MANY! weigh, design, controls,
ease of use, raw images, sharpness,
instant viewing with many options.

focus in low light
viewfinder size with glasses on
LCD smudges easily (or maybe that
is my big nose)

I love this Camera. My T90 was stolen after years of good use about 10 years ago. I got out of amateur photography because of my career - too many hours. Got interested again about a year ago and decided not to buy a cheaper digital and save up for the D30 after researching it. It was the best thing I've bought in a long time and well worth the wait. If you are thinking about it - do it. It has a million features, perfectly clear images - better than most film cameras and is a great value compared to some of the other semipro digital SLRs out there. After being away from cameras for a while, I was
able to get very comfortable with it in an afternoon. The manual is very easy to read and follow. Picked up on the downloading, image processing and printing quickly. I can only think about getting out and taking more pictures!

Customer Service

Excellent.
Had trouble getting my USB to work with the software. Called, got through immediately at 4:00PM weekday. Somewhat complicated problem was solved with everything working within 5 minutes. The problem was my computer not the software.

Similar Products Used:

Canon T90

Excellent upgrade capability, I can use all the lenses I purchased with my EOS 50e, excellent pictures first time, good camera menu system and capabilities. I use a USB connection to upload and this has worked fine.

none so far

Best affordable digital SLR, especially if you already own Canon lenses, excellent quality and no problems experienced by me with the software

Customer Service

good so far, Canon UK are doing a deal where any camera purchased at the moment gets you £500 worth of accessories free until July 31 2001

Similar Products Used:

Nikon D1

Image quality, controls
Battery life
Compactness.
Does not mind -40 degrees C

AMAZINGLY POOR software!
When used with Win, be prepared to what ever possible, even the impossible.
When used with a Mac, it is at least reliable.

A lot of camera for the money.
I haven't shot a frame on film ever since!
This camera needs the top lenses, don't even consider tamron 28-200 or alikes!
But when used with a top lence, the results are impressive.
The sofware is Sh*t in its' purest form except it does not smell. After losing about 150 important shots due to malfunction of the software with windows, I returned to Mac. Now it works reliably but is still slow as err... can't come up with anything like that. Well, not so! The windows version is even slower.
On a Titanium Mac and photoshop You are able to import and open almost 300 of 17.8 Mb RAW images at once!
Only the conversion time is long. I really hope that Canon gives more Coke and cookies to the people in the software departement and possibly also hires someone with more mature business attitude. This is not a digipocket for holidays even though it shares the same software!
GET REAL CANON!
Anyway, Five stars!

Customer Service

OK.

Similar Products Used:

Olympus, Kodak etc.
Lenses in use:
14mmHSM Sigma
28-70/2.8 Canon
70-200/2.8 Canon

fast
light
small
USM lenses

NA

Great camera right out the box, easy to use, lots of feature. And you so many options when it comes down to lens in the EOS system. I have been a Nikon guy for over 6 years, but this camera and line of lens have open new doors othe rthenjust Nikon. Nikon is great, and the AFS lens a also great but you pay a premium, with no difference in quality. Hey, I work hard for my money and I take of my equipment, so Canon has offered me the best of both world. The D30 is definetly the best Digital SLR as of June 2001, I hear Canon is going to announce a new Pro Digital SLR in late summer/fall. I am hearing about 5-6 mg pixals, modeled after the Eos 1n/1v. Can't wait for that.

Customer Service

NA

Similar Products Used:

D1
Olyumpus E-10

Better colour reproduction than D2000; higher resolution images; accepts IBM 1GB microdrive; good ergonomics; lightweight; battery packs are well thought out; size of CCD chip is wonderful for short focal and luminous lenses for portraits;

No spot metering (makes work impossible for concert photography); metering is inaccurate - I found myself having to compensate by 1 stop or more to get the results I wanted; lag time between taking pictures - the camera often indicates 'busy' as the image is processed, meaning that some worthwhile shots are missed; unsuited to professional work due to poorer construction, as well as slow functioning; file transfer is slow - investing in an external card reader is wortwhile; LCD screen at back of camera would do well being protected (as with Nikon D1); only three auto-focusing points; size of CCD chip is problematic for wide-angle lenses;

I thoroughly enjoyed using this camera, and was very impressed by the image quality. However, I faced metering problems which were unacceptable - as is the lack of spot metering (considering the price of this camera). Give digital a year more and I am certain that we shall see some serious improvements making investement worthwile even for non-pros.

Customer Service

Canon provides up to-date software on its CPS website, very useful.

Similar Products Used:

Canon D2000; EOS 5; EOS 3; EOS 1n

-nice s/w
-USB config & download
-familiar ergonomics
-attached flash
-solid/balanced feel in ones hand
-adapts to EOS line-up
-light weight
-799 High res shots on IBM micro drive
-1000 HR shots on dual batteries
-ASA range
-LCD display
-Handsome packaging

-3.25MB CMOS (well kinda; I don't have a real problem with output, but size appently does matter- at least in marketing).
-would be nice for flash go extend farther to further reduce red-eye and the lense eclipse.

because the 1.6X chip vs film aspect ratio, i can get all kinds of wonderful tele-lense combinations. My 200 f/1.8 is now a 320 f/1.8. when i add the 1.4X or 2.0X i get 448 f/2.5 and 640 f/3.5- WOW! likewise with the 35-350, 35-70 & 70-200 f/2.8's USM. However, i pay the price on the low end with the 17-35 f/2.8. When i need 17mm to perform as a 17mm, i use a EOS 1V. Can't have it all though. i look forward to the next D-body and hope it is based upon the 1V; rock solid and heavy as a Mercedes S600. (in passing, i can't keep from picking up my 1V just because of the great feel the optional drive provides). I really don't want to buy a Kodak 560 just to get resolution and use the continued use of my EOS lense line-up. So Canon reps out there; what's next??

