My 300D dies, then i fixed it! but...

Well my lowly 300D finally bit the dust. Luckily I was not on assignment, which would have been very bad. I am foolish enough to depend on one camera for certain assignments, because I simply don't have the money for much more than a Rebel series camera.

The shutterblade caught when it closed and almost completely ripped off. After some surgery with the tweesers I was able to place the blades back into the mechanism and get them in working order. Unfortunately, the blade is ripped, and will catch and fail again soon... Probably on assignment. So, even though I don't have the money, its time to get a new camera....

its a bummer, I love my 300D.

I was very surprised I was able to fix the issue myself, temporarily at least. Most people send it into canon to fix.

Well time to shop for either a 20/30D. I wish the 5D was in my budget. I think I have to move beyond the Rebel line now though. This makes me resent canon to some degree. Photographers are paid very little, and their prices on their pro bodies are astronomical in my opinion. Especially for college students trying to start a career.

But, an investment in the future....

Sorry to hear of you camera's death, chilling.

I hope the 20D or 30D have a higher life span.
--
Ed

TsunamiFury said:

Well time to shop for either a 20/30D. I wish the 5D was in my
budget. I think I have to move beyond the Rebel line now though.
This makes me resent canon to some degree. Photographers are paid
very little, and their prices on their pro bodies are astronomical
in my opinion. Especially for college students trying to start a
career.

But, an investment in the future....

Click to expand...

Or a lesson to start charging more

You should, if you can take the hit, send it back to canon anyway - have the shutter replaced - AND buy a 20D (even used, ebay). That way you can also have a backup camera when you're on assignment.
After all, 2 Canons are better than 1
A

--

TsunamiFury said:

Well time to shop for either a 20/30D.

Click to expand...

I think a 30D will serve you well.

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See the colors of my world in:
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TsunamiFury said:

... I am foolish enough to depend on one camera for certain
assignments, because I simply don't have the money for much more
than a Rebel series camera.

Click to expand...

No back-up when on assignment! - even having a (fairly inexpensive) p&s camera is better than having no back-up at all. I cannot fathom going on an assignment without a back-up camera.

TsunamiFury said:

Well time to shop for either a 20/30D. I wish the 5D was in my
budget. I think I have to move beyond the Rebel line now though.

Click to expand...

Instead of buying the best single camera you can afford, I suggest you split your budget across buying a new camera such as the 400D and either

A) getting the 300D repaired or

B) buying a halfway decent p&s

--
Good Day,
Roonal

'Money doesn't buy happiness, but it makes for an extravagant depression' by golf tournament sportscaster

Canon needs a 300D rebate program for upgrade replacement.

They know they crippled the 300D from day 1. A friend had his fail and this seems to be a common problem now.
--
Torch

sysadam said:

Or a lesson to start charging more

Click to expand...

Agreed!

If you are getting any paid work at all, then you must have the photography part of the business down, now you need to study and improve the business side.

Think about how you can generate more income from your photography. It is not all about charging more, although that is a start. Market, advertise, get more profitable. Work into a more profitable market.

sysadam said:

You should, if you can take the hit, send it back to canon anyway -
have the shutter replaced - AND buy a 20D (even used, ebay). That
way you can also have a backup camera when you're on assignment.
After all, 2 Canons are better than 1

Click to expand...

Also excellent advice. Any paid gig deserves a backup camera.

--
CityLights
http://www.pbase.com/citylights/favorites
http://www.pbase.com/citylights/favorite_portraits
http://www.pbase.com/citylights/favorite_animals
.

Yes much improvement of my business model is needed. The trouble is, i don't take standard commercial assignments, I'm trying to prove myself as a journalist. That means lots of unpaid or very low paid work while im schooling at a private college and saving for grad school all at the same time. I really think its near impossible, and what little hope there is, Canon would love to snatch from my pocket.

But if I ever make it to the photojournalism world completely, i'll be thanking the engineers of the 300D for starting me on my way.

Well, I took a few minutes to check out your website.

You've pumped some pretty incredible shots out of that little Rebel. My advice is to get yourself a night job so you can afford an even more amazing camera and really make yourself a killing.

Also - see if you can't fix that navigation. When you open a gallery it pops up a new window, and there's no 'back' button to the gallery-selection area, you have to return to the home page. Just a minor annoyance!

Keep up the fine work. Unpaid work is fun, but paid work lets you buy more Lenses
A

TsunamiFury said:

Yes much improvement of my business model is needed. The trouble
is, i don't take standard commercial assignments, I'm trying to
prove myself as a journalist. That means lots of unpaid or very
low paid work while im schooling at a private college and saving
for grad school all at the same time. I really think its near
impossible, and what little hope there is, Canon would love to
snatch from my pocket.

But if I ever make it to the photojournalism world completely, i'll
be thanking the engineers of the 300D for starting me on my way.

Click to expand...

--

400D censor in the 30D body. I know that megapixels don't make the difference in the shot, but when i print 20x30 i would appreciate the extra resolution. And not have to get an XTi to get it.. and the dust sensor.