Good time to sell 300D? Should I upgrade?

[yaoxing]

I just sent the body with the kit lens to Canon for general servicing, calibration and lens+sensor+focussing screen cleaning (total $180). Now, before I start using it and dirtying it again, I'm tempted do an upgrade.

Tempted to upgrade from my 300D (with kit lens) to something better. So far still no real complaints about it except it's a bit slow for fast action photography and the limitations when working with flash.
OR
Tempted to get the 70-200mm L USM (or with IS) to fulfil my needs (now using the old 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 for outdoor sports). Does 300D work well with this lens?

Should I upgrade the body, and if I do so, should I sell off my 300D or keep it as spare? Or should I upgrade the lens?

Any professional advice?

What do I shoot? Almost anything except studio/wedding , I'm not good enough to attempt those. Shoot mostly crap photos.

[jbma]

Go for the 20D or wait for the 350D. More megapixels, low noise, faster buffer clearance, etc etc.

[Zplus]

It depends on whether you need the new features of the 350D. If not, why waste the money?

Notable diff bet the 350D and 300D:
1) FEC
2) Selectable AF modes
3) Quite clean ISO800 and usable ISO1600
4) 3fps for up to 14? frames
5) No longer uses BP511 batteries
6) Smaller + lighter
7) 8mp vs 6mp

If you do switch it means:
1) Gotta get new batteries
2) Gotta get a new grip, if you use a grip
3) 8mp will eat more memory space, maybe you need more CF cards
4) Some $$ losses to you 300D, including that $180....

Does it take better pictures then a 300D?? The biggest factor is still you...

[yaoxing]

Hmm.... thanks jbma and Zplus for the pointers. After consideration, I think it makes more sense to upgrade my lens first. Any problem running the 70-200mm L USM on 300D? Does it AF as fast on a 300D as compared to on a 10D/20D?

[cosycatus]

me no professional...but maybe u can try to use the hack firm ware, then flash compensation becomes adjustable.

[yaoxing]

Originally Posted by cosycatus me no professional...but maybe u can try to use the hack firm ware, then flash compensation becomes adjustable.

hehe, yah, also tempted too..... but didn't get down to do it

[drumma]

the FEC quite useful.. i use it sometimes.. though i'm quite skeptical of the idea of in-built flash. gonna get a 580ex soon!

anyway, i think a 70-200L will be faster on a 20D. pros, correct if i'm wrong.

i also got a 300D.. was tempted to sell and get a 10D. but thought of it for a while.. i'll lose quite a bit of money.. so just keep the 300D and keep on shooting..
(saving for a 1 series body and 300D as backup/spare! )

[plinius]

hi,

care to share why u think 70-200L will be faster on a 20D?

Thanks

Cheers.

Originally Posted by drumma anyway, i think a 70-200L will be faster on a 20D. pros, correct if i'm wrong.

[yaoxing]

Originally Posted by drumma (saving for a 1 series body and 300D as backup/spare! )

It'll take me about a year or two just to save up to afford a 1 series digital body. Too long to wait.... by then maybe new 1D Mk III out already!??!

[drumma]

ehs, regarding the fastER focusing of 20D compared to 300D..
i thought the no. of AF points is one of the factors? 9 point VS 7 point. shrugs..

yaoxing, what 1 series body u using? me quite gian one now.. no money!! so meanwhile just shoot and and shoot... and improve myself with it!

[yaoxing]

Originally Posted by drumma ehs, regarding the fastER focusing of 20D compared to 300D.. i thought the no. of AF points is one of the factors? 9 point VS 7 point. shrugs.. yaoxing, what 1 series body u using? me quite gian one now.. no money!! so meanwhile just shoot and and shoot... and improve myself with it!

No... don't have 1 series body yet. What I meant was if I were to save up for such a body, it will take me a year or two. Anyway, since I'm not making money out of photography (losing money instead), it would make sense only for me to make do with this 300D body for the time being.

[plinius]

wise choice...heh..coz I'm also hanging on to my 300D...I would rather get more lenses if I have the money:
1. 100mm Macro
2. 85mm F1.8
3. 24-70 f2.8


so many things to get but so little $.......

Originally Posted by yaoxing No... don't have 1 series body yet. What I meant was if I were to save up for such a body, it will take me a year or two. Anyway, since I'm not making money out of photography (losing money instead), it would make sense only for me to make do with this 300D body for the time being.