Customer Service

hope i never have to know. However, if camera mfr's ever market upgrades to CCD's or CMOS chips, i would love to send in for a chip upgrade instead of purchasing the next body to get higher resolution. However, i realize that would defeat the whole marketing scheme in the computer-digital arena.

Similar Products Used:

-Kodak 260, 280 & 290
SLR's: A1,EOS A2E, Rebel & EOS 1V

Pretty big buffer that let you keep shooting without stopping.

AF point wont turn red on viewfinder. No eye control. Manually select the AF point is sloooooow.

If using partial metering, it's always the center AF point, not the left or right point. That means you have to use center point to lock it, then re-compose, then shoot the picture. In another words, slooooow.

If you want to use focus tracking, you have to use center point to start, not other points.

the DEP mode not as good as my ElanIIe.

No cordless remote shutter release.

D30 have hard time focusing in low light. ElanIIe uses infrared as focusing aid, can AF in a darkroom, D30 use a stupid looking "lamp", cant AF in dark situation.
D30 exposure system is even worse than my ElanIIe. A lot of people are complaining about the AE underexpose by about 2/3 stops when using evaluative metering. The built-in histogram shows picture is underexposed, but Canon checked mine, insist there is nothing wrong, therefore wont calibrate it. Either the evaluative metering sucks, or the camera not smart enough to take care of backlite or spot light, or Canon dont want to admit it.

Canon could have made the D30 a better camera.

Dont expect it to be better any than your EOS3 , A2 or EOS 1V.

Dont expect you can always use it as a point and shoot camera, because the exposure is not always right.

If you have $2000+ to spare, wait for the next Canon digital SLR.

Customer Service

Gave me free fedex shipping (both way) when sending it back for firmware upgrade.

No free shipping when I needed them to clean dust under the LCD display.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon coolpix 950. I still have it and love it.

-Amazing flexability in manual mode.
-Crisp photos.
-Fast action.
-User friendly.
-Lens compatibility.

-Primitive auto focus system (by EOS standards).
-Camera sometimes tries to be smarter than user.

This is an excellent camera. Digital photography is a little different than film photography, and if you're willing to experiment and willing to push digital to the limit, then this is the camera for you. If you expect it to mimic your film camera 100% you might not be happy. With this camera, you can shoot hundreds and hundreds of photos without changing batteries or storage media (if you have an IBM Microdrive). When used in manual mode, and with a little imagination, this camera will reward you with better and more consistant results than any other camera I've used. The instant feedback of digital (on the LCD) is an extremely valuable tool when shooting in the real world. Add the features of mirror lockup, long exposure noise reduction, adjustable ISO, 2nd curtain flash sync, etc. and you have a potent package.

Customer Service

Mine is an early model, so it had the software recall. Canon sent me a box with postage paid and had to camera back to me within 4 days.

Similar Products Used:

Consumer digital cameras

Just like EOS SLR
Superb picture quality
Work perfectly

bad focus control design, you need to pic focus point, then choose .. slow. Should be like Nikon F100 or F5.

Honestly speaking, I have worried about focusing system (slow and hunt) as many people have complained on this review before I buy the D30. If you are not a professional who needs extremely fast and accurate focus (like sport), the focus system of D30 is enough for you.

Nothing else to be complained about this camera, everything is perfect. Just read other reviews :-)

Let me tell you, if you have been using SLR before and thinking of changing to digital system and still thinking and comparing about compact digital (like coolpix or etc) vs D30 ... go for D30 and you won't be disappointed. I have tried Olympus C3000z which has superb image quality but give you NO control over your pictures.... you will miss SLR, trust me...
.
If you are thinking whether digital is a worth investment ... I can tell you that it is a wonderful feeling that you can shoot anything .. I meant it ..any! .. without worrying about wasting the film ... I know all of us must have a bunch of pics which is just a waste and you have never take a look at it again (even once). ... with digital ...well, just try .. not good? .. just delete! .. that's all.
It is also wonderful to see your pics right away without waiting for the lab to process for you.
..
I hardly picked up my Nikon F90x since I had the Olympus (even I am not quite satisfied with it) ... only serious shots I would need it. And now, as I have D30 ... well.. I would even miss my F90x ..

Customer Service

no need

Similar Products Used:

Olympus 3000z (quite sucks)

Great Ergonomics
Great Images
Great Price
Pro Features

Everyone wants faster autofocus no matter how fast a camera focuses.

I have not had any problems with the autofocus

BUY THIS CAMERA AND YOU WILL LOVE IT. right now it is the best at what it does, PERIOD.

If autofocus is a concern use the Custom Function to change the AEL to Focus Lock to keep the lens from hunting. Simple.

I have used this lens professionally and I have nothing but good things to say. I was at a Yankees vs. Tigers baseball game the other day and several other Pro photographers were using them. They had everything from 600mm lens to 28-70 lens attached to them and none of them were complaining. And yes we have all heard that a new body will be out but lets just cross that bridge when it comes, and enjoy this great example of excellence now.

Customer Service

Have not used

Similar Products Used:

EOS 1V, EOS-3,Elan IIE