EOS 300D - good idea?
Discussion
Now I know this question has probably been asked a couple of times on countless forums (not least a petrolhead's haunt like PH), but I'd like to hear this for myself.
I have a Canon EOS 300 35mm with a Tamron 28-300 lens. I also own a dinky little Toshiba touch-screen point and shoot 3.2MP digital.
I bought the SLR about a couple of years ago with the intention to dive into basic amateur photography. I've got the bibles and the manuals, and I've read the guides and the how-to tutorials. I bought the filters and the tools. I know every word in photography jargon vocabulary and I can spout off camera specifications like clockwork and explain complex acronyms.
But I can't for the life of me take good photographs. They all just turn out WRONG. Colour - wrong. Focus - wrong. Exposure - wrong. Ugh!! Well, due to the cost of film and printing I don't bracket at all. I don't keep tabs of the settings I use when I'm trying to be "creative". Half a roll becomes some two month old creative trip, and the second half gets used at some birthday party and at the end I'm left with a bunch of shots I forgotten I'd taken printed by some backstreet printing company who don't know the first thing about photo reproduction.
The allure of amateur photography has left me in the ditches - the SLR and the big lens has not been out of the bag in months. I use my dinky little Toshiba instead for all snaps now.
Cue the EOS 300D - correct me if I'm wrong, but it occured to me that this may be exactly what I need - the ability to be creative with shots for as many captures as I want and more importantly to be able to actually see what I took immediately after taking it... this sounds like utopia! Imagine, I can set a manual setting, take a picture, see the results, adjust the settings, take another picture and see the difference. This way I actually LEARN and build experience.
Ahhhhh, it just feels right... sounds like I need to flog both current cameras but retain the lens, and buy an EOS 300D body. Sorted - all camera needs - for a long time till the bug hits me again.
No questions as such, but if from my mindless rhapsody above you think that what I need is an EOS 300D, please reply and tell me why you love yours. Also, what are your thoughts on my current lens paired with the 300D? It's a Tamron 28-300 LD IF thingamajiggy (3.5 - 6.3 IIRC). Budget is limited, but if the consensus is that the lens is crap and that I really do need a bells and whistles Canon lens, then (painfully) so be it.
D
I have a Canon EOS 300 35mm with a Tamron 28-300 lens. I also own a dinky little Toshiba touch-screen point and shoot 3.2MP digital.
I bought the SLR about a couple of years ago with the intention to dive into basic amateur photography. I've got the bibles and the manuals, and I've read the guides and the how-to tutorials. I bought the filters and the tools. I know every word in photography jargon vocabulary and I can spout off camera specifications like clockwork and explain complex acronyms.
But I can't for the life of me take good photographs. They all just turn out WRONG. Colour - wrong. Focus - wrong. Exposure - wrong. Ugh!! Well, due to the cost of film and printing I don't bracket at all. I don't keep tabs of the settings I use when I'm trying to be "creative". Half a roll becomes some two month old creative trip, and the second half gets used at some birthday party and at the end I'm left with a bunch of shots I forgotten I'd taken printed by some backstreet printing company who don't know the first thing about photo reproduction.
The allure of amateur photography has left me in the ditches - the SLR and the big lens has not been out of the bag in months. I use my dinky little Toshiba instead for all snaps now.
Cue the EOS 300D - correct me if I'm wrong, but it occured to me that this may be exactly what I need - the ability to be creative with shots for as many captures as I want and more importantly to be able to actually see what I took immediately after taking it... this sounds like utopia! Imagine, I can set a manual setting, take a picture, see the results, adjust the settings, take another picture and see the difference. This way I actually LEARN and build experience.
Ahhhhh, it just feels right... sounds like I need to flog both current cameras but retain the lens, and buy an EOS 300D body. Sorted - all camera needs - for a long time till the bug hits me again.
No questions as such, but if from my mindless rhapsody above you think that what I need is an EOS 300D, please reply and tell me why you love yours. Also, what are your thoughts on my current lens paired with the 300D? It's a Tamron 28-300 LD IF thingamajiggy (3.5 - 6.3 IIRC). Budget is limited, but if the consensus is that the lens is crap and that I really do need a bells and whistles Canon lens, then (painfully) so be it.
