Pondering the switch to SLR...

Hi, everyone,

Currently, I am the owner of a Canon G3. It has performed for me very well thus far and I have been quite happy with the quality of the photos and the camera in general. However, a few of its limitations have led me to ponder the switch to a digital SLR, although I'm not 100% it will address my concerns, so perhaps you could offer some advice?

I am considering getting the 20D when it arrives, with the EF-S 17-85MM f4-5.6 IS USM. I figure this would be good for the sort of day-to-day photography I'm primarily interested in. (I guess I could be considered a "serious amateur") I think I'd probably add the EF 70-200mm f/4L USM and EF 50mm f/1.8 II shortly thereafter.

The first problem is the obvious shutter lag, which I know an SLR would help with. Having a slow shutter response time doesn't help when, for instance, the snake I'm photographing decides to jump out at me just as I hit the button.

However, I'm not so sure about the other problems. One problem I have is that the camera seems to be slow to focus at times. It seems as though it will sort of make a wrong guess on the direction it needs to go to focus, and thus fail or take a long time. If I try again, it will often get the focus correct, but this doesn't help when you are trying to catch pictures of people and/or animals in their natural setting. Would an SLR tend to focus more quickly or not?

The other issue I'd like to address is taking pictures where more zoom is necessary. I have the Canon tele-converter for my G3, however, pictures taken with it rarely come out well. They are usually extremely blurry and noisy. I'm wanting to take pictures of the wildlife that often finds its way into my back yard, which is why I got the tele-converter. However, animals like the deer only come out in the evening, when the light is rather dim. With the G3, I'm usually forced to use ISO 200 at f/2.0 and a shutter speed around 1/60s. Would the 20D and the EF 70-200mm mentioned above make for more focused, well-exposed pictures?

What it boils down to is that if a digital SLR isn't going to give me the ability to get better pictures in these situations, then it's probably not worth my spending the $2500+ (It's already questionable whether or not it's worth it). I have to say that the prospect of having an SLR is very exciting. So as a final question, would there be a noticeable difference between the pictures taken with the G3 and those taken with a digital SLR such as the 20D?

Thank you very much for your help!

Kamal

Yes.
As inexperienced as I am with a camera, I can still tell you that the
ability to change your lenses also gives you a much wider range of
possible shooting distances and angles that you wouldn't otherwise have.
Switching to an SLR camera from a fixed lens is like switching from
beer to LSD--in a strictly mind-expanding sense, of course..

Ummmm ... of course ... I guess. Perhaps we should keep it legal and say that it's like switching from Budweiser to Pilsner Urquell - in other words from mass produced, watered down industrial mainstream to ... oh, never mind.

Yes

SLRs will also focus much faster. Seems that with 20D you'll be able to track the moving objects really well as well as getting accurate fast autofocus for those quick shots.

If you have snakes jumping at you, then you'd need a long tele so that you're sure they don't reach you.

Man of 1000 Ages wrote:
Hi, everyone,

Currently, I am the owner of a Canon G3. It has performed for me very well thus far and I have been quite happy with the quality of the photos and the camera in general. However, a few of its limitations have led me to ponder the switch to a digital SLR, although I'm not 100% it will address my concerns, so perhaps you could offer some advice?

I am considering getting the 20D when it arrives, with the EF-S 17-85MM f4-5.6 IS USM. I figure this would be good for the sort of day-to-day photography I'm primarily interested in. (I guess I could be considered a "serious amateur") I think I'd probably add the EF 70-200mm f/4L USM and EF 50mm f/1.8 II shortly thereafter.

The first problem is the obvious shutter lag, which I know an SLR would help with. Having a slow shutter response time doesn't help when, for instance, the snake I'm photographing decides to jump out at me just as I hit the button.

However, I'm not so sure about the other problems. One problem I have is that the camera seems to be slow to focus at times. It seems as though it will sort of make a wrong guess on the direction it needs to go to focus, and thus fail or take a long time. If I try again, it will often get the focus correct, but this doesn't help when you are trying to catch pictures of people and/or animals in their natural setting. Would an SLR tend to focus more quickly or not?

The other issue I'd like to address is taking pictures where more zoom is necessary. I have the Canon tele-converter for my G3, however, pictures taken with it rarely come out well. They are usually extremely blurry and noisy. I'm wanting to take pictures of the wildlife that often finds its way into my back yard, which is why I got the tele-converter. However, animals like the deer only come out in the evening, when the light is rather dim. With the G3, I'm usually forced to use ISO 200 at f/2.0 and a shutter speed around 1/60s. Would the 20D and the EF 70-200mm mentioned above make for more focused, well-exposed pictures?

What it boils down to is that if a digital SLR isn't going to give me the ability to get better pictures in these situations, then it's probably not worth my spending the $2500+ (It's already questionable whether or not it's worth it). I have to say that the prospect of having an SLR is very exciting. So as a final question, would there be a noticeable difference between the pictures taken with the G3 and those taken with a digital SLR such as the 20D?

Thank you very much for your help!

Kamal

There is no doubt in my mind that the 20D and the lenses you suggested will make better pictures than your point and shoot.

After awhile.

At first things are going to suck for you. You'll have the wrong set up. The camera is heavy and you will get the wrong exposure and will miss the focus and wonder why you bought it in the first place.

It is a tool that requires knowledge, practice and more practice. The instruction book for the 10D is 185 pages long. I read through it frequently even though I've had the camera for 18 months and I've been a professional photogrpaher for 25+ years. I suspect the instruction manual for the 20D will be even thicker!

