Hi all,

Looking to get a Canon 350D to replace my Sony DSC-F707 and my Nikon F65. stopped using the F65 a while ago as it's getting comparativelty expensive getting the films developed. The Sony is a nice camera, but it's starting to show it's age and wont take larger than 128mb memory either.

I like to take action snaps, such as car rallies etc, but found that the sony was a bit sluggish taking the shots compared to the F64 where i could just keep rolling the film.

Can anyone give me some advice on the 350D?

STiMan

I haven't used the Canon, but I'm sure it's a very good camera. However, use say you had a Nikon F65, so if you have a number of lenses it may be worth considering the D50/D70s?

Geezer

I bought a 350D when they first came , it was my first DSLR and my third digital camera , Its really easy to use , but some people find it to small compared to a D70 or 20D , although I know some 350D owners fit the optional battery grip , best thing to do is go in to a camera shop and have a play and see if you like it , I'm still getting to grips with mine and its a far better camera than I am a photographer so it will take me a while to grow out of it .
Don't forget if you buy a Canon you are buying into the system (lens flashes etc ) and it can get very expensive.
All in all I would defiantly recommend it :thumb:

Thats a good comment .......''far better camera than I am photographer'' Its a very fair comment and sums up my experience with the 350D in the last coulple of weeks.

Its fun learning though.

Gary

Thanks for the responses guys. :)


Whilst the Nikon lens idea sounds a good idea to swing for a nikon camera, on a spec for spec comparison, the Nikon just doesn't compete with the 350D.

I'm probably better off flogging the older cameras / Lens and putting the sale prices towards a nice shiny long lens. (Can you tell i'm not a Photy person :Whatever_ )

I have compared the sizes of the SLR's in the shops and the D350 is similar size to my Nikon F65, so I'm happy with that.

STiMan

Here (http://www.photoworkshop.com/canon/index.html) is a good place to learn a bit more about the 350D and different lens , some good tutorials as well
Also try http://dpreview.com/ another good site :)

Forgot to add its called the "Digital Rebel XT " in North America

Well, I've bitten the bullet, so to speak. damn fine unit! :)

What CF cards are people using, is it worth getting the largest one or having a few more smaller ones?

Well, I've bitten the bullet, so to speak. damn fine unit! :)

What CF cards are people using, is it worth getting the largest one or having a few more smaller ones?


I guess that very much depends on how many pics your going to take at a time. I take quite high volumes so have gone for a 1gig card plus the free 256mb fella I got with the camera. I have also purchased a portable storage facility so i can download from the CF card to that while im out and about. I card in camera one downloading. This SHOULD mean that I never run out of piccy taking options no matter how many I take.

I guess the only thing to retrict that would be the 40 gig capacity of the storeage or the battery capapcity to take and download...........


Mind you I know sxd all about this game :D


Gary

Thanks for the responses guys. :)


Whilst the Nikon lens idea sounds a good idea to swing for a nikon camera, on a spec for spec comparison, the Nikon just doesn't compete with the 350D.

I'm probably better off flogging the older cameras / Lens and putting the sale prices towards a nice shiny long lens. (Can you tell i'm not a Photy person :Whatever_ )

I have compared the sizes of the SLR's in the shops and the D350 is similar size to my Nikon F65, so I'm happy with that.

STiMan

That's an interesting viewpoint! I'm not going to get into the old Nikon/Canon thing, as both are fine cameras and I'm sure you'll be happy with your purchase, but I'd like to see you back that up ;)

Geezer

That's an interesting viewpoint! I'm not going to get into the old Nikon/Canon thing, as both are fine cameras and I'm sure you'll be happy with your purchase, but I'd like to see you back that up ;)

GeezerWhen I went to a few shops to have a look at the hardware, the Nikon felt more cumbersome. The Canon feels more like my old F65 SLR does. Now even though I still have a compact digital camera for those "off the cuff" moments, I still don't want to lug around a modern day Brownie for the rest. :D

This is obviously just one part of the purchase equation, my limited knowledge puts the direct competitors form Nikon as the D50 and D70.

I've placed the 350D in between the two Nikon cameras, Mainly from a price point perspective. (Whether this is a real world viewpoint is open to debate...)
I've also set a cost value of >£600 against this purchase, as I feel that this seems to be the point where we start getting into silly money for no extra worth / benefit.

Weighing us some of the other specs leads the eye towards the Canon's 8Mp capability. Unfortunately the numbers work in Canon's favour here,a s everyone is going to want more for less.


So, from all the above info, I have chosen the Canon 350D. :)

Now if the Nikon had a dump valve and a Blitz Nur spec R Zoom, I'd be on that ide of the fence, no question! :D


STiMan

The difference on MP between the 2 is nothing. My D70s can print up to 30"x20", how often do you print that big? To notice anything on pixel count you need to jump up to 10 or 12mp.

And remember more MP takes up more space so you need bigger cards ;)

The difference on MP between the 2 is nothing. My D70s can print up to 30"x20", how often do you print that big? To notice anything on pixel count you need to jump up to 10 or 12mp.
Agreed, but it's still another 2mp's more nonetheless. This is probably the 'killer' option for a lot of people who are looking to buy, as 8 will always be more than 6.

