Rebel, 350 or 20D?

[MDJAK]

Don't mean this to be off topic; hope it isn't.

Friend asked me to do him a favor. His girl friend (who is a descendant of the Alcoa family = big bucks) wants a digital camera. She has four kids. She doesn't want a point and shoot. She wants me to take her to B&H and suggest/recommend what to get.

Obviously, she doesn't want a monstrosity like my 1dsmkII.

I initially recommended the 20D, my former camera.

I don't really read the reviews of the lesser-priced cameras any longer.

Is the 350 a good bet? Should I steer her to the 20D?

Any suggestions would be helpful.

[Johnny V]

I have the 350 and use a friend's 20D occasionally. The 350 can do almost as much as the 20D in a smaller package and is very reliable and well built. Go for the 350 as it's smaller and easier to carry around. But if she likes the 20D and how it feels in her hands...go for it.

[Andy_T]

That's the way.

Let her decide which she prefers ... there is no right or wrong answer here.

It comes down to which one feels better to her. The difference in FPS might not be much more interesting than the difference in purchasing price. 350D is smaller, 20D is maybe more robust. They are all great cameras.

I would not go for the 300D, as this is mainly important for those who absolutely can not afford the added $$$ for the 350D ... maybe not the case here.

Best regards,
Andy

[blue_max]

How big is her Gucci handbag?

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Graham

[Rob612]

Let her handle both and then decide. I couldn't, so I bought both :D

[BrandonSi]

Ask her why she doesn't want a point and shoot? Then ask her if she can give you the definition of aperture. If she can't, get the 350. Otherwise I'd go with the 20D.

[zacker]

for a beginner and a girl who probably has smaller hands than most guys, the 350D is smaller and lighter than the 20D and all the bells and whistles on the 20D just might confuse her.. i know it confuses me...lol Let her hold both, explain the differences and also explain that the 350D is the stripped version of the 20D meaning its just as good and the pictures are about the same.
-zacker-

[condyk]

Take her to B&H and then let the salesperson work through the benefits of XT and 20D, because that's dull for you to do, but chip in now and again using your objective knowledge if you see any nsales pitching. Then let her try both in the hand and work through the controls.

I think the body choice is less important than the lenses she buys anyway, so some time before in a coffee shop working through with her what she wants from the gear and then suggesting some options at different price points would be a huge help I reckon.

[Andy_T]

350 is plastic, 20D is metal...


It's not just simple metal, it's a MAGNESIUM alloy.

Coming from the 'ALCOA' family, she will understand.

Best regards,
Andy

[condyk]

WarrenO posted this very interesting link in another thread:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_eos1dmkii%2Ccanon_eos20d%2Ccanon_eos 350d&show=all

Compares XT and 20D. Might help you help her :D

[BrandonSi]

It's not just simple metal, it's a MAGNESIUM alloy.

Coming from the 'ALCOA' family, she will understand.

Best regards,
Andy

LOL.. nice one. :D

[MDJAK]

What's even funnier, and coincidental, is my friend's/her boyfriend's name is Brandon.

[Michaelmjc]

Give me 1 person who owns a 350D and would not want to swap.


Me, My uncle just bought a 20D today and I was tryin it out for the first time. Dont like it one bit, all the buttons are in such weird positions, they are also very awkward to press. The 350D's buttons are more convenient and easier to press.

I wouldn't trade mine for it at all... I like my 350D and dont ever see a reason to switch untill I buy a 1 series.

[Andy_T]

So,

how did it work out?
What did you suggest, and how was it received?
Do we have another potential forum member?

Best regards,
Andy

[Pelao]

Me, My uncle just bought a 20D today and I was tryin it out for the first time. Dont like it one bit, all the buttons are in such weird positions, they are also very awkward to press. The 350D's buttons are more convenient and easier to press.

This just goes to prove that individual needs are most important. The 350's method of managing the camera is quite similar to the 300's. although the former is a much more capable machine. This was one of the reasons I went for the 20D. I find the ease of use and controllability of the 20D so much easier and more intuitive.

I would also suggest a bit of circumspection when looking at reviews which compare the 350 and 20D. these tend to concentrate on the capabilities of the cameras, which are actuall quite similar. What they rarely touch on in any detail is the access to and control of these capabilities.

Apart from the easier general control of the 20D, the 350's size was something of a problem for me - I do not have large hands but found the controls cramped. But, again, that's a personal thing.

I just spent the early hours of this morning wandering the old part of Nice, France. There were lots of great shooting opportunities, requiring changes to various settings. the 20D is a master of this sort of work, enabling me to make swift, intuitive changes and allowing me to focus on composition. What a wonderful camera.

Now all I need is a bit of talent :p

[MDJAK]

So,

how did it work out?
What did you suggest, and how was it received?
Do we have another potential forum member?

Best regards,
Andy

Unfortunately, I got hung up at work and was unable to accompany her down during the week. I went down this past Sunday.

I think we may go this week. I'll update and let you know.

[drays]

I would go for the 350D, but that's just me, I don't have any use for all the fancy finesses on 20D (even though I thought about jumping straight to 20D).

Or you can give her this URL, some good reading there.

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/eos_digital_rebel_xt_vs_20d.html

[MDJAK]

Well, she (Lucy is her name; we'd never met before yesterday) and I went to B&H yesterday. The store sure is different during the week than when I usually go on Sundays. Went right up to the counter, compared the new Rebel with the 20D, and she immediately preferred the 20D. She got it with the kit lens (18-55?), a B&W multicoated filter, a 1gb Sandisk ultra II card, and a small lowepro case. Total price: $2300. (rounded)

I was actually surprised that the kit was that expensive. As we were on another line getting the case, I looked at the receipt. I did feel badly, and I asked her if she had been prepared to spend that much money. She said she really didn't think about it. (As I posted above, she doesn't need to think about money. Too bad she didn't offer to buy me the 300f/2.8 for my troubles.)

I offered to show her how to use it, to take it out of the box on the way home, but she didn't want to. I dropped myself back at work (I drove her Lexus RX330 back and forth as she turned the AC on and off every five minutes), told her if she has any questions, to join the forum.

[Dew]

350 is plastic, 20D is metal...

It's not just simple metal, it's a MAGNESIUM alloy.

Coming from the 'ALCOA' family, she will understand.

Best regards,
Andy

It's not just plastic it's fibre-filled bullet-proof POLYCARBONATE! :lol:

[mikesd]

I think what she purchased was the 17-85 IS kit lens which retails in the $600 range and is a very good lens.

[ed2day]

I think what she purchased was the 17-85 IS kit lens which retails in the $600 range and is a very good lens.

Exactly what I was thinking, and a good choice.

[Andy_T]

It's not just plastic it's fibre-filled bullet-proof POLYCARBONATE! :lol:

I maybe wouldn't try out the bullet-proof part of it :lol:

Best regards,
Andy