I know many here have upgraded from the Rebel XT to the 30D and beyond. I feel like I know what the major differences in the cameras are, like better build, navigation, focus etc. For those that have made that jump, do you have fewer missed shots? Are you taking advantage of the higher ISO range? What do you like the most?
The more accurate auto focus peeks my interest the most, although the XT has done well. I have purchased enough Canon gear to take advantage of the double rebates and have been holding off on sending them in until I make this decision.
Should I pull the trigger now or wait for the next generation? Often the advice is to get better glass, but for now, I'm very happy with what I have. May want to add an "IS" to the line up soon, but for now my ranges are covered.
Thanks
If I were buying my first camera today, I would get the 30D. If I already owned the XT, I think I would try to hold out for the 40D which I suspect will probably be available in the Spring.
I agree, while one can always play the waiting game forever to hold out for something new, if you already have an XT the 30D is not a massive jump, however the 30D's replacement in 2-3 months will hopefully be significanlty better than the current 30D. Especially since the 30D was not much of an upgrade from the 20D to begin with. I would be surprized though if the focus of the 30D replacement was significantly better than the 30D for the simple reason that focus speed/accuracy and build quality/weather sealing have always been two things canon specifically downgrades in it's "consumer" models to encourage people to buy 1 series bodies.
If you didn't have a digital SLR, I'd say it would be easily worth it to start with the 30D, but if you already have the XT I'd hold out at least to see what they release in the hopes that it's a larger improvement over what you have. If the 30D replacement is a dissapointment, 30D new and used prices will still come down from where they are currently, and there will be tons of used 30D's on the market so even if you wait and decide to get a 30D it will be cheaper.
If I were buying a replacement Canon dslr today my choice would be between the 400D/XTi and the 5D. Frankly, the 30D is not going to produce better photographs for most people, and the cost difference btween the 400D and the 30D is better spent on lenses.
If you want to see a significant difference in image quality related to the camera body you select then you probably want to go to the 5D.
I bought my DSLR in March and it was the XT. I shot 6500 shots and just upgraded to the 30D this week. I have noticed immediately how much more I like this camera. I do not regret moving up one bit. Here is a shot I took the first day that I love. It is a little noisy, but it is at 3200 ISO. The Rebel can't even compete with this.
It focuses faster and I love the scroll wheel function. Plus, I really like the larger LCD and the fact that I can change the focus points so easily. I also like how the settings are on top of the camera instead of the back. All in all, with only about 200 images under my belt with the 30D, I am really happy I upgraded.
I'd hold out for the new camera announcements in Jan-Feb. Canon hinted earlier in 2006 that the 2007 upgrades would be a good step forward. If you want the 30D focusing system (and many other features such as larger, brighter LCD etc.), just pickup an XTi and sell it after the new models are out, software supported, and with reasonable prices.
I agree with the "wait for see" suggestions. I also have a XT and would like to upgrade to 30D. While I agree with Matt that 30D is worth the upgrade, I will definitely wait for Canon to announce the next 30D (40D). I think it will be a good step forward, at least I hope it will be. And when the 40D comes out, even if it is just a moderate upgrade, I believe Canon will drop 30D's price and you can still get 30D for a cheaper price then. That is the reason that I am waiting and hope that Canon will announce the new camera body sooner rather than later. For now, I will put my money on new lenses instead...
The way I look at it, I paid about $700 for the XT. I had it for 10 months and sold it for $500 and bought the 30D for $900. So I am out $400 for an upgrade. If the 40D is significant enough, I'll be able to sell the 30D for $750 and buy the new 40D. I doubt it will be significant enough for me to upgrade though. I'll wait a few more generations before upgrading I have a feeling. I don't see myself going to a pro body, so this is where it is for me.
That was a good price you got from your XT there. A new one is only $600 and you can sell it for $500 and I thought camera bodies don't hold up their values well. Good for you! Where did you sell it at? Very tempting... I might just sell mine and get the 30D while there is the double rebate going on. However, on the other hand, I would like to get the new 40D especially when it is only months away (hopefully). Please, stop me from buying the 30D now...
I actually posted the XT here and a few other non-photography related forums and it sold locally. I was asking $570 for the body, kit lens, and a few accessories, but ended up selling for $500.
I was ready for the upgrade and really wanted to make it. If you can wait a few months, there will always be something else new.
I have both an XT and 30D. The 30D has better AF, is less noisy at high ISO, and has MUCH better ergonomics. I use the XT as my P&S, with a Tamron 17-50, and it has its place, but when I'm serious, I use the 30D - no question. When Canon upgrades the 30D, I'll give that body some serious consideration (or maybe go FF), but I'll surely keep the XT for its original purpose.
