CANON EOS 300D/Digital Rebel OR ANOTHER CAMERA ?????

[brbrown]

Hello to everyone,
I am in the market for a new digital camera and I have NO idea what to buy. I am now using a Canon EOS Rebel G, which I really like and was looking at some camera reviews the other day and noticed they now offer it in digital, the Canon EOS 300D.

1) I was wondering if anyone else is using the Canon EOS 300D and what do you think about it?

2) Will the accessories for my Rebel G also fit the 300D?

3) Does anyone have any other cameras which they would recommend over this camera and why?

Thanks very much for ALL advice/input you can give,
Bryant

[ccplim]

Bro CDM and loupgarou got the 300D. Maybe they cam share some of their experience with you.

I do found that it is a good camera though I am not and have not use it before.

[benny]

All your current lenses will fit the Canon 300D as we most accessories.

Take note that for external flashes, you need to ues the EX series to retain the full features, especially ETTL metering.

I think this is a great entry level digital SLR camera and being familiar with the EOS system will help you get into the action in no time.

The only ther entry level DSLR for comparison would be Nikon's D70, as far as price is concern. That's also a great camera, but all your current Canon EOS gear won't fit, obviously.

Cheers,

[brbrown]

Hey Thanks for the replies. I just found the one thread on the 300D. Very good reading and some awesome photos. I really like the idea of being able to use my existing accessories plus I would really like to add one more lense like the Sigma 50-500 and a better flash.

Thanks again,
Bryant

[meriadoc]

if you've got canon equipment, i'd be more inclined to stay with canons - of course, its a personal opinion - i've got the 300D - and enjoy it immensley - although i shoot more wildlife than anything else (and I like canon lenses ;) )

[benny]

Though I would recommend the Canon 300D for aquatic photography and in general, but I think the current flavor of the moment is Nikon's D70.

Cheers,

[meriadoc]

of course it is benny!

why? because its NEW!!

we get so many people coming into the store wanting the D70 because its newer than the Rebel it ain't funny. Of course, then you get the review monkeys that come in with no real experience with cameras that have money to burn (more dollars than sense most of 'em), and have only read the review on one camera ;)

so yup, the flavor of the month is the D70 - although thats a really bad reason to buy one - just because everyone else wants one.

ALWAYS do thorough research before dropping over $1000 on a camera ;)

[benny]

ALWAYS do thorough research

Couldn't agree with you more.

And given the fact that hacks are available on the Canon 300D, it's a question of time before these hackers unlock all the secrets to making the Canon 300D equivalent to the Canon 10D. I will still recommend the Canon 300D over the Nikon D70.

By the way, have you tried the hacks on the Canon 300D yet? You can get FEC amongst other features that was previously "omited" in the Canon 300D.

Cheers,

[meriadoc]

huh?? what? I've never heard of these before!

give me details man!!

In my job I deal with people that read up on one camera - and then compare it to another camera that they clearly haven't done any research on - and even after spending $1300 + on it, decide then to use inferior storage media, or lenses - and then wonder why they're not getting quality images ;)

but I want more details on the hacks ;)

[benny]

FEC Firmware hack for 300D (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=8246765)

Loupgarou tried it and it's suppose to work great. Especially when one doesn't carry a Speedlite 550EX around. Or for those people with only a 420EX or other flash.

ISO 3200 and mirror lock up Firmware hack for 300D (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=9005788)

This one allows you to lock up the mirror as well as to set the ISO at 3200. But be warned that noise level is also high. Then again, what can we expect for ISO 3200 right?

Obviously there's load of other stuff on www.dpreview.com. I don't exactly look out of this as I don't use the Canon 300D. Spend a bit of time there and you will be richly rewarded. Take note of the fact that you may need to revert your firmware back to original state if you need to service your camera so as not to void your warranty. And yes, the hack is reversible.

And here's a cool site recommended by loupgarou.

Cool tips for the Canon 300D (http://www.bahneman.com/liem/photos/tricks/digital-rebel-tricks.html)

Have fun!!!

Cheers,

[meriadoc]

oh sweet!!!

