Questions about the D30

allanofcalifornia · Jan 18, 2002

I am sure somewhere in the threads these questions must have been answered, I just can't find them so I apologize ahead of time.

1. If I buy the D30, what one or two lenses would you recommend? I would assume the 50mm and something like the 28-105mm if it was a non-digital camera but what would you recommend with this 1.6 camera?

2. Will the D30 and the EF lens have the silent autofocus that I keep hearing about?

3. How does the CMOS compare to the CCD? I would assume the CCD would be much better?

4. Does the D30 take the exact same EF lenses as the 1D?

5. Is the in-built flash any good or is it mandatory to buy a flash system?

6. How is the image quality of the D30 compare to the 1D? Are they close?

7. What is the print size of the Large and Small resolution settings (i.e. 4x6 and 8x10)? Are people satisfied with just two types of capture sizes (small or large)?

8. Would I always have to crop the images if I want to send them out to be professionally printed because the image size are not standard print sizes?

Thank you very much !!!
Allan

blang · Jan 18, 2002

Others can certainly give you a more technical answer, but from the recommendations I purchased the 28.70L, a bit pricey but a great lens non the less.

Regards,
blang

bluedot · Jan 18, 2002

Hi. I just bought a D30 ( still being shipped -- what a long wait!) and have asked more or less the same questions you did. Here is what I think (someone correct me if I am wrong):

allanofcalifornia said:
1. If I buy the D30, what one or two lenses would you recommend?

I would assume the 50mm and something like the 28-105mm if it was a
non-digital camera but what would you recommend with this 1.6
camera?

Depends a lot on the type of shooting and budget you have. Since you did not provide these details, I will assume medium (non-L

) budget and genreal purpose shooting. For that, I recommend the 50mm 1.6 and the 28-135 IS. The 50mm 1.6 can substituted by the 50mm 1.8, which is almost as good and very cheap (albeit poorly constructed).

allanofcalifornia said:
2. Will the D30 and the EF lens have the silent autofocus that I keep hearing about?

Lenses with USM (ultra sonic motors), expecially ring-type, should focus silentsly with the D30 as they would with any other EOS camera.

allanofcalifornia said:
3. How does the CMOS compare to the CCD? I would assume the CCD
would be much better?

Not necessarily. CMOS provides smoother (practicaly noise-free) shadows and good gradation. Actually, from what I've noticed most people on this forum prefer the results of a CMOS sensor and many hope Canon's next DSLR would have one.

allanofcalifornia said:
4. Does the D30 take the exact same EF lenses as the 1D?

Yes, but the focus length would be different. The D30 had a 1.6x multiplier and the 1D has 1.3x.

allanofcalifornia said:
5. Is the in-built flash any good or is it mandatory to buy a flash system? As built in flashes go, the one on the D30 is pretty good (good TTL, good range, not too cold...), but as a general rule, you would not want to rely on any built in flash for serious photography. The D30+550EX combo is unbeatable. The 440EX is almost as good.

allanofcalifornia said:
6. How is the image quality of the D30 compare to the 1D? Are they close?

From the 1D images I've seen so far, color rendition was not as pleasing as what you would get on the D30. However, the 1D is a highly customizable camera and results vary from one user to another depending on workflow and in-camera profiles etc.

allanofcalifornia said:
7. What is the print size of the Large and Small resolution settings (i.e. 4x6 and 8x10)? Are people satisfied with just two types of capture sizes (small or large)?

Can't help you on that one. I've seen people go as large as poster size with stunning results. Generally, you would want to shoot at JPEG large and even RAW when possible.

allanofcalifornia said:
8. Would I always have to crop the images if I want to send them out to be professionally printed because the image size are not standard print sizes?

The images are standard 2:3 ratio (unlike images from consumer digicams which have a ratio of 3:4).

