I'm a professional photographer, the kit I use has to work perfectly and deliver flawless results day in day out. The 10D CAN do this but it needs time and application to tame this beast. Treating it as if it were a standard Canon SLR just doesn't work. Film is not the same as digital, to get the best out of the 10D you must get the exposure absolutely right (a la slide film) or you will lose valuable detail, particularly in highlight areas. This can be done but you MUST learn how to use in histogram function to do it.
The biggest thing that affects the 10D without question is quality of lenses. Stick a standard Canon zoom on this camera and you will be disappointed with the results, stick a high quality 'L' series lens on, use RAW mode with a non-Canon convertor (like BreezeBrowzer) and you will get absolutely fantastic results, the equal of medium format. The 1.6 factor is slightly annoying if you use wide angles a lot and it really doesn't magnify your lenses by 1.6, it just crops the image. It also means the viewfinder image is quite small.
In use the camera is just what you would expect from Canon, easy to use with masses of sensible features (like a depth of field preview, mirror up function, pc flash socket).
The focusing is not perfect, there is no getting away from that, Canon have used one of their less sensitive focusing mechanisms in the 10D to keep the cost down, only the central focusing point is ultra-sensitive. However in normal use, with the lens stopped down a couple of stops it works absolutely fine and fast.
Digital SLR's are new technology and in comparison with the much more expensive 1D and 1Ds the 10D is good value, better that the new 300D which lacks some features.
Be prepared to spend money on a large CF card or microdrive and GOOD lenses, which will always fit the next generation anyway.
In summary, a fantastic technological marvel which, when tamed will convert you to digital forever, just be prepared to start learning again as it is not such a simple switch from film, but well worth it.
Problems:
1.6x factor and therefore small viewfinder
Not the fastest or most accurate focusing, but OK
6v limit for pc socket/hotshoe- beware!
Shots will need postprocessing- so did film!
The biggest thing that affects the 10D without question is quality of lenses. Stick a standard Canon zoom on this camera and you will be disappointed with the results, stick a high quality 'L' series lens on, use RAW mode with a non-Canon convertor (like BreezeBrowzer) and you will get absolutely fantastic results, the equal of medium format. The 1.6 factor is slightly annoying if you use wide angles a lot and it really doesn't magnify your lenses by 1.6, it just crops the image. It also means the viewfinder image is quite small.
In use the camera is just what you would expect from Canon, easy to use with masses of sensible features (like a depth of field preview, mirror up function, pc flash socket).
The focusing is not perfect, there is no getting away from that, Canon have used one of their less sensitive focusing mechanisms in the 10D to keep the cost down, only the central focusing point is ultra-sensitive. However in normal use, with the lens stopped down a couple of stops it works absolutely fine and fast.
Digital SLR's are new technology and in comparison with the much more expensive 1D and 1Ds the 10D is good value, better that the new 300D which lacks some features.
Be prepared to spend money on a large CF card or microdrive and GOOD lenses, which will always fit the next generation anyway.
In summary, a fantastic technological marvel which, when tamed will convert you to digital forever, just be prepared to start learning again as it is not such a simple switch from film, but well worth it.
Problems:
1.6x factor and therefore small viewfinder
Not the fastest or most accurate focusing, but OK
6v limit for pc socket/hotshoe- beware!
Shots will need postprocessing- so did film!