Anyone unhappy with anything on EOS 30D ?

[Mark Shaxted]

I'm not absolutley certain, but I believe that even when just shooting RAW the histogram uses the embedded jpeg with picture style applied.

Presumably this is for speed reasons.

I could be wrong!

 

[Mark B.]

Only very minor issues I have with it, is I don't understand why
there are 2 'On' functions. I've been fooled with that setting a
couple of times now, and no one can really give me a good reason
for having it.

I'd have to agree with that. All predecessors to the 30D had 2 switches - one to turn the camera on, another for the rear dial. Canon opted to save a few cents by integrating them into one switch. Other than that though, I'm pretty happy with it.

Mark

 

[Keith Reeder]

Coming from Nikon, I really wish it had an Auto ISO function in the "Creative" modes.

Oh - and the ability to adjust EV Comp in full Manual mode.

Course, to get the best out of that, I'd really need Auto ISO..!

;0)

 

[gmacklem]

Ok, that is a complaint about my flash bracket and not the 30D. I absolutely love the 30D compared to my 10D. Not that I didn't like the 10D, but the 30D is better in every respect. I just wish Stroboframe would create an anti-twist plate for my Press-T flash bracket.

--
Greg
http://www.pictureroanoke.com

Photography is a journey, not a destination.

 

[Mauro.B]

But there are work-arounds:

exposure (30D likely to be ISO 150, not ISO 100): dial -1/3 ev to avoid clipping; remember that "focus and reframing" can lead to exposure misses

white balance: shoot raw, avoid auto, set 2900 k under tungsten

shadow noise: expose to the right and cross your fingers

on-off switch: do not think about that

Fun to see that people not even owning a 30D loudly praise it (I remember "stellar"). Most of them actually own a 20D which, from the "photographic" standpoint, is a better camera proposition than the 30D.

M

PS - workarounds are unacceptable
--
Greets from Rome

Mauro

http://www.pbase.com/m_ben/

 

[Sulka Haro]

I'm not absolutley certain, but I believe that even when just
shooting RAW the histogram uses the embedded jpeg with picture
style applied.

Yes, AFAIK this is true. However if I was shooting just RAW, I could use a Picture Style mode that did as little to the image as possible, hence giving a more realistic (neutral) histogram. Perhaps there'll be a separate setting for RAW and Jpeg in 40D?

sulka

--
Photography at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sulka/

 

[Mark B.]

Coming from Nikon, I really wish it had an Auto ISO function in
the "Creative" modes.

Oh - and the ability to adjust EV Comp in full Manual mode.

I'm not sure I understand this - if you're in full manual, you don't need exposure compensation. Since you're controlling the exposure 100% you set it to be over, under, or neutral. Wouldn't make sense for the camera.

Course, to get the best out of that, I'd really need Auto ISO..!

Yes, this is the only way that would work - if exposure compensation affected ISO when in manual.

Mark

 

[Nomad_68]

If anything it underexposes 1/3 to 2/3 stop. It never overexposes, in fact its very conservative in exposure to prevent the red channel from clipping.

The only time ive had to dial in neg exposure was in the middle of death valley in extremely bright sun.

I am amazed at how well this camera exposes and focuses.

Aside from user error, i think i have less than a dozen OOF shots in over 5000 frames.

As for white balance....its fantastic outdoors! I havent missed too many shots in AWB....as for indoors with various types of lighting you need to learn the camera and adjust the white balance to your liking.

Controls are excellent and ONCE you read the manual and understand why the functions exist and LEARN the camera and then CUSTOMIZE to your liking you will have an excellent tool. It drives me crazy how many people complain about buttons and functions but have yet to read the manual.

since this is about gripes....

1. I wish it had sealing to prevent dust/moisture from entering.
2. Viewfinder info is slightly dim

3. MLU with push remote release causes you to have to press the button twice as first time is only mlu and second is the curtain.

4. Im pretty dissapointed with the LCD. Reviewing photos at 10x is useless as they appear oof, its pretty dim and washed out, brightness and contrast are not that good. Im sure it had to do with power savings but i would have sacrificed some of the power to have a better brighter LCD, in fact any from their P&S line would have been better than this one.