I'm gonna have to check it out - my big complaint is the lack of mirror lockup - mainly because I shoot alot of night shots!!

--L

[DarthV]

Here in Canada the price difference between the 300d and the d70 is large enough that it really depends if you want to spend nearly a third more money. I'm going to see if a local camera shop will pricematch an online price here in Canada...if so, I'll be bringing home a 300d by the end of the week! I can get the 300d kit + accessory bag, lens cleaning kit and a 256mb cf card for $1339CAD... the d70 kit with no other extras is $1879...so for the difference in price I can get a decent 50mm prime and probably the sigma 70-300 APO Super Macro II for lenses.

[benny]

Hi DarthV,

Well...with either camera, you won't regret it. Digital SLR gives you a different level of flexibility in terms of control.

Hope to see your pictures soon!

Cheers,

[brbrown]

Hello to all,
These are all some great points which I will definitely consider before making my final choice. I am deep in the research stage now and the more I research, honestly, the more undecided I get.

I have it narrowed down to the following two models at this time.
1) Nikon D70
2) Canon 300D

And to be honest, I am trying to decide if it is really worth spending the extra money to go with the D70 over the 300D because other than the price they seem fairly equal in quality.

BIG QUESTION??? -
Will the lenses and flash which I have for my Rebel G work with the 300D?

Thanks for all the help,
Bryant

[benny]

BIG QUESTION??? -
Will the lenses and flash which I have for my Rebel G work with the 300D?


All Canon lenses with the EF mount and MP-E mount will fill on the Canon EOS 300D Digital SLR.

There for if your current lenses says EF XX - XXX mm, it'll fit with no problems.

Cheers,

[brbrown]

benny,
Thanks for the answer. I guess this should make up my mind for me since I already have two Canon EF lenses and a flash. It would cost me about half the money to get set up with the Canon versus the Nikon. I really do like the Nikon also, but, money wise I guess I should go with the Canon..... DECISIONS, DECISIONS.....Oh Well.

Thanks Alot,
Bryant

[benny]

Bryant,

Do take note that the specifications on the Canon 300D is not exactly "the full suite". In one of the other threads, we lightly touched on software hacks for the 300D which will unlock more features. Like of like "easter eggs" on DVDs.

If you do get the hack, we can discuss this further or you can get more information at www.depreview.com.

Have fun!

Cheers,

[brbrown]

benny,
I appreciate your offer for help with this, I will sure keep it in mind if I do go with the 300D. If I am understanding what you are talking about, it is the software suite which comes with the cameras. Is this a correct assumption on my part?

If so, I was reading on dpreview the software suite is the main difference between the 300D and the 10D, besides the body material which they are constructed from. If I am understanding you correctly are you saying we could "revise" the 300D's software to match that of the 10D's so I would basically have the same camera except for the body material?

I am sorry to sound so dumb but I am just now moving from 35mm to digital for the first time so I am just learning the fundamentals of the digital world.

Thanks again for you help,
Bryant

[benny]

What I meant is that some functions on the Canon 10D that is not available on the Canon 300D. For example, ISO 1600 setting or Mirror lock up function or Flash Exposure Compensation. All these features are not on the Canon 300D officially.

However, there are software hacks that can unlock these functions and hence enhance the actual specifications of the Canon 300D. So...what you actually get (after the software hack) is more that what you see (on the official specifications on any literature).

Cheers,

[brbrown]

benny,
OK, That is what I thought you were saying but I wanted to make sure. Like I said, I am still totally dumb to the digital world. So much to learn....I think the more I learn the more confused I get. ha ha

Thanks again,
Bryant

[loupgarou]

ok: between the both, the only significant thing going for the D70 is its CF writing speed , ie: in NEF/RAW mode, once it fills up its buffer at 2.9fps, it can shoot continuously at 1/fps until the cf card becomes full.

This seems to be entirely PJ/machine gun style of shooting , if that is what you do lots of time, then you may consider it worth the extra money on the D70 (and a nikon flash with an external battery pack, otherwise your flash can't even keep up ).