Hope this helps.-- cheers, buru-dotto.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In a nutshell, I'm a nut.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.pbase.com/nichijin

Chris Dodkin · Jan 18, 2002

allanofcalifornia said:
1. If I buy the D30, what one or two lenses would you recommend?
I would assume the 50mm and something like the 28-105mm if it was a
non-digital camera but what would you recommend with this 1.6
camera?

17-35 and 70-200 would be my choice. Gives you your wide to normal and zoom.

allanofcalifornia said:
2. Will the D30 and the EF lens have the silent autofocus that I
keep hearing about?

Yes, it's very very quiet.

allanofcalifornia said:
3. How does the CMOS compare to the CCD? I would assume the CCD
would be much better?

Not when it comes to images smoothness. D30 are exceptionaly smooth and noise free.

allanofcalifornia said:
4. Does the D30 take the exact same EF lenses as the 1D?

Yes.

allanofcalifornia said:
5. Is the in-built flash any good or is it mandatory to buy a
flash system?

OK for party snap shots, not much good for anything serious. Get an EX flash.

allanofcalifornia said:
6. How is the image quality of the D30 compare to the 1D? Are
they close?

1D has more pixels, so more reolution. Does this matter, not unless you're going to press with them every day.

allanofcalifornia said:
7. What is the print size of the Large and Small resolution
settings (i.e. 4x6 and 8x10)? Are people satisfied with just two
types of capture sizes (small or large)?

Print size is set in software, camera just sets compression ratio of storage in a JPEG form.

You can print 18 x 12 with no issues off RAW, many have gone larger.

allanofcalifornia said:
8. Would I always have to crop the images if I want to send them
out to be professionally printed because the image size are not
standard print sizes?

Yes, same with all cameras. Crop in Photoshop first, leaving it to the lab could mean they choose the wrong area of interest.-- http://[email protected]

vpera · Jan 18, 2002

allanofcalifornia said:
2. Will the D30 and the EF lens have the silent autofocus that I
keep hearing about?

Yes if you use Canon USM lenses. See the lens list somewhere...

allanofcalifornia said:
3. How does the CMOS compare to the CCD? I would assume the CCD
would be much better?

Much better? Now you are insulting D30 owners... (I'm not)
and they will punish you... ;-)
In case of D30 CMOS is not worse than CCD.

allanofcalifornia said:
4. Does the D30 take the exact same EF lenses as the 1D?

Yes.

allanofcalifornia said:
5. Is the in-built flash any good or is it mandatory to buy a
flash system?

I would recommend an external flash but you don't need a
flash "system". The built-in flash is in the same leaque as the
P&S flashes.

allanofcalifornia said:
6. How is the image quality of the D30 compare to the 1D? Are
they close?

1D has slightly less noise most probably due to bigger sensor.
D30 seems to have more saturated colors which some prefer and
others don't.

allanofcalifornia said:
7. What is the print size of the Large and Small resolution
settings (i.e. 4x6 and 8x10)? Are people satisfied with just two
types of capture sizes (small or large)?

You capture just pixels (e.g. 2160 * 1440) and you may print
those in any size you want but about 200dpi is the low limit which
would create 2160/200=about 11 inches wide picture.
Some will say 300dpi is the low limit (=> 7.2").

allanofcalifornia said:
8. Would I always have to crop the images if I want to send them
out to be professionally printed because the image size are not
standard print sizes?

If you need to change the proportions then yes, you need to crop.
Otherwise you don't need to crop.

allanofcalifornia said:
Thank you very much !!!
Allan

Vesa

allanofcalifornia · Jan 18, 2002

This is to clarify why I am asking some of these questions:

1. Lenses interchangeability. If I buy lenses for the D30, I would like to be able to use them on the 1D or a non-digital camera if I ever buy one.

2. Print size and cropping. I don't want to have to crop all images that I want to print or send out for professional printing for the typical sizes (i.e. 4x6, 5x7, 8x10).

Also, the 1D has more pixels but doesn't this just means that it will be able to print larger images and has nothing to do with the quality of the smaller images? Is it the noise reduction enhancements on the 1D which makes it better quality?

Do any professionals use the D30? Is it good enough to be considered a proconsumer camera?

