Eos 300D replacement

[gerb]

I'm in a quandry.

Do I buy an EOS 300D before January 31st and claim the £100 cashback, or wait until after that date in the hope that they lauch a replacement camera.

If they don't release a new version, I miss out on the £100 cashback, but if I go for it and buy it now, then sod's law says they'll release a new model in February.

What should I do? Is there much of a rumour of an EOS 300D replacement in the pipeline?

[Jon]

If you wait for a new model, you'll always be waiting. When the EOS 320D (or whatever) ships, you'll pay full list price for the first month or three, and you'll have to wait since they'll be in short supply. In the mean time you could be taking pictures right now with a 300D and a rebated lens. Even if the successor model has a hackable firmware, it'll take a while for anyone to develop the hack, so you may not even see as much of a boost in capabilities as you might like. What are you currently using? Do you want to stay with that for another 3-5 months (best case scenario)? Consumer Electronics Show is on later this week in Las Vegas; if Canon's going to announce a DR successor soon, that's a likely place, so hold your breath for a week or so.

[gerb]

Thanks Jon - very useful info about CES in Las Vegas - that would be a very likely time to announce an upgrade I guess. The 300D would be my first decent digital camera - not including a next to useless (these days at any rate) 1.3mp Fuji Finepix : ). I have the EOS 5000 film camera, but it's time to go digital - the camera will be used for a round the world trip and seems to make sense as I can use my current lenses.

I'll heed your advice and wait a week or so. Thanks.

[CoolToolGuy]

The chances are good that the cashback is being offered because the 300D is about to be replaced and Canon wants to empty the pipeline.

As mentioned above, there will always be a new model coming, so decide based on the merits of the 300D. It has proven to be a great success for Canon, and it will give you good image quality.

OBTW - I know there is a $100 USD cashback offer now going on, but that one is for USA purchases only. Is there an offer in the UK as well?

Hope this helps.

Have Fun,

[digitalfailure]

I thought the cash back offer in the UK was to try and get the sales back from NIKON.
The once king of the d-slr market (for mortals) has been somewhat overshadowed of late by the D70.

I think i'm on the edge of stepping up to the 20D from the 300D, the 300D is a great camera so why delay the purchace, grab it now and get the last of the winter on record. As others have said, there is always something new coming.
I paid a darn site more for my 300d and battery grip than it'll cost you now

[ron chappel]

There's alot of rubbish said about purchacing a new DSLR The "if you wait for the new model you'll never get one" line gets pretty tiresome.

Canon release cameras at fairly predictable times-such as the upcoming CES.
As the 300D is still eligable for the cashback until AFTER the show then it's a dead set no brainer to wait-and-see
Any new model WILL be available soon after the anouncement ,they've been getting better at this with each succeeding model.The 20D was available in large numbers several weeks(?) after it's release.

The only flaw in this strategy is that i think there is an even bigger show in march (?),a new model may be released there instead?
I have no idea wether i'm right or not,i just seem to remember it being mentioned somewhere

[picnic]

There's alot of rubbish said about purchacing a new DSLR The "if you wait for the new model you'll never get one" line gets pretty tiresome.

Canon release cameras at fairly predictable times-such as the upcoming CES.
As the 300D is still eligable for the cashback until AFTER the show then it's a dead set no brainer to wait-and-see
Any new model WILL be available soon after the anouncement ,they've been getting better at this with each succeeding model.The 20D was available in large numbers several weeks(?) after it's release.

The only flaw in this strategy is that i think there is an even bigger show in march (?),a new model may be released there instead?
I have no idea wether i'm right or not,i just seem to remember it being mentioned somewhere

I would bet that they will release it at PMA end of February. And--I think your argument is sound--the rebate is not going to go away until the pipeline is empty--meaning that it will be there after the announcement too and give you time to consider which to buy. Since I don't shoot with a Rebel (10D/D60/D30), I can't say too much about the camera--but I do know that without the hack, not having custom functions, no FEC and shooting in AI Focus mode would not be to my liking. I would hope they correct these at least in the new one.

