Canon 30d questions...

So i am a current Pentax Dslr Owner (Ist* DS) and am looking to make a step in a different direction. So i figure id ask you guys what you thought and suggest. I will have about 1700 to 1800 to spend. I mainly shoot Dance photography (low light) and portraiture and the occasional random shots wherever. I am no pro photographer but i want to grow with it. My pentax is very limited to dance photography, its 3fps and grainy as hell over 800iso. So my question is... The canon 30d how would that do in lowlight (no flash allowed) action situations (dance). And what would you suggest. I have compiled a "wish list"so any recommendations would be awesome.

Canon 30d
8gb Sandisk Extreme
50mm f1.8
85mm f1.8
28-105mm f3.5-4.5(walk around lens)

Thanks for the information/advice guys!


P.s. Sorry if this questions asked 100 times. I should have searched first.

Hi from a previous Pentax owner (mz-s) and now owned 30D for about a year. LOVE it. I've never used mine in that situation you are describing, but I think you would be fine.

I figure the 5fps would be fine. I looked at the d200 but 3fps isnt worth it(Plus its 300$ more). And the 40d is a little pricey since i want more glass instead of more MP haha. And since RITZ is selling the 30d for 700 now with optional 18-55mm kit lens i dont think i can pass it up.

Low light and movement are very challenging conditions. You will have noise and depth of field issues in order to jack up the shutter speed sufficiently. I have attempted to use a 30D with the 85mm f/1.8 at a school dance with low light, and had so-so results. You will probably have to go 1600 ISO and work with noise removal in processing.

MrMorrill wrote in post #6176115
So i am a current Pentax Dslr Owner (Ist* DS) and am looking to make a step in a different direction. So i figure id ask you guys what you thought and suggest. I will have about 1700 to 1800 to spend. I mainly shoot Dance photography (low light) and portraiture and the occasional random shots wherever. I am no pro photographer but i want to grow with it. My pentax is very limited to dance photography, its 3fps and grainy as hell over 800iso. So my question is... The canon 30d how would that do in lowlight (no flash allowed) action situations (dance). And what would you suggest. I have compiled a "wish list"so any recommendations would be awesome.

Canon 30d
8gb Sandisk Extreme
50mm f1.8
85mm f1.8
28-105mm f3.5-4.5(walk around lens)

Thanks for the information/advice guys!

Well...the 30D itself (now around $629-699 USD, new US warranty around on the net) would be fine. And it will do 3/5 fps for action shots. I shoot my wifes theatrical productions / no flash allowed...no problem.
I personally on a crop body don't use 8gb cards as that's alot to lose if it fails so I stick to 4gb cards. On a FF body different story as each file is larger so I need the space.
Where you will need to look at different choices is in the glass you listed.

50mm f1.8:

Even though the speed is tempting...this lens hunts like crazy in the dark. It is however a great bang for buck in the daylight.
I much better constructed and faster AF lens is the Canon 50 f/1.4. It is quiet, fast AF in dim light, built much better and you can manually override the AF full time. It is more expensive but for your production shooting...well worth the $ difference.

85mm f1.8:

This should work fine. I don't personally use this one. Others here can chime in with first hand experience. I have friends who have it and love it for the cost vs. the 85 L glass (way big bucks).

28-105mm f3.5-4.5(walk around lens):

If you want a walk around for a crop body...28 is not wide; not by a long shot.
It's even marginal on a FF body (for the wide end) and that's without the 1.6 X factor of a crop body.
Now Tamron has announced what I think would be a great walk around. I think it is 17-270 VC.
Tammy makes nice glass. and 17 is ok on the wide end for a crop body. And well 270...one can never have too much reach. And the crop factor helps out even more in compared to 270 on a FF as a reference.
Chances are ...it may be slow on the far end probably around f/6.3 but this is supposed to be your general walk around.
I have the Tammy 28-300 and it's not bad as a walk around on my FF and they cost is effective compard to the 28-300 L IS which MSRP I think is around $2300.
Plus the announced 17-270 has Tamrons version of image stabilizaton ("VC").

Hope this helps.

Believe it or not, my standard ISO for flower closeups is usually 640 with my 30D. Noise is not a problem.

