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Canon 300d upgrade to 20d??

L

lukegarnz

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 31, 2007
51
0
Hey guys,

I'm thinking of doing a photography degree in the next couple of years and was wondering what are the main advantages i would see from upgrading my 300d to a 20d? I'm into most types of photography but really want to get into surf/extreme sports photography.

Any advice on the 20d would be really appreciated.

thanks

Luke
 
20D? Isn't that discontinued?

I think that the current version of the 20D is the 40D. And in terms of an upgrade you would definitely benefit.. For one thing it has a higher frame per second burst shooting mode of 5 fps (I think) which will help with action shots..

It also has a bit of an overall better performance in terms of autofocus, noise, etc. Don't trust me, though.. Go read a few reviews and see what you think.
 
The 300d is really a lame duck. The later rebel models (350, 400 and 450) caught up to the prosumer bodys in image quality (forgetting ergonomics, iso performance, speed etc) but the 300d was never on par. The 20d would be a major upgrade, as would the 30d or 40d (the 40d is the current model).

Enjoy! It will definitely help with sports photography, but also just your everyday pictures will look that much better.
 
Yeah, the 20D would be a nice camera, depending on how old it is.

Personally, I don't think I'd ever buy a used dSLR unless it had very few shutter actuations. To me, they're like any electronic gadget, and wear out internally and through usage in a way that's different than completely mechanical devices. I'd also never buy a 4 year old computer, but I'm sure there are some people who would.

I'd probably check for a used 30D being sold off by people who just enjoy upgrading. There's bound to be someone.
 
When I was looking for my 40D at the end of March there still appeared to be "new" 30Ds available, that being said, if you are going to pick up a 30D I would strongly recommend a reputable dealer to ensure you do actually get a "new" body as opposed to maybe something gently used.

Pricing IIRC was around $800 with the kit lens, though I think you can get the 40D body only for around $950 on Amazon. So jumping to the 40D might not be a stretch as you should be able to use your existing glass for a while before upgrading that.
 
As soon as I hear "I want to photograph water", I tend to think that person needs to invenst in a lense that lets in alot of light, and a polarizing filter that will take away glare.

I have a 300d, and agree its a bit feature poor. But you might want to consider experimenting with your lense needs first, knowing they will all be used in your eventual upgraded camera body.

BTW, I'm far from a protographer, but I know that my experience went way up, by putting money into the add ons, instead of just buying new bodys.
 
The 20d is much sturdier than the 300. These are a step up in build quality. If you want your camera to survive a fall to the ground, this is the upgrade for you.
 
Cheers for all the advice guys. I think i'm pretty much set on the 40d, with the high resolution and 6.5 fps it's perfect for what i want. Plus i've found it for £500 body only which is pretty cheap from what i can see.
 
lukegarnz said:
Cheers for all the advice guys. I think i'm pretty much set on the 40d, with the high resolution and 6.5 fps it's perfect for what i want. Plus i've found it for £500 body only which is pretty cheap from what i can see.
Click to expand...

Just in case you have missed it in other threads... top price normally equals questionable dealer. Before you jump, do a search or two on the dealer and see what the comments are. I have no idea what things are like over there but there are more than a few dealers over here offering great prices and then charging you like crazy for the "extras" that come in the box anyway and you end up paying more than at the normal store. Apparently Canon & Nikon don't include a battery & a charger....*cough*.
 
Buy from reputable dealers such as B&H, Adorama, and Amazon. I have heard others say that Beach Camera is good, too, but I have no experience with this company. If you buy a 40D now, Canon is offering a $200.00 rebate, which takes place during the transaction. So a 40D body costs just a little over $900.00 at the moment. I paid $936.00 at B&H for mine, a tab more than perhaps Amazon and a couple of others, but I always buy from B&H.
 
thanks for that, i'm looking at getting it from http://www.warehouseexpress.com. They seem pretty legit and as far as i'm aware in the UK the price you see is what you pay and they can't add extra for things in the box. Also the price includes £100 cash back/rebate. Could really do with a trip to the US to take advantage of the curernt exchange rate. I don't think the canon rebate applies to UK anyway.

I'm pretty excited about getting this just need to find the money now!
 
That company are fine. My family have bought things from them before. There's a rebate on the 40D in the UK too, yes? Amazing value in a digital I have to day. When I bought my D70 a few years ago we were talking £750 with the kit lens! Still going though!
 
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