Canon EOS 30D user reviews (Body Only)

Pros It's great for doing stop motion animation movies

Cons wish there was a remote shot remote control

Summary great photo quality

Pros Excellent image quality, blazing fast, easy to use, best low light performance in its class

Cons Cost can add up with high performance lens and accessories

Summary I bought this camera to take pictures of my active 2 year old who is too active for my point and shoot cameras especially in low light situations. And I don't like to use flash which often gives a washout look and spoil the mood of the moment. I spent hours reading reviews and trying the cameras, mainly deciding between the Canon 30D, the Rebel XTi, the Nikon D80 and Sony A100. Since I don't like using flash, I need a camera that performs well in low light situations. Canon performs the best at high ISO, better than Nikon and Sony (which share a similar if not the same CCD sensor). The Rebel XTi is a bit awkward to hold especially when put on a heavier high performance lens, and I have small hands. The Canon 30D feels sturdy and well balanced with a good quality lens attached. To capture a moving subject in low light, one needs a camera that performs well in high ISO and also a fast lens, preferably with image stabilization. A "fast lens" has wide aperture to let in more light, so that you can shoot with faster shutter speed. Image stabilization only helps camera shakes from your hands when using a slower shutter speed, it won't help blurring from a moving subject. In other words, you need a "fast lens" to stop action.
The best general purpose walkaround "fast" lens I found was Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS. This is the perfect lens with Canon 30D when shooting in low light. The f/2.8 is as fast as you can get for a zoom lens. The IS (image stabilization) works great. And I found the zoom range adequate for most of my photos. For sports and wildlife, you need a longer zoom. The weight is not a problem. I carry this lens with my Canon 30D, along with my Sony HDR HC3 camcorder (by the way a great Hi-Def camcorder) in my Tamrac Adventure 4 messenger style bag all day for 10+ hours without feel any weight burden. The image quality is amazing.
I took this camera to Disneyland's Halloween party with my 2 year old. I was able to take most of my indoor and night outdoor shots without flash or tripod. A tripod is out of question when I'm with my 2 year old in a crowded place. I was able to crank up the ISO and shoot wide open at f/2.8 with IS, and get sharp photos with great colors. The dim-lit light fixtures and special color effects all turn out very well. The autofocus was fast and accurate even in minimal light. My pictures turn out better than those taken by the Disney staff with another SLR using flash.
In daylight outdoor, the images were even more impressive. It can stop any action or I can handhold the camera and pan to get a blurred background while maintaining sharp focus on the moving subject. The portraits were also excellent. At f/2.8 and max zoom, the portraits have sharp focus and fine details with a beautiful bokeh (blurring of the background), giving it a professional look.
I highly recommend this camera with the Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS ($1000). This is the perfect combo. The downside is that it costs more, but definitely worth every penny. The lens is as important, if not more important than the camera body itself.
Accessories I recommend: GGI digital screen care kit (available at B H photo, has a transparent film that you apply to protect the LCD screen, easy to use but make sure use the provided squeegee, otherwise there may be bubbles, $10), B+W 77mm MRC UV filter (to protect your lens, this high quality filter is the best and will not degrade the image quality, $80), a lens hood if it doesn't come with the lens, Lumiquest soft screen diffuser for your in-camera flash (this will soften your flash in the occasional situation where you want fill in flash, $13).

Pros The tweaks were needed. Good speed.

Cons Not a revolutionary upgrade - just a minor tweak to an existing model.

Summary First of all, as of 3/20, CNET has published incorrect data above. The shutter is rated for 100,000 uses, NOT the 10,000 CNET says.

If you have a 20D there's no reason probably to go out and get this upgrade. The sample I used is 95% of that camera, with nearly every modification being internal, with the exception of the nice new LCD. Photo quality is the same (good). For D60 or 10D users this may be a worthwhile upgrade, but 20D-ers should perhaps wait for the next generation to get the most out of your money.

Pros Image quality, Canon lenses

Cons 1.6x lens factor, only 8MP, Price, focus point selector is awful!

Summary Image quality is good; I just don’t like the controls. I was a Canon guy for many years. The older Nikons just didn’t have the feel and the controls were awful. Plus the older Nikon AF lenses were horribly noisy, but that has changed. Canon keeps putting the same old controls on every camera they make. In this case the focusing point selector is awful as it has been on the last few canon bodies, a tiny little 8way eraser sized button, but I have to say at least they added a selector. Because until recently when using Canon bodies you had to use the main dial after pushing a button to select a focusing point.

I also have tried out the Canon 5D and Nikon D200, but I just can't see spending the extra money on the 5D when I know in a year or two, all of these cameras will be obsolete. I did borrow a 5D in December from a friend and I own a Nikon D200. The controls on the Nikon just fell better. The image quality of the 5D at full aperture at the edges was horrible and I was using good lenses too.

The Canon 30D and 5D are tempting, but why pay for 8mp (30D) when you can have 10 (D200)? and even though the 5D has more MP (12mp) of what use are they if you have to chop the edges, not to mention the body is almost twice the price.

Bottom line, the 30D is a good camera; if the price was lower it would be a good pick. If you already have some canon lenses, picking this camera makes a lot of sense, unless you already own a 20D, then just wait for something better.