Felt the 350D at Best Buy..

[booggerg]

...It definitely felt a little bit too cramped in my hands.. I also didn't like the lack of a wheel to change the exp comp. My question is... anyone else there felt this way initially with the 350D but got used to it having given it some time to adjust? The 20D sitting next to it definitely felt mroe comfortable in my hand, but I'm still drawn to the compactness and price of the 350D...

[ddelallata]

The 350 feels like any other full size camera with the addition of a battery grip... at least to me it does.

[bolantej]

yeah same here. whatever you think you'll use more. i was actually okay with the plain grip, and i have very big hands.

[booggerg]

It felt like the small grip of the 350D is not filling the curl of my fingers... and that I had to bend my fingers additionally to rest the finger tips on the surface between the lens barrel and the grip...

[ddelallata]

I used my 350 without the grip once and I almost vomited. That's how sickening the experience was for me.

[Poco]

Wow - it's a good thing no one makes any cameras smaller than the 350D - they would only sell them to elphs.

It's a hell of a lot bigger than my s400

[booggerg]

sd400 doesn't have a big lens in front of it...

[Poco]

Technically that makes it even smaller :-)

[lostdoggy]

Wow - it's a good thing no one makes any cameras smaller than the 350D - they would only sell them to elphs.

It's a hell of a lot bigger than my s400

Pentax *ist D is smaller

[kenyc]

I was using a Minolta si800 analog camera. In checking out the various digital options, As soon as I picked the 350 up, I put it back down. And decided right then it was the Minolta 7D or the Canon 20D. You know which one I bought. Followed shortly by a 70-200L IS 2.8 lens.

KAC

[condyk]

I went in to buy a 350D several months back and didn't like it at all from a handling POV. Stick a Bigma on there, or anything bigger than a 50mm II :lol: and spend a few hours handheld shooting and you will suffer. Bad ergonomics.

It's made for people moving from the P&S level who have been led to believe small is better. The 20D is a seriously nice camera to handle. I preferred the 300D and so bought that after studying spec differences, firmware hacks, etc, and I like it even more with the Grip. The grip on the 350 is an improvement, but the camera is still very narrow, even though it's a bit deeper and so the 'little finger ache' problem is less pronounced. It's Ok to use on P&S mode, but trying to use in full manual must a real pain ... literally :p

[blue_max]

I had a G5 and loved it's size. Then they made the G6 (and pro-1) and both felt like toys.

I do like the 10d though. But it's size is not always an asset.

Heck, it's only a tool, it would only be an issue for a very short while. I am typing this on my 23" lcd monitor that looked like a football pitch when I first got it. Now it seems 'regular'. We are spoilt to have a choice!

Graham

[bauerman]

I used my 350 without the grip once and I almost vomited. That's how sickening the experience was for me.

This VERY funny! You people need to recognize humor when you see it - it can be rare on these hardware forums! :D

[CyberDyneSystems]

:lol: :lol:

Well.. I figure the 350D would be just about the perfect size to use as a rear lenscap for my 500mm prime ;)

[Gordon S.]

I had a 300D and returned it while I could for a 350. I definitely preferred the 300's size but I've gotten used to and don't mind the 350 now, its certainly never driven me to the point of vomiting. I have fairly small hands but overall its pretty comfortable. Having said that I'll definitely pick up a battery grip sometime in the future just for better balance.

[SHOWSP]

Added the grip to my 350D and it made the camera just right (weight & size) for my small hands. Love the addition of the extra battery.

[oloughlinc]

:lol: :lol:

Well.. I figure the 350D would be just about the perfect size to use as a rear lenscap for my 500mm prime ;)

LMAO :lol:

[Titus213]

:lol: :lol:

Well.. I figure the 350D would be just about the perfect size to use as a rear lenscap for my 500mm prime ;)

Shoot, I'd even consider it a good enough rear lens cap for my Canon 18-55 EF-S.