Thanks
Allan

Tom Mc · Jan 18, 2002

allanofcalifornia said:
This is to clarify why I am asking some of these questions:

1. Lenses interchangeability. If I buy lenses for the D30, I
would like to be able to use them on the 1D or a non-digital camera
if I ever buy one.

allanofcalifornia said:
Unless Canon changes the lens mount system, which is not likely.

allanofcalifornia said:
2. Print size and cropping. I don't want to have to crop all
images that I want to print or send out for professional printing
for the typical sizes (i.e. 4x6, 5x7, 8x10).

allanofcalifornia said:
I don't know of any camera that will fit all sizes without some cropping

Also, the 1D has more pixels but doesn't this just means that it
will be able to print larger images and has nothing to do with the
quality of the smaller images? Is it the noise reduction
enhancements on the 1D which makes it better quality?

allanofcalifornia said:
The 1D has more pixels in a larger imager and may have better noise reduction. It would be hard to see the improvement in small prints but it would be there

allanofcalifornia said:
Do any professionals use the D30? Is it good enough to be
considered a proconsumer camera?

i am considered to be a professional and use the d30 and think it's images are remarkable I have delivered prints up to 20" x 30" after upressing in photoshop that are truly impressive.

allanofcalifornia said:
I would caution you that if you want images that print straight out of the box - you probably would be better off with a consumer grade camera where the color decisions and sharpening are done in-camera.
Go here for another comprehensive look at the D30 :

http://www.luminous-landscape.com

bluedot · Jan 18, 2002

allanofcalifornia said:
1. Lenses interchangeability. If I buy lenses for the D30, I would like to be able to use them on the 1D or a non-digital camera if I ever buy one.

EF lenses are compatible with all EOS cameras (digital and non-digital).

allanofcalifornia said:
2. Print size and cropping. I don't want to have to crop all
images that I want to print or send out for professional printing
for the typical sizes (i.e. 4x6, 5x7, 8x10).

The D30 (and 1D) produce images > with a 2:3 ratio. Prints with differnt ratios will require some cropping. That is true of all cameras.

allanofcalifornia said:
Also, the 1D has more pixels but doesn't this just means that it

will be able to print larger images and has nothing to do with the
quality of the smaller images?

Usually, higher resolution means larger prints. The D30 seems to be an exception here for the clarity and noise-lessness of its images. It seems to produce cleaner images than 5 megapixel consumer cameras.

allanofcalifornia said:
Is it the noise reduction enhancements on the 1D which makes it better quality?

Can't help you there.

allanofcalifornia said:
Do any professionals use the D30?

Yes, though Canon does not market the D30 as a pro camera.

allanofcalifornia said:
Is it good enough to be considered a proconsumer camera?

Most definitely.-- cheers, buru-dotto.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In a nutshell, I'm a nut.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.pbase.com/nichijin

Joey Pasco · Mar 16, 2002

tommc said:
i am considered to be a professional and use the d30 and think it's
images are remarkable I have delivered prints up to 20" x 30" after
upressing in photoshop that are truly impressive.

How do you "up-res" in photoshop? Can someone explain? I thought you need a program like Nik-Sharpener or Genuine Fractals to do this--or is it just that those programs do a better job than photoshop?

Also, speaking of those programs (esp. Genuine Fractals), does anyone know where to get a freeware or shareware version (For MAC)? I've never used it before, and they seem to have so many versions of it that it's too confusing to figure out which one to get. Any help with these programs would be great.

Oh, and one more thing to add to the list of D30 questions here: About what file sizes are RAW images on the D30? I'm getting a D30 this week, and as of right now, all I've got is a 128mb CF, and I'd like to shoot RAW if possible. Have any idea how many RAW files could fit on a 128mb?

Thanks! -- ~~Jae Winter~~

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Questions about the D30

allanofcalifornia

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blang

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bluedot

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Chris Dodkin

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vpera

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allanofcalifornia

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Tom Mc

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bluedot

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