Advice needed: 10D+lens vs 20D

[Loekito]

Currently I have 300D + kit lens and a EF 100mm f2.8 Macro USM.
I like to upgrade to more advance camera, because I shoot in RAW and I need AI Servo, in which 300D cannot provide me this.

The question is, which one must I choose:

1. 10D + EF 17-40 f4L + saving about $500

or

2. 20D

the condition: selling my 300D + kit lens, so I only have 1 lens remain (that is the 100mm)

Please give your best advice...

Thanks a lot,

Loekito

[Persian-Rice]

This is a hard one, but I would take the 10D with the L glass.
Only because you have so few lenses.

BTW, to save you a bunch of money, have you tried the 300D firmware update? I hear it gives you many features available on a 10D.

[roanjohn]

I'm in the same boat!!!

But I've had experience with the 20D.............and that camera was just SWEET!!! I think it is still worth that extra 500 USD............even just for the instant start-up.............OOHHH...........and 5 fps!!!

.......I don't know........

I am just as confuse.

:?

Ro1

[Olegis]

I think that the 10D is enough camera for somebody who isn't making his living from the photography - it's fast enough for most applications (the 2.5 sec startup time is not an issue once you get used to it and learned to overcome it), has great image quality, very clean high-ISO performance, robust build etc.

It's the glass path you should take 8)

[Loekito]

Thanks guys for the advice, but still haven't convince me to choose which one to buy.

I already try the 300D firmware hack, but still missing the AI SERVO functionality.

And it's true, that I'm using the things just for my hobby, not for my living.

hmmm... still must decide... which one..10..20..10...20.......

anyway thanks,

regards,

Loekito

[sheldon]

Loekito, Im fully convinced that there is no "right" answer. If you buy the 10D, you will always wonder if you should have bought the 20D. If you buy the 20D, then you will always wish you had the "L" lens and 10D. Its an addiction...... :)

[commando]

Would anyone mind enlightening me as to what AI Servo is?

[chops]

This is exactly what I went through a few weeks ago!

I decided on the 10D, mainly because of all the problems the 20D was/is having. However, since I didn't have any lenses either, I wanted something better than the 18-55 kit lens. Plus, I only had 1500 bucks to play with.

So, instead of spending $1500 on a 20D kit, I was able to get a new 10D body with two BP-511A batteries, a vertical grip, 50mm 1.8 lens, 17-40 4 L which I traded in and got money back with the 28-75 2.8 Tamron, and a 512MB Ultra II card. I still have a couple hundred bucks left after getting all of this!

I feel this is a much better outfit than just a 20D kit. :D

[chops]

Would anyone mind enlightening me as to what AI Servo is?

Artificial Intelligence Servo is when the camera's focusing locks onto the subject (just like in "One Shot" mode), but once that subject starts moving, the camera's focusing starts tracking the subject attempting to keep it in focus.

[ScottE]

When I was shooting film I had a Rebel G film camera when I first switched to Canon. I found similar camera limitations to the ones you are finding with the D Rebel.

My choice was to live with the camera's limitations for a while longer and spend all my money on better lenses.

Later, when you have most of the lenses you need, you can upgrade to whatever body is current at the time. Most likely both the 10D and 20D will have been replaced by a better and possibly cheaper camera by then.

If you learn to live with the Rebel's limitations it will take just as good photos as the 10D and increased file size of the 20D is only slightly better for big enlargements.

Digital is the same as film. Glass first, body second as a limitation to your photography. (Actually skill is first and tripod is second or third, but I am confining this to camera equipment.)

[commando]

Thanks chops.

[cc10d]

The 20D is a nicer camera than the 10D. I have both, the 20D is all you said and more, it focus's better, especially if lens is 2.8 of faster. Using mine with 100-400L 5.6 and on AI Servo vs. using the 10D same lens, AI servo, I get at least 50% better yield on my birds in flight pictures. The 10D got me lots of good ones, but it is easier and more hits with the 20D. Instant on, super when something just ops up and is moving on. I can get the shot multiple times in the time it takes the 10D to wake up. (and the shot is gone by then)

Can you tell I like the 20D. I am tempted to sell the 10D and get a second 20D for my back up in place of the 10D. then again how would I sell the 10D? Oh well!

