EOS 300D - good idea?
Discussion
Nighthawk, it probably will do everything the 550 can do, but the Canon is made for professional use and shoud last for 20 years. I would'nt say the same for the Sigma. Plus it all boils down as to how they feel. I've never used a bit of Canon kit that didn't just....FIT. This is my personal view though, and would reccomend you take your camera in Jessops and try them both. Martin.
Nikon have a new camera out now as well, the D70, which is under £1000.
By all accounts it is a little better than the EOS300D. I guess this is because it is newer - cameras are getting like computers these days.
But, on the downside, I am told that the Nikon is more for someone who knows the ropes of digital photography so it might be harder to get good shots straight off if you are not so experienced.
And as you have a Canon already - another Canon will seem easy to use.
Good luck.
By all accounts it is a little better than the EOS300D. I guess this is because it is newer - cameras are getting like computers these days.
But, on the downside, I am told that the Nikon is more for someone who knows the ropes of digital photography so it might be harder to get good shots straight off if you are not so experienced.
And as you have a Canon already - another Canon will seem easy to use.
Good luck.
I haven't used it very much yet, and am finding that getting the most out of the flash and using it properly is probably as hard in itself as using the rest of the camera 
So I can't comment too much on photographic results as yet.
In terms of paper differences, there are a small number:
1) The 420 is about 30% lighter.
2) It's meant to be less powerful then the 550 (have yet to find a measure for this!).
3) The 420 cannot be used to control an array of slave flashes.
4) The 550 recycles quicker (time between flashes).
5) The 420 was about half the price of the 550!
Point (5) swayed me. I could not see me needing (3), and am even more convinced now I'm learning using it. If I ever do need this, I can use the 420 as a slave.
I haven't yet noticed any deficiencies in (2) either, or (4).
One great feature is the ability to use the flash to help focus in low light, even if you don't want to use the flash itself.
Like v6gto, I find the quality of the Canon gear hard to beat. But you should have a pop down to Jessops with your camera and try them out. They're likely to have more experienced staff to chat it through with too.
Also have a look round the EOS Forum (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/). This is a good resource for all things Canon.
Footnote on Nikon gear - the D70 is a nice camera and falls between the 300D and 10D in pretty much all respects. It's a "catch up" camera as Nikon had their pants down in this price range.
Basically, if you've used an EOS of any description before, and/or have any gear for one, my advice is to stick with what you know. Same goes if you have Nikon gear.
If you have neither, try them both. But I'm strongly biased towards Canon photographic gear in every respect. It's quality is awesome, and the value is there (relatively speaking of course!).
So I can't comment too much on photographic results as yet.
In terms of paper differences, there are a small number:
1) The 420 is about 30% lighter.
2) It's meant to be less powerful then the 550 (have yet to find a measure for this!).
3) The 420 cannot be used to control an array of slave flashes.
4) The 550 recycles quicker (time between flashes).
5) The 420 was about half the price of the 550!
Point (5) swayed me. I could not see me needing (3), and am even more convinced now I'm learning using it. If I ever do need this, I can use the 420 as a slave.
I haven't yet noticed any deficiencies in (2) either, or (4).
One great feature is the ability to use the flash to help focus in low light, even if you don't want to use the flash itself.
Like v6gto, I find the quality of the Canon gear hard to beat. But you should have a pop down to Jessops with your camera and try them out. They're likely to have more experienced staff to chat it through with too.
Also have a look round the EOS Forum (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/). This is a good resource for all things Canon.
Footnote on Nikon gear - the D70 is a nice camera and falls between the 300D and 10D in pretty much all respects. It's a "catch up" camera as Nikon had their pants down in this price range.
Basically, if you've used an EOS of any description before, and/or have any gear for one, my advice is to stick with what you know. Same goes if you have Nikon gear.
If you have neither, try them both. But I'm strongly biased towards Canon photographic gear in every respect. It's quality is awesome, and the value is there (relatively speaking of course!).
Murph
Thanks for your quick review .
An interesting point Re the Nikon, a friend has managed to get hold of one to have a fiddle with and I must say I was dissapointed.
Various reviews talk of "A little moire, and maze type artifacts" on the A4 prints he did against his 10D, the moire was awful
On the dpreview review of the D70, I actually thought that the pictures compared with the 300d were inferior to those of the 300d, maybe im biased
I love my 300d, which feels even better with the battery grip attached, but the massive rapid burst capability of the nikon is staggering
, ideal for motorsport situations.
Thanks for your quick review .
An interesting point Re the Nikon, a friend has managed to get hold of one to have a fiddle with and I must say I was dissapointed.
Various reviews talk of "A little moire, and maze type artifacts" on the A4 prints he did against his 10D, the moire was awful
On the dpreview review of the D70, I actually thought that the pictures compared with the 300d were inferior to those of the 300d, maybe im biased
I love my 300d, which feels even better with the battery grip attached, but the massive rapid burst capability of the nikon is staggering
, ideal for motorsport situations.I have just got a Nikon D2H.
Absolutely awesome piece of kit.
Switched away from Canon. Sold a Canon 10D which to be honest never worked properly. And it was so slow to switch on and play back it drove me mad.
Don't know why, but Canons bugged me because I could'nt find my way around the controls.
The Nikon feels much better in my hands to me. But it comes down to personal taste.
Just printed off some photos of the local scenery and wildlife ( ok, they were cows..). Amazing quality - A3 sized prints are pin sharp.
Bloody expensive though...
Absolutely awesome piece of kit.
Switched away from Canon. Sold a Canon 10D which to be honest never worked properly. And it was so slow to switch on and play back it drove me mad.
Don't know why, but Canons bugged me because I could'nt find my way around the controls.