D
DeaDLock,
I can't comment on the lens but after extensive research I'm just about to get a 300D, I think they are the puppies privates for us amatures. I also have an EOS 1n which I'll be keeping coz I just love it. On the lens front I've onlt got 2 but that's all you need. I've got a Canon 28-135 Image Stabilizing lens and the Canon 100-400 Image Stabilizing Lens, not cheap but worth every penny. I'm sure you wont be dissapointed with the 300D, they do exactly what is says on the box, and it sounds like it will improve your photography no end. Enjoy, Martin.
I can't comment on the lens but after extensive research I'm just about to get a 300D, I think they are the puppies privates for us amatures. I also have an EOS 1n which I'll be keeping coz I just love it. On the lens front I've onlt got 2 but that's all you need. I've got a Canon 28-135 Image Stabilizing lens and the Canon 100-400 Image Stabilizing Lens, not cheap but worth every penny. I'm sure you wont be dissapointed with the 300D, they do exactly what is says on the box, and it sounds like it will improve your photography no end. Enjoy, Martin.
Martin - the one drawback with these digital SLRs is that you lose some wide angle capability.
Basically, the size of the sensor results in a 1.6x multiplier for your lenses. So your 28-135 acts like a 44-215 lens would on your 1n.
Most of the time this isn't a hassle, but occasionally it can be a pain (photographing cars close up is one example!).
You can't yet buy really wide angle EOS lenses for sensible money. I think the tightest you can get from any vendor is around 12-14mm fixed length. Even this converts to a 19mm at best.
You should definitely get a digital EOS though. There are a couple of other threads below that give more details and a web forum for finding out more about them (SLR recommendations... is one, and another the title escapes me).
Basically, the size of the sensor results in a 1.6x multiplier for your lenses. So your 28-135 acts like a 44-215 lens would on your 1n.
Most of the time this isn't a hassle, but occasionally it can be a pain (photographing cars close up is one example!).
You can't yet buy really wide angle EOS lenses for sensible money. I think the tightest you can get from any vendor is around 12-14mm fixed length. Even this converts to a 19mm at best.
You should definitely get a digital EOS though. There are a couple of other threads below that give more details and a web forum for finding out more about them (SLR recommendations... is one, and another the title escapes me).
300D sounds like a good idea to me. I've had mine a few weeks and love it!
The other handy thing about it is that when you come to review the images at a later date on a computer, the Exif data is stored against the jpg image and you can see what apperture, shutter speed, ISO rating, etc. was used when taking the shot.
The other handy thing about it is that when you come to review the images at a later date on a computer, the Exif data is stored against the jpg image and you can see what apperture, shutter speed, ISO rating, etc. was used when taking the shot.
LexSport said:Hey sweet! I never even knew there was such a thing. That is superb - so you can take a series of shots of the same subject with different settings and later on you can actually review what settings you used for each picture?
The other handy thing about it is that when you come to review the images at a later date on a computer, the Exif data is stored against the jpg image and you can see what apperture, shutter speed, ISO rating, etc. was used when taking the shot.
That sounds superb.
i'm a 300d owner.
I also agree with the comment about wideangle shots. I never really noticed it with a fuji s602 but as soon as things go up a level you seem to notice straight away. But......don't let it put you off.
I'm just about to purchase the extra battery grip for mine, which will not only help balance the camera when my 300mm is on, but it'll also take the battery life from number of shots to number of weeks
I also agree with the comment about wideangle shots. I never really noticed it with a fuji s602 but as soon as things go up a level you seem to notice straight away. But......don't let it put you off.
I'm just about to purchase the extra battery grip for mine, which will not only help balance the camera when my 300mm is on, but it'll also take the battery life from number of shots to number of weeks
Just buy one and you wont regret it. Image sharpness is excellent (using sigma 1:1 macro lens) and USM zoom lens. No shutter lag as you get on digital compacts and for me the best thing is TTL flash sync at any shutter speeds. Auto flash bracketing and exposure bracketing should bring your photography on no end.
Its a million miles away from the Nickon F with photomic finder I learnt with about 10 yrs ago and would not go back to film. For any camera though I would advise to get the best lens you can afford.
Its a million miles away from the Nickon F with photomic finder I learnt with about 10 yrs ago and would not go back to film. For any camera though I would advise to get the best lens you can afford.
Hey V6GTO!!
Im also a "photohead"! and a fellow Noble owner
I got the Canon EOS 10 d with 100 - 400 IS lens for motorsport pics. I also do some medical macro photography with 105 macro lens and canon ring flash. Just bought Canon 24- 85 lens, superb! Its a fantastic camera and can only recommend highestly.
