Isn't it great...

Does anyone else find it very refreshing that the digital camera is "coming of age" and to be a generation or two behind the latest and greatest isn't that big of a deal? I bought my first digital camera about 10 or 11 years ago and payed quite dearly for one of the better models. Needless to say, it was quickly "left in the dust" as the technology quickly advanced. Now, we're getting to a point that a body can last several years and still be competitive with the latest and greatest on the market. The upgrades are nice but not "revolutionary". Although I like to see improvements and technology march on, a nice digital camera body has become a much better investment than what it used to be. Not to mention, it's much easier to buy a used body...knowing that while the body may be a couple of years old, it's still capable of keeping up with the pack.

I absolutely agree. I shoot with a 350D, and have sold many images taken with it. I do plan on getting one of those old, outdated 5D's this summer though.

I wholeheartedly agree... I'm still lusting after a "still very popular and capable" 30D...

Absolutely. Honestly, any Canon after the D60 is, imo, a fine, fine camera, and will continue to be for a long time unless there's a drastic shift in digital imaging standards. Not that the D30 and D60 suck, they're just the two bodies that I wouldn't want to still be shooting with today.

ye me2, maybe its like the shape as a log curve...high gradint but levls off and gets closer and closer to perfect but never gets there/.....

..yp im an engineerin studwent...

rdc640 wrote in post #5378103
ye me2, maybe its like the shape as a log curve...high gradint but levls off and gets closer and closer to perfect but never gets there/.....

..yp im an engineerin studwent...

I don't think there is any question that you aren't an English student .

I totally agree about how digital has "matured." My 1DII should be working just fine 5 years from now and although there will be much more advanced models on the market, there will have to be a major revolution for me to be upgrading. Anyone read Rob Galbraith's article on using the first Kodak DSLRs? http://www.robgalbrait​h.com …_page.asp?cid=7​-6463-7191 A very good read, and makes me glad that we had photographers like him who were willing to put up with it.

I can't imagine a better body for $300 than the Canon 10D

Nice to see that some people agree with me So many of the posts here concentrate on the newest bodies out but the older ones certainly shouldn't be "shrugged off"

i have to agree wholeheartedly. we're all tired of the megapixel race, now im looking more into bigger microlenses/pixel density (light gathering ability) in sensors rather than their megapixel size. and how many more AF points, cross-type or otherwise, is ever enough? now the rage seems to be in High ISO performance, and very soon flash units will be redundant

i expect to use my 1DM3 til it conks off... 'yeah, right' you may say.. there's a gearhead in every one of us which i don't deny being guilty of. but i agree that we're coming to an age where just about any current or older DSLR can do a great job in the right hands w/o worrying about lack of features/functions to get the job done.

Jason:

I think you've made an accurate observation and statement.

When I look carefully at the differences between well exposed images from my 30D, and anything else out there, I realize that the largest improvements in image quality will have to come from me, not the camera.

For me the MP race is over, and more AF points? Holy crap, before the 30D, I was using a Canon A-1. What AF? What multiple focusing points? What high ISO?

EDIT: In fact, I was considering a second body, and the 30D was the strongest candidate because of the reasons noted above.

I have an 'old' rebel, the XT. The gearhead in me wants a 40D, but for now I'm focussing on lenses. It's an old body, and it's good!

DDWD10 wrote in post #5378345
I can't imagine a better body for $300 than the Canon 10D

I can, unforrtunatly the 1d or 1ds dont go that low =/

JRA, It's great that camera technology advanced so rapidly, but what really made the difference for me was the price, speed and size of memory cards and hard drives. Prior to the last few years, it still cost quite a bit to take shots in raw and have a computer that could handle the output. I agree with you as well regarding camera technology. I use to read the rumor section daily hoping for the camera that would revolutionize the industry. Just isn't going to happen soon.

Yup. Just like computers. I've got a 3 year old computer with "only" 1 GB of RAM. But will probably do everything I will ask of it for the next year or two.

I think the best value out there right now are used 20Ds. If I needed a new camera, it would definitely be a 20D or 30D. If I needed a new computer, I'd probably choose a mid-ranged one, rather than a $2000 top of the line one.

I agree...

I think that we are at a point in DSLR development where a person doesn't need to ditch his present gear and buy new, just to get better image quality. Some of the newer cameras may have some more bells and whistles such a live view, however they IMO really don't provide the upgrade in image quality that earlier camera evolutions provided.

I have and shoot with a 10D, 350D and a 30D. I consider all of these cameras to be very capable, even the venerable 10D.

I don't believe that I could, with any accuracy, tell the difference between pictures shot with these various cameras just by looking at them. They all provide very good imagery. The 30D does provide better high-ISO quality than the 10D but at ISO 400 and below, there isn't a great amount of difference noticeable.

I will always shoot with at least two cameras and sometimes three. I wish that all my cameras were 30D models because I really like handling the 30D the best and because it is easier handling three cameras with identical controls and batteries. However, I accumulated my three bodies by simply not selling the older camera when I bought a new one and right now - I am pretty happy with any of my cameras and don't contemplate purchasing a newer camera.