But things get better quickly with that practice. The review capability and the "free film" aspect of the dslr make it a wonderful tool for seeing your mistakes as they happen and not have to wait until the film comes back from the lab. If you use a program like Photoshop 7 or CS you will be able to read from the encoded EXIF data, the lens you used, the actual focal length if it was a zoom, plus the aperture and shutterspeed. This kind of information is invaluable as well to debrief yourself after a shoot.

But if you are the kind of person who figures that instruction books are for the other guy, and that superb results should come from merely pushing the shutter button, then you will be very unhappy with the 20D or any other real camera.

In the same boat...

Hey,

I'm in the same boat - got a G3 and get frustrated with it 'searching for focus' all the time. I take a lot of animal and sport photos, which the G3 really struggles with.

I'm also thinking about the 20D with the 17-85 IS USM lens. Heading over to the USA (in NY) in late-October (from Australia) and am hoping to pick one up while there. Any tips on where to buy from, how to make sure they will have stock, and how to get the best price (i.e. avoiding taxes)?

In response to your post, from everything I've read and played with, this 20D combo seems like the answer to our prayers. I've had a bit of a go with the Digital Rebel, but don't like the feel of it at all (very cheap feel compared to 10D or Nikon D70). I'm leaning towards the 20D mainly due to the choice of lenses I can get with Canon, or otherwise I'd go with the Nikon D70 with the 18-70 lens (for the price savings).

Steve

i had a G3. it was and is a good cam. can't compare to a Dslr for speed though. only down side is buying all the lenses.

Sales tax varies from state to state, and it can be anywhere from zero up to nearly 10%. On a high-ticket item, that can really add up. Any over-the-counter sale will have that sales tax added. Any online sale will have sales tax added if you are in the same state as the vendor.

So, if you intend to avoid sales tax, your best bet would be to find a camera vendor in some state that has no sales tax, e.g. Texas.

---Bob Gross---

I've tried using my G3 a couple of times after getting my 10D about 8 months ago. I damn near threw the thing against a wall. The shutter lag is ridiculous compared to a SLR. Get it you will not regret it

I'm in the same position - have a G3, want a 20D. Is there a problem using both cameras on the same PC? In other words, will be software that comes with the 20D also work with the G3?

Thanks,
Tim

P.S.: My problem is that I'll have to buy a bigger/faster PC for the 20D since my old Athlon 500 with about 2 GB free hard disk space will surely choke on those 8MP pics

pietzcker wrote:
I'm in the same position - have a G3, want a 20D. Is there a problem using both cameras on the same PC? In other words, will be software that comes with the 20D also work with the G3?

Thanks,
Tim

P.S.: My problem is that I'll have to buy a bigger/faster PC for the 20D since my old Athlon 500 with about 2 GB free hard disk space will surely choke on those 8MP pics

If Zoombrowser is the G3's download program I'd guess that it would work with both the G3 and the 20D. It wouldn't be the end of the world either, if you needed to use the G3's program for the G3 and the 20D's program for the 20D. Besides within a couple of days of getting the 20D you will just stop using the G3.

You will need a new computer and the faster and bigger the better. You'll need at least one gig of RAM, and 160 gig of hard drive. My computer has a 60 gig hard drive AND a 120 gig drive. The bigger drive was installed last Christmas and it's about 1/3 full already!

To get the most out of your 20D you should be shooting RAW and you'll need a RAW converter for that. The Canon RAW converter that comes with the 20D is likely to suck - the 10D's certainly did! The best choice is probably Photoshop CS. It's very expensive but there is a deal available if it still is on and you live in the US or Canada:

http://store.adobe.com …icrotek&sourcec​ode=112300

Try that address. Adobe offered an "upgrade" from Photoshop Elements (which comes with the 20D by the way). The web site page is still active so I'm hoping that it still works. Ignore the Microteck stuff and just fill out the forms. I half expected to be asked for a Microteck serial number which would have messed this all up but either I skipped over it or it was never asked - I'm old and I forget, see. In any case you'll get a legit copy - which is the only way you can use PS CS since it needs to be enabled over the internet by Adobe. After that you'd be on the regular upgrade track as CS inevitably improves.

Steve,

I think you will like the improvement a lot.

However, I think it will not be easy at all to get a 20D in October, especially from abroad.
There will not be any units lying around in the store at this date unless pre-ordered a long time ago.

Just my guess based on what I heard about the 10D launch. And this camera IS the biggest thing since sliced bread, at the moment.

Best regards,
Andy

In addition to greatly reduced shutter lag and autofocus times, you get the ability to take additional shots quickly, something you will find very beneficial for widlife. I was very frustrated with the G3 at times when I had to wait seconds to take the next shot. Some of my photography requires rapid shooting (dance, e.g.) and it was totally inadequate. I moved to the Rebel and found a hige improvement all around but it still didn't have the burst speed and large buffer I occasionally need so I wound up with the 1D MkII.

I still have the G3 for documentary work (construction projects) and it is ideal for that. It's always under the front seat and will be with me for years. Great camera for the appropriate application.

Jim

Dear DaveG,

thanks a lot for your help - I currently have Photoshop 7, would that be OK, too?

Best wishes,
Tim

i had a G5 and switch over to a 10D simply because some things the g5 wouldnt give me. my main thing was no deopth of field. even shot at the widest aperture it still was not like i wanted. plus i love the ability to swap lenses. just gott have the right lens for the situation.

one con was that i lost my macro functions... although i can buy a macro lens and problem fixed.