[drumma]

yah lor, make do with the 300D now also.. sorries that i misundestood u.

but i got a feeling my 300D gonna fall into pieces after march(warranty over).. when i shake my 300D, hear something clinging inside.. like something loose..

[adamadam]

Quote: but i got a feeling my 300D gonna fall into pieces after march(warranty over).. when i shake my 300D, hear something clinging inside.. like something loose..

Hopefully it was like that when you bought it it's an orientation sensor;
unless you hear some OTHER clinging! :|

[Zplus]

Originally Posted by yaoxing Hmm.... thanks jbma and Zplus for the pointers. After consideration, I think it makes more sense to upgrade my lens first. Any problem running the 70-200mm L USM on 300D? Does it AF as fast on a 300D as compared to on a 10D/20D?

The 20D will AF faster with the 70-200mm L USM. This is becoz the 20D's AF is a cross central AF optimised for a f2.8 or below lens. As for the 350D's AF, have to wait for real world results from the users....

The AF on the 300D is pretty fast and accurate too but not as fast as the 20D. Quite comparable to the 10D.

[ptwong]

Originally Posted by yaoxing I just sent the body with the kit lens to Canon for general servicing, calibration and lens+sensor+focussing screen cleaning (total $180). Now, before I start using it and dirtying it again, I'm tempted do an upgrade. Tempted to upgrade from my 300D (with kit lens) to something better. So far still no real complaints about it except it's a bit slow for fast action photography and the limitations when working with flash. OR Tempted to get the 70-200mm L USM (or with IS) to fulfil my needs (now using the old 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 for outdoor sports). Does 300D work well with this lens? Should I upgrade the body, and if I do so, should I sell off my 300D or keep it as spare? Or should I upgrade the lens? Any professional advice? What do I shoot? Almost anything except studio/wedding , I'm not good enough to attempt those. Shoot mostly crap photos.

Just some words of advice from a fellow 300D user. 70-200L is a good piece of glass. Works fantastically with my 300D. Personal opinion, no point changing body, build up lens arsenal first.
One reason why you may find fast action photography a bit hard could be because of your current 75-300.
I dont' really have a problem when shooting sports just need to anticipate better.

[hazmee]

Originally Posted by drumma the FEC quite useful.. i use it sometimes.. though i'm quite skeptical of the idea of in-built flash. gonna get a 580ex soon! anyway, i think a 70-200L will be faster on a 20D. pros, correct if i'm wrong. i also got a 300D.. was tempted to sell and get a 10D. but thought of it for a while.. i'll lose quite a bit of money.. so just keep the 300D and keep on shooting.. (saving for a 1 series body and 300D as backup/spare! )

The 580EX is real good combination with the 300D and a F2.8 lens also... hehehe...

[lightning]

Hey the 300D with the hacked firmware can adjust the flash settings. Like many of you have said, I will vote for getting better lens and a good range of lens.

Currently thinking of the 10-22mm and the 300mm prime lens. Whether it is "L" or not is not a problem with me.

So far, I am very contented with my 300D, except that it is a bit slow. But the "slowness" also train you to anticipate your shorts, and to keep a look out for potential shorts. To me it helps to tained my alertness.

Once I did a photo shoot for my friend's wedding togehter with a "Professional" photographer, but end up my friend develop 80% of the photos from my shorts. And he said to me "What a waste of money to get pro". The pro is using a F5 Nikon camera, and a FM2 during the wedding shoot.

So, I guess at the end of the day, lets improve on ourself to overcome the short comings of the camera.

[freelancer]

Originally Posted by lightning So far, I am very contented with my 300D, except that it is a bit slow. But the "slowness" also train you to anticipate your shorts, and to keep a look out for potential shorts. To me it helps to tained my alertness.

Yes, the 300D is plenty a camera if you know how to max out its capabilities

Having said that until you need the better AF (3 times more accurate with F2.8 or faster lenses) or the bigger buffer and frame rate, then look at the 20D or even the 1 series cameras. Good gear helps get the image but it does not replace good techniques.

[gtan]

i have the 20D and just bought the 70 to 200 mmm IS f 2.8. fantastic combination for action shots. fast reaction time , multiple frames per second. f 2.8 is the way to go.