Discussion
Has anyone got one yet?
Where has the best price?
I've seen these inc 18-55mm:
www.cameras2u.com - £635
www.cameraworld.co.uk - £649
Looks like I'm committed to the Canon Club at the mo, all I need to do is find one to have a play with.
Where has the best price?
I've seen these inc 18-55mm:
www.cameras2u.com - £635
www.cameraworld.co.uk - £649
Looks like I'm committed to the Canon Club at the mo, all I need to do is find one to have a play with.
Ex-biker said:Pooh. Heathen.
Looks like I'm committed to the Canon Club at the mo, all I need to do is find one to have a play with.
But in all seriousness get the body (sounds like a cracker) but avoid the kit lens if you can. Crap build, low features and a not-so-compelling picture are the hallmarks of Canon's kit lenses.
Try and get the body if you can, then spend a little bit on a decent Canon/Sigma/Tamron all-round lens.
A friend of mine got a 300D last year and in a deal got two sigma zooms, 18-50DC and 55-200DC. His pictures look really good. Have a look here for a good deal.
www.warehouseexpress.com
www.warehouseexpress.com
Probably a bit late now but this post might be worth a look
http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=414614
http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=414614
I got one last week, after having had a 300D (I did a deal with my workplace as we wanted a camera there). These were my initial impressions last week -
After a week, all of the above is still true. The whole thing is more accurate and sure footed. the focussing is much better, and the controls sem easier to set up. Low light performance seems better as well. I don't know about the lens issue, the bundled lens seems to work fine for me - I'm not a professional photographer, so ultimate robustness and light gathering are bonuses not necessities, and the 18-55 seems to perform perfectly well.
I've just ordered a Tamron 200-500 f5-6.3 zoom (£600!!) so I can take wildlife shots and stuff. I'm looking forward to that arriving.
Other things I've noticed - the USB II connection is amazing - the speed of download is fantastic! Huge improvement.
You can use the camera for remote shooting whilst attached to the computer - not sure what benefit that is, but it's there.
General handling is much better due to the smaller size. I don't know what the D70 is like, but I doubt there's (now) much difference in performance between the two, and buying either will give a very satisfactory photography experience.
nubbin said:
In the end, I've gone for a 350D. Why? Because I already have a 300D, and I have sold that to my practice as a camera for taking macro photos of medical stuff, and obviously the camera handling will be similar.
It arrived yesterday, so I've not had much chance to have a go. First impressions compared to 300D:-
It's black
The rough finish to the body makes it much more obvious that it's plastic, rather than the faux metal silver of the 300D, but the metal function dial is more solid. In particular the flash cover feels plasticky, though still nice and solid.
The body is TINY in comparison - at least a third smaller. It makes the 300D look enormous and clunky, whereas the 350D feels more like a high end "virtual SLR" type - like the top end Finepix or Dimage EVF models.
Startup is virtually instant - click the on switch and it's ready long before you get eye to viewfinder - very impressive.
Focussing is much quicker, more accurate and better in low light. Focus assist from the flash is much quicker to operate as well. I know it's the same standard lens, but it does seem a lot quicker - tweaked perhaps?
The shutter is slightly noisier, but seems more rapid in response to pressing the shutter release - it snaps into use (excuse the pun!) much more readily, rather than the slightly lazy feel to the 300D.
Some of the function buttons have migrated to the backplate - exposure compensation etc. I've not had enough time with the camera to get a feel for whether this has improved function/ergonomics.
In summary, everything feels better except the surface finish. All functions feel quicker, sharper and more accurate, and the camera feels smaller, lighter and much more nimble in handling.
All I need to do now is match my photograhic skills to the camera (that should keep me busy for at least 20 years!!)
After a week, all of the above is still true. The whole thing is more accurate and sure footed. the focussing is much better, and the controls sem easier to set up. Low light performance seems better as well. I don't know about the lens issue, the bundled lens seems to work fine for me - I'm not a professional photographer, so ultimate robustness and light gathering are bonuses not necessities, and the 18-55 seems to perform perfectly well.
I've just ordered a Tamron 200-500 f5-6.3 zoom (£600!!) so I can take wildlife shots and stuff. I'm looking forward to that arriving.
Other things I've noticed - the USB II connection is amazing - the speed of download is fantastic! Huge improvement.
You can use the camera for remote shooting whilst attached to the computer - not sure what benefit that is, but it's there.
General handling is much better due to the smaller size. I don't know what the D70 is like, but I doubt there's (now) much difference in performance between the two, and buying either will give a very satisfactory photography experience.
nubbin said:I think my biggest qualm with the 300D was the vertical height of the body - when I held it, the bottom edge of the camera lied against the middle of my palm and my little finger would actually creep under the camera body - I found this very uncomfortable. I found that the D70 lied flush against the entire height of my palm, and I much preferred this. You get just a better grip when there's more to hold on to. This is also why pro cameras are massive - greater grip equals greater rigidity.
General handling is much better due to the smaller size. I don't know what the D70 is like, but I doubt there's (now) much difference in performance between the two, and buying either will give a very satisfactory photography experience.
On the minus side of course more weight could be a bad thing, but once you start buying lots of lenses an additional couple of hundred grams on the size of the body is rendered totally irrelevant anyway.
If the 350D really is smaller, I will definitely personally avoid it.