I am waiting as well!! Rumor of the "faster" 5d has me interested too. The XT has been great so far(not twisting my arm to hold on to it)....look forward to the near future of knowing what is coming out in the spring. From what I hear the 40D will be a much larger upgrade than the 30D was to the 20D. Maybe more on line with the Nikon D200?? In which Nikon is due to upgrade soon too?? Have to wait this one out for now, to see all the cards on the table.
For yet another opinion: I was going through the same internal debate as the OP, and finally I decided to purchase a brand new 30D ($919.00 after rebate) that arrived this week. My rationale:
1. The only reason I have a DSLR is to take pictures of my kids at their school events and sports competitions - truthfully, for normal family gatherings, vacations, or street photos, a decent P&S and/or my old Minolta X-700 film SLR are fine. Consequently, waiting for a new body to come out in February or March would mean missing another hockey season, another school play etc. These opportunities happen only once. Furthermore, I'd have to pay substantially more for the "40D" (or whatever) due to the "new body premium."
2. The XT is a great little camera, easy to travel with, fine for most things. For my unique purposes, though, an AF upgrade was a must. And, after using the 30D just a couple of times, I can tell you I've found the 30D's AF performance to be far better.
3. 8.2 megapixels is fine for me, and I'm really impressed with the 30D's low noise levels at high ISO. The XT was no slouch in this regard, but the 30D is really outstanding. Also, I like the 1.6 crop and 5fps for sport shooting very much.
All in all, the 30D is a very sweet camera that meets all of my needs well, and it is a major upgrade over the XT.
Or do what I did. Buy a used 20D. I got it for about 1/2 the price of a new 30D back in the summer. Having 2 bodies is awesome & so much more convenient if you don't mind hauling more stuff around.
I will go against all conventional wisdom and advise that you buy a used or refurb 10D which is a SIGNIFICANTLY better camera than the XT. Having used the 10D for a few years and the XT in the last 18 months I can say categorically that the 10D produces better images in virtually every circumstance. It's AF is noticeably more accurate, it handles better and while high ISO images may have slightly more noise I find the noise cleans up much better and is much less objectionable than with the XT. (Oh yeah, start-up time is slower that's why we all dumped it - HA!)
I know I'm a minority voice. BUT, with used/refurb 10D prices in the upper 4's low 5's I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't consider this move unless they've already invested heavily in EF-S lenses (poor fools!).
kapytalyst wrote:
I will go against all conventional wisdom and advise that you buy a used or refurb 10D which is a SIGNIFICANTLY better camera than the XT. Having used the 10D for a few years and the XT in the last 18 months I can say categorically that the 10D produces better images in virtually every circumstance. It's AF is noticeably more accurate, it handles better and while high ISO images may have slightly more noise I find the noise cleans up much better and is much less objectionable than with the XT. (Oh yeah, start-up time is slower that's why we all dumped it - HA!)
I know I'm a minority voice. BUT, with used/refurb 10D prices in the upper 4's low 5's I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't consider this move unless they've already invested heavily in EF-S lenses (poor fools!).
Funny you should say that about the 10D v. XT, as I just bought a 10D here on FM this week and I can't wait for Monday when it arrives. I sold my original 10D when I bought the 30D in April, and I've missed it ever since. I've been looking at pics I've taken with the 10D, at lower ISO's of course (<400), and I really think the images are nicer than those from the 30D. Sure the 30D is lightning fast as compared to the 10D, but that's rarely an issue for me. I love the 10D's quiet shutter and the way the way it feels in my hands, too.
Only thing that worries me about having a 10D again is that I recently read Canon no longer has replacement shutters available. Anyone know if that's really true? It would be a terrible shame to let all the 10D's die because Canon can't/won't support them.
I've never understood why people insist the 10D (and D60 before that) produced better images than the 20D. It might have something to do with the default image processing settings on the cameras, but I never leave the defaults. I bought a used D60 as a backup body for my 20D and sold it a month later when the images it produced simply didn't measure up to the 20D's. I tried a friend's 10D thinking maybe that would be the way to go for a backup body, and it was okay, but the images were never superior to the 20D's images. Maybe it's just what you're used to.
I've always used RAW, so that's probably not my excuse. I just find the images more pleasing from the 10D. Maybe it's the lower resolution, the AA filter, Digic I, who knows? No doubt the 30D is a fine camera, but in general, I like my 10D prints more.
I shoot RAW most of the time, but switch to jpeg when I'm shooting my kids' birthday parties, etc. I know of several people who share your opinion about the 10D, and several who like the D60 images, but I've never understood it. To each his own.