Did I say I really like the 20D?

Have fun with whatever you get. The main thing is to TAKE PICTURES>>

[rraman]

I went through the exact dilemma a while ago, and I decided to go for 10D. I bought the 100mm macro as a "bonus" from the amount I saved on the camera body :wink:

[DocFrankenstein]

I wouldn't consider changing 300d for 20D. I'd get more glass.

[Loekito]

hmmm... still don't have any decision here....

is that true, that 10D already discontinued ? if so, would it affect the second hand price of 10D in the future?

or do I need to wait for a little longer, while hoping that will be a reduction price for 20D ?

anyway.. thanks for all your toughts...

regards,

Loekito

[Andy_T]

hmmm... still don't have any decision here....

is that true, that 10D already discontinued ? if so, would it affect the second hand price of 10D in the future?

quite so, it's discontinued ... but the price has already dropped a lot.

or do I need to wait for a little longer, while hoping that will be a reduction price for 20D ?

You'll never know ... maybe after christmas.
However, so far Canon did not lower the prices of their flagship DSLR's (10D, 1D) at all ... unlike their digicam line. The 10D sold at nearly the same price for about a year, right until the introduction of the 20D.

Just one thing ... when you sell the DRebel, sell it without the kit lens. You can use that on the 20D (NOT on the 10D).

PS ... I am not aware that there are any problems with the 20D at the moment.

Best regards,
Andy

[chris.bailey]

Why are you so worried about having AIServo with a 17-40. Its hardly an action lens?

With longer lens', I was less than impressed with the focus tracking on the 10D and keepers of say birds in flight seemed to be a wholly random affair. The 20D is supposed to be significantly better (I took the MkII option so cant confirm this but if its in any way similar then the 20D will be many times better than the 10D in this respect).

In all other respects the 10D/20D choice is a closer call and I would go with the 10D and buy the glass.

[Loekito]

I just have bad experience using 300D for shooting moving object. last time I go to "Pinnochio on Ice" show, in which all the performers are wearing ice-skatting, and always move here and there. the result.. all pic are blur, because of the movement.

second experience, when going to the circus, where I miss all the air-acrobatic scene... :(

that's why I'm need to use AI Servo, and because I shoot in RAW (where the AI Servo in 300D only activated in sports mode, in which using JPEG format)

Why i'm interested for 17-40 F4L, it's because 10D don't comes with any kit lens, and I don't have any other lens instead fix 100mm Macro. So I need some other lens to be use as walkaround lens. the 17-40 F4L it's only my first aim (because of 10D). next, maybe i will aiming for 70-200 F4L :)

thanks and regards,

Loekito

[MarkH]

My advice:

Keep the 300D and kit lens, buy the 17-40L, save some money, buy the 20D and sell the 300D with kit lens, save some money, buy another lens (maybe Tamron 28-75 f2.8 or Canon 70-200 f4L), save money, buy another lens.

Unless you have oodles of spare cash it is not easy to do everything at once, but the price of the camera is unlikely to go up while you are saving.

BTW
Forget the 10D, I love mine but it really is not that much of an upgrade from your 300D.

[Olegis]

The blur in the pictures can result from different reasons, one of them being fast moving subjects coupled with too slow shutter speeds. It does not have to be the AF system problem right away.

I'd say - get the 10D with the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 as your first walkaround lens. Then get the 50mm f/1.8 MkII - that is a MUST HAVE lens for its perfo4rmance / price ratio.

[snibbetsj]

If you want to shoot ice skaters and the like, I'd go with a 70-200 f4 first and then wait until a good used 10D is on sale here or at fredmiranda.com

Jeff