flygirl

All,

I've pretty much decided to buy this camera for my upcoming trip to New Mexico for the Balloon Fiesta - does anyone here currently have it (or the 20D) and what are your thoughts on it? Care to share any photos you've taken with either?

It will be my fourth digital camera but my first D-SLR. any specific tips you'd recommend?

thanks...

Olegis

Well, I have the 10D - two generations old camera and still perfectly happy with it. You can see a lot of photohraphs I made with it on my site - www.olegis.com.

Some tips - use the lowest ISO possible for best quality pictures, but don't hesitate to use higher ISO if needed. Shoot in AV mode - set your aperture to control the depth of field and the camera will set the shutter speed accordingly. Check the histogram and re-shoot the picture if it goes bad - never trust the LCD screen for exposure.

Buy the highest quality optics you can afford - it's more expensive, but also much more rewarding (in picture quality and overall shooting experience).

Have fun

Gretchen

I don't know if it makes any diference to you but there is no movie mode on SLRs.

flygirl

thank you Olegis - stunning photos, wow!

Gretchen, I've still got my SD500 Canon which will also go with me. I don't take many movies though but it's a nice perk...

TRSW

Gretchen,

I beg to differ with you. But I have the Nikon D50 digital SLR, and it DOES have a movie feature on it.

Tom

rkkwan

I know the Balloon Fiesta is coming up soon, but Canon is releasing the new digital Rebel XTi this month, which is a lot of the features of the 30D, an even higher resolution (10MB vs 8), but at a lower price. It has a less robust construction, which may or may not matter to you.

I have one pre-ordered at jr.com. $799 body only.

Pausanias

I use the 20D and am very happy with it. In addition to the forthcoming Rebel, the rumor mill has it that an upgraded version of the 30D incorporating the larger sensor and the dust control device will be released in the near future.

With a dSLR you may find yourself doing more processing with photoshop than you do with a point and shoot, which often perform in camera enhancement -- brightening colors, heightening contrast, etc. Also, as a previous poster noted, you will need good lenses to fully enjoy the benefits.

Finally, before you decide, I'd visit a good camera shop and handle the cameras you are considering, as well as the Nikons and Pentaxes and others, because ergonomics can make all the difference.

rkkwan

Features and specs of the Rebel XTi are already on Canon's website. One can compare and contrast that with the 20D and 30D.

sundowner

I have the 20D and the 10D. Great cameras. You can see photos here (each picture you see on this page is a different photo album so click on the photo to open the album). http://pbase.com/CJW

Gretchen

I will bow to first hand knowledge. I was quoting from a friend (and I can't remember the make) whose SLR did not have it. I was surprised--and there was some explanation for it that I think had to do with the "SLRness"--hence my inferrence that it would be any SLR.

rkkwan

Oh, I just checked. The silver XTi and XTi kit (with 18-55mm kit lens) are already shipping from various vendors. The black XTi kit is also shipping. Just that my black body-only is still pre-order.

Most vendors are selling them for $799 body-only and $899 with lens. Free shipping.

Olegis

Tom, there is no movie mode in DSLR, please check your D50 again

TRSW

Olegis,

You had me doubting myself. So I turned on the camera and sure enough, THERE IS a video mode.

Tom

sanschag

I have the Digital Rebel XT/350D and thoroughly enjoy it. (My first real trip with it will be to Montreal in a couple of weeks.) Keep in mind the 20D is the older model (replaced by the 30D), but is still very capable. You can check out the review as well as the 30D/20D/etc. forum at http://www.dpreview.com for lots of images.

One thing I wanted to mention that catches many people coming from P&S digital cameras to SLRs is that SLRs don't have live preview on the LCD screen. You have to compose with the viewfinder. (The screen does show the image after the shot.) This is inherent in the design of SLRs except for one(?) that uses a digital viewfinder.

Paul

faredolce

I too have the 350D. The difference between the 350D and the new 400D are negligable to someone who is using a DSLR for the first time. I would get either model, but please rest assured that if you get the 350D XT, which is nicely priced right now, you are still getting an excellent, excellent camera.

dpreview is a great website, and the forums there are terrific for helping you decide which body is right for you.

TRSW

My apologies to both Gretchen And Olegis. Yes the D50 has a video mode. But it is not for taking movies. It is for recording a slide show of your shots. Since I never make movies, I didn't read that part of the manual. Boy is my face red. Sorry.

Tom

Olegis

That's OK, Tom

watercolor_traveler

Thanks to Sanschag and Faredolce. I've been doing some preliminary research on dSLRs myself, specifically focusing (no pun) on the XTi, 20D, and 30D. The nice thing about both the new Rebel and the 30D is the larger LCD. That said, I'm not sure my Windows 98 format (what can I say? I love to travel--can't have everything!) will be able to handle downloading all those 10 megapixel images.

Any feedback will be most appreciated. Right now I have a Canon 4MP point and shoot.

WT

Olegis

WT, I'm not sure that I understand your question. What's "Windows 98 format" ?

flygirl

honestly? I'd update the laptop first. You can get a decent new one for about the cost of a camera right now...