--
otherwise all other things are really not very significant to sweat about.

some people love the instant on of the D70. but its not really that significant (esp when you don't turn the camera off for the whole day while shooting.)

[AquaticEnterprises]

I'd like to throw my thoughts in here, coming from a general camera dummy.

I had been considering many camera, and happened across a decent deal on a 300D at my local Circuit City.

Well, contrary to what people may tell you, a good camera DOES indeed make a difference, even with an amateur photographer such as myself. I upgraded from an Olympus D340R (which, don't get me wrong, was a nice camera as well...but going on 4 years old and didn't even have a zoom) and have never looked back. Even without knowing what the heck I'm doing with this thing, my pictures turn out much nicer than they ever had before.

FWIW, I'd been trying to take a GOOD picture of my blue rams for months before I got this new camera, and no matter what I did or changed, they all turned out horrid. This is from my first day with the camera:

http://www.aquatic-enterprises.com/fishphotos/maleram.jpg

[meriadoc]

but its not just the camera - the lenses make alot of difference too ;)

[AquaticEnterprises]

Most of the other pics I tried to attach were too large. All I know is some of them make me look like a pretty good photogrpaher! [smilie=mf_prop.gif]

[brbrown]

AquaticEnterprises,
Nice Blue Ram! I have 16 of them in with my Wild Discus, they make a nice addition. Mine are still pretty young but are starting to get some very nice colors.

Anyway,
I finally decided on the camera. Actually, I guess my wife did. I opened my Father's Day card yesterday from my son and there was an order form in there where my wife had ordered me the Nikon D70 Kit with the 18-70mm DX Nikkor Lens. I almost fell out of my chair. It is supposed to be here on July 2nd or somewhere thereabouts. Now, I am trying to choose some accessories to go with it. I would like to get a real good macro lens, a good zoom telephoto lens, a good flash and a nice memory card with reader and I should be set.

Thanks for all of the help,
Bryant

[dmartin72]

What exactly do these firmware updates do? I have never heard of them. Are they pretty safe to download. How many people are actually using them?

Thanks,

David

FEC Firmware hack for 300D (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=8246765)

Loupgarou tried it and it's suppose to work great. Especially when one doesn't carry a Speedlite 550EX around. Or for those people with only a 420EX or other flash.

ISO 3200 and mirror lock up Firmware hack for 300D (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=9005788)

This one allows you to lock up the mirror as well as to set the ISO at 3200. But be warned that noise level is also high. Then again, what can we expect for ISO 3200 right?

Obviously there's load of other stuff on www.dpreview.com. I don't exactly look out of this as I don't use the Canon 300D. Spend a bit of time there and you will be richly rewarded. Take note of the fact that you may need to revert your firmware back to original state if you need to service your camera so as not to void your warranty. And yes, the hack is reversible.

And here's a cool site recommended by loupgarou.

Cool tips for the Canon 300D (http://www.bahneman.com/liem/photos/tricks/digital-rebel-tricks.html)

Have fun!!!

Cheers,

[meriadoc]

believe me, there are ALOT of people using the firmware hack - but, as a side note - you will pretty much void your warranty if you do install the hack.

[dmartin72]

What are some of the best improvements people are getting from these firmware upgrades? Would you recommend it knowing that it voids your warranty?

believe me, there are ALOT of people using the firmware hack - but, as a side note - you will pretty much void your warranty if you do install the hack.

[loupgarou]

What are some of the best improvements people are getting from these firmware upgrades? Would you recommend it knowing that it voids your warranty?

it only voids your warranty from a technical point of view,. eg: if you break the polycarbonate backing or shutter, why should that have anything to do with the firmware?

furthermore you always have the option to flash back to canon original firmware.
so far in the whole wide world there are only two cases of firmware failure and if I'm not wrong both were fixed (ie: firmware reflashed back to canon firmware by canon service center as a matter of course).

the cause of failure would be "set button" died and firmware ROM chip itself died (ie: faulty).

and the cause of the failures has nothing to do with the hacked firmware, if they were trying to upgrade to the latest canon firmware, those two cases would have "died" just the same.