Diane

[gerb]

Thanks guys - take a look at this:

New Canon products announced at CES (http://www.usa.canon.com/html/CES/press/ces_2005_press_overview.html)

No sign of a replacement being announced, so maybe I should bite the bullet and pick up a 300D - I can get one in the UK with the 18-55 lens for less than GBP£450 (about US$850) after the rebate.

What say you now based on this new info???

[CyberDyneSystems]

CES?

Canon has historically ,. and pretty much without fail announced new DSLRs at either PMA (february) or Photokina (early fall)

[Edgar in ATL]

Gerb,
I bought a black 300D December 23, installed the hack firmware December 30, and absolutely love it....after spending months drooling over the 20D. With the rebate and savings over the 20D, I bought the 28-135 IS, 18-55 (on eBay), and 50 1.8 lenses and the RC-1 remote control. During the two seconds more it takes the 300D to turn on versus the 20D, I remind myself to check the settings before shooting and give thanks for not succumbing to the addictive urge to buy the very latest and very top of the line when something less will do quite nicely.
Good luck with your decision. Whether you buy the 300D or wait for the next iteration, you are going to get a fine camera.

[gerb]

Gerb,
I bought a black 300D December 23, installed the hack firmware December 30, and absolutely love it....and give thanks for not succumbing to the addictive urge to buy the very latest and very top of the line when something less will do quite nicely.

Excellent argument. I suppose I've got to look at it this way - any 'new' model will probably be more expensive than the EOS300D before the rebate anyway, and I probably couldn't afford that extra anyway. Plus, they'll have fixed the 'hackability' issue aswell.

I think you've helped me make my decision, but there's still time for others to make a counter argument :)

[Cadwell]

CES?

Canon has historically ,. and pretty much without fail announced new DSLRs at either PMA (february) or Photokina (early fall)

True... however one thing that also seems to precede a new Canon dSLR launch pretty much without fail are rumours and leaks. Given that PMA isn't far away, I would have expected to see some by now... perhaps this indicates that the 300D/dRebel will be with us for a little while yet?

[Hellashot]

I wouldn't be surprised if Canon, whenever the release the Digital Rebel II, make it unable to take hacked firmware since I'm sure they know what people did with the Digital Rebel.

[CyberDyneSystems]

True Cadwell,..

By this time last year we pretty much new all the specs of the MkII and had for some time...

[Longwatcher]

Here is my guess.
Canon will NOT release a replacement for the rebel before this fall. They are going after the low cost DSLR market and the only improvement they might be able to make without significantly raising the cost would be to increase the start up speed. FPS, buffer, and pixel increases require more costly hardware. They have a good camera for every level right now with distinct margins between.

1DsMkII (pixels over speed) $8000 - Target = Studio porfessionals
1DM2 (speed over pixels) $4500 - Target = Sports and photojounalists
20D (speed, pixels, cost) $1600 (kit lens) - Target = enthusiast consumers
Rebel (low cost DSLR) $900 (kit lens) - Target = cost counting consumers

Introducing a new camera would increase costs, without adding enough to consumer appeal at this time. Next fall on the other hand they can release a rebel version of the 20D at lower cost and once again dust N****.

Just my opinion which may bear no resemblace to reality come PMA in March,

[gerb]

Ok - assuming that Canon replace the 300D at PMA this year (which is looking more and more likely), would I be right in assuming that:

a) I could get my hands on one without too much trouble before mid-March?
b) the current 300D would drop in price to around the current post-rebate price anyway?

Cheers...

[Jesper]

Maybe it's a good idea to wait a few months for a 300D successor, and if it's there, buy a 300D! Because when that happens, the 300D will most likely get a lot cheaper (because everyone wants the new one).

