eos 30D vs Rebel XTi

[bmc2b]

I'm looking at upgrading my camera to either a canon 30D or Rebel XTi. I have always been partial to canon and am looking for a digital SLR. Anyone have experience with either?

[Swimmer]

I recently purchased the 30d and so far so good. Still a learning experience for me though...a lot of rereading the manual. But when you get it right it is all worth it. The 30d was my choice only because I thought I could grow into it in case I wanted to get a little more serious about the hobby (not that you couldn't do this with the Rebel). So if you have the extra few hundred...

I'm sure Steve and others will fill you in on the technical details/differences, but in my opinion you could do no wrong with either.

[Steve Foss]

I've shot both, though not extensively. There are two key differences. The XTi has a 10 Mp sensor, the 30D an 8.2. That's one difference. And the 30D, as a more professional grade camera, is faster at nearly everything a camera does. It has a bigger buffer so you can take more images before writing to the card, it focuses lenses faster and is better at tracking moving subjects using the Al servo mode. It also has a lot of other features. It's rated for 100,000 shutters before wearing out, and the XTi is not.

The extra 2 megapixels don't mean much in terms of how large you can make a print. I have made prints to 20x30 with my 8.2 Mp 20D (Same sensor as 30D. 30D is the upgraded 20D) with perfect clarity and subtle color, and 2 more megapixels doesn't allow you much of an increase. I'd easily go larger than what I have so far, but haven't had any clients looking for prints that big.

Ask yourself whether the pro features offered on the 30D are worth the price difference, and that will tell you a lot about which choice to make. Both sensors are top-notch and will produce gorgeous prints with rich color and contrast and low noise at higher iso (800-1600). You'll be happy with either one.

Purely as an ergonomic issue, the XTi is quite small, so if you have big hands it may not be enough camera for you physically. If you can get to a camera store and heft them both to compare, that would be ideal. And don't worry about what the sales person says at the store. Most often, unless you know the person and know he/she is straight ahead, the clerk will try to sell you whatever makes the business the most money in markup or whatever they're overstocked on.

[Jim Almquist]

One more thing that might sway you into buying a 30D is right now until january there is a rebate on the 30D and select lenses and flashs. The rebate would be $100.00 for the camera and if you buy a select lens the rebate would double and the lense would also double.

Here are the listed lenses and flash units as well

17-40 f/4L USM $45/$90

24-105 f/4L IS USM $50/$100

28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM $20/$40

70-200 f/4L USM $35/$70

100-400 f/4.5-5.6L USM $40/$80

16-35 f/2.8L USM $50/$100

24-70 f/2.8L USM $50/$100

70-200 f/2.8L USM $45/$90

70-200 f/2.8L IS USM $50/$100

15/2.8 $30/$60

20/2.8 $20/$40

28/1.8 $20/$40

50/1.4 $20/$40

85/1.8 $20/$40

85/1.2L $50/$100

100/2.0 $20/$40

100/2.8 $30/$60

135/2.0L $25/$50

180/3.5L $50/$100

200/2.8L $35/$70

300/4.0L $45/$90

400/5.6L $45/$90

75-300/4-5.6 $10/$20

60/2.8 USM Macro $10/$20

430 Flash $10/$20

580 Flash $15/$30

MR-14 Flash $15/$30

MT-24 Flash $30/$60

[WifeKidsandDog]

I tried an XTi -- i was thinking of ditching my 20D for the smaller, lighter XTi especially when I read it had the same, more sensitive, AF as the 20D and 30D, which I thought would help with birding.

Anyway, after a few days, it was a relief to get back to the 20D. The XTi has some nice features but I found at ISO 400 it was a lot noisier than the 20D. If you shoot RAW then the 3 fps is limiting, particuarly if you shoot in burst mode a lot. The battery life was poor and if you use the onboard flash for fill, the recycle time can be really slow.

I just kept running into things that were frustrating so I would definitely go for the 30D. On the other hand, the image quality of the XTi at ISO 100 and 200 was excellent.

Cheryl

[Steve Foss]

Yes, when they kept the XTi sensor the same size physically as the XT and 20D/30D (1.6x crop factor), and crammed on two more megapixels, more noise is the natural result.

I'd also read the XTi was supposed to have focus capabilities equal to the 20D/30D, but did not find that to be true in my brief use of the XTi.