Ive just posted pics I did at Oulton a couple of weeks ago at framepix.co.uk
Im also a "photohead"! and a fellow Noble owner
I got the Canon EOS 10 d with 100 - 400 IS lens for motorsport pics. I also do some medical macro photography with 105 macro lens and canon ring flash. Just bought Canon 24- 85 lens, superb! Its a fantastic camera and can only recommend highestly.
Ive just posted pics I did at Oulton a couple of weeks ago at framepix.co.uk
murph7355 said:
Martin - the one drawback with these digital SLRs is that you lose some wide angle capability.
Basically, the size of the sensor results in a 1.6x multiplier for your lenses. So your 28-135 acts like a 44-215 lens would on your 1n.
Most of the time this isn't a hassle, but occasionally it can be a pain (photographing cars close up is one example!).
You can't yet buy really wide angle EOS lenses for sensible money. I think the tightest you can get from any vendor is around 12-14mm fixed length. Even this converts to a 19mm at best.
You should definitely get a digital EOS though. There are a couple of other threads below that give more details and a web forum for finding out more about them (SLR recommendations... is one, and another the title escapes me).
Thanks for the info, Murph. I guess getting a 300D is the same as all good ideas, they allways cost more than you first think!
Lexsport - I *think* the kit lens on the 300D is a special type of EOS lens (EFS??) that means its focal lengths are actuals (hence it really can go as low a 18mm).
I believe the fitting allows the lens closer proximity to the sensor.
These are not compatible with normal EOS cameras (including the 10D, D60, 1D etc).
Canon will either start putting this on all its digital cameras, and expand the EFS lens line up, or will simply push towards full frame sensors more quickly. I suspect the latter will happen for the pro end of their range, and a cheapish set of EFS lenses will be developed for the consumer end...we'll see
I believe the fitting allows the lens closer proximity to the sensor.
These are not compatible with normal EOS cameras (including the 10D, D60, 1D etc).
Canon will either start putting this on all its digital cameras, and expand the EFS lens line up, or will simply push towards full frame sensors more quickly. I suspect the latter will happen for the pro end of their range, and a cheapish set of EFS lenses will be developed for the consumer end...we'll see
murph7355 said:
Lexsport - I *think* the kit lens on the 300D is a special type of EOS lens (EFS??) that means its focal lengths are actuals (hence it really can go as low a 18mm).
I believe the fitting allows the lens closer proximity to the sensor.
These are not compatible with normal EOS cameras (including the 10D, D60, 1D etc).
Canon will either start putting this on all its digital cameras, and expand the EFS lens line up, or will simply push towards full frame sensors more quickly. I suspect the latter will happen for the pro end of their range, and a cheapish set of EFS lenses will be developed for the consumer end...we'll see
no, it is actually 18-55mm, giving the equivalent of 28-88mm. Sigma do a 12-24mm (19-38mm), but it's £520ish.
Have you had a look at the Canon Website. There is an option to compare the spec on upto 3 different models.
HTH
HTH
The 10D is a very different beast compared to the 300d
I'd say the main differences are
alloy construction as opposed to plastic
nice easy to use jog dial to access most features,compared to the 5 buttons <- ^-> etc on the 300d
slightly more on board features i.e flash exposure compensation amongst others.
However....that doesn't mean the 300d is a bad camera,in fact it's quite the oppersite.
I love mine, and for the 'tography' skills i posess, it more than surpasses what i ask of it.
One minor plus point of the 300D over the 10D is the built in flash, it extends higher than the 10D's so giving better coverage when using a longer lens.
I'd say the main differences are
alloy construction as opposed to plastic
nice easy to use jog dial to access most features,compared to the 5 buttons <- ^-> etc on the 300d
slightly more on board features i.e flash exposure compensation amongst others.
However....that doesn't mean the 300d is a bad camera,in fact it's quite the oppersite.
I love mine, and for the 'tography' skills i posess, it more than surpasses what i ask of it.
One minor plus point of the 300D over the 10D is the built in flash, it extends higher than the 10D's so giving better coverage when using a longer lens.
chim_girl said:Yep. Already did that. Virtually identical, hence my question.
Have you had a look at the Canon Website. There is an option to compare the spec on upto 3 different models.
Coat for Chim_Girl!
Now I'll have to get a 10D
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff