shutter (100k vs 50k) plus it sounds better. The 350d has this funny whir sound that almost sounds like film advancing.

There are more but I can't remember them now.
 
Zeke said:
There are several reasons to get the 20d. I had the 350d then upgraded.

Reasons why:
5fps vs 3fps (not that big of a deal but the buffer on the 20d is much bigger)
Quick control dial (it's a pain and slow to change options by scrolling through menus).
More AF points
Better feeling body (not so small)
Viewfinder is much better
Better shutter (100k vs 50k) plus it sounds better. The 350d has this funny whir sound that almost sounds like film advancing.

There are more but I can't remember them now.
Click to expand...

So i know this is a judgement call, but bear with me. I am on a serious budget..... out of college and not yet begun my career...... which will be teaching. I think you can imagine that i am rather poor. Are these features worth the hundreds of dollars in price difference? I understand that the 20d is better..... i wont argue that. Is it worth the price difference? again, i understand this is a judgement call, what do you think?
 
Honestly, I think it depends how interested you are in photography. I recomend the 350D to my friends and familly who are intersted in just casually shooting but are fed up with the quality of there P&S. I recoment the 20d to anyone who wants to take there photography to the next level.

From my own experiance I couldn't live with a 350d. The quick control dial thing on the back is a life saver. It makes changing settings quickly that much easiar. I'm not sure how many shots I would have missed if it wasn't for that single knob. Another difference that was serious to me (but might not be to others) was the location of the secondary screen on the 350d. It's on the back above the main screen. On the 20/30d its on the top. I think its much more convenient there.

Two more things pertaining to quality: The 20d is bigger, heavier, and much better constructed. Compare a consumer lens to a cannon L series lens and I think you get the picture. Its actually kind of funny... I recomend both the 350d and the 20d to there respective potential consumers because of there respective sizes. The 350d is perfect for someone who just wants to take occasional pictures. Its nice and small and doesn't get in your way. For me at least its a little too small though. I can't imagine its very comfortable to shoot with for extended lengths of time. I can't even imagine my camera without the battery grip... let alone the itsy bitsy 350d. Last, the shutter life on the 20d is much better then the 350d (and was improved even more for the 30d.) My camera's on its second shutter. If you plan on shooting alot take that into consideration.

I'm in college also. I'm poor aswell but I take my photography very seriously. I think if you are really serious about photography you won't regret buying a 20d. The 350d is certainly still a respectable camera though, and will take great pictures also.
 
I would agree about recommending both. I do all the time. My guess is you'd do perfectly well with the 350d. They're a steal right now where a body can be had for $550. I would say probably go with the 350d and if you outgrow it sell it (easy) and pick up a used 20d (also easy). The 350d can technically do everything the 20d can, takes great pictures, and is a wonderful camera so my recommendation is to buy it.

You'll get better pictures with better lenses anyway so you'll probably need to focus more money on glass than on the body if you don't have a supply of high quality lenses. On a budget, my recommendation for lenses is:

EF 50mm 1.8
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 (lens can't be beat by anything in its price category)
Tamron 19-35
 
Zeke said:
You'll get better pictures with better lenses anyway so you'll probably need to focus more money on glass than on the body if you don't have a supply of high quality lenses. On a budget, my recommendation for lenses is:

EF 50mm 1.8
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 (lens can't be beat by anything in its price category)
Tamron 19-35
Click to expand...

I have those first 2. Both great lenses for the $$$... especially the tamron.
 
The 28-75 is awesome...it's definitely my most used lens. I had the 50 1.8 MK I and got rid of it for a 50 1.4 that I rarely use. The only thing I think could be cooler is the upcoming Tamron 17-50 2.8 except it's Di-II and thus can't be used with a film SLR. Once it's out, I'll probably just pick up a Tamron 17-35 to replace my 19-35 on the cheap. I'm consistently surprised by how good my 19-35 is though, so if the 17-35 is as much better as it's supposed to be I'll be ecstatic.

panoz7 said:
I have those first 2. Both great lenses for the $$$... especially the tamron.
Click to expand...
 
