Canon 300D SLR

#77844Sun 28/10/07 21:52

I'm getting my brother's Canon 300D SLR with the add on lens which he bought a few years ago. This is going to be my first SLR camera.....has anyone else got it and what do you think of it?

duncanSun 28/10/07 22:02

I've got a 350D, and its a fantastic camera. The 300D is not quite as good - slightly poorer sensor and focusing system I think if memory serves, but it'll still take good pics.

But the 350D at least is dead easy to use - and I believe the 300D has pretty much the same interface (as its the common one Canon EOS SLRs have had for the last 20 years or so.....).

What lenses do you have?

And have you used an SLR before? Might be worth while getting a few books - took me a bit to get to grips with setting everything myself (and to take it off the green square (auto mode)!)

#77844Sun 28/10/07 22:05

first time for a slr so yes a book is a good idea, it comes wth the lens which i believe is around 15mm - 80mm if I am correct.....

duncanSun 28/10/07 22:13

quoting > "first time for a slr so yes a book is a good idea, it comes wth the lens which i believe is around 15mm - 80mm if I am correct....."

There are tonnes of books to choose from - I got a whole pile when I got my 350D - a mix of books for general photography, and digital. I've seen some of your other stuff - so you appear to already know how to take a pic.

The beauty of a DSLR is you can take loads of photos, and work out what works in various situations - and the camera settings are all stored on the photo :).

I don't remember Canon making a 15-80 lens - maybe a 35-80? Or the 18-55 (which is the lens my 350 came with). Its not too bad a lens to start with. It'll let you take good landscape shots where you want a wide angle, but its not got a great zoom on it really. (There is a list of the lenses and a review of them on here http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html which I use quite a lot)

fastbikeSun 28/10/07 22:18

I had a 300 and although I took some great pictures with it, I always had a bit of trouble with the autofocus.
Having chatted to several owners, some of them have had the same problems, yet many others no problem at all.

I replaced my 300D with a 350D and have no problems with that one.

I was just chatting to a friend with a 300D this evening, he was telling me that apparently the USB link doesn't work with Windows Vista.

- Steve

#77844Sun 28/10/07 22:20

18-55 I think is the one...thanks for the info

my hobby always has been taking photos.....now I want to take it up one level....

visit my Collection @

http://www.fotolia.com/p/200413178

#77844Sun 28/10/07 22:22

i am on vista so maybe thats going to cause problems then.....lets wait and see when i get the camera

duncanSun 28/10/07 22:23

quoting > "i am on vista so maybe thats going to cause problems then.....lets wait and see when i get the camera"

If it does, do what I do - use a Memory Card reader. I couldn't tell you the last time I connected the camera to the PC direct!

#188023Sun 28/10/07 22:57

I still use a 300D and generally very pleased with it. I've taken some good shots and sold a few to magazines. I have considered an upgrade to the new 40D.

I always use a memory card reader (USB 2 type) rather than the slow USB1 fitting on the camera.

The standard 18-55 lens is probably one of the limiting factors, especially if you are using it at the limits of its range. I'm using a few other Canon lenses from my old film camera, and they are giving better results despite their age.

Most useful accessory, aside from lots of memory cards, is a spare battery. Most irritating aspect of the camera is the three second start-up delay after it's entered sleep - you can extend the time before sleep but it uses up more battery. They've sorted this in later models.