Canon owners...imput please

[CEK40]

Hi Everyone,

I have read the post here, read reviews elsewhere and gone out and actually held the cameras in my hand. Now, I would like to hear what owners of these cameras have to say about their experiences with them and why you like or even dislike them. Why did you choose this model? What type of photos do you mainly shoot? Do you use one particular lens with this model? I have even read were some of the DIS members have actually "downgraded" to another DSLR.

They models are, Canon 30D, 40D, XTI and XSI.

Hearing what regular users like me have to say would be nice, so your personal reviews would be helpful and appreciated. Should any other Canon user that I didn't mention like to add their comments, please do so.

As I have mentioned in prior post, this will be my first DSLR purchase moving up from a Canon Elan film camera, which I still love and use by the way. I have a digital Canon P&S, so I figure any of these models would be an improvement in picture quality.

Just let me say thank you so much for all your wonderful information, tips and insight on this board. It is wonderful!

 

[Master Mason]

I have a 40D, of the cameras on your list, the only one I would not concider at this point is the XTi because it doesn't have spot metering. I upgraded from the XT.

I like the heft of the xxD series in my hand, and suspect if your using an elan, it would be more along the lines of what your used to as well.

 

[boBQuincy]

DW and I have three of the models on your list, but not a 40D. I have used a 30D for about two years now and really like the camera. It works well and rarely misses a shot, with fast handling and reliable focusing.

The Xti is not one I care to use, to me it has clunky handling and is no fun to use when rapid adjustments need to be made. Image quality is fine though, even if noise at ISO 1600 is a bit much (mostly correctable with a god noise filter).

The 40D has been replaced by the 50D, although Canon claims it will still be a current model. To me there's no point in getting the older model unless the deal is incredible. I would expect all the characteristics of the 30D have been carried over, with some improvements. The 50D is a real departure, with some very welcome features.

Which brings us to the Xsi. With the size and weight of the Xti, and the handling of the 30D (plus a few newer features) this camera looked like a winner to me. We recently bought two of them. One downside is the 12MP files take longer for the computer to process than the old 8MP files, about 50% longer! I guess we need new computers now, so much for the cost savings of the Rebel series...

We also had to send one Xsi back to Canon for adjustment, it front-focuses noticeably, but that is a possibility with any of them (lenses too).

 

[pjacobi]

I own a film Rebel, but it was a constant struggle using it to take snapshots (too big) and more serious photos (not big enough).

When I went digital, I started with a Canon P/S that fits in my wife's purse. The A620 also has full manual mode, so it is quite capable of taking better than average snapshots.

For more serious work, I upgraded to the 30D and have a backpack full of lenses. I don't mind carrying the backpack around when I have the time to concentrate on photography. I *never* shoot in green box mode on the 30D!

Since camera bodies are only good for about 5 years, I will probably upgrade to the 60D or 70D, but will re-use my all my lenses. I will probably upgrade my P/S at some point, too!


-Paul

 

[jann1033]

i have an xt, hope to upgrade to a 50d as soon as i scrape my pennies together...what i like about the xt( this hasn't changed much for the new bodies of the rebel series) is the size and weight. it fits my hands really well, doesn't weigh a ton even with a larger lens ( and an optech strap)
the two things i really am ugrading to the 50d for( and willing to carry around the extra weight ) are the faster speed ( 3+fps vs 6+ fps) and the much better focus of the d series ( i believe it is also a different mirror system and a bunch of other things but really those two are the major things i have been looking for)

if this is your first dslr, the xsi is rated really well, is a lot less expensive and imo a really good starter camera...the speed is about the same as the rebel but you might not care unless you do sports( not me) or nature shots(me), it's not like it's poky, just not as fast and the buffer isn't as good if you shoot raw. the xsi focus system is better than my rebel but not as good as the d series. i'd either get the xsi or the 50d and skip the others. the 40d and xsi are pretty close for the difference in price( which is one reason i'm glad i waited when it had the rebate, it just didn't seem to have enough for me to spend the extra price so the other bells and whistles of the 50d made it more attractive even though the speed is the same as the 40d, actually a tad slower) and the xsi has more comparable features to the 40 but not a magnesium body...however, my rebel body is still perfect...if you drop it from 3 or 4 ft i'm guessing you'd damage the rebel but you'd probably do some damage to anything. so it's not like the rebel bodies are cheap, they are really pretty sturdy even if they are plastic which also makes them light and easier to carry.

personally i think if you get consistently lousy shots with any of them you can't blame the camera, it's the shooter. the rebel series is good, the d series adds some features that are nice but most you can mimic with the rebel and good technique, if you have lousy technique you might be able fake it better with a camera that is more expensive and has more bells and whistles . so imo it's more a matter of upgrading to make your life easier or for the few more difficult photo ops you want to get.