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/holy_smokes/

 

[Keith Reeder]

I'm not sure I understand this - if you're in full manual, you don't need exposure compensation.

The "Nikon Way" was great though: being able to set the shutter speed and aperture, with the camera ensuring the optimum ISO level for the shot, and STILL being able to dial in some EV comp was hugely useful.

NB: I'm an aspiring bird photographer. Sometimes a flying bird can be against the sky one moment, and against the ground the next, resulting in totally different exposure requirements - being able to change EV Comp in real time, in an instant, was a life saver sometimes.

I'm managing without it now, but it was great while it lasted!

;0)

 

[DRG]

Only very minor issues I have with it, is I don't understand why
there are 2 'On' functions. I've been fooled with that setting a
couple of times now, and no one can really give me a good reason
for having it.

I'd have to agree with that. All predecessors to the 30D had 2
switches - one to turn the camera on, another for the rear dial.
Canon opted to save a few cents by integrating them into one
switch. Other than that though, I'm pretty happy with it.

Mark

 

[jt30605]

I own the 30D, so I guess I am allowed to give it praise. It's a very nice camera. I don't have the noise issues that most people complain about.
Weather sealing would be nice.

 

[hartcons]

green viewfinder info and LCD can be hard to read in bright light.

focus sensor toggle switch is a bit fussy (tough to choose a sensor diagonally , for example)

a few useful features are buried in the custom function settings bank.

pics overall seem a bit softer than what I was used to on my d70 (but they seem to take pretty well to sharpening in post).

flash exposure compensation only goes from +2 to -2 (sometimes I wish I could take it lower than -2)

but these are mostly minor quibbles and I think it's a great camera (just very solid-feeling and responsive). if you're on a budget, check out the tamron lenses.

 

[hartcons]

My 30D LCD has trouble with blue and purple (for instance, purple flowers come out blue). Not a big problem as long as you're aware of it.

You're going to hear a lot of hooey about
"noise," "underexposure," "color shift LCD," and "fake iso."

 

[hartcons]

Contrary to Phil's review, I haven't found that the 30D is any less prone to dust on the sensor than the d70. Be prepared to pick up some sort of sensor cleaning kit (visible dust, copper hill), especially if you like to shoot at f22!

 

[hartcons]

There is a menu setting for cranking up the LCD brightness. But I agree that there's still a ways to go before you can make a final decision about a photo without first consulting a computer. I've been thinking about getting one of those LCD hoods (if they make one for the 30D yet).

4. Im pretty dissapointed with the LCD. Reviewing photos at 10x is
useless as they appear oof, its pretty dim and washed out,
brightness and contrast are not that good.

 

[hartcons]

I've started using spot metering and then I adjust from there with exposure compensation (or go full manual mode). It seems like evaluative metering can be a bit hard to predict. And if you blow out something important in a jpeg that can spell trouble.

Also the camera seems to slightly overexpose images more than the
350 did, but that can easily be worked around.

 

[EricBand]

I don't like the fact that the viewfinder doesn't show the iso and metering mode all the time (iso does show when changing it, metering mode never). Having to look at the top LCD to see metering mode is a pill, especially if the camera is on a tripod that is above eye level.
Viewfinder is also too dim in bright light.

Back LCD is not great in the sun.

But the camera performs quite well overall.

 

[idarknight]

I've had the camera for a little over two weeks now after graduating from my V3. Camera wise I don't see there being much lacking (I've taken almost 500 shots over a range of conditions), with practice you'll be taking great pictures in short order, just be sure to keep the manual handy while you are shooting for the first while so you can remember the difference between things like AI focus and AI Servo. Much of the rest is just learning the Canon system.

Good luck!

--
Canon 30D! (Kit Lens,50mm 1.8), Sony V3, L1
http://www.boora.ca

 

[SteveDude]

Just leave it on in the "full on" position 100% of the time. That's what I do. Doesn't affect battery life, switch doesn't ever move.

Just works perfectly - I haven't used that switch for almost a year.

--
http://www.pbase.com/stevegrillo , Equipment on profile page

 

[Ian Worthington]

... a 20D which, from
the "photographic" standpoint, is a better camera proposition than
the 30D.

Someone's going to have to explain that to me: I don't get it.

i