Canon EOS 30D 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
by Canon
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon EOS 30D 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Customer Review: A very nice camera
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm really a film photographer at heart. I just like the process of developing film, printing photos and looking at a black and white pictures printed on fiber-based photographic paper. I initially resisted digital photography as a poor imitation of "real" photography. While using the EOS 30D has not totally changed that belief, it has made me realize that photography encompasses more than my own narrow viewpoints.
I've been using Canon EOS film cameras and Canon EF lenses (among numerous other 35mm and medium format cameras and lenses) for about nine years. In that time, Canon equipment has proven to be reliable, precise and well made. When I decided to buy a digital camera, I knew it would be a Canon DSLR. Surprisingly, it was simple for me to learn the basics of digital photography despite my lack of computer savvy. Not surprisingly, the 30D got little use in the first several months of ownership due to my innate distrust of new equipment. After a bit of doodling around with the camera, I learned to trust it and I'm using it more and more.
If you've used an EOS SLR in the past, you will find the 30D to feel very familiar. It's a comfortable camera to use despite it being rather small and my hands being pretty large. Like all Canon models above the Rebel level, control buttons and wheels are all in natural positions and easily manipulated. The viewfinder is smaller than Canon 35mm and full frame digital SLRs and it has taken some getting used to. Initial trepidation with using CF cards instead of film has proven to be without basis. After experimenting with the camera's built-in software, I am getting nice, sharp, saturated color photos and some very impressive monochromes. Using a dedicated photo printer, I am impressed with inkjets that simply look stunning.
Will I give up film for digital? Certainly not--at least for my black and white work. I still prefer a fiber and silver-based black and white photograhic print over an inkjet and I don't intend to shut down my darkroom or give up my film cameras. I will admit, as a general rule, digital photographs are now acceptable me when the circumstances are appropriate.
Customer Review: EOS 30D is excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this camera a few months ago and have taken about 3000 pictures with it. I am a serious amature. I enjoy nature pictures, gardens, flowers, mountains and my children and grandchildren. It does all of these very nicely. I have paired the camera up with the EFS 17-85 IS lens and find they work well for me. The canon sensor is excellent. I range up to ISO 1600 occasionally and often use 1000 for indoor flower shows and in museums. It gives excellent results and sometimes I further improve the pictures by using Noise Ninja. I have tried all of the picture settings but really like 'Standart Setting' the best as it just looks the most real to me. You do have a lot of choices though if you like to experiment. The camera/lens combination has a solid feel. I am definitely hands on and appreciate the 4 different light metering systems. I use the average metering the most with spot metering second and I do use the others at appropriate times. For my landscape and flower shows I believe I generally get within 1/3 stop of what I consider the 'correct' exposure. Photoshop does the rest but there isn't generally much to do. White balance works well. In the mixed indoor light of flower shows AWB gets pretty close and a little adjustment out of curves or levels tweeks it to my satisfaction. About the Canon IS lens. I got it because with age I was having difficulty getting a really steady shot at slow shutter speeds which I need to use indoors where I don't want to use flash. I have had very good results down to 1/10 second hand held and that in combination with a ISO of 1000 does a great indoor job and grain is not a problem.
The camera came with a dirty sensor. It had a lot of dust bunnies that showed up in the skies. After getting tired of clonning them out I got the Copper Hill Sensor Cleaning Kit and in one afternoon I cleaned the sensor 3 times and I have the cleanest skies around now. It is regrettable that Canon delivers the camera with a dirty sensor but it is a solvable problem the $30 Copper Hill Kit is needed just like a lens cleaning kit so get one.
I have other Canon lenses which also work fine on the camera. I am very happy with it.
Customer Review: Very good camera overall
Summary: 5 Stars
I had no investment in a DSLR but narrowed my choices to the Canon 30D and the Nikon D200. I had always wanted a Nikon. The D200 is definitely a joy to hold and it did take good pictures (I tried both at a camera store before I bought the 30D). I did a lot of research (more than I care to admit!) and there was no conclusive evidence that one camera had a clear edge over the other. Depending on your specific needs, one camera may be "slightly better" than the other.
