Canon 300D (Rebel)

[Queenie]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has this camera? Are there any good websites out there about it that show you how do change settings/do things with it? I'm still in "point and click" territory even though I've had mine nearly a year. It still has the basic lens it was bought with - can;t afford a better one right now. I'd particularly like to know how to take good photos without using flash and how to take night shots (fireworks, Spectromagic etc)

Any info will be hugely appreciated!!

 

[ndelaware]

You want to go here: http://www.photoworkshop.com/canon/index.html Lots of info and tutorials for the 300D. If you are going to attempt night shots with the standard lens you need to adjust your ISO up to 800 or 1600. It reduces the image quality slightly but lets the camera work much better with low light. For fireworks and such you are really going to need a tripod.

 

[Shells9]

That's the camera I have, and I am trying to learn to use it. I took these pictures of Spectro using the kit lens, but I do not know the exif data...I kept messing around with the camera while we were waiting for the parade to start.

Edited to read: Problems linking pictures -- argh!

 

[Kelly Grannell]

can't see your pic, Shells9.

Oh, I use 300D quite extensively too. Moreso than my 20D.

 

[handicap18]

Go to amazon.com and get yourself a copy of "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. He does an excellent job of describing f/stops, shutter speed, light and ISO, and how they relate to taking pictures with either film or digital SLR's. One of the best $20 I've spent.

 

[Cyrano]

I've had this camera for over a year now and more than happy with the results.
I still need to perfect firework shots

Have a look here and for flash here

 

[Molly K]

THanks for the info on the site! I have taken a few classes here at my local vocational school but the guy teaching kind of talked over my head. This site made sense to me. THANKS AGIAN!!!!!

 

[tony64]

I have been given the chance to get this on e bay as I was out bid and the winner has dropped out.
I can have it for £350 c/w
Supplied with
1) Canon 300D Digital Camera Body
2) Canon autofocus EF-S 18-55mm Lens
3) Canon autofocus 75-300mm Lens
4) Canon Battery & Charger
5) Canon Connection Cables
6) Canon Software
7) Canon Digital EH-16 Leather Semi Hard Case
Now I am worrying if this is a good deal or not.
should I go for it?????
PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR FEELINGS ON THIS CAMERA!

 

[spoon2003]

I am no expert but I'm frugel and tend to shop around. $350 comes to about $658 in USD. A new Rebel XT with kit lense is running about that much right now (after Canon rebate). The 75-300mm only costs $160 on sigma4less.com. The only other item on your list that looks like didn't come with the kit is the semi hard case which got bad reviews anyway. I just looked at our local internet for sell list and there's a 300D with kit lens for USD$350.

I do realize you're in UK and maybe shopping is limited. So this is just my opinion.

Sue

 

[Kelly Grannell]

it really depends on the condition of the camera and the life of the shutter. Ask the seller for close up pictures of the camera. If there is not a single scratch and the shutter is less than 3,000 then it's a good deal.

Beyond that, it's not a bad deal, but not good either.

 

[Anewman]

IMO it is only a good deal if you want all the items in the kit.

If you are not going to use that 75-300mm lens or that case, you are pretty much paying REBEL XT price for original Digital Rebel.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

tony64,

I remember you mentioned that you want to end up with a dSLR. My advice, save up for a RebelXT or a 20D (still widely available and brand new). The auto focus accuracy, high-ISO noise, startup time (1 sec vs 0.2 sec) makes a whole lot of a difference between the two camera.

Knowing you, you will not be happy with the 18-55mm kit lens, you will not be happy with the 75-300 (there is no IS, which you definitely need beyond 200mm). Just be patient if you can, and hang in there.

 

[webshark3]

I'm always wary of buying a camera body from Ebay... but if you must by new,

register and check out the camera forums on fredmiranda,com. Same concept, looks for user ratings, but most are "more experienced" who take care of their equipment.

Spoon is right: I'd spend the very little more for a new warrantied XT.

My 300D has been a tank for me. But I could never "guarantee" it for someone else if I sold it.