[gerb]

Maybe it's a good idea to wait a few months for a 300D successor, and if it's there, buy a 300D! Because when that happens, the 300D will most likely get a lot cheaper (because everyone wants the new one).
But what if they don't replace the 300D but instead make a sub-$600 3000D model, cheaper and less features than the 300D - the 300D price would then stay the same would it not? Hmmmm.....

[FlyingPete]

But what if they don't replace the 300D but instead make a sub-$600 3000D model, cheaper and less features than the 300D - the 300D price would then stay the same would it not? Hmmmm.....

That would begin to nail their film EOS market, however that is where the industry is going, it will happen sooner or later.

What would they strip out of the 300D? Slower shutter, slower rapid fire, plastic lens mount, no raw (shock horror!!!!)??

[Mike Panic]

if you wait for a new model... you shouldnt even bother getting a camera at all because you will be dissapointed at some point or another sooner or later when it gets replaces

and yes, canon is prob gonna bring out a replacement - but dont expect it anytime soon... they are trying to push more people into the 20d then the 300d right now, and it seems to be working

[CoolToolGuy]

Longwatcher makes a good point about not introducing the replacement until fall, as Christmas is the prime sales season, and that gives Canon another 6 months to develop a Ni*on killer. The Drebel was announced in the month of August. So it could be a little while, but certainly the Drebel in its present form will not go through another Christmas season.

On the other hand, Canon now has to deal with Olympus and Minolta as well as Ni*on, and the Drebel is a little long in the tooth - still a good camera, but the competition is gaining on it. So they may want it out now.

Waiting for PMA (Feb. 20) would be a good move. Then decide.

Have Fun,

[tim]

Canon has to compete against the Nikon D70, which is taking market share from them at the moment. I believe they will release an improved model at the big camera convention in Feb. It will be less crippled than the 300D, as the D70 isn't crippled at all, but will still fall short of the 20D in some areas, most notable buffer size, frame rate, lack of ISO 3200 support, and body quality. It should turn on faster and have much better low light operation.

[Mike Panic]

ahh...i luv how some people look at things. lets sit back and really look how this all transcribed

Canon now has to deal with Olympus and Minolta as well as Ni*on, and the Drebel is a little long in the tooth - still a good camera, but the competition is gaining on it. So they may want it out now.

canon does not have to deal w/ oly or minolta - both offer cameras that cost more money and really dont offer that much more in features or functions, other then MP. in the entry level dslr market, $ is still the king of things, and the cheapest camera will continue to sell and sell.

oly does have a GREAT product w/ the evolt camera, however the fact that it is system specific in terms of lenses means that whoever is getting one will have to buy lenses specifically for the camera, where as if they have a canon or nikon, they can always borrow friends and familys glass or use glass from other film bodies they may have.

as for the KM 7d... its a great camera, ive used it - but its hard to find in stock, and again, its a niche market that KM has and genreally speaking only diehard fans will buy it.

Canon has to compete against the Nikon D70, which is taking market share from them at the moment. I believe they will release an improved model at the big camera convention in Feb. It will be less crippled than the 300D, as the D70 isn't crippled at all, but will still fall short of the 20D in some areas, most notable buffer size, frame rate, lack of ISO 3200 support, and body quality. It should turn on faster and have much better low light operation.
ok so what you are saying is that nikon will release a semi-decent kinda sorta not really camera next month?

what is it exaclty that canon has to compete w/ in regards to nikon? maybe you forget that the only reason the d70 is selling for what it is now is because the 300d came out at $500 less then the d70 when it was first introduced, so the d70 (which was then competing against the 10d) could become more competitive. the d70 was released again, before the 300d and was never meant to be put in comparison, however w/ its huge price drop it was.

also, chronologicly speaking, canon has always introduced better dslr's for cheaper ahead of nikon.... granted nikon has had faster cameras during the first few years w/ the d1x camera, they were quickly left in the dust when canon rolled out the 1d, not to mention the speed in which they r&d'd and released the d30/d60/10d/20d - all considered to be entry level / low priced dslr's - with what started as a $2900 3mp dslr and is now down to a $1500 8mp dslr in less then 6 years... pretty impressive

[tim]

Whether Canon are competing with someone or just trying to stay ahead, I believe they will release a new camera soon. I'm not sure of the date exactly, but I am confident it isn't far away.