After trying out both cameras, I was convinced the 30D was as good a fit for my needs as the D200. For "value for money" the 30D was a clear winner over the D200 (I got mine when Canon had the Cash in with Canon promotion going). Also, as a beginner to SLR I found the 30D with its fully automatic and scene modes easy to start out with. I don't expect to use the scene modes or the full auto mode after a week or two. I expect to quickly graduate to the creative control zones. But to use as a family camera, the quick scene modes are very helpful. If you expect to use it more on a professional basis it'd probably not matter.
Additionally, when I checked it out at the store, I noticed the Canon 30D focused sharply almost every time. The D200 did not at least a few times. I'd take this with a grain of salt though since it was a brief trial at a store. But I thought I'd share my experience. It may have just been an anomaly with the actual equipment I tried out.
Do I still find the Nikon D200 to be a great camera? Absolutely! Do I regret having bought a Canon 30D? Absolutely not! The decision swinger in my case was really the "money factor". I was more than willing to spend up to $300 more for the Nikon D200. But when the difference became $550 it no longer became justifiable for my Christmas gift to myself:-)
My purchases included the Canon 30D [...], Canon 17-85mm EF-S IS USM lens [...], and a SanDisk Extreme III 2GB compact flash card [...]
I plan to add an external flash to this soon, and will consider eventual lenses after I determine that the camera is a long-term keeper.
Customer Review: Two Words - "Ah" - "Mazing"
Summary: 5 Stars
Ok, I cheated...
But this camera really is AMAZING! I hummed-n-hawed for quite a while before I pulled the trigger. Well...I think I just retired my Nikon F4s...and I LOVE that camera!
It got to me just before my son's performance in "A Midsummer Nights Dream." This is not my first digicam but I have NEVER, NEVER, EVER taken one to use at such an event. They rarely (read: never) ever seem to handle low light and I've NEVER had a usable image from the stage. With all the good things I read about the 30D I took a BIG chance and took it to the play...and it only. I snapped 70-odd shots and was amazed at how well they all turned out. The cast has been thrilled. They hired a photographer but he only shot "set" photos/portraits...nothing while the play was going. Simply amazing.
The next weekend I took it out and ran it through its paces. I can't get over how many "keepers" I had. And the level of control is nothing short of stunning. I'm a control freak when it comes to photography...and the 30D has it in spades.
All in all, I don't think there is a better camera in its class. I'd even go so far as to say that I prefer it over the 5D! (Which is why I got it in the first place.) You really have to go out of your way to get more...1Ds Mark II anyone..?
For the record, the lenses I purchased have been pretty sweet as well. I got the EF-S 10-22...if it weren't for the "S" it would probably be an "L" lens for sure. I also picked up an EF 24-70 2.8L as my main lens. That's what I shot the play with. Great lens that one. Lastly I grabbed an EF 70-200 2.8L and what a beauty that is.
I agree will a previous post...even if you have to eat ramen for a month: Go for it! Best money I've spent in quite a while.
Customer Review: Older but excellent, like a good wine
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had this camera for a few years, bought mine in Hong Kong before you could get them in the US. It's never let me down. I put a much faster 8Gig memory card in it and discovered it could take pictures at 5 per second for ever providing you don't mind waiting 20 seconds for it to catchup when you stop. And with 2000 shots on a memory card, who cares. Just be ready to wait a while when you go to download it. This camera can do ISO 3200 so you can take noisy pictures in complete dark, sometimes I don't care as long as I can get a picture, and this camera can do it. I've taken amazing shots all over the world with this camera, my only complaint is the weight and when I could afford another it will probably be the XSi since it weights half as much and has most of the useful options of the EOS 30D, but I'd never sell my 30d, I'll keep it till it dies. I've got a couple of the smaller pocket camera, the latest one being the Canon A650IS, a real let down, just takes way too long to get a picture and compared to the 30D it's a piece a cr*p. Although I paid twice as much for my 30D as they cost today, I still thing it's my best investment to date. If I could afford it I suppose I would have had a 5, but that's in a whole other ball park and it weighs even more. This camera replaced my Canon A1, up till I got it I didn't have a digital that could hold a candle to my A1, but with this one the A1 got shelved and has stayed there.
The automatic settings are so good on this camera I rarely run it any other way. With adjustments to ISO and 1/3 stops you can make it do just about anything is 1/10th the time it would take you to setup manual. I am sure the 40D and the 50D have some interesting options the 30D doesn't but I've got my 30D and they will have to pry it out of my dead hands.