 

[tony64]

Thanks Guys
I will hold out for the New Nikon. next question D50 or D70 for a not brand new beginner but not used to the new style of camera.
the old Fuji STX-2 is still going strong and the through the lens metering makes it easy.
It's hard when I just want to get out there and start snapping away and no longer have the throught of expensive film processing at the bak of your mind.
It feels like waiting for Christmas when I was a Kid.
or a Disney Holiday now I'm grown up (DW may not agree about the grown up bit)

 

[Kelly Grannell]

It's a toss up. D50 have a much cleaner ISO1600 capability, as clean as RebelXT, but less features including the important backlit LCD and vertical grip (important to me). D70, on the other hand, have a bad ISO1600 capability, far worse than the D50.

To put another camera into the equation: Sony Alpha 100.

10.2 MP
in-body Anti Shake
anti-dust HAD-CCD sensor (I don't know about HAD CCD for dSLR, but HAD CCD for camcorder really kicks ****)
eye-activated power-on

 

[tony64]

Thanks Kelly more cameras for me to drool over
I will take a look at the Sony.
I LOVE your picture in the structures competition by the way.

 

[Anewman]

To put another camera into the equation: Sony Alpha 100.

10.2 MP
in-body Anti Shake
anti-dust HAD-CCD sensor (I don't know about HAD CCD for dSLR, but HAD CCD for camcorder really kicks ****)
eye-activated power-on

Gotta love that Super Steady Shot.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Gotta love that Super Steady Shot.

I hope it's KM technology instead of DSP extrapolation. Now if they can make the high ISO as clean as Canon 30D, then I WILL buy a Sony body just to do the zooms. I need one more body by the end of this year anyway.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I LOVE your picture in the structures competition by the way.

Thank you! Have you seen the other church pictures I posted on a different thread?

 

[handicap18]

Thanks Guys
I will hold out for the New Nikon. next question D50 or D70 for a not brand new beginner but not used to the new style of camera.
the old Fuji STX-2 is still going strong and the through the lens metering makes it easy.
It's hard when I just want to get out there and start snapping away and no longer have the throught of expensive film processing at the bak of your mind.
It feels like waiting for Christmas when I was a Kid.
or a Disney Holiday now I'm grown up (DW may not agree about the grown up bit)

Depends on your needs. Right now you can only get the D70 used as it has been upgraded to the D70s. The D50 has a better sensor than the D70. Price difference between the D70s and the D50 is about $300. The D50 is basically the younger brother of the D70s.

Here is part of a very good review I found on the D50:
"At first glance the D50 looks very much like the D70/D70s, but Nikon’s newest dSLR is noticeably smaller and a bit lighter than it's siblings. Despite the reduction in size the design folks at Nikon managed to stuff most of the features and capabilities of the D70/D70s into the D50. Some functions that had dedicated controls on the D70/D70s (metering mode, exposure and white balance bracketing) have been moved to the menu, but the menus have been re-designed and are now simpler and easier to read than the menu system of the D70/D70s. Finally, the D50 (like many of the P&S digicams it was designed supplant) uses smaller SD (Secure Digital) cards, rather than the traditional CF (Compact Flash) memory media used by its larger siblings.
What’s missing? Nikon eliminated the depth of field preview button, dropped the very useful White Balance fine-tuning capability, and dumped the on-demand gridline viewfinder display of the D70/D70s. What's especially telling is the dedicated self-timer button (so family photographers can get in the picture) on the D50’s top deck; something the rest of Nikon’s dSLRs eschew. No doubt Nikon's design folks felt that the D50's target audience would find a self-timer button much more useful than the ability to fine tune white balance."

As for the Depth of Field preview, I never had one on my previous 2 film SLR's so I don't miss not having it. Same for the backlit LCD that Kelly mentioned. I find all the info in the viewfinder. While it might be considered "entry level" it will more than handle the needs of your basic amerture photographer who wants more than a P&S can offer. I've had mine for not quite 6 months and have take over 600 pics. It has been great. I'm putting it to a big test this weekend at WDW. I've very excited.

Like I said, biggest thing is your photography habits. For what its worth, If you were this close to buying the Canon 300D, then I would suggest saving the $300US and get the D50 over the D70s.