Before you buy anything, get your hands on some actual cameras! It's no good going just for specs and then finding that the camera is uncomfortable to use. I started with a 300D and then considered upgrading to the 350D - until I tried it! I found it much too small - even the salesman agreed with me! I now have the 30D and it's great.
 
John T said:
Before you buy anything, get your hands on some actual cameras! It's no good going just for specs and then finding that the camera is uncomfortable to use. I started with a 300D and then considered upgrading to the 350D - until I tried it! I found it much too small - even the salesman agreed with me! I now have the 30D and it's great.
Click to expand...
That was my route too, 300D simple effective. 350D too small, could be better if they made the handle bigger. 20D/30D just right. Though a recently acquired 10D feels better (I'm selling it soon).
 
Abstract said:
IAnd if he was serious: It's too heavy, and quite frankly, it takes horrible photos. :p
Click to expand...
Umm, no kidding.

mpw said:
Check YOUR dictionary for humour, it won't be there cause you don't have it in the US.:D
Click to expand...
Are you serious? If they were spelled alike you would have had a case for humor.
 
taytho said:
So i know this is a judgement call, but bear with me. I am on a serious budget..... out of college and not yet begun my career...... which will be teaching. I think you can imagine that i am rather poor. Are these features worth the hundreds of dollars in price difference? I understand that the 20d is better..... i wont argue that. Is it worth the price difference? again, i understand this is a judgement call, what do you think?
Click to expand...

The 350D / XT is a nice DSLR. My sister has been a serious amature for years and years and has the 350 that I played with a little bit when they visited from the UK. Of course you'll want to handle one, but I thought it was a fine size. I have the 30D, but the image quality out of the 350D/XT is very nice. You seem like you like the 20D but budget is a big concern. It looks like they're selling for 1,099 new these days at a lot of places. I would give a reputable place that sometimes has discounts when you call like www.robertsimaging.com a call to see if they have a in-person/telephone only price (for some reason they don't discount on just the website). You might be able to find one for a decent price. If you can get one for a discount that doesn't have you going into debt just to get a camera, you might go that route. A reasonably good lens will be the other critical component in either case. The 18-55 kit lens isn't bad at all, but not as spectacular as the results I've seen with better lenses.
 
ksz said:
Umm, no kidding.


Are you serious? If they were spelled alike you would have had a case for humor.
Click to expand...
Look up occasionally and you'll get more outta life, there's a load of funny stuff going way over your head.
 
ksz said:
Umm, no kidding.


Are you serious? If they were spelled alike you would have had a case for humor.
Click to expand...


Actually the fact that they are pronounced the same means there is very much a case for humor here. I laughed when that was the first response to my question.

mpw said:
Check YOUR dictionary for humour, it won't be there cause you don't have it in the US.:D
Click to expand...
Correct.... in the US we have HUMOR in our dictionary. ..... well some of us do.. hehe.



Thanks everybody for your help. I decided on the 350d and a Sigma lens. I have had great luck with my Sigma lenses in the past and the bottom line is with the camera body is going to be price. You can spend all the money in the world but it basically comes down to your eye and i have had pretty good luck with mine. I have the most fun on my old Pentax K1000. I need a solid digital body to work with and from my research and your opinions and things people have said it is the one for me. Again... thanks a bunch. AND more info is always welcome!!!!!

tt
 
taytho said:
You can spend all the money in the world but it basically comes down to your eye and i have had pretty good luck with mine.
Click to expand...

Have fun with your new purchase!

Your comment above is so right! So many people believe the more they spend on equipment, the better their pictures will be - it's just not true!
 
mpw said:
Look up occasionally and you'll get more outta life, there's a load of funny stuff going way over your head.
Click to expand...
Dude, don't take it personally. And worse, don't make it personal.

(btw, if I had a nickel every time I heard a version of the canon vs cannon "joke", I would have died of boredom. :) )
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back