XTi or D30?

I think I'm ready to try a DSLR.
In the pre-digital era I used a Canon FTb. I didn't really like hauling
a heavy camera bag. I didn't like the number of out-of-focus shots.

Now I have a Canon G3 and an SD700IS. I'm pretty much committed to Canon
by past familiarity and the fact I own a 420EX flash.

How many of you use manual focus frequently?

I like to shoot landscapes, flowers, and people, preferably by available
light. I will only be interested in IS lenses.

When I compare the two subject cameras, I see these differences
XTi 30D
smaller
lighter
$685 $1,121
10 MP 8 MP
3 fps 5 fps
1/4000 sec 1/8000 sec

Somehow those differences, other than size and weight, seem small.

What am I missing?

Dave S.

"Dave S" wrote in message
...
I think I'm ready to try a DSLR.
In the pre-digital era I used a Canon FTb. I didn't really like hauling a
heavy camera bag. I didn't like the number of out-of-focus shots.

Now I have a Canon G3 and an SD700IS. I'm pretty much committed to Canon
by past familiarity and the fact I own a 420EX flash.

How many of you use manual focus frequently?

I like to shoot landscapes, flowers, and people, preferably by available
light. I will only be interested in IS lenses.

When I compare the two subject cameras, I see these differences
XTi 30D
smaller
lighter
$685 $1,121
10 MP 8 MP
3 fps 5 fps
1/4000 sec 1/8000 sec

Somehow those differences, other than size and weight, seem small.

What am I missing?

Not a thing. They are both nice. Go handle them and decide which feels the
best.

I'd go for the 30D, but that's just me.

Dave S wrote:
I think I'm ready to try a DSLR.
In the pre-digital era I used a Canon FTb. I didn't really like
hauling a heavy camera bag. I didn't like the number of out-of-focus
shots.

Now I have a Canon G3 and an SD700IS. I'm pretty much committed to
Canon by past familiarity and the fact I own a 420EX flash.

How many of you use manual focus frequently?

I like to shoot landscapes, flowers, and people, preferably by
available light. I will only be interested in IS lenses.

If you're interested only in IS lenses then you're cutting out
wide-angles, macros, and fast primes, which is to say you're needlessly
limiting yourself--in fact you're pretty much ruling out the tools that
you really need to do what you say you want to do.

When I compare the two subject cameras, I see these differences
XTi 30D
smaller
lighter
$685 $1,121
10 MP 8 MP
3 fps 5 fps
1/4000 sec 1/8000 sec

Somehow those differences, other than size and weight, seem small.

What am I missing?

30D has a two-wheel control system and a spot meter, for two.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

On Mar 20, 6:32 pm, "Charles Schuler"
wrote:
"Dave S" wrote in message

...



I think I'm ready to try a DSLR.
In the pre-digital era I used a Canon FTb. I didn't really like hauling a
heavy camera bag. I didn't like the number of out-of-focus shots.

Now I have a Canon G3 and an SD700IS. I'm pretty much committed to Canon
by past familiarity and the fact I own a 420EX flash.

How many of you use manual focus frequently?

I like to shoot landscapes, flowers, and people, preferably by available
light. I will only be interested in IS lenses.

When I compare the two subject cameras, I see these differences
XTi 30D
smaller
lighter
$685 $1,121
10 MP 8 MP
3 fps 5 fps
1/4000 sec 1/8000 sec

Somehow those differences, other than size and weight, seem small.

What am I missing?

Not a thing. They are both nice. Go handle them and decide which feels the
best.

I'd go for the 30D, but that's just me.

Yeah, what he said. Also, the 30D is better built so it will last
longer and take all kinds of abuse much better.

-Gniewko

"Dave S" wrote in message
...
I think I'm ready to try a DSLR.

Hold out until 2008, which will be the year of the inexpensive, full-frame,
12+MP DSLR.

SW

I use a 30D and I love it but but you should be considering
the lens you use just as much as the body. To get the best out
of both cameras you should consider using Canon L series
lenses and they're expensive. In a limited budget I would go
for the XTi invest in the best lens you can afford.

Chris

"Dave S" wrote in message
...
I think I'm ready to try a DSLR.
In the pre-digital era I used a Canon FTb. I didn't really like hauling a
heavy camera bag. I didn't like the number of out-of-focus shots.

Now I have a Canon G3 and an SD700IS. I'm pretty much committed to Canon
by past familiarity and the fact I own a 420EX flash.

How many of you use manual focus frequently?

I like to shoot landscapes, flowers, and people, preferably by available
light. I will only be interested in IS lenses.

When I compare the two subject cameras, I see these differences
XTi 30D
smaller
lighter
$685 $1,121
10 MP 8 MP
3 fps 5 fps
1/4000 sec 1/8000 sec

Somehow those differences, other than size and weight, seem small.

What am I missing?

Dave S.

As Chris Gilbert says - whatever you get buy L lenses.

Also, the 30D has a shutter rated for 100000 actuations, I think the XTi is
the same as the 350D at 50000 actuations. So the 30D price needs to be
halved in any comparison you are doing.

I have the 350D and the 30D. The only advantage of the 350D is its small
size. I have hardly used the 350D since buying the 30D.

John

"Summer Wind" wrote in message
. ..
"Dave S" wrote in message
...
I think I'm ready to try a DSLR.

Hold out until 2008, which will be the year of the inexpensive,
full-frame, 12+MP DSLR.

Hold out? For what? Bad idea. If you want to shoot pix, just get anything
and start NOW.


SW

Chris Gilbert wrote:
I use a 30D and I love it but but you should be considering
the lens you use just as much as the body. To get the best out
of both cameras you should consider using Canon L series
lenses and they're expensive. In a limited budget I would go
for the XTi invest in the best lens you can afford.

There's nothing magic about L glass. For some purposes there is in fact
no L glass available. There's no L extreme wide angle for example (at
least none that is extreme wide on APS-C sensors) and L glass is not
always super sharp--the 24mm TS-E sacrifices some center sharpness to
get other capabilities for example. And non-L is not necessarily
lacking optically--the non-L 10-22 is one of Canon's sharper lenses.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

Eatmorepies wrote:
"Dave S" wrote in message
...
I think I'm ready to try a DSLR.
In the pre-digital era I used a Canon FTb. I didn't really like
hauling a heavy camera bag. I didn't like the number of out-of-focus
shots.

Now I have a Canon G3 and an SD700IS. I'm pretty much committed to
Canon by past familiarity and the fact I own a 420EX flash.

How many of you use manual focus frequently?

I like to shoot landscapes, flowers, and people, preferably by
available light. I will only be interested in IS lenses.

When I compare the two subject cameras, I see these differences
XTi 30D
smaller
lighter
$685 $1,121
10 MP 8 MP
3 fps 5 fps
1/4000 sec 1/8000 sec

Somehow those differences, other than size and weight, seem small.

What am I missing?

Dave S.

As Chris Gilbert says - whatever you get buy L lenses.

This is ridiculous. Get lenses based on what you need to do, not on
whether there is a particular letter marked on them.

If you limit yourself to only L glass then you're depriving yourself of
a great deal of capability.

Also, the 30D has a shutter rated for 100000 actuations, I think the
XTi is the same as the 350D at 50000 actuations. So the 30D price
needs to be halved in any comparison you are doing.

I have the 350D and the 30D. The only advantage of the 350D is its
small size. I have hardly used the 350D since buying the 30D.

John

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)