Canon Digital Rebel - Unpleasant Camera

[adamw]

After using EOS 10D for almost a year, I've purchased the Digital Rebel.
By stupidity, I've read all reviews and forums, without physically hold this camera before internet mail order.
Immediately I had a different feeling,the most disturbing was the rather noisy mirror which transfers a sharp vibration. But this is nothing comparable with the strong knock when the flash pops up. Oh, what a big difference against 10D.
All of resulted JPEGs coming slightly underexposed,this happening in fully auto - Parameter 1 and in Program with Parameter 1 and 2.

Probably with time I'll get used to the rather cheap feeling of this camera, but now, after two days of using I must confess that I'm really sorry for the exchange I made. The difference in price between this one and 10D is worth every penny.

Adam

[aeroshots2003]

Yep, that's the Mercedes - Toyota story reinvented.
They both drive from A to B without problems, both turn right and left and hey they can even stop! But the feel is so much different. But although the Mercedes is much more expensive, it CAN have engine problems as easy :wink:

Over the years I bought the EOS 100, 50E and 5 in this order. Once I got to the EOS 5 I was amazed by its speed and feeling - why didn't I buy this camera in the first place :roll: !
Recently I bought the EOS 1N HS and you can guess it... I don't understand why I made do with the EOS 5 for so long.

I want to go into digital and wonder to buy the 10D or the older 1D (I love that 1 series build).

[Conk]

That's rather unfortunate. I wish I had the money to be able to fork out the extra $500.00 bucks for the 10D. Really, it just makes sense. For me though, I have no choice but be satisfied with my Rebel. Even if I must convince myself of it. I was extremely lucky to convince my wife to make such a purchase on our limited budget. To be realistic, we couldn't afford it but it was one of those things where I just couldn't stay away from it every time I was in the mall. The wife really didn't want to do it but she did because I wanted it so bad.
After the purchase she finally came around and said "you deserve it". :D

[timmyquest]

Why exactly would you downgrade in the first place?!?

[Jim_T]

You should have traded your 10D in on a 1DMkII or 1Ds..

Then you'd be telling us how cheap the low res 10D felt :-)

[photoguynorth]

most disturbing was the rather noisy mirror which transfers a sharp vibration. But this is nothing comparable with the strong knock when the flash pops up.
Adam

Don't you think you are over-reacting a bit? The mirror noise is there, but mirror-shake is not a huge problem (it is really only a half-mirror), and as for the flash - it makes a bit of noise too, but how serious is that? I always let the flash up with my finger (after releasing it) - even on my film cameras. Be happy with a camera that takes awesome quality pictures for a very low price - that is what the Rebel is. If you want a heavy duty, professional camera body, you have to pay more - fact of life.

[Cadwell]

Adam, I too am confused. Why would you exchange (to use your word) a 10D for a Digital Rebel? What were your reasons?

[arumdevil]

I got a 300 D a few weeks ago, and I have to say I'm glad I've never had the opportunity to hold a 10D, because just hearing about it - and knowing the300D - I already wish I'd got the 10D instead!

[EXA1a]

No doubt, this must be a troll post. Any further replies should be avoided to not moving up this post anymore.

--Jens--

[dwc]

I held the digital rebel ,10D and a Nikon D70. I just bought the D70. The features, lens and overall feel beat the DRebel. The 10D is over priced for just a body alone. I have two Canon lenses from an old 35mm Rebel G that I have to get rid of and get some Nikon Glass.
I was trying to wait for the 10D or DRebel replacement this fall - maybe. But I wanted a true DSLR now. I had a Nikon 5700 and that was junk, but it even felt better than the DRebel.

Scott W.

[Belmondo]

I held the digital rebel ,10D and a Nikon D70. I just bought the D70. The features, lens and overall feel beat the DRebel. The 10D is over priced for just a body alone. I have two Canon lenses from an old 35mm Rebel G that I have to get rid of and get some Nikon Glass.
I was trying to wait for the 10D or DRebel replacement this fall - maybe. But I wanted a true DSLR now. I had a Nikon 5700 and that was junk, but it even felt better than the DRebel.

Scott W.

Well then, does this mean 'goodbye?'
If so, good luck with your new camera.

BTW, thanks for sharing.

Tom

[dwc]

No, It's not goodbye. I have to keep an eye on the Canon forums as well, there is a lot of good information buried in some of these posts.
Plus I'm still waiting to see what the 10D replacement will unveil. Maybe I'll switch back to Canon! :lol:

Scott W.

[burkdog]

I've had my Rebel for a few months, now. I recently got to play around a little with a friend's 10D. I must admit, the 10D feels much, much nicer. I immediately noticed the additional buffer size, too.

That's not to say I'm ready to chuck my Rebel. It is by far the best camera I've ever owned, and I plan to take many thousands of great pictures with it in the months and years to come.

The flash does open with a resounding THUNK, but since I got my 550 I almost never use it, anyway. The difference in the quality of the pop-up flash and the 550 is huge.

The Rebel definitely is a great camera for a lot of people. It was perfect for me. Almost 6 months in, if I had it to do over, I might get the 10D, but I don't have any regrets.

[tommykjensen]

Probably with time I'll get used to the rather cheap feeling of this camera, but now, after two days of using I must confess that I'm really sorry for the exchange I made. The difference in price between this one and 10D is worth every penny.

Adam

Then why did You buy the 300D?

I think it is an unfair comparison You are making. Off course the smaller model will feel even smaller when going from a top model.

If You read reviews, forums etc first You must have known all the quirks from the beginning so You should have been able to make an informed decision. I did, I knew it was not going to be a 10D, I knew it had a history with underexposed images, I knew it had no FEC, I knew I would not be able to shoot raw in "dummy" modes. But still I bought because it was a natural step for me and since october where I bought it I have shot more pictures than I have ever with my EOS 500 or EOS 33 film bodies since 1996 where I bought my first SLR. And You know what, recently the shots I have made with 300D have been absolutely great (look at the posts I made the past week). Alot of the shots are really great out of camera with minimal post processing. On a lot only cropping has been required.

Yes I have shot a lot of underexposed images, some could be corrected in PS some not. But I found that after I bought a better lens fewer images require post processing. Maybe this is just me, maybe I just got better using the camera, but hey most of the *really* great shots I made recently and some posted here was shot in the dummy sports mode so it really couldn't have been my skills that improved or what?

I have made following observation about the 300D and lenses.

I started out having a 100-300 tokina lens and 100-400 cosina lens from my film bodies. I shot a lot of images in the Zoo with those lenses as You can see here. (http://www.klein-jensen.dk/ee/list.php?exhibition=16) (the lens indicated in the listing is incorrect I have to correct that at a later date :( )
I was happy with those photos, there are some gems among them.

Then I sold the tokina & cosina lenses to buy a Canon 75-300 mm USM IS. I have shot a lot of images in the zoo with that too, You can see those here. (http://www.klein-jensen.dk/ee/list.php?exhibition=14) I think there is a clear improvement but still some / a lot required some adjustements in levels or a touch of shadow / highlights.

Then I made a big decision, seeing all those racer sharp images in these forums and other forums shot with L glass I wanted to take the plounge too. Soo I sold the 75-300 USM IS and bought a 70-200 mm F4 L. And even though I "lost" IS and 100 mm I have not had any regrets about that decision (and will be more L glass in future). Here (http://www.klein-jensen.dk/ee/list.php?exhibition=19) is more photos from the zoo shot with this new lens. And again in my own opinion a *clear* improvement in quality. Very few of those images required adjustments - I am happy with them but of course I am sure that some can be improved with post processing. And tada big surprise all of the images in the last gallery was shot in P mode and raw.

I am almost sure that even You Adam in Your first time with the 10D while getting to know the camera blew some shots as I am almost just as sure the folks that upgraded to 1D MK II did while learning the camera. That is bound to happen when changing model - I think that even applies to proffesionals, sure they probably learn it faster than the rest of us but it would surprise me if the pro's did not blow shots even with the top notch utltimate blow me away model.

Sorry to rant on like this but I am happy with my purchase and get really annoyed when people that supposedly have read all about the 300D go out buy it and then complain about all the things that are "wrong" with it!

Thats just my opinion :D

[adamw]

Adam, I too am confused. Why would you exchange (to use your word) a 10D for a Digital Rebel? What were your reasons?

As an amateur, I bought 10D after using EOS 10QD (film) for 4 years. EOS 10D is very look and feel alike but of course a digital piece. I purchased also 17-40 L, 24-85 and 20-35 lenses. I didn't use it much, rather only on few occasions. The equipment was quite heavy. Then my friend suggested me that he found a potential buyer and as a griddy person, I sold all my equipment and put the money in bank.
Reading all outstanding reviews and users opinions, I decided to continue with Canon, since I've left over 550EX and other accessories, I've decided to opt on 300D which cost me in Israel $1246 with the lens and spare BP511 battery.
I should check before and feel this camera, but since no review even mentioned those small unpleasant "features",I was confided that the feeling will be the same as 10D. I don't mean the feeling of holding it in the hand, what most annoying me the hard knock of the jumping flash release against my head and the sharp, hard click when taking picture. Surprisingly, even no one person complain about. Maybe I'm so different ? Who knows.

Cheers,

Adam :(

[tommykjensen]

I don't mean the feeling of holding it in the hand, what most annoying me the hard knock of the jumping flash release against my head and the sharp, hard click when taking picture. Surprisingly, even no one person complain about. Maybe I'm so different ? Who knows.


If You have the 550ex flash then You really shouldn't use the builtin flash so that issue should be out. And I think the reason why nobody complains is that almost everybody that has the 300D or have film bodies know that the builtin flash usually is really bad so they knew from beginning they had to buy an external flash. I knew from experience with a EOS 33 body that the builtin flash was not too good so I knew that eventually I would need to get an external flash to my 300D.

[droosan]

The 10D, like the Elan series it descends from, is an extraordinarily quiet camera. I am guessing that is the source of your displeasure, not that the DRebel is extraordinarily loud. People probably don't complain about it because it is only loud relative to the 10D. People going from the 10D to DRebel are probably rare. People did complain about the EOS 3 being loud, because a lot of people went from Elan's to EOS 3's.

[dn7elson]

And I think the reason why nobody complains is that almost everybody that has the 300D or have film bodies know that the builtin flash usually is really bad so they knew from beginning they had to buy an external flash.

I have the 420EX flash that I bought with my G2 and now use with my DRebel. When I anticipate that I may need a flash, it is with me. When I run into a situation where I unexpectedly need a flash, or more often could benefit from a fill flash, I don't hesitate to pop-up the DRebel flash and use it. In those situations, I am really glad that it is there, as limited as it may be.

In general, there is no substitute for doing ones homework before making a purchase to minimize the number of "surprises". You won't catch them all, or avoid a random, manufacturing problem, but you will greatly diminish the letdown of false expectations.

[Bruce Hamilton]

In those situations, I am really glad that it is there, as limited as it may be.

And just how limited is that? :?

I admit it isn't a 550 EX (or a 420 or 380, for that matter), but before I purchased any of the Canon EX series flashes, that little pop up served the purpose quite nicely. And for those times when you're having a Homer Simpson moment and leave your 550 at home on the kitchen table, that little pop flash can mean having a processable image instead of nothing.

[dn7elson]

And just how limited is that?

Primarily in output strength. I was taking construction progress photos in an unlit basement with the G2 & DRebel. The built-in flash was good for a highlight, but not uniform lighting, at 8-10' but not much more. The 420EX was able to light the whole scene for 30' or so and much more uniformly.

Not a big surprise; this is what you expect going from a low powered flash (whether internal or not) to a more high powered and sophisticated flash.

[adamw]

The 10D, like the Elan series it descends from, is an extraordinarily quiet camera. I am guessing that is the source of your displeasure, not that the DRebel is extraordinarily loud. People probably don't complain about it because it is only loud relative to the 10D. People going from the 10D to DRebel are probably rare.

Yes, I think you said all. I simply didn't made my homework sufficiently and here are results. I was used for a quit operation with my film EOS 10QD and then with EOS 10D. The sound of Rebel came to me as a bad surprise.
Anyway, there is no way of return and I probably will get used to as all other happy owners of EOS 300D.
Thank you all for your kind input.

Best regards,

Adam

[vvizard]

I went an extra month without food (in addition to the three already) to get a 10D instead of a 300D :lol: Haven't regretted it. Mostly because I love the feel of the 10D, but something I really didn't consider then, but understand how valuable are to me now, is the increased buffer, and fps.

Both are great cameras though, and I always recommend the 300D to everyone asking me "which 8MP camera should I buy now?" Not 8MP, but it sure beats the "L" out of all of them anyways at the same price :D (Oh yeah, and I tend not to mention the cost of "L"'s ;))