Is the XT's size the only downfall???

[evidence tech]

Does anyone have any other negative drawbacks to the XT??? Although I have rather large hands, I am leaning towards buying the XT because I cant justify spending much over $1,000 for a camera. I have a feeling that if I purchase the extra grip, the camera will be just the right size. I was just curious if anyone has experienced any additional drawbacks to the XT. Thnx.

[robertwgross]

Some users would find the lighter weight to be an asset, rather than a liability.

I guess one factor is the size of the camera, but more importantly is the control button size compared to your finger size.

---Bob Gross---

[davepop]

I don't find the size an issue. The weight makes it great to use. I do need to try it with a big lens though.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Size is not a downfall, it is great!

Having now held one Id say its largest downfall,. especially to anyone coming from a 10D/20D .. is the menu system/cotrols. Some things are just damn hard to find!

[pradeep1]

Size is not a downfall, it is great!

Having now held one Id say its largest downfall,. especially to anyone coming from a 10D/20D .. is the menu system/cotrols. Some things are just damn hard to find!

Agreed, but you get quickly used to it...and it becomes easy. Not as easy as the 20D, but still not that bad.

But remember everyone, whenever you read a user's opinion, keep in mind what they are comparing it to. CDS has really good high end Canon equipment, so he is comparing it to those. I am coming from the Powershot G3, so for me, the XT is acceptable.

[gquiring]

I have had my XT for a few days now. It is my first digital SLR. I am coming from a Nikon 8700. I also own a EOS 620 film camera and a Canon SD300.

I do not consider the size of the XT to be a negative. I could have easily paid the extra $400 bucks for the 20D. I prefer the smaller size of the XT. I find dragging large cameras around for a day trip to be a challenge. That is why I like a P&S. But I needed a camera for fast action shots and the SLR's are currently the only choice.

You can put the $$$ saved on the XT towards a new lens or something.

[Alexandre Gabriel]

Agreed, but you get quickly used to it...and it becomes easy. Not as easy as the 20D, but still not that bad.
But remember everyone, whenever you read a user's opinion, keep in mind what they are comparing it to. CDS has really good high end Canon equipment, so he is comparing it to those. I am coming from the Powershot G3, so for me, the XT is acceptable.

Hey Pradeep, time to change your photo, huh? ;)

One question for you: I have a G3 and I know how great it is. We all know that 350D (or Rebel XT) is better than G3, but why did you buy one? Sensor size (less noise), more than a 35-140 lens, megapixel count, and/or what?

[pradeep1]

Hey Pradeep, time to change your photo, huh? ;)

One question for you: I have a G3 and I know how great it is. We all know that 350D (or Rebel XT) is better than G3, but why did you buy one? Sensor size (less noise), more than a 35-140 lens, megapixel count, and/or what?

Hi Alexandre,

That photo is actually taken with my wife's A80...a camera I rarely use. :)

I bought the XT for the following reasons:

1. Fast autofocus...with a good lens, the autofocus is comparable to the 20D. G3's focus sucks. I was missing so many of these wonderful shots that I wanted to get because that camera took so much time to focus. I have relatives with young children and my wife and I want children one day, and I couldn't see myself being able to capture what I wanted with the G3. The G3 is best to photograph things that don't move...hence you'll see my portfolio...which was taken mostly with the G3, is with very static subjects.

2. Interchangeable lenses....I come from the EOS film days, and I missed using my lenses. Of course, I've sold almost all of my older lenses and am nowing buying L quality glass...which is needed I think to get the maximum from your digital camera. With my film EOS bodies..I rarely printed anything above 4" X 6", and so those lenses sufficed, but now with online printing at pro-labs costing about $2.50 for a first class 8"X10", I want to be able to print with detail.

3. With printing in mind, I liked the high ISO capabilities of the XT. You can switch ISO at will and get very good results. The G3 was pretty much sucky after ISO 50. ISO 100 was okay. ISO 200 and 400 were unusable in my opinion. I shot almost exclusively in ISO 50, and that was limiting at times.

4. Price point/feature mix....the XT gave me everything I wanted at a price I wanted to spend. Maybe in the future I'll upgrade to a 1 series body, but for now, I am happy.

