Author Topic: Canon DSLR on the cheap. (Read 5389 times)

Steve · « **on:** August 18, 2008, 15:22 »

I need some advise. I'm looking to buy a DSLR for stock work. Currently my lenses are a Canon 28-70/2.8L, a 70-200/2.8L (no IS), and a Canon 50/1.8. Currently I'm using a film SLR and a 4 year old bridge camera. Which would be a better buy (assuming new condition).

A Canon Rebel XSI or a

Canon D30

Thanks

grp_photo · « **Reply #1 on:** August 18, 2008, 16:02 »

You have two very good Zooms the older 28-70 is better than the 24-70 and the older non-IS is a lot better than the new 70-200/2.8 with IS actually its the best Zoom from Canon at all. In this case i would invest more and would go for fullframe. The 5D is now very cheap and with it you can get the best out of your lenses.
Be aware if you buy a crop-camera you don't have any wideangle anymore so you have to buy an additional lens that remains wideangle on crop so maybe its even more expensive than to buy a 5D.

Jack Schiffer · « **Reply #2 on:** August 18, 2008, 16:06 »

Side by side comparason on depreview

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_eos450d%2Ccanon_eos30d&show=all

litifeta · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2008, 17:08 »

I own a Canon 30D and previously had a Rebel. I see no advantage at all with the 30D except it has a magnesium body.

My honest opinion is go the Rebel unless you get a better price on the 30D.

More pixels on the Rebel, and you should always shoot in RAW anyways.

ichiro17 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2008, 17:42 »

Noise on the Rebel should be better or at least comparable.

XSi would be better unless you plan on abusing it.

sharply_done · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2008, 18:32 »

I'd go with the 30D - exposure compensation is much easier (using the back dial) than on the Rebel.

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #6 on:** August 18, 2008, 22:10 »

Also didn't the 30D price recently drop almost in half? Ritz now has them for $699. But the XSi would give you 12MP which should be XL at several sites vs 8MP L. Hmmm.

alpy7 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 19, 2008, 13:47 »

I would also go to a store and pick one up. It has to be somewhat comfortable. Unless you plan on doing everything off a tripod.

suwanneeredhead · « **Reply #8 on:** August 19, 2008, 21:13 »

Quote from: sharply_done on August 18, 2008, 18:32

I'd go with the 30D - exposure compensation is much easier (using the back dial) than on the Rebel.

YES! I just bought a 30D (switched from a Nikon D70 so my sweetheart and I can share glass) and that Exposure Compensation on the black dial is a WONDERFUL thing! No futzing around trying to deal with it, just do it... makes it easy to bracket any way I see fit, not just using the camera's bracketing feature.

8 MP is great... so what about the XXL stuff... most of my sales are at SS anyway so that's not really a big deal... and as for noise, this camera is SO much better than my Nikon was... and NeatImage works great... so I'm not too concerned... shot a bunch of skateboarders the other day at 800 ISO and you can hardly notice any noise, just in the shadows and I can get that out easily enough...

And this one has a battery grip on it... so between the magnesium-clad body and the grip, this camera has some HEFT which I like, don't like a light body for many reasons.

I say go for the 30D if you can get it for a great price!

DanP68 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 19, 2008, 22:27 »

Quote from: suwanneeredhead on August 19, 2008, 21:13

8 MP is great... so what about the XXL stuff... most of my sales are at SS anyway so that's not really a big deal... and as for noise, this camera is SO much better than my Nikon was...

Getting a few $5+ sales at StockXpert or DT would likely change your mind in a hurry about XL/XXL. Since getting my 5D, I've had a noticeable bump in revenue per download.

I loved my 30D, but really there is no comparison between my new 5D and the 30D. Besides the extra large sizes, the 5D is a full frame camera with superior signal to noise (very important for stock, and you can put away Neatimage). It also offers noticeable improvements in color (particularly color differential), contrast, and definitely sharpness. The 5D with a couple quality prime lenses absolutely rocks.

So my advice would be not to worry about what is/isn't cheap, and focus on what you really want out of a camera. The most expensive option is buying your 2nd choice, and then realizing you cannot do without your 1st choice and having to make another purchase.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #10 on:** August 20, 2008, 11:34 »

Canon appears to be releasing the 50D and new 5D (which may be a 7D?). Rumored announcement date is Aug. 28th. Keep in mind this is all from the rumor mill.

You have good lenses, either of your camera choices should work.

If you aren't in a hurry or want to wait and see if the prices for the 30D and 40D drop, it's something to consider. If you don't need the extra image size there's nothing wrong with the 30D and from my personal perspective, I like the feel of the larger camera body over the smaller ones. I shoot with a 40D, mini camera is a G6.

G10 is supposed to be coming out too, which for the price, offers many of the features, settings, controls, and some of the electronics of the DSLRs but is a fixed lens camera, not SLR.

I'm mentioning the G series as an option for someone else, reading this, on a tighter budget who doesn't need a SLR, with interchangeable lenses, but wants controls that your average P&S won't offer. Same batteries and CF cards as the Canon ##D cameras. By the way, it shoots RAW and comes with a f/2 lens.

suwanneeredhead · « **Reply #11 on:** August 20, 2008, 12:09 »

Quote from: DanP68 on August 19, 2008, 22:27

Getting a few $5+ sales at StockXpert or DT would likely change your mind in a hurry about XL/XXL. Since getting my 5D, I've had a noticeable bump in revenue per download.

I loved my 30D, but really there is no comparison between my new 5D and the 30D. Besides the extra large sizes, the 5D is a full frame camera with superior signal to noise (very important for stock, and you can put away Neatimage). It also offers noticeable improvements in color (particularly color differential), contrast, and definitely sharpness. The 5D with a couple quality prime lenses absolutely rocks.

You're right DanP, and I agree... but right now the $$ is a little tight (just moved 3,000 miles from Florida to Washington) so I did what I had to do to be back in production ... and I love the 30D and it'll make a great backup camera when I have that 5D or 7D one day soon... with some great glass...

DanP68 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 20, 2008, 22:33 »

The time to buy the 5D was during the big Canon rebate last month. I got mine at Adorama for under $2000...amazing. Purchases from reliable shooters (many pros) on the Fred Miranda swap board can be a boon too. I grabbed a 1D Mark IIn with plenty of life left in the tank for $2075 shipped. Now I have exactly the camera I wanted for football season, and at 1/2 of the list price.

I agree with RacePhoto. Now that the new incarnation is apparently on its way, it might pay to see what it offers.

Keep in mind that despite its improvements, it is still going to list for more than $3000 initially almost certainly (just like the 5D originally did). This might make the original 5D a much better cost option for microstock usage.