Reading mode: Light Dark

Upgrade to 30D, or get better lenses?

Go to last post
G

G Elgey

New member
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Location
US
G'day,

I recently purchased a Canon 350D. I have the option of returning this to the store and upgrading to another camera. It would cost around AUD$1000 (or around US$725) to upgrade to the 30D.

I have the kit 18-55mm lens, the kit 70-200mm lens, and the 50mm 1.8 lens. I rarely use the 70-200.

I was wondering what would be the better option: upgrading to the 30D, or investing in some quality lenses and/or external flash.

The 30D has some features that I like. The bigger LCD is good because many times I've looked at a shot on the LCD of the 350D and thought it was okay, but on closer examination that wasn't the case. The lack of ISO display on the 350D is also annoying, and I think the 30D does not have this problem. I'm also having some focus problems with the 350D. I read that the 30D has better focusing, but this problem may just be my lenses.

I'm not sure if actual image quality is any better, however.

Any advice?

-- Geoff
 
G Elgey said:
G'day,
Click to expand...
g'day mate.
G Elgey said:
the kit 70-200mm lens. I rarely use the 70-200.
Click to expand...
firstly, what kit lens are you referring to? kit 70-200?
G Elgey said:
I was wondering what would be the better option: upgrading to the
30D, or investing in some quality lenses and/or external flash.
Click to expand...
i would say get lens and ext flash....for the reasons below. or better yet....practice, practice and practice and once you are limited by your gear and know exactly what you want....get it.
G Elgey said:
The 30D has some features that I like. The bigger LCD is good
because many times I've looked at a shot on the LCD of the 350D and
thought it was okay, but on closer examination that wasn't the
case.
Click to expand...
just because the LCD screen is 'larger' in the 30d....it doesn't mean you can tell whether the pictures are sharp or not. it is still useless in that capacity in the 30d! thus, making this feature a redundant one.
G Elgey said:
The lack of ISO display on the 350D is also annoying, and I
think the 30D does not have this problem.
Click to expand...
the ISO is also not displayed on the view finder in the 30d.
G Elgey said:
I'm also having some
focus problems with the 350D. I read that the 30D has better
focusing, but this problem may just be my lenses.
Click to expand...
this may be true. i don't own a 350d so can't comment on this one. but it is quicker than my 300d. :)
G Elgey said:
I'm not sure if actual image quality is any better
Click to expand...
probably not.

so the final answer is sure upgrade to the 30d if you don't like the ergonomics of the 350d and the fact that it is light. but the reasons you are wanting to upgrade (as stated in your original post) may disappoint you, if you get the 30d.

-------
http://www.pbase.com/antidote3
 
Im about to upgrade to the 30D myself after winning a small amount of money in lotto and a photo competition, I decided to upgrade for the reasons below:

1) Don't have any urge for any other lenses, so may as well spend it on a new body. As I'll also be travelling for 3 years soon, I want to travel light. With the 50mm 1.4 and 28-135mm I think that gives me a good range.

2) 9000 shots have been taken on the 350D, which some may say is close to coming up to 1/4th of its lifetime. With the 30D being tested for 100,000 shots, I will now have a new camera which will last longer.

3) I have been offered $900AU for my 350D, I figured I may as well sell it now while I can get a good price for it. The price will drop if the 400D comes out in August like many predict.

4) I shoot a lot in the dark without a flash, so I hope the better focus will assist me.

5) New sexy LCD, I was amazed at how good the 20D LCD is, and the 30D is even better. It should help identify what shots are out of focus.

6) For the sake of having a new toy!
 
What is it that you shoot? If you don't shoot sports, I recommend you spend the money on lenses and flash instead of the body.
--
http://davidson.smugmug.com
Use this code to save $5 on smugmug: UPu6udxnAfhNI
See my profile for equipment and wish list
 
G Elgey said:
The lack of ISO display on the 350D is also annoying, and I
think the 30D does not have this problem.
Click to expand...
30D shows the ISO only while changing it - so its pretty much useless for regular shooting
 
The sensor in both bodies is pretty much the same, so you won't get better pictures from that.

Your only reason to upgrade might be the AF.... but most people don't notice much of a difference.

You'll certainly need f/2.8 lenses if you're going to notice a significant AF differnce.

Your lenses are budget lenses. Definiately, first upgrade those, before spending a lot of money on a different body.
 
If it was up to me, I'd get better glass and an external flash over upgrading to a 30D.

There's a greater potential for improving your photographic skills that way. Most of the 30D's advantages can be worked around with the 350D.

The one issue you currently have that I find interesting is your focus problems with the 350D. You should troubleshoot that. You maybe able to exchange your 350D where you bought it (assuming you are still within the exchange period) or send it in to Canon tech support. It could be operator error (e.g., camera holding skill, too shallow DOF, aperaturs at the extreme ends, too slow a shutter speed, etc.)

The 30D's larger LCD is nice, but, the 350D is more than good enough. I can see the histogram just fine for exposure purpose. I can zoom into an image to get a quick look-see on image quality. I do think the 30D's LCD gives you more information, but, that's just eye candy to me.

What's nice about the 30D is the extra wheel and buttons so that you can more quickly set various modes and exposure settings. If you are missing shots with the 300D because you can't change things fast enough, you probably need a lot more than a 30D: you might be worthy of higher end glass.
G Elgey said:
G'day,
Click to expand...
G Elgey said:
The 30D has some features that I like. The bigger LCD is good
because many times I've looked at a shot on the LCD of the 350D and
thought it was okay, but on closer examination that wasn't the
case. The lack of ISO display on the 350D is also annoying, and I
think the 30D does not have this problem. I'm also having some
focus problems with the 350D. I read that the 30D has better
focusing, but this problem may just be my lenses.
Click to expand...
 
To clarify ... in the 30D, you can see the ISO in the viewfinder only when you are actively changing the ISO.

It is NOT one of those things that show up when you half-press (like, for eg, aperture, shutter speed etc)

So in regular shooting, you cannot use the viewfinder to make sure that the ISO is what you want when taking a shot - which is what you really need to remind yourself to change the ISO from 1600 to say 200 (if you were shooting in a dimly lit bar a few nights back and now you are in normal daylight shooting outdoors -- been there, done that)

If you remember enough about the ISO to change it, who cares if it shows up on the viewfinder .... you are anyway changing it ....

Hope that makes it clear(er) :)
Hurricane_777 said:
Hurricane_777 said:
30D shows the ISO only while changing it - so its pretty much
useless for regular shooting
Click to expand...
How is that, and what do you mean by regular shooting?
Click to expand...
 
G'day,

Thanks all for the info. It seems that the reasons for upgrading to the 30D may not be as good as I had previously thought (especially the ISO display issue).

I'll start looking at some better lenses (although some of the lenses look too damn big for such a small body).

Maybe I'll save up for a body with a 1 x FOV (I love wide-angle, and 1.6 x FOVCF annoys me here).
MarcosV said:
The one issue you currently have that I find interesting is your
focus problems with the 350D. You should troubleshoot that. You
maybe able to exchange your 350D where you bought it (assuming you
are still within the exchange period) or send it in to Canon tech
support. It could be operator error (e.g., camera holding skill,
too shallow DOF, aperaturs at the extreme ends, too slow a shutter
speed, etc.)
Click to expand...
Day shooting is mostly fine. I was trying some night shooting recently, using a tripod. There was good moonlight, streetlight, etc, and I had a white tree just across the road. I don't have a light meter, but it seemed to me to be light enough and sufficient contrast. Try as I might I could not get the 350D to focus on anything at all (this was using the kit 18-55 lens) and had to go to manual. It may be one of the operator issues you mention above, or it may be that the 350D focus is just not that good (cf the 30D) in this environment, or it may be the lens.

-- Geoff
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top