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Canon EOS 30D Digital SLR Camera (incl. EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens Kit)
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2 new or used available from £490.00
Average customer review:
Good points
Low noise, high quality images
Good build quality and handling
5fps continuous shooting
2.5in screen and spot-metering
Bad points
Not a big step-up from the 20D
No voice recording
No GPS connectivity
Nikon D200 a tempting alternative
Product Description
Realise your photographic vision with the EOS 30D. Speed andprecision in a tough magnesium alloy body with access to over 60EF lenses and the range of EOS accessories for unlimitedcreativity.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #82535 in Consumer Electronics
- Brand: Canon
- Model: 1234B020AA
- Released on: 2006-04-07
- Dimensions: 1.54 pounds
Features
- 8.2 Megapixel CMOS Sensor
- DIGIC II Image Processor
- Every function optimized for fast RAW and JPEG capture
- Direct printing with PictBridge compatible printers
Editorial Reviews
Manufacturer's Description
The Canon EOS 30D replaces the award-winning EOS 20D. It brings proven EOS technology to a new level, giving photographers an unbeatable photographic experience. The EOS 30D incorporates a host of new features with Canon's highly acclaimed 8.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC II Image Processor. The EOS 30D includes enhanced operational features such as a new 2.5-inch LCD monitor, true spot metering, a durable new shutter mechanism, and Canon's Picture Style pre-sets (Canon's in-camera image processing standard), all in an sturdy, magnesium-clad body. The maximum number of images in a folder is increased from 100 to 9,999, while the in-built flash has been upgraded to match the 100,000 shutter cycle durability, an increasingly important feature in the digital age. With all these new features the EOS 30D is truly perfection, refined.
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The EOS 30D features Canon's award winning CMOS sensor technology, with large 6.4µm2 pixels for wide dynamic range with low noise. Any remaining fixed pattern and random noise is dealt with by on-chip noise-elimination circuitry. A low-pass filter in front of the sensor reduces false color and moiré effects, while an infrared filter suppresses red fringing caused by sensor reflections and fog. The camera features Canon's DIGIC II processor now found across the digital EOS range. DIGIC II maximizes speed and image quality by processing uncompromisingly complex color rendition algorithms, clearing the buffer at high speed.
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The EOS 30D has a high-precision, 9-point wide area AF system that uses both normal and high-precision focus depending on the aperture and available light. The 9 focus points can be chosen automatically or manually-selected using the 30D's intuitive, thumb-operated multi-controller.
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The EOS 30D has a brilliant 2.5-inch LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 pixels. Adopted from Canon's professional EOS SLRs, this monitor not only displays more information, it can also be viewed at a greater angle (170 degrees) than many conventional LCD monitors. The full-featured shot information screen not only provides an RGB histogram, it can display the AF frame used. Magnification has never been faster. Magnification zooms to the focus point rather than the center of the image to check exposure and critical focus. It is also simple to jump quickly in image intervals up to 100. Menus are accessed at the touch of a button and feature larger text that is easier to read. Whether changing color parameters, setting up custom functions, organizing folders or setting white balance, the EOS 30D helps photographers get to their information quickly, so they never miss a shot.
Every function optimized for fast RAW and JPEG capture
The EOS 30D is one of the fastest cameras Canon has ever produced. Incorporating the fast operation of the EOS 20D, the 30D allows users to specify high-speed 5 frames per second (fps) or a new low-speed 3 fps continuous shooting for more controlled shooting and/or to save space on the CF card. And it can capture up to 30 JPEG and 11 RAW (or 9 RAW + JPEG) files in one burst. Whether it's the 0.15-second startup time, the high-speed mirror drive, the nearly instant 65-millisecond shutter release lag time or the predictive AF focusing at speeds up to 5.0 frames per second, the EOS 30D will amaze and delight photographers who don't want to wait for their camera when they're ready to shoot.
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The EOS 30D lets you print beautiful photos with minimum time and effort - directly from the camera. It's compatible with Canon's SELPHY Compact Photo Printers, desktop PIXMA Photo Printers, and even third-party PictBridge-compatible printers.
EOS: The system
One of the EOS 30D's greatest advantages is the EOS system: compatibility with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses, EX-series Speedlites, and EOS accessories such as the Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E1. (Wireless file transmitter and lenses not included--must be purchased separately.) For high-speed processing of lossless RAW images and complete capture-to-print workflow management, the EOS 30D also comes with Canon's latest Digital Photo Professional software.
Battery grip
To extend the EOS 30D's 750-shot (CIPA standard) battery life and increase handling options, the camera is compatible with the BG-E2 battery grip. (Not included; must be purchased separately.) The BG-E2 takes two Lithium-Ion battery packs for up to 2,200 frames or six AA batteries in the supplied BGM-E2 battery magazine. (Shooting capacity with AA batteries is lower when compared with the Battery Pack BP-511A.) For easy vertical shooting, the BG-E2 provides additional shutter release, main dial, AE lock/FE lock, and AF point selection controls.
Technologies Explained
Picture Style
Picture Style pre-sets simplify in-camera control over image quality. Picture Style pre-sets can be likened to different film types--each one offering a different color response. Within each easily selectable pre-set, photographers have control over sharpness, contrast, color tone, and saturation. The camera's factory default configuration is set to deliver immediately-usable JPEG images without need for additional menu settings. Picture Style presets applied to a RAW image do not degrade the image in any way and can be revised with Canon's Digital Photo Professional software.
The six pre-sets include:
The User Defined pre-set can be used to store up to three customized pre-sets, or any of the pre-sets available for download from Canon's web site.
DIGIC II
Now found across the EOS range, DIGIC II is a purpose-built, dedicated image processor responsible for the high speed calculations necessary in order to providing exceptionally accurate color reproduction in real time. Canon's second generation imaging engine, DIGIC II performs the duties of a number of separate processing units to speed processing, save space, and optimize battery life.
To avoid the trade off faced by other manufacturers between camera responsiveness and image quality, Canon has created a processor so fast it can read, process, compress, and write image data back to the buffer between exposures. This allows for longer continuous bursts at maximum frame rates before the buffer fills. Moreover, each image can be subjected to the full complex processing algorithms required in order to deliver superb image quality.
CMOS
Canon's award winning CMOS technology is one of the company's key competitive advantages. With noise reduction circuitry at each pixel site, Canon's CMOS sensors have lower noise and lower power consumption characteristics than CCD sensors.
CCD sensors use a bucket relay system to transfer each pixel's accumulated electrical charge to a corresponding gutter. The operation is time consuming and draws considerable power, which limits battery life and generates unwanted heat, further increasing noise and lowering image quality.
By contrast, signal conversion in Canon's CMOS sensors is handled by the individual amplifiers at each pixel site. Unnecessary charge transfer operations are avoided, vastly speeding up the process of getting signal to the image processor. Noise generation is reduced and power consumption limited.
Digital Photo Professional Software
Digital Photo Professional software provides high-speed processing of lