Arrrgh I can't decide.......

[Mthorpe_Davies]

What a problem, the wife has now opened the purse strings and I'm allowed to buy a new camera. I've nailed it down to Eos 20D with grip and 580ex flash or Eos 1v HS.

I love the look and feel of the Eos 1 it's a joy to behold and makes the juices flow. On the other hand digital is the way of the future and maybe I should jump on board now! I can't afford a 1D Mk11, pricing for them in NZ is nuts.

Trying to decide which way to jump is a real trial. HELP!!!

Anyone got any good suggestions to help me decide.

I mainly shoot landscapes, the occasional motor race and take loads photos while travelling with my job.

[elbirth]

Since you don't have really overwhelming demands for the camera, I'd probably suggest the 20D, although it can defintely take higher demands... I'm actually not sure about how well the 1v HS holds up, but I know the 1D Mk II is usually good for fast action sports, etc.

For one thing, as you said, digital is growing in popularity, plus it's just much easier to deal with in terms of long term cost and trouble- you don't have to constantly develop film, you instantly have a general idea of how your shot turned out, you can quickly swap media to take more shots...

Then again, I'm fairly young (21) and I've grown up around electronics and they appeal to me much more. In the end, it's your decision, of course, but being a 20D owner, I think it's a great camera.

[ssim]

Go digital. There is no doubt in my mind that I made the right decision.

How much do you shoot. Consider this times whatever your processing costs would be.

With digital you will shoot way more than you would with film because of the cost of the processing. This is the fun part you get to try things that you would never do before. On your landscapes you can bracket easily without thought to cost and then merge these in post processing to get your highlights, midtones and shadows properly. It is just so much fun.

The EOS 1V is a great camera and I have it's predecessor the EOS 3 sitting in my closet collecting dust.

Today I got back 2 16X20's that I had printed from my MKII. Absolutely awesome. I'm sure that I can go quite a bit bigger even yet. The 20D will allow you to do the same.

Not to knock film shooting but digital is just so much more fun and versatile that even if you do go film in this case I'll bet you have a digital SLR in no time.

[CyberDyneSystems]

With all due respect to the 1V HS.. the grand dady of the current 1D mkII and 1Ds MkII...

I don't even know what film is anymore..

The 20D with is such a sweet little machine.. I do not think I would have sprung for the MkII if the 20D had come out first.

(relax.. no flame.. this is not to say I regret the MkII in any way,. I love it and I'm keeping it.. I'm just saying of the 20D had come out first.. I would have grabbed that... and armed with it. I would have been much better equipped to resist the call of the MkII)

But I digress..

Get the 20D :)

[timmyquest]

20D...all the way.

[Mthorpe_Davies]

I've been shooting 2-5 rolls a week for the past few months so cost is going up. I would love a tough body, my Eos 33 just doesn't cut it like my old Minolta 9xi did, that's why I dubious about the build on the 20D, will it take a hammering?

[elbirth]

I haven't put it through rough tests or anything, but the feel of it, to me, seems like it's quite sturdy and could put up with some rough handling. Naturally I'd try to avoid those situations at all costs... but I think it'd hold up nicely

[Jack W.]

About a year and a half ago, I was getting ready to take an overseas trip. I wanted a camera to take with me, of course. As I had no experience at all with digital cameras, but had owned a number of film slr's, I was "this close" to buying a new film slr. But, after reading a bunch of web sites (like this one), and a bunch of reviews, I bought a Canon G3 with some accessories. I'm REALLY glad I did. Have no regrets at all.
In fact, 2 weeks ago I bought the 20D. For me, there's more of a "fun factor" with digital than with film; I'm more involved with the whole process.

[danphoto1]

:D Digial is the way to go buy used 1v later on if you feel the nedd to shoot film. I bet you won't once you get in to digital, You may want to look around for a used 1D

[elbirth]

For me, there's more of a "fun factor" with digital than with film; I'm more involved with the whole process.


Exactly, this is a huge thing I love about digital over film. With film, unless you make your own darkroom and get all the supplies needed to develop the film, you give it to a film development place, go back several hours or days later and get your finished product, usually as a 4x6 and have those to look at... pretty boring.

With digital, I can immediately see how my picture looks on the LCD of the camera, then see it in an enormous amount of detail on-screen on my computer, open it in Photoshop and do all the editing I want to it, and then print it at basically any size I want. For those that don't have the capability to print directly at home, places like Walgreens, CVS, Wal-Mart.... they have some booths that let you print different sizes off your media card. I want to try one of those to see how they turn out.

[theflyingkiwi]

I would recommend going digital. many years ago I would have gone film myself. Last year I decided to give photography a go and never thought about a film camera.

I first had a canon G3 and found ok to use, then got myself a 10D and found enjoyment in taking photos.

Mark

[Daytripper]

You've come to a digital photography forum seeking objective advice on a film SLR vs a Digital one? :shock: We are the converted :wink: :lol:

Buy the 20D. :D

Do it NOW ... you know you want to. :twisted:

Cheers,
Pete

[Andy_T]

If you really want to have a 1 series, why not go with a used 1D?

A cheaper alternative (if you can find one) would be the Kodak DCS 560 ... 6 MP sensor in a 1N housing. This camera is not as fast (FPS) as the 1D, however.

Best Regards,
Andy

[jim monroe]

I have got to go along with just about everyone else and say 20D.
I have the 10d and was my first digital. The whole digital process just seems to free me up. Can crop, clone, etc immediately after taking picture and I can throw away images at virtually no cost, not the same with film.

[danphoto1]

I agree with Andy try and find a used 1D and shoot in raw if you need larger prints the camera is an all around excellent.

[WestFalcon]

The 20D is fantastic....I've had a D30, D60, 3-10d's and a 20D. I have liked each model and each model has been better than the one before. I have mamiya 645's and af 645's sitting around the house, not to mention my EOS 1N and a ton of older FD canons. I have never enjoyed photography as much as I do now. I'll never use film again and I've never made so much money in my part time photography business as I am making now. Go with the digital stuff and you'll never regret it. The computer skills must be up to snuff to really enjoy digital. It is expensive to buy all the computer equipment but once you have it, you will never enjoy photography more. My wedding photography on digital makes my film stuff look weak I always thought, as did my clients that my work was pretty good.

[danphoto1]

Wes I agree and do about the same with my equiptment I have had 2 D30s a 10D and two 1Ds I shoot weddings and sports part time. My mamiya is a great door stop as is my rebel film camera. The digital workflow is quicke and there are many more options. I won't go back t film 8)

[Belmondo]

I don't know if this pertains or not, but I'll offer it anyway.

I was speaking to one of the professional photographers at a PGA golf tournament several months ago. He had been hired by the PGA, and was one of their official photographers covering the event. I noticed he was shooting Canon film equipment. All the other professionals were shooting digital. I asked him whether he preferred film, and he was emphatic that he didn't; he normally shot digital. The PGA, for reasons known only to them, insisted on film and he wasn't very happy about it.

His point was, there is very little he can do with film that he can't do better or more easily with digital. Conversely, there's a hell of a lot he can do with digital that he never dreamt of doing with film. His belief was that the people at PGA who were directing his activities were out of touch with the real world, and a switch to digital was inevitable, certainly by next year.

I think he was confirming my own belief that in smaller formats, (35mm, APS, etc.) digital has effectively eliminated the competition. Admittedly, there are holdouts---people who for whatever personal reasons stick with film despite overwhelming evidence that the quality differences between it and digital are negligible.

Logistically, the devotion to film is going to require even greater personal commitment and inconvenience as time goes by. That’s just a sad result of the user base continuing to shrink until support of the medium ceases to exist altogether.

[defordphoto]

The main reason some of these entities still prefer film is that they simply don't have the experience, equipment, and/or know-how to deal with digital photographs properly. And there's probably some old-fart in charge of the photography department claiming that digital is the devil's-work or some such, ignorant thought process.

[Jack W.]

And there's probably some old-fart in charge of the photography department claiming that digital is the devil's-work or some such, ignorant thought process.

:lol: :lol:

[samdring]

The main reason some of these entities still prefer film is that they simply don't have the experience, equipment, and/or know-how to deal with digital photographs properly. And there's probably some old-fart in charge of the photography department claiming that digital is the devil's-work or some such, ignorant thought process.

Yes, you are probably right - people can be fixed in their ways but there will also be a fair number who acknowledge digital is overall better but wish to retain the simplicity of film in a workstream with which they are fully au fait. I have a 1949 MG which I always turn to whenever I get bored with my digital eurobox :(

[danphoto1]

Ge I think that SI is completly digital if I';m not mistaken. Does Kodac have an in. they were still selling film at the last Kodac presentation and telling how great it was but for some reason they have moved al of there film naufacturing off shore. DAAAAAAAAA !!!!! and to sell in third world econmys...... that what thaey said I'm for digital