Purchase Opinions?

[Medic1]

From my signature, you can see what I currently have. In about 3 months I am going to be looking at my next purchase of equipment. My main problem right now is I am frustrated with the wakeup time, burst rate and buffer size of the 300D. I have used a friends 10D to shoot only a couple pictures, but liked the weight and balance it provides. I have a few options when I go out to spend the next round of money.

I am mainly shooting nature/wildlife and aviation (just as a hobby). For nature the above frustrations do not mean a whole lot to me, but for some wildlife and all aviation, I would like the burst rate to be higher and definetly the buffer size. I would like a longer lens, but at the same time would like to upgrade my camera body. I also will like a flash in the near future (I had a lead on a used 420 and 550 but neither worked out) I only have the money for one of the following choices as I am buying a house in the near future as well.

Do I buy:

A) 100-400L and keep the 300D

B) Bigma and a 550 Flash

OR

C) Either buy a 20D and keep the 300D or trade it in towards the 20D (I was thinking it might be nice to keep the rebel for situations where I might not want to subject a $2200 CDN camera to....i.e: high dust, cold weather etc.)

Its a ways off, but I would like to hear some opinions now....thanks.

[René Damkot]

Buy a 20D, and trade in the Drebel for an 550EX and a 1.4 TC...

[steven]

Buy the 20D, and sell the 300D.
Don't worry about taking the camera any place. They are tools and you should be willing to use the tool any place it is needed. There are always things you can do to make the camera safe in the marginal situations. And once you get use to the better camera you will always want it available.

[RJSorensen]

Regarding the 'Value' of the 20D . . . I am of the school that these are tools and if they can not take the riggers of day to day work and life with me, I need to find one(s) that will. If the value of such is that you cannot or will not use them . . . they have no value. Now money is money and I am not of the foolish kind, but I think them tools and not collectables. I know others differ here and you maybe one of them. Just my thoughts on that portion of the post.

[S230]

Keep the 300D and invest in the Flash until you have enough for the 20D. Use the extra money and put towards your mortgage. Within a year, that interest will probably be enough for a 1Ds!.. :)

[mtndew]

Opinion D
Traded in your Rebel D for the 20d and pick up the Rebel XT down the road

[Jon]

The 20D and keep the DR. Or have you looked at the DR XT, which has 3 FPS and about 14 frame buffer? I don't think the DR will bring you very much now as Canon's going to continue offering it, new, with the kit lens at $799 US. You'd be looking at maybe $300 for a used one without lens. But selling the DR and getting the DR XT might let you also swing the 100-400.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Dump the Rebel and get a 20D


Or Keep the Rebel and get a 100-400mm IS :)

Once you own the 20D you will never shoot the 300D unless you are bringing it along as a second body with a differnt lens mounted.

[Medic1]

The 20D and keep the DR. Or have you looked at the DR XT, which has 3 FPS and about 14 frame buffer? I don't think the DR will bring you very much now as Canon's going to continue offering it, new, with the kit lens at $799 US. You'd be looking at maybe $300 for a used one without lens. But selling the DR and getting the DR XT might let you also swing the 100-400.

Well, I got a sweet deal through a phtographer friends connections on my 300D @ $1199 CDN including extra battery, cheapy bag, UV Haze filter, grip and CF card....all brand new (Pays to know people..lol). So, I am not too much worried about how much I will get in return, I payed out pretty much what they are going for now to begin with. As far as the XT....I think if I am going up I might as well take a bigger step than going to the XT from the 300D. The rebel and rebel XT just don't have the professional build quality and balance of the 20D. After using the 10D just that once, I know that I don't want to have that plastic feeling camera body as my primary camera anymore.....

Regarding the 'Value' of the 20D . . . I am of the school that these are tools and if they can not take the riggers of day to day work and life with me, I need to find one(s) that will. If the value of such is that you cannot or will not use them . . . they have no value.

I completely agree with you on the "tools" not "collectibles" thing. I know I will most likely only use the 20D once I get it, but I figure it couldn't hurt to have the 300D kicking around anyway, especially if I am not going to get much of the value on trade in. Besides that, believe me some of the situations I would like to shoot in the risk factor for camera damage is huge, and I don't have the money to replace a 20D...now if my backup camera gets "injured" then I am not too worried. Besides that...it can't hurt to have a $1000 disposable...can it? lol

Dump the Rebel and get a 20D

Or Keep the Rebel and get a 100-400mm IS :)

...don't worry CDS....I will be getting the 100-400 as some point anyway regardless of whether I buy the 20D or not. I already had my mind made up on that regardless of whatever else I buy. Just a question of when....

Thanks everyone for your opinions. Anyone else? Keep em coming....

[Fills]

Get them all. ;)

I would get the 100-400L first, that's how I did it. I had the 300D, kit lens and a 55-200. My next purchase was the 100-400 and I never regretted it. But then again, I went from the 300D to the 20D in 7 months... so to recap, get the 300D, 18-55, 55-200, 100-400, 50 1.4, and then 20D and 17-85IS all within 7 months. Umm, I have a spending problem :(

[Illegally_Alive]

If you're worried about severe damage to your camera you should look into insurance. It's not too expensive and the peace of mind it gives is wonderful. It makes it so I'm not afraid to use my camera- and that’s what it’s really about.

[jaypie77]

Unless you have found yourself in a situation where you missed "the shot" a few times because of small buffer or burst speed, you're not going to be getting the most value from those types of upgrades. Regarding the wakeup time - invest $25.00 in two new batteries for your Rebel and turn off sleep mode. When you go out, keep that Rebel on all the time and swap in the batteries as your power dies out.

When you make the right choice and buy the 100-400 or the Bigma, you will have 200-300mm of extra range, and that will actually improve your chances of getting "the shot" with wildlife or aviation.

[Medic1]

Unless you have found yourself in a situation where you missed "the shot" a few times because of small buffer or burst speed, you're not going to be getting the most value from those types of upgrades. Regarding the wakeup time - invest $25.00 in two new batteries for your Rebel and turn off sleep mode. When you go out, keep that Rebel on all the time and swap in the batteries as your power dies out.

When you make the right choice and buy the 100-400 or the Bigma, you will have 200-300mm of extra range, and that will actually improve your chances of getting "the shot" with wildlife or aviation.

I have actually missed a couple good shots because the buffer filled up so fast, and that is where my frustration came from with the burst rate and buffer size. The wake up time is not so big of a deal, but still would be nice.

I guess its not so much of "if" I will get the 100-400 and 20D, its in what order.

Get them all.......... so to recap, get the 300D, 18-55, 55-200, 100-400, 50 1.4, and then 20D and 17-85IS all within 7 months. Umm, I have a spending problem :( [/size]

Don't worry, I hear that problem is going around.....your not alone. If I had the money I would be buying new stuff every week.....lol