Canon 30D peronal review...

[otaku521]

well coming from 300D I could personally tell that the new added buffer is very very nice... no more waiting after 4 consecuative shots... no more af point being suddenly shift to AI focus.... becuase the subject is moving.. (such as flower + butteflies.. etc etc)

IMHO.. here are the difference that I like (coming from 300D)

1) Bigger buffer (no more waiting after 4 shots)
2) Selectable AF
3) Selectable metering (because coming from an old old Nikon F601 center weight somehow got a lil too used to... And 300D is evalsive meter only on )
4) even faster shooting FPS (although I really seldom use it...)
5) the bigger LCD screen... really impressive
6) RGB histrogram - I guess no more excuse that my flower's pedal are over exposed...
7) Same grip handle as 20D - fortunate for those who want to upgrade everyone there is... well.. also it is good as they are in stock... unlike 5D during initial release need to wait a month or so for them... (hopefull the new stock of 20D grip handle does not have the battery contact problem/flimsy handling problem)
same battery as 300D

now the bad things...

1) heavy... well from 300D it is a lil heavier... I prefer the weight of 350D.. but the hand grips are too small and small screen like 300D (being spoiled looking at 30D vs 350D.. it is obviously which one I will drool
2) CF card door - it feel very filmsy... like I could snap it off... unlike 300D, 10D, or even 350D
3) as mention on #7 on top.. I haven't got the handle yet... dunno if I will have the same problem as 20D's contact problem or filmsy feel
4) maybe I am greedy.. spot metering is too big to be call spot metering IMHO 3.5% vs Nikon film's 1-2%
5) loud "sh-CLACK" shutter... even it is a lil less than my friend's 20D.... still loud
6) Picturestyle... I personally dont like it.... I rather tune in other raw processors (not dpp) and adjust my own curves.. etc etc

still wondering:

1) AF Accuratcy - some people said that they have serious back focus problem in 20D and wondering if same is used in 30D (note Canon stated it is the same, but with new software to make it 'better')
2) batter life compare to 300D / 20D / 350D
3) Shutter life (my 300D have over 60K shutter and counting as I gave mine to my girlfriend to shoot)

[JKSeidel]

Originally Posted by otaku521

still wondering:

2) batter life compare to 300D / 20D / 350D

Canon's site lists the following (no flash, 68° F) for power usage on a single battery (BP-511A):

30D - 1100 shots
20D - 650 shots
Digital Rebel - not cited

I found this surprising since I thought powering the larger LCD would give the 30D a lower battery life than the 20D. Instead, the 30D almost doubles the number of shots over the 20D. Now I'm wondering how they managed such a drastic increase in shots per battery.

The shutter life of the 30D is cited at 100k shots. Not shabby at all given the price.

[JKSeidel]

Jared,

I agree. When I saw that spec on Canon's site I was kinda stunned. At first I thought I must have misread it and that they used the two battery extension grip with the 30D. They specifically state that it's one battery though. I think someone in marketing may have been playing pretty fast and loose with the spec sheet in that regard. I read the same Cnet review and believe that in the field the 30D will perform more along the lines of the Cnet reviewer's experience than Canon's own specs. It will be interesting to read more user reviews and experiences once the 30D is in more hands.