What's wrong with my 300D?

A couple of things come to mind -

The 300D is certainly no speed demon in anything it does. However one generally doesn't notice this until you use a 20D or newer model camera...

The lens assortment you are using, while capable, is not considered fast in the focusing arena nor the light areas. The 50/1.8 is a 'fast' lens but focusing with it can be difficult and inconsistent. Patience with it can result in spectacular images.

Trying to remember my process when shooting the 300D - I believe I would focus on my subject and simply hold the shutter button half down, recompose, and shoot. On rare occasions did I feel the need to lock the exposure, then focus, recompose and shoot. Just keep in mind that every time you release and press the shutter button you get a new focus point.

If you're using * button to lock exposure, do that first before even touching the shutter release button. then half press to achieve AF, then press the rest of the way down to shoot.

As a side note, my hacked Rebel will track focus is AI Servo mode until I hit the *AE lock button, then I'm stuck with wherever the focus point was at that instant. Weird, huh?

I'm never really sure what my hacked Rebel is doing when it focuses.

-js

Thanks for the answer. i guess the problem stem from half press the shutter button and then the AE-lock.

I'll try to lock the compensation before locking the focus.

I personally haven't handle 20D but even the first time i bought 300D, it doesn't satisfy me.
I cant even use RAW for action oriented shooting.

Once I shoot a raw, the led light keep blinking and I've to wait the writing process to finish. If I my cf card contain lots of picture it's become even slower and hinder me from taking another shoot.

sometime the camera even jam 'coze the buffer was full. To compensate for that i've to use a small jpeg file for continous shooting.

now, I've used a 350D which improve alot and moreover cheaper than 300D!

seems like camera nowadays become like a PC, tend to get cheaper and faster.

Its not unusual for older discontinue product to depreciate in value when it is replace by a newer and more feature laden product. The 300D was replaced by the 350D and the 400D replaced the 350D. Although the 350D was replaced Canon chose to keep the 350D in market to compete at 350D current price. Te 350D remains in the market because there is a need for a DSLR body at this price range to keep competition at bay.

If that's the case if we're not earning an income from photography, our money would just get burn in every few years ?

To be frank , i have an intention to get a 40D to replace my old 300D, but my fear it my money would get burn in 2 years time when canon release 50D after 2yrs. I notice that the Canon has 1 and 1/2 yrs cycle for each new model.
Out of my main topic, do you guy think i should go ahead and ditch out my 300D for 40D?

the issue with 300D :-

i) cannot continous shoot in RAW
ii) tend to jam even if I shoot in fine jpeg mode.
iii) writing speed will be slow down if i've many images.
iv) Even if I use sandiskk extreme hi speed card, situation doesn't improve.
v) Slower on focusing. with the same lens, even a 350D focus faster.

But my fear is:
I scare that i will regret if in future for the same amount of my i invested for 40D i can get a 5D feature! or worst the new model i.e 450D is better and faster than 40D.


Please advice.

danielyamseng wrote in post #4104653
The issue with 300D :-

i) cannot continous shoot in RAW
ii) tend to jam even if I shoot in fine jpeg mode.
iii) writing speed will be slow down if i've many images.
iv) Even if I use sandiskk extreme hi speed card, situation doesn't improve.
v) Slower on focusing. with the same lens, even a 350D focus faster.

Eh? The 300D CAN do continuous shooting in RAW - I shoot exclusively RAW and the only problem is that you can only take 12 or so in rapid succession before maxing out the buffer. Have you got the camera drive mode set to one shot by mistake?

The only reason you should max out the buffer in small RAW is if you are shooting dozens of images continously - maybe you need to stop the "pray and spray" approach?

I believe its 4 frams in RAW continuos mode for the 300D. There is a counter on the lower right side of VF.

danielyamseng wrote in post #4104653
To be frank , i have an intention to get a 40D to replace my old 300D, but my fear it my money would get burn in 2 years time when canon release 50D after 2yrs. I notice that the Canon has 1 and 1/2 yrs cycle for each new model.
Out of my main topic, do you guy think i should go ahead and ditch out my 300D for 40D?

I understand. Heh, I was still exclusively shooting film not all that long ago. But when its time to upgrade, its time. Don't worry, whatever decision you make, your new camera will become obsolete eventually. The question is whether upgrading will help your photography now.

The concept of design obsolescence was coined in the 50's. It is a concept for manufacture to design new product to sell to consumer when the current becomes obsolete. They are after all in the business to sell their product and in order to do that is to come out with new and more attractive product. If you notice I did not say better product just more attractive.

lostdoggy wrote in post #4108407
The concept of design obsolescence was coined in the 50's. It is a concept for manufacture to design new product to sell to consumer when the current becomes obsolete. They are after all in the business to sell their product and in order to do that is to come out with new and more attractive product. If you notice I did not say better product just more attractive.

And in the '50s I was a highly impressionable teenager. I went to the GM Autorama and saw the concept cars with Tail Fins. As the years went on the fins got taller and taller, even though they had little to do with the aerodynamic stability of the vehicle.

Although I must say the '58 Cadillac with the fin standing straight up and the two taillights tucked in at the bottom of the fin were amusing to a horny teenager.


(Edit) Funny, my girlfriends didn't see the humor. Shrug.

-js

I still remember when I've my Canon EOS 50E, that model can last very long time. The timeframe for a digital camera to be come obsolete is very fast.

As for the RAW mode yes, it 4 RAW for continius shoot. Of course I did turn on the continus mode but even i i did not, it would only slow turn the shooting a bit but that doesnt give extra time for the buffer to be cleared.

For a modern digital camera even with an entry level SLR, it doesnt have the jam problem as 300d.

I'm not sure whether to stretch my budget to get a 40D or get a cheaper one 400D and keep buying a new model once it become obsolete.

What do you guys think?

The 300D does have its negatives. But i feel that you are expecting too much in by way of features.

I mean it does not stop you from producing photos. And that is what matters

hmm... im quite upset about this thread.

What CF card are you using in the camera? They are different speeds.

I think your definition of 'obsolete' is flawed. The camera certainly still functions from what I read. It does what it was designed to do. There have been improvements. Are your problems that your camera can't match the new ones or that it's failing to do something you need to do? If it's failing to do what you need is this a new issue or a new need?

Answer those for yourself then decide what a new camera that meets your needs is worth.

Mediation wrote in post #4109531
hmm... im quite upset about this thread.

I have a 300D also.

Take two aspirins and call me in the morning.



-js