I don't want this to turn into a my 8mp is better than your 6mp :razz: thread. (It's no different to a TFT screen res argument. 1024 * 768 -> 1280*1024 is a crap increase, but going from 1024* 768 OR 1280*1024 -> 1600 * 1200 is much more worthwhile.)

I am able to print up to A1+ size. My only problem is that my pictures are probably not worth printing on a matchbox. :(


Anyway....onto the ubiqutous crap beginner cam shots....:thumb:

http://213.137.1.190/Neo.jpg

http://213.137.1.190/Sabre.jpg

http://213.137.1.190/Storm.jpg

STiMan :)

It wasn't meant as 8mp is better than 6mp. At these levels lenses have more to do with quality than mp. My little Sony P8 3mp produces cracking shots, and with Genuine fractals I can produce prints as big as I want.

I'm perfectly happy with my D70s, although I do intend getting the new D200 next year, although thats for another reason, not the fact I am looking to upgrade my D70s.

Although as a sparky, I don't like the background in the first shot :D and red eye reduction works on cats too :D

Although as a sparky, I don't like the background in the first shot :D and red eye reduction works on cats too :D
:razz: If I want to use messy cabling to depict the downfall of humanity I will! :razz:

:D :D :D :D :D

Only joking...I thought I had Red eye reduction enabled. :o

Hee hee, I've done that trick as well, solved it by never using the onboard speedlight and going with an off camera flash mounted on a flash bar.

Didn't mean the messy cabling, my comp rig is like that, it was teh number of plugs plugged into the 4 gang :D

I believe that the Canon 350D is very good camera, but if you can afford to spend a little bit more perhaps you might like to consider the EOS20D.
The 20D is a semi professional camera, as a commercial phtographer myself I no quite a few other profesionals who use the 20D as a back up camera to their EOS 1DS Mk11's. The resolution of the 20D is superb for an 8mp camera you will be very surprised.It performs very well in the studio for product photography aswell as outside with natural daylight. If you can use the RAW setting to capture your images and procees them in Digital photo professional which comes with the 20D on CD.
Hope this infomation was of some use
I will be investing in a Canon system myself in the new year as I feel they are far superior to the Nikon system at the moment.
I will be selling my complete Nikon Kit in the not to distant future anyone interested?????

I will be investing in a Canon system myself in the new year as I feel they are far superior to the Nikon system at the moment.


As a Canon user myself, I would be inclined to agree with you. By February, Canon should have announced the successor to the 20D, so you may want to wait a while :)

However, Nikon's recently announced D200 (http://www.dpreview.com/articles/nikond200/) seems to have raised the stakes. Unless Canon can match it with the 30D (or whatever it's called), I'd stick with Nikon for a while.

On the other hand, I have a nice 20D and battery grip, along with lots of nice Canon lenses and accessories, perhaps we could consider a trade and then I could buy the D200 :)

On the other hand, I have a nice 20D and battery grip, along with lots of nice Canon lenses and accessories, perhaps we could consider a trade and then I could buy the D200 :)[/QUOTE]


What lenses do you have? are they EX lenses as I will be buying the new EOS 5D

5D eh? Very nice :)

I have a 17-85 which wouldn't fit, unfortunately. My 100 f2.8 Macro, 70-200 f2.8, 100-400IS and 580EX would, but unless you're interested in my 20D I think i had better stick with what I've got!

I believe that the Canon 350D is very good camera, but if you can afford to spend a little bit more perhaps you might like to consider the EOS20D.
The 20D is a semi professional camera, as a commercial phtographer myself I no quite a few other profesionals who use the 20D as a back up camera to their EOS 1DS Mk11's. The resolution of the 20D is superb for an 8mp camera you will be very surprised.It performs very well in the studio for product photography aswell as outside with natural daylight. If you can use the RAW setting to capture your images and procees them in Digital photo professional which comes with the 20D on CD.
Hope this infomation was of some use
I will be investing in a Canon system myself in the new year as I feel they are far superior to the Nikon system at the moment.
I will be selling my complete Nikon Kit in the not to distant future anyone interested?????

What are you selling?

Geezer

Just bought Canon 20D with 18-55mm lens from Currys on-line for £900
got £80 off Xmas promo, bought on Egg Card with £80 cash back and £100 cash back from Canon so works out around £640. My first DSLR, can't wait for delivery.

Great camera and very sweet deal Andy. And you've still got £260 to spend ;)

Just bought Canon 20D with 18-55mm lens from Currys on-line for £900
got £80 off Xmas promo, bought on Egg Card with £80 cash back and £100 cash back from Canon so works out around £640. My first DSLR, can't wait for delivery.

What's the Christmas promo Andy?
BTW, Currys seem to have sold out of the 20D....

What's the Christmas promo Andy?
BTW, Currys seem to have sold out of the 20D....

I checked yesterday and they were out of stock but today they were showing in stock. I think the offer ends today, enter Xmas80 in the promotional code box before you checkout and they deduct £80 from your bill. You have to spend over £800 or if you spend over £1000 enter Xmas100 and they'll take £100 off.
Details here (http://www.cantbarsed.com/currys.htm) but be quick, ends midnight today.

edited to say,

I just checked again and they are out of stock. I must have been lucky.

Cheers Andy.

Boo hooo.....