I also found the build and solidity of the Nikon better than that of the 300D - the silver finish didn't help of course, but I did think the D70 was hands down ergonomically superior. Also Nikon used a decent LCD on the D70, whereas the cheaper Canons (including the 20D) make do with a smaller and cheaper one, though it still does the job perfectly well.
Saying that however, the 300D/350D comes with an aftermarket battery grip as an option, which while is useful for providing extra battery life, is FAR more friendly for general handling ergonomics and portrait shooting. Nikon don't make one for the D70, so I guess they had to make the body alone comfortable to use.
And yes, now that Canon have addressed the frame rate and boot-up time issues, the 350D is a worthy contender to the D70's crown.
Until that is Nikon release their D70 replacement. It seems Nikon has no fear in piling on the features for their "budget" dSLR. The D70 virtually wiped out the D100, whereas Canon had to wait for the release of the 20D before they went ahead with the 350D just to firm-up their product placement. Saying that the D70 replacement will undoubtedly cost more than the 350D, so it all evens out in the end.
Hanslow said:
Probably a bit late now but this post might be worth a look
http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=414614
Thanks for that. It has expired though!
I can't find anywhere local that has 'em in stock. 48 miles away is closest. All I want to do is see one before I buy it.
Deadlock, FYI, Nikon recently trademarked "D50". Maybe they are counting down?
I saw a 350D in Jessops this past weekend, its tiny, maybe 50% of the volume of your D70 and 30% of the volume of the 1Dmk2.
Giving you some ammo here :-) , some have had problems with the battery grip on the 20D due to a loose connection between the body and grip.
However you seem to be forgeting one important thing, the 20D/350D have better ISO performance and 8MP's.
The D100, I think the D70 was nearly the same camera but with cost cutting improvements to reduce production costs.
I saw a 350D in Jessops this past weekend, its tiny, maybe 50% of the volume of your D70 and 30% of the volume of the 1Dmk2.
Giving you some ammo here :-) , some have had problems with the battery grip on the 20D due to a loose connection between the body and grip.
However you seem to be forgeting one important thing, the 20D/350D have better ISO performance and 8MP's.
The D100, I think the D70 was nearly the same camera but with cost cutting improvements to reduce production costs.
simpo two said:
I saw a 350D in Jessops this past weekend, its tiny, maybe 50% of the volume of your D70 and 30% of the volume of the 1Dmk2.
They don't realise that people spending loadsamoney on DSLRs want BIG cameras, not handbag specials!!
hate to disagree - i want small not big.
I agree... to an extent.
Met up with Gravymaster this evening and his 1D is significantly bigger than my D70 and feels awesome to hold. Proper tool for the job and all that. But it weighs a freaking tonne. I've held my D70 for hours without a problem, the 1D feels like it would become too heavy after 10minutes.
hhmm...
Met up with Gravymaster this evening and his 1D is significantly bigger than my D70 and feels awesome to hold. Proper tool for the job and all that. But it weighs a freaking tonne. I've held my D70 for hours without a problem, the 1D feels like it would become too heavy after 10minutes.
hhmm...
rico said:
I agree... to an extent.
Met up with Gravymaster this evening and his 1D is significantly bigger than my D70 and feels awesome to hold. Proper tool for the job and all that. But it weighs a freaking tonne. I've held my D70 for hours without a problem, the 1D feels like it would become too heavy after 10minutes.
hhmm...
I like the weight, it allows you to hold the camera more steady and helps the balance when you have big glass attached.
Plus all the chicks think you're a pro and can make them into a model LOL.
Good comprehensive initial review here including some sample pics using the kit lens.
No conclusion yet but the current document lists the whats and the benefits.
Also points out that the extended battery pack/grip can not only double the number of shots possible from battery life but can help to balance the whole thing if using big lenses.
In effect you add on the optional grip and power when you want big and get a full size SLR - rather than a very very large one.
As for size - I take the point but I would rather have a long lens and enough strength left to, er, point it at something.
That said I have to confess that the 20D still appeals and the big expensive stuff appeals even more.
No conclusion yet but the current document lists the whats and the benefits.
Also points out that the extended battery pack/grip can not only double the number of shots possible from battery life but can help to balance the whole thing if using big lenses.
In effect you add on the optional grip and power when you want big and get a full size SLR - rather than a very very large one.
As for size - I take the point but I would rather have a long lens and enough strength left to, er, point it at something.
That said I have to confess that the 20D still appeals and the big expensive stuff appeals even more.
My hands have a 25cm span, so cradling most camera bodies isn't a problem! The balance point of any camera will change with the lens being attached to it, plus flash, battery pack etc etc. To my mind, if it's too light, it will cause every small hand movement to be reflected in camera shake, if it's too heavy, it will lead to fatigue in the user and so cause camera shake. like everything else, it needs balance, and it is whatever you feel comfortable with.
There's also a diference between, say, going out for a walk, and taking your camera along for a few opportunistic shots as they present, and going out to take photographs. I suppose with the former, many would say take a compact digital - so as usual, there's no right or wrong answer!
There's also a diference between, say, going out for a walk, and taking your camera along for a few opportunistic shots as they present, and going out to take photographs. I suppose with the former, many would say take a compact digital - so as usual, there's no right or wrong answer!
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