The Nikon feels much better in my hands to me. But it comes down to personal taste.
Just printed off some photos of the local scenery and wildlife ( ok, they were cows..). Amazing quality - A3 sized prints are pin sharp.
Bloody expensive though...
No problem - I only bought mine just before Christmas (170USD on a trip out there - bargain!) so much of it's fresh
Topstuff - the D2H is a very different beast to the D70! Nice camera.
Anyone who has not previously used an SLR should try several before deciding, but have a *really* good look at the cameras and browse their manuals. Some controls might not seem immediately obvious, but can "grow" on you.
Topstuff - the D2H is a very different beast to the D70! Nice camera.
Anyone who has not previously used an SLR should try several before deciding, but have a *really* good look at the cameras and browse their manuals. Some controls might not seem immediately obvious, but can "grow" on you.
It may be better to choose the camera based upon the availability of lenses in the focal lengths that you are likely to use.
With a D/SLR you will almost certainly end up spending more on lenses than the camera and as such once you have chosen one manufacturer it can be very expensice to transition to another.
The reality is that the D70/300D/10D are all very good and for most people are not the limiting factor when taking photographs.
The 300D kit is the cheapest option, the D70 is probably next and then the 10D. I chose the 10D 4 months ago and to emphasise my point about lenses: the camera cost 1100.00 but I have already spent 2400.00 on lenses alone!
With a D/SLR you will almost certainly end up spending more on lenses than the camera and as such once you have chosen one manufacturer it can be very expensice to transition to another.
The reality is that the D70/300D/10D are all very good and for most people are not the limiting factor when taking photographs.
The 300D kit is the cheapest option, the D70 is probably next and then the 10D. I chose the 10D 4 months ago and to emphasise my point about lenses: the camera cost 1100.00 but I have already spent 2400.00 on lenses alone!
stringer_m said:
It may be better to choose the camera based upon the availability of lenses in the focal lengths that you are likely to use.
With a D/SLR you will almost certainly end up spending more on lenses than the camera and as such once you have chosen one manufacturer it can be very expensice to transition to another.
The reality is that the D70/300D/10D are all very good and for most people are not the limiting factor when taking photographs.
The 300D kit is the cheapest option, the D70 is probably next and then the 10D. I chose the 10D 4 months ago and to emphasise my point about lenses: the camera cost 1100.00 but I have already spent 2400.00 on lenses alone!
Where do the EOS1D mk2 & EOS1Ds figure in all this? I am just about to come into a large sum of money and would like to hear the opinion of others. Martin.
PS - I allready have an EOS1n + 100-400 IS & 28-135 IS.
Very serious kit, but out of my league!
I believe on is 8MP but normal CMOS sized sensor. Has big memory for fast shooting (so ideal for motorsports etc).
The other is 11MP full frame. So probably better for portraits etc.
Depends what you want them for I guess.
Are your lenses 'L' range lenses? It'd be a shame not to use these on these bodies.
You really need to have a browse round the Canon EOS Forum and DPReview.com to find out more.
I believe on is 8MP but normal CMOS sized sensor. Has big memory for fast shooting (so ideal for motorsports etc).
The other is 11MP full frame. So probably better for portraits etc.
Depends what you want them for I guess.
Are your lenses 'L' range lenses? It'd be a shame not to use these on these bodies.
You really need to have a browse round the Canon EOS Forum and DPReview.com to find out more.
V6GTO
As I remember the pop up flash on the 300D is better that that of the 10D as it goes higher. This gives better flash coverage when using longer lenses.
Also, on a sadder note, as yet it only seems to be the JDM (japanese domestic market) that is getting the black body at this time. They also get the 18-55 EFS lens with a USM focus drive motor.
As I remember the pop up flash on the 300D is better that that of the 10D as it goes higher. This gives better flash coverage when using longer lenses.
Also, on a sadder note, as yet it only seems to be the JDM (japanese domestic market) that is getting the black body at this time. They also get the 18-55 EFS lens with a USM focus drive motor.
Martin - you're paying seriously more wedge for the 1 series cameras...
Have you considered getting a 10D? Superb camera in all respects with the vast majority of what the 1 series offer but at a fraction of the cost (at least half I think).
Spend some more on choice accessories (L lenses, flash gun, CF cards, bag etc etc) and perhaps even indulge in a photography course or some trips to top places to use it?
They also hold their value quite well (if looked after), so if, in a year's time, you feel the need for more poke, trade it in against whatever the next big thing is (my guess is that Canon will go full frame on all their top line in the next 12-18mths, plus the continuous shooting buffers will get bigger and bigger).
Also, additional pixels can be a mixed blessing. You can blow up to A3 easily with a 10D (6MP), but still fit a fair few images on a card. With 8MP or 11MP you're probably not going to get much more usable resolution (how often will you want to print out greater than A3?), but chew through memory cards that bit quicker...
Have you considered getting a 10D? Superb camera in all respects with the vast majority of what the 1 series offer but at a fraction of the cost (at least half I think).
Spend some more on choice accessories (L lenses, flash gun, CF cards, bag etc etc) and perhaps even indulge in a photography course or some trips to top places to use it?
They also hold their value quite well (if looked after), so if, in a year's time, you feel the need for more poke, trade it in against whatever the next big thing is (my guess is that Canon will go full frame on all their top line in the next 12-18mths, plus the continuous shooting buffers will get bigger and bigger).
Also, additional pixels can be a mixed blessing. You can blow up to A3 easily with a 10D (6MP), but still fit a fair few images on a card. With 8MP or 11MP you're probably not going to get much more usable resolution (how often will you want to print out greater than A3?), but chew through memory cards that bit quicker...
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