The 350 has caused some problems in my home. It is too small to feel comfortable in my hands but I know the wife would love it because of its size. I want her to take our current 300D so I can buy a 20D. That ploy is not working. Yet!

[The Hardcard]

Well, I just went and felt the 20D at Best Buy, (as well as the D50 and D70). I must have an unusual grip because I can't hold any of these cameras differently than my XT. I am only 5'9", though I do have large hands for my size. However, I can't get my pinky comfortably on any of the other cameras, as a result, my grip is the same for all of them. Plus I like the button layout on the XT better.

That said, I do want the 20D, and if I could get it, the XT would be the backup. The rear dial and single menu system is much better to me, plus, it has a few functions that, while I just discovered them today, I already miss using my XT.

Plus, while the XT's grip isn't slippery at all, the 20D feels much better, more secure. Almost like it would have to be forcibly removed to come out of my hand.

[Mitcon]

I didn't like the feel of the 350D/XT at first and liked the 20D more but in the end I wanted lighter and cheaper also. After a while I found I didn't mind the small grip (I have large hands). That said I got the battery grip for it a few weeks later and love it now. Makes a BIG difference with larger lenses and pretty much prefer the feel with the grip with small lens also.

It's a personal choice thing I guess for all but either way I do think after a bit of use you get used to it like anything, but if you like a more "solid" feel the grip sure is a plus.

[GovtLawyer]

Most of those complaining about the size of the XT are not former film camera users. When I shot film, for years, my Pentax Super Program and other similar cameras were the same size as the XT. When they first came out with DSLRs, they were huge, (much larger than their film counterparts) and I found that to be jarring and uncomfortable. The XT feels just like my old film cameras, and that feels great to me. Being a street photographer, I hate walking around with a big contraption dangling from hand. The XT seems small only when compared to DSLRs which are very large.

[booggerg]

I respectfully disagree. My EOS650(film body) is even heftier than my 20D. Have you seen the size of the Nikon F5s, F100s? The XT is inordinarily small for a SLR, be it digital or film.

The XT's diminutive size is no longer an advantage when you put a lens on it that's other than a 50mm prime.

[Keiffer]

HA ha ha ha Now that's FUNNY!! :-) LOL, Almost psst my pants. I can only imagine the size of that lens.:lol: :lol:

Well.. I figure the 350D would be just about the perfect size to use as a rear lenscap for my 500mm prime ;)

[spencer87]

i was in compusa today picking up a few things and played around with the XT and 20d while I was there. I definitely did not like the feel of it- too small even for my small hands, and definitely too light. I fell in love with the 20d however- its 'meaty' and feels great in the hands. I'm saving up for a couple good lenses right now, but i'm keeping my eye out for a good deal on a 20d body :)

[scotttnz]

I think this is a strange argument to have. I have a 350D and average sized hands. I think the 350D is a comfortable size and don't have any problems using it for extended periods. I find my friends 20D big and heavy, and wouldn't want to carry it around all day. On the other hand I have heaps of people comment on how huge my camera is. It all depends on your point of view and what you get used to!

[calgaryphotographer]

With a 350D, BG-E3 and a 100-400 it felt way to small.

[Perfect_10]

I think some of you guys are forgetting it's not the size, it's how you use it .. or maybe you're just embarrased about getting caught with something that small in your hands .. :lol:

[MiG82]

I took my girlfriend into a camera shop and pointed out the 350D to her. Her first comment was "it looks too small to hold".

[LastLine]

I use the 350D and I have to say the size is just perfect for me. Controls aren't an issue either.


It's threads like this thatmake me chuckle about the concept of some of you lot using a Point and Shoot and how you'd cope ;)

[MiG82]

I used a G3 for 2 years or so and it sucked for holding. At least the highest torque and weight situation was only G3, lens adapter and teleconverter.

Even with the 20D I find myself holding it with one hand sometimes and straining (often when not shooting but moving around). When I get a 1.5 - 2 kg telephoto lens it will become even more of an issue.