I'm not sure how close you can get during dance photography, or how large the group is, but if I was asked to bring one lens to shoot dancers (my daughter used to do modern dance in groups of two to six), I would first try my 17/55 f/2.8 EFS lens, and if the stage was well lit, I'd probably be able to go without flash. And the images (if properly exposed) would not have a noise problem that would show up in prints.

For single person portraiture, the 50 mm lens on the 30D is effectively an 80 mm lens on 35 mm format (which is the classical portrait focal length for 35 mm).

The 85 mm lens is like a 136 in 35 mm format terms.

I have the Canon 24/105, and for walkaround use it's often too long on the short end, so 28/105 may not be the best choice for this use. In fact my walkaround lens is the 17/55.

The 17/55 is effectively a 27-88 on the 1.6 crop 30D (again if you're thinking in 35 mm or FF format).

The stage usually is well lit and i'm able to stand just about anywhere off the stage so i can get pretty close.


Thanks for the info guys! Better asking before then buying and realizing i purchased the wrong gear.

The 30D is a good investment. You can also go the used route, instead of new prices, & save some money, by buying from other members. Used 30D's go for about $500 to $575, depending on condition, and what is included. Canon Refurbished 30D's go for $640 from Adorama.

Buy a couple of 2 or 4 GB CF cards, instead of 1 large card. (2GB $20, 4GB $40) x2

The 85/1.8 is an excellent lens, however, if reach is a need, I have heard many good praises about the 100/2. The 100/2 goes for about $350 & the 85/1.8 for about $300.

Beyond those two, the 50/1.4 is a good recommendation. It can be had for $250-$300.

If you need wide, the 28/1.8 is also an option. With having the primes, having a walk-around lens is not really necessary. You will have much better IQ, with the primes, than the 28-105. The 28/1.8 goes for about $325.

I have & use the 85 on a regular basis. I have also had the 50 for a brief time. The copy I got was soft, but I have used sharp copies. I do not have any experience with the 85, although I have considered it as an investment for the past several months. Invest wisely, and you can get really good deals, with respect for bang for the buck.

If you need a walk-around, then the Tamron 17-50 or 28-75 both get good reviews. You don't have a flash listed. The pop-up is not of much use, except for close distance fill. You can find the 430EX for about $225, or if you need more power, the 580EX version 1 for between $250 & $300.

Hope these suggestions help.

Yea i know i wasn't sure on a flash. So i figure id put it off till i got some extra cash. I guess the camera comes with the 18-55 so if i really need to i can use that for now as my "walk-around". The 100 f2 would be nice when i cant be right at the stage. But i figure if i get the 100f2 id pass on the 85, and pick up a 50 along with the 100.

Is there going to be an issue with shutter noise? The mirror/shutter on the 30D doesn't exactly have a reputation as one of the quietest.

No, music will be plenty loud. And my pentax isn't too quite also. Also considering my girlfriend is the director of the dance company i don't think there will be a problem at all.

For a starter walk-around lens, I would look for a body without the "kit lens" -- it is an older lens with a very narrow "sweet spot" for good, sharp pics. A much better choice would be the new EF-S 18-55 IS, which gets very good reports. If image stabilization is of no interest to you, there are third party options with f/2.8 apertures which would give nice low-light performance.

The 30D is a fine body, but it does get noisy at ISO 800 and above. However, if you can get a good exposure and don't have to crop or enlarge to above, say, 8x10, the noise will probably be negligable. In time, save for the latest generation of cameras that handle high ISOs much better, and you won't regret it, but for now the 30D and some noise reduction software should help you get started.

Have fun, and good success in your shooting!

You could pick up an older 1D with a 50 f/1.4 and stay under your budget. Think about it, 8FPS, 45 af-points, good ISO control and a weather sealed body. What more can you ask for?

Otherwise, I recommend used 20D, or 30D. Awesome camera for the value at the moment.

I just calculated, i could get the 40d with the 28-105 and everything else for just a little bit more. I think i might do that instead unless for some reason the 30d is a better camera.

Set aside money for accessories too. A good bag will cost some money and memory cards and batteries can add up.

BTW, I really like my 28-105mm lens. I bought my Tamron 17-50mm lens to supplement it when I need something wider.