[CoolToolGuy]

oly does have a GREAT product w/ the evolt camera, however the fact that it is system specific in terms of lenses means that whoever is getting one will have to buy lenses specifically for the camera, where as if they have a canon or nikon, they can always borrow friends and familys glass or use glass from other film bodies they may have.Funny - if you listen to the Oly propaganda, they will tell you how the 'Four Thirds' lens mount is available to any manufacturer that wants to use it. So far, only Panasonic has signed on, although they don't have a camera or any lenses yet. Oly does not see themselves as system-specific, and the Oly sales folks will probably push that as an advantage for them. Quite a contrast to the Canon/Sigma saga.

In addition, the 2x crop factor will probably be seen as an advantage by many of the folks in the consumer market ('Really? The 300mm lens is really a 600mm? Wow!') I think Canon will be watching them very closely - Oly got a big chunk of the 35mm SLR market based on a 'smaller' alternative.

But I could be wrong...

Have Fun,

[FlyingPete]

[QUOTE=CoolToolGuy]Funny - if you listen to the Oly propaganda, they will tell you how the 'Four Thirds' lens mount is available to any manufacturer that wants to use it. So far, only Panasonic has signed on, although they don't have a camera or any lenses yet. Oly does not see themselves as system-specific, and the Oly sales folks will probably push that as an advantage for them. Quite a contrast to the Canon/Sigma saga.

In addition, the 2x crop factor will probably be seen as an advantage by many of the folks in the consumer market ('Really? The 300mm lens is really a 600mm? Wow!') I think Canon will be watching them very closely - Oly got a big chunk of the 35mm SLR market based on a 'smaller' alternative.
[QUOTE]

Interesting company these guys, they never really played in the AF SLR game (I think the released some AF lenses with their own built in AF), then suddenly like a bolt from the blue, they introduce a new SLR, but this time digital, what gives?

Wouldn't mind having a play with one, I have fond memories of my OM1 (my first SLR), and found it to be a very good camera (however very simple!).

[Mike Panic]

Funny - if you listen to the Oly propaganda, they will tell you how the 'Four Thirds' lens mount is available to any manufacturer that wants to use it. So far, only Panasonic has signed on, although they don't have a camera or any lenses yet. Oly does not see themselves as system-specific, and the Oly sales folks will probably push that as an advantage for them. Quite a contrast to the Canon/Sigma saga.

In addition, the 2x crop factor will probably be seen as an advantage by many of the folks in the consumer market ('Really? The 300mm lens is really a 600mm? Wow!') I think Canon will be watching them very closely - Oly got a big chunk of the 35mm SLR market based on a 'smaller' alternative.

But I could be wrong...

Have Fun,
being that i work in the industry and actually got a demo and hands on w/ the evolt about a week before it was publicly released when the reps came to the store i work at, i will say again it is a GREAT camrea... but oly reps will tell you that the mount itself is for oly dslr's only... so that does push away older oly film users since they can't use their glass

the 2x crop isnt so bad because oly does offer a 7-14mm zoom (14-28 w/ crop, non fisheye) but its nearly $3000!!!

[CoolToolGuy]

being that i work in the industry and actually got a demo and hands on w/ the evolt about a week before it was publicly released when the reps came to the store i work at, i will say again it is a GREAT camrea... but oly reps will tell you that the mount itself is for oly dslr's only... so that does push away older oly film users since they can't use their glassFar be it from me to dispute a hands-on industry expert - I just know what I read...
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0501/05011301panasonicfourthirds.asp


Have Fun,