These cameras are good for two types of owners.
#1 - The Gentle Hobbyist. Ok, silly name, but it refers to the kind of person who is going to be content with just a small number of lenses (probably 3rd party or of modest price/quality), and does not plan to move up. This user just wants to take nice pictures now and again.
#2 - Stepping Stoners. Uhh, they don't actually have to be 'stoners', but this refers to people who use an entry level camera as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. This type of user should worry less about the feel of the camera and more about the lens collection they will need to build. They will want to upgrade later to a better camera, but that will necessitate moving on from the 'cheap' lenses, so they will need to consider their outlay of cash in that area as well.
I always recommend the Konica Minolta 5D for type 1 users as it represents BY FAR the best bang for the buck. 3 lenses and a bag will get you set up for just a little over 1000 dollars. If they want to upgrade, they can still move up the line to the 7D which is being offered in quite a few places for very decent prices
You however appear to be a type 2 user. You want to upgrade. A quick read of DPReview will show you some of the benefits of using the 30D over the D200 that are probably more significant than just the way it feels. I strongly believe that after you buy a camera, you will get used to the way it feels within a couple of weeks regardless of your initial impression (if you actually give it a real chance).
EDIT: To support this claim, I will point you specifically to the parts of the Review at DPReview.com where it compares image quality. The added resolution does not appear to have actually added any significant information to the final picture. Upsizing will garner nearly identical results. Noise is better in the 30D. Such differences are minimal, but generally where it counts, the 30D proves superior.
So as a stepping stone user, you need to be thinking MUCH more about your lens purchases than your body purchase. Either the 350XT or the 300D will do nicely. If you pick up a couple of decent lenses, you will probably save so much money by using Canon that the body will become essentially free (or very near it... my kit includes 4 lenses and after buying just one, the savings are already over 400 dollars US... I'm using it for a theoretical 'free' upgrade to a 30D).
Using the 300D, you will find that the feel is not so much different than the D50. The 300D DOES have a battery grip to make it more substantial. My friend uses it full-time and swears by it. Personally, I prefer a smaller camera, but I've been a P&S user for a while. The 350XT also has the option of a battery grip. Nikon does not have this. There is one made for the D70 by a third party company, and it uses a wire to the wired remote port.
As for pictures, the 300D is a class removed from the D50. It's older by a generation, so the noise levels are poor and the startup time is slow. Otherwise, it's fairly responsive. In decent light, Noise levels are low enough to be a non-issue. Noise only becomes a real issue at ISO 400 if you expose correctly/shoot a non-shadowy subject.
To be honest, the D50 isn't that much better in noise, but it is visibly better. It also employs significantly stronger Noise Reduction, so it loses a fair bit of fine detail rather than introducing noise.
The 350XT outperforms the D50 in the issue of noise. Proof can be found on DPReview.com although you can find conflicting information on less reputable sites that don't post their complete testing information or have suspect motives.
If it were me, I'd grab a 2nd hand 300D and some good lenses. I wouldn't worry about the battery grip, although there's nothing wrong with getting one. A cheap remote can be purchased for that camera too which is nice.
Then I'd keep it as a second body for when I picked up the 30D. Assuming a 6 months to 1 year split here, you will probably find that 300D prices will have only slipped >50 bucks or so in that time even if you do plan to sell it to help pay for the bigger cam.
Incidentally, neither camera/system is actually poor. If you know how to use it, you will be able to make better pictures with either system. It will just end up costing you more $$$ to go Nikon.
Message edited by author 2006-04-15 22:36:50. |
