D30 opinions advice `buying`

[gazmon]

hi

heard a lot about this camera please could someone give me there opinions on whether this camera is worth buying over the nikons fuji etc and what the picture quality is like?

gazmon

[soumya63]

Do a research on Google.com there are hundreds of opinions and reviews about D30. You will find many reviews both from amateurs and Pros along with sample photographs. Try to visit some hardcore Nikon users forum and see what they say!

Let me add some of my opinion

Pros
-----
1) Excellent color, comparable with Color transparencies.
2) Offers all the features of a Pro SLR camera.
3) Quite noiseless at brightly lit areas.
4) Supports all Canon EF series optics.
4) Good third party software support like Breezebrowser etc.
5) Huge knowledgebase available in Internet from thousands of happy users allover the world.
6) Nice to hold, not too heavy or too light.
7) Looks and feels like a SLR, makes me feel at home.
8) Intelligent accessories like Flash 550EX, ST-E2, Timer Controller etc.

Cons
------
1) Noisy at dark areas and high ISO speeds.
2) Almost all images require some degree of sharpening.
3) Can not shoot faster than 3 frames/sec.
4) Autofocus fails at low light low contrast object where other Canon high-end models like EOS3 or EOS 1V excels. Lacks inbuilt infrared Autofocus assist light. So need to spend another 200$ to get a ST-E2 or 420EX.

[stevehersee]

I purchased the D30 in Dec 2001. I am not happy, yet!
I purchaed the D30 because I do low light action pictures. I wanted the 1600 asa and the SLR features. The pictures that I have been getting are not at the quality I was looking for. The are not crisp. After reading reviews, I should be much happier. I think that there is something wrong with my use of the camera. Or the focus/lens/CMOS system is not setup correctly. How do I get to the bottom of the problem? I am using the standard D30 with the Tamron 24-135 lense.

[Michael K]

The problem is your lens. The tamron lens is horible compared to the canon 28-105. The truth is if you want sharp pictures you need sharp glass.

I have a tokina 28-70 2.8 which is sharp as a tack.

Another great lens is the canon 50 1.8 it costs like 80.00 and is one of the sharpest lenses I have ever seen.

Michael K
Proffesional wedding photographer.

[Bryan Siverly]

michael k wrote:
I have a tokina 28-70 2.8 which is sharp as a tack.


I have one of those arriving tomorrow. Can't wait for the thing to get here!

Bryan

[pinfante]

But that 50mm comes out to be 80mm on the D30...yes?

[pinfante]

You mention that every photo needs sharpening. Is that really true? Can I never think I can create simple photo albums without all of this post production work?

I'm concerned since I am near ready to buy the D30.

Thanks.

-Pat

[soumya63]

pinfante wrote:
But that 50mm comes out to be 80mm on the D30...yes?

Yes

[soumya63]

pinfante wrote:
You mention that every photo needs sharpening. Is that really true? Can I never think I can create simple photo albums without all of this post production work?

I'm concerned since I am near ready to buy the D30.

Thanks.

-Pat

Yes. The existing Image sensor technology requires little softening to eliminate image artifacts. So all image from Canon D30 are inherently soft, but you can regain the sharpness by using unsharp mask in Photoshop or by using automatic tools like Nik Sharpner or Ultra Sharpen Pro.

The new sensor technology Foveon X3 (checkout www.foveon.net ) , adopted by Sigma in their forthcoming Digital SLR SD9 does not have this problem and theoritically its image will be much more sharper. But, then you have to stick with Sigma Optics. By the way, the ergonomics of SD9 looks so very similar to D30! http://www.sigmaphoto.com/Images/home/sd9index.jpg
I hope Canon may not sue Sigma for copyright violation :)

Now you decide, would you spare a little time in post processing and get the wealth of Canon EF, IS and L technology or jump into not yet proven new technology.

:D