But before you chuck your G3 and buy an XT, consider mastering the G3 fully. The G3 is a wonderfully capable camera and it is truly a classic camera. I stuck with my G3 when the 300D (original digital Rebel) first came out. Only in the past few months have I gotten to the point that it was time to make a move to something else. I know all too many people on this board who upgrade for the sake of upgrading and really are more gearheads than photographers. Don't become one like that. Nothing wrong with gearheads...I am one...but be a photographer first...use the tools you have and when your tools no longer serve your vision and your capabilities, then move on.

[Mark_48]

I've got a G1, DRebel 300D, and a 20D. They all use the same BP-511 battery. The XT uses the NB-2L.
If I was considering the XT as a second camera to the 20D maybe as a backup or an upgrade from the 300D, I would really prefer that most of the accessories, battery included would be compatible.

[tim]

Good batteries are cheap at http://sterlingtek.com

[CyberDyneSystems]

Agreed, but you get quickly used to it...and it becomes easy. Not as easy as the 20D, but still not that bad.

But remember everyone, whenever you read a user's opinion, keep in mind what they are comparing it to. CDS has really good high end Canon equipment, so he is comparing it to those. I am coming from the Powershot G3, so for me, the XT is acceptable.

Absolutely!

One will definitely get used to it,.. and if it's a first Canon DSLR it will become "natural" quicker.

Slight shift to the topic,. I mentioned "coming from the 10D/20D"... Canon now has essentially three evolutions of menu sytems in there DSLR line,. the "1" series,. the "10" series and the "300" series...

The "1" series is actually descended directly from there Pro "1" series and "3" 35mm Film cameras,. and as such is a bit of a holdover despite improvements,. this combined with the weather sealing, which seems to have limited Canon's use of some types of controls on these models,.. has clearly effected the evolution of the 1 series menu system.

The 300 series is newest,. but due to cost reasons has had to cope with the cameras actual physical limitations regarding lack of a main control dial on the back of the camera, as well as other buttons and dials. It is simple economics that has limited the effectiveness of the 300 series controls.

The 10 Series It is for these reaons that I personally feel the 20D is the easiest and fastest to use. The 10 series was not hampered by either a lack of controls for cost or weather sealing reasons,. and has not attempted to maintain backwards compatibility as far as the user is concerned to the degree that the "1" series has..

..thus the 20D has IMHO the most evolved control layout and menu system of Canon's entire DSLR line up from the D30 onward.

Sure there are exceptions for each model whcih may have certain aspects that are "better" from a control stand point,. but as a complete package I would argue that the 20D has by far the most evolved control system.

[jimsolt]

Good batteries are cheap at http://sterlingtek.com
Tim, I know this question has been asked at least 1000 times on this forum alone, but have you had good experiences with these batteries? Know of any bad ones?
The prices are unbelievably low compared to the Canon models.

Jim

[kawter2]

Size is not a downfall, it is great!

Having now held one Id say its largest downfall,. especially to anyone coming from a 10D/20D .. is the menu system/cotrols. Some things are just damn hard to find!


I was going to say the same thing. it has ALL the functions, but accessing them is like reformatting a hard drive lol

[timmyquest]

I stopped by best buy today, i seriously almost overlooked t his camera because i thought it was a point and shoot...i mean, the damn thing is teeny!

The shutter sounds interesting too...

[Jackal]

After using my friends 300D whenever we were shooting stuff, I have to say I do like the 350D's smallness.

It's not a downfall at all. It's lightweight, smaller, and more SOLID than the 300D. I find it pretty comfortable and I have big hands.

P.S. I love it's shutter sound.

i seriously almost overlooked this camera because i thought it was a point and shoot...

That might be a good thing in some situations. :D

Of course an L lense strapped on might throw that out the window haha.

[Hellashot]

I handled an XT today at Best Buy and like others have said it is too small. They've made it like a high end compact digital camera except it has interchangeable lenses. The grip was too small for my hand, where my Drebel's grip is perfect.

I was going to say the same thing. it has ALL the functions, but accessing them is like reformatting a hard drive lol

It didn't look like they change the settings/menu much from the Drebel. The problem I have with trying to find a compact digital camera to buy is that the settings for them, compared to my Drebel, is taking 5 huge leaps backwards. The settings are so accessible with easy menus on the Drebels. Unlike compacts where you have a function button, a menu button, and it takes forever to just change the shutter speed or appeture value manually on a compact! On a Drebel, shutter speed and appeture are always right at your fingertips!

