Canon EOS 30D SLR Digital Camera w/ 18-55mm Lens Kit (8.2MP, 3504x2336, CompactFlash)

Canon EOS 30D Digital SLR

EOS 30D SLR Digital Camera w/ 18-55mm Lens Kit (8.2MP, 3504x2336, CompactFlash) Review, by Ben Long April 19, 2006

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• Latest User Reviews 2 reviews
• Reviewed by: BowHunter

  Duration of ownership: 4 Months

  Strengths: fast start up. spot meter, size and build, big screen ease of use

  Weaknesses: not full frame but i know that before i got it

  Overall: I had this camera for about 4 months now. My first digital camera never even had a p+s digital camera. Coming from using canon A2E for the last six year this camera is easy to use. I love it only thing is now i'm going broke buying canon L series lens

• Reviewed by: GrandpaChris

  Duration of ownership: 1 Year

  Strengths: Relatively easy to learn. Magnesium body stands up to occasional knocks. ISO 3200 gives execellent results. Busrt mode is great.

  Weaknesses: On camera flash is useless with kit lenses.

  Overall: I switched from film a year ago when my Minolta XR700 died. I shoot a lot of kids hockey in poor light. This camera has been excelent, but when I swopped the kit lens for the EF 70-200 mm f2.8 lens, wow! I use the lens for portraits because I don't need the flash, and when I want to use the flash, it works great. I probably have over 10,000 shots on this camera, and I love it.

• Reviewed by: FENGYI_NK

  Strengths: 1. 5fps continuous shoot2. Spot metering

  Weaknesses: Hard to say.

  Overall: I purchased this 30D in Aug 2005 as an upgrade of my digital rebel. Have been using it for almost two years and thinking of upgrade to the product of 5D upgrade.Right after I got this 30D, some surprises stroke me,1. Continuous drive shoot at 5fps, ever fastest for this level of camera body.2. 2.5 inch review LCD, I got more intention to review the shots than I was with 1.8 inch lcd.3. Spot metering - perfect for portrait, not very accurate but still good enough.Now the body is of some scratches, of about 5k shots. Unfortunately, I did not feel great color improvement than my digital rebel, got in the thanksgiving of 2004. Due to its 1.6x focal lenght factor, you need a 10-12mm lens to get super wide angle.Now I am shooting on a film body EOS 3, which I am very fond of, the 30D got rarely used. Film is full frame - and of a tone that digital shots cannot simulate.

• Reviewed by: jcai

  Strengths: Image quality, solid built, 2.5" screen, long battery time, picture styles, affordable price

  Weaknesses: 1.6 crop sensor size, so so qaulity kit lens, expensive accessories.

  Overall: I have my 30D for almost two months. The more I use it the more I love it. This is my first digital SLR. I had been a Nikon SLR user for more than 15 years. I was considering Nikon D70s but finally chose 30D. What I like most is its image quality from Canon's CMOS sensor. Low noise and silky smooth even in high ISO 400. Color response is also surprisingly good comparing with CCD. Its picture styles, borrowed from 5D, are handy and deliver great results. 2.5" screen is bright and high resolution, you never want to go back to 20D. 30D uses APS-C CMOS sensor which is smaller than the regular full frame, so getting wide angle lenses is more difficult and expensive. Luckily I found Canon's EF 17-40mm f/4L is good enough in the wide side and delivers excellent image quality with affordable price. Highly recommended!

• Reviewed by: swift24

  Strengths: Instant start, noise-free sensor, superb pictures

  Weaknesses: None

  Overall: I've had my 30D for just over two months and have taken 847 pictures to date. The camera's controls are almost intuitive, the results are spectacular. I moved up from an almost three year old 300D Canon Digital Rebel and the move was worth the price. The camera must be experienced to be appreciated. Using RAW format and post processing, it's a crime if you don't take more pictures. The grandkids are easier photographed with the 5 frames per second drive mode, too!

• Reviewed by: ramuman

  Strengths: Solid build qualityExcellent Canon lens selectionGreat image quality in generalLow noise sensorHas nearly all reasonable features at this price

  Weaknesses: Some functions (e.g. mirror lockup) are a bit awkward to get toWhite balancing is sketchy unless you choose custom and have a grey cardIncremental upgrade over the now cheaper 20DKit lens margin

  Overall: This is a great DLSR in its price range (with the Nikon D200 being the other). What sold me was the Canon lens selection. Haven't been dissapointed. Great images with a good lens (24-70 f/2.8L in my case). The included kit lens doesn't do the camera justice, particularly anywhere near wide open, but its a light, cheap EF-S starter lens. The other reviews have covered most of the basics. I suggest you read dpreview's full writeup on this camera. It covers all the bases imo.

• Reviewed by: swisschrissi

  Strengths: Large LCD, many ISO options, easy to use

  Weaknesses: doesn't need a print/share button, lens kit isn't great

  Overall: This is my first digital SLR. Many people say that it is too heavy but I think it feels much better than the Canon 10D which I tried using before. it has a fast start up speed and good response time. I will definitly need to purchase another lens but that is inevitable. I'm looking forward to taking it on my coming vacation.