SL1

[dgeugene1]

I am amused by all the SL1 reviews that complain about "poor battery life". If they want a big fat battery they should get a big fat camera.

 

[Jeff Peterman]

The battery life isn't great, but it is certainly manageable. You can pick up a spare pretty easily, and it is small and easy to carry. I've rarely needed to use my spare battery.

 

[dgeugene1]

Obviously, some compromises had to be made, e.g., having a combined card/battery compartment but the camera really IS small. The SL1 has auto-bracketing and a live histogram both missing (I think) on the Nikon D3300.

 

[patticake]

Obviously, some compromises had to be made, e.g., having a combined card/battery compartment but the camera really IS small. The SL1 has auto-bracketing and a live histogram both missing (I think) on the Nikon D3300.

i'm checking the SL1 manual and i see a histrogram that shows when you hit the info button, and see auto bracketing, also.

 

[Abu Mahendra]

The battery on that camera and on the M is not a powerhouse, that's for sure.

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>> I love the Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens! <<

 

[dgeugene1]

A main reason I bought the SL1 just is that the kit lenses (18-55/55-200) are greatly improved and the 10-18 is lightweight, not too expensive and very sharp.

 

[boogieboogie]

It totally depends on your point of reference.

If you come from typical DSLR's with thumping great batteries and huge battery life than the 100D battery is feeble, however if you compare it to mirrorless cameras the battery life is fine and it's lasted for days for me for for general use. Much better than my previous camera in fact. But perhaps it's because I don't use live view much and prefer to use the viewfinder.

 

[Digirame]

I agree that the battery life should be a minor consideration in that it gets nearly 400 shots each time. In that case, all one has to do is carry one or two extra batteries with them in their camera bag if they think that they are going to need more.

 

[Jeff Peterman]

And the advantage of the small size of the battery is that two of them take up less space and weigh less than one spare for a something like the 7D.

 

[Hinder]

Just buy an EOS M and you'll get a free battery that will fit the SL1. :-D

 

[Jeff Peterman]

I didn't know that they took the same battery (it makes sense), but that is an expensive option. I bought a generic spare from B&H for about $20, which works fine except that it is a tight fit.

 

[Digirame]

That's funny.

I kind of did the same thing, after I bought my first Canon T2i (550D) camera about 2-1/2 years ago. I was thinking about buying another Canon battery for about $40 (USD) at a retail store (I can't remember the exact price), but I bought another Canon T2i (550D) camera body at Frys for $429 instead. So in a way, my two batteries are just the two cameras I have that I take out on most of my photo shoots.

 

[rjjr]

A fully charged battery lasts me approximately 3-4 hours of fairly constant shooting when doing copy work at my museum job. I always carry 2 charged spares just in case...they're small.

 

[Mongrel]

I don't know about anyone else but I can look you in the eye and tell you with a straight face and no lying that I got over 700 shots on my SL1 Canon brand battery more than once. If that's poor battery life-I'll take a few more of them.

Want to save your battery?

Don't use live view unless you have to.

Don't shoot video.

Don't chimp every freakin' shot.

Don't leave review on-only use it when you need to check the shot.

Don't machine-gun the shutter button.

Don't use AI servo and lock focus for 10 minutes at a time.

If you use the camera to take still pictures and exercise a little common sense the battery life is not an issue. And anyone who doesn't order a second battery at the same time you buy the camera is well...a doofus...

Back to the doghouse...

--
Just think, if every key-stroke was a shutter-press we would all be pros by now...

 

[rjjr]

I don't know about anyone else but I can look you in the eye and tell you with a straight face and no lying that I got over 700 shots on my SL1 Canon brand battery more than once. If that's poor battery life-I'll take a few more of them.

Want to save your battery?

Don't use live view unless you have to.

Don't shoot video.

Don't chimp every freakin' shot.

Don't leave review on-only use it when you need to check the shot.

Don't machine-gun the shutter button.

Don't use AI servo and lock focus for 10 minutes at a time.

If you use the camera to take still pictures and exercise a little common sense the battery life is not an issue. And anyone who doesn't order a second battery at the same time you buy the camera is well...a doofus...

Back to the doghouse...

Good points.

For my museum copy work live view is mandatory in order to utilize focusing at 10x. Using the touch screen to release the shutter and then chimping with zooming to verify the focus after each shot is extremely helpful.

 

[Mongrel]

Good points.

For my museum copy work live view is mandatory in order to utilize focusing at 10x. Using the touch screen to release the shutter and then chimping with zooming to verify the focus after each shot is extremely helpful.

Thanks-and your post is an excellent-and justified use of some of the great advantages of the SL1 for that type of application. One of the things I really like best is the versatility of the camera. And if I need live view I'll use it-but with the understanding that it will consume battery power. I'd rather have it than not and I, like you, just carry a couple of spares in my pocket...

 

[rjjr]

Good points.

For my museum copy work live view is mandatory in order to utilize focusing at 10x. Using the touch screen to release the shutter and then chimping with zooming to verify the focus after each shot is extremely helpful.

Thanks-and your post is an excellent-and justified use of some of the great advantages of the SL1 for that type of application. One of the things I really like best is the versatility of the camera. And if I need live view I'll use it-but with the understanding that it will consume battery power. I'd rather have it than not and I, like you, just carry a couple of spares in my pocket...

I agree, the SL1 is a versatile little camera. I was thinking of getting a 7D2 for that kind of work but noticed in the rumored specs that the 7D2 won't have a touch screen. If that tuns out to be true, I think I'd rather keep using the SL1 for that work.

 

[Jeff Peterman]

The importing thing to note in those rumored specs is that they are just rumored specs.

 

[Mongrel]

I agree, the SL1 is a versatile little camera. I was thinking of getting a 7D2 for that kind of work but noticed in the rumored specs that the 7D2 won't have a touch screen. If that tuns out to be true, I think I'd rather keep using the SL1 for that work.

For me, I've gotten to the place where I no longer need "speed" (either AF or FPS) or reach like I did when I was shooting sports. This allows me to relax and think more about my shots and what I want to achieve. So from this aspect the SL1 (or any of the 'lower level' Rebel type cameras) meets my needs very well. I once said that an articulating screen wasn't that big of a deal to me. I've since realized that an articulating touch screen would be great to have in many instances so a refurbished T5i may be in my future. I can't imagine the image quality being that much better (at this time) in any of the crop-sensor Canon bodies to justify their price-for my needs...

From this point the only body upgrade for me over say $500 will be one of the full-frame models, and a used or refurbished one at that.

--
Just think, if every key-stroke was a shutter-press we would all be pros by now...