[evidence tech]

Thanks for all the input but I think I am more confused then when I started. I guess I will just have to stop by the camera shop and test them both out.

[Alexandre Gabriel]

Pradeep said:

But before you chuck your G3 and buy an XT, consider mastering the G3 fully. The G3 is a wonderfully capable camera and it is truly a classic camera. I stuck with my G3 when the 300D (original digital Rebel) first came out. Only in the past few months have I gotten to the point that it was time to make a move to something else. I know all too many people on this board who upgrade for the sake of upgrading and really are more gearheads than photographers. Don't become one like that. Nothing wrong with gearheads...I am one...but be a photographer first...use the tools you have and when your tools no longer serve your vision and your capabilities, then move on.

Thanks Pradeep. Amazing tip. I am a gearhead but I have to respect my budget ;)
I miss autofocus too, and G3 noise sucks sometimes. I think I need a 420EX to help me with the G3 indoors...
I think I will master my film EOS 30 before I go to DSLR.
If I have any doubt, I will PM you, to avoid talking about G3 in a EOS forum ;)

[mr.photoguy]

I used to hate trying to manual focus with the G3. As said the use of iso above 200-400 was a nono.
The XT sure produces some clean images though @ high iso.. very much like the 20D does. Ofcourse I have also noticed that this depends on your choice of lens, and exposure.

[Reminisce]

Just a couple of points of note that may or may not matter to most of you, but worth mentioning, from an article posted at http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/eos_digital_rebel_xt_vs_20d.html#same


- The EOS 20D provides full cross-type performance with maximum apertures as small as f5.6, yet it achieves up to 3 times the standard focusing precision when used with EF lenses featuring maximum apertures larger than or equal to f/2.8. The autofocus system of the Digital Rebel XT is inherited from the film Rebel XT body and has normal precision f5.6 sensors.

- The EOS 20D autofocus is specified to operate in 1 stop lower light than the Digital Rebel autofocus (-0.5 EV vs +0/5 EV)

- The EOS 20D is good for 1000 shots (no flash) on a single battery charge, the Digital Rebel XT is good for 600.
(Is this true?)
- The EOS 20D has a PC terminal for use with an external flash or strobe, the Digital Rebel XT does not.

- The EOS 20D maximum flash sync voltage is 250v (for both the hotshoe and PC terminal), the Digital Rebel XT maximum sync voltage is 6v

- The EOS 20D has a high performance shutter designed for increased reliability (100,000 cycles), the Digital Rebel XT has the normal Canon shutter (about 50,000 cycles).

- The EOS 20D has 18 custom functions, the Digital Rebel XT has 9

Can anyone verify if the PC Terminal note is true, as well as the custom functions? I'd like to know as a friend is interested in buying one and the terminal is make or break for him.

[oddball]

IMHO, the size of the XT is just fine; the 20D seems slightly large to me anyways... The $1000 price point is a very persuading feature of the XT; I got everything I needed out of a current dSLR for that price, allowing extra $ for a decent lens...

[HKFEVER]

Can anyone verify if the PC Terminal note is true

No PC Terminal. :rolleyes:

[booggerg]

If someone can come out with a XT mold to create a form-fitting rubber sleeve to increase the grith of the camera, it would be huge seller.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I'm just going to grab a 2.5 Lb bar bell plate and make an adapter that will change the hole so it will take the standard 1/4 20 threaded that the tripod mount uses... then they can all weigh there XT's down to 1D size!

[pradeep1]

I'm just going to grab a 2.5 Lb bar bell plate and make an adapter that will change the hole so it will take the standard 1/4 20 threaded that the tripod mount uses... then they can all weigh there XT's down to 1D size!

Now you are being just goofy. :)

[mbze430]

Anyone got the vertical grip for the Xt yet?

[bauerman]

I too handled an XT last night in my local photo store and did not like the feel of the grip nor the overall size of the camera. I have no problem with large cameras. I prefer something substantial to hold on to. Now this is nitpicky as well - but I also did not like the "sandy" finish to the body of the XT....felt cheaper to me. (I was looking at a silver one if that makes any difference). I prefer the smoooooooooooooth plastic on my 300D!

[CyberDyneSystems]

Now you are being just goofy. :)
Fill the vertical grip with molten lead?

[Jon, The Elder]

Don't buy the damn thing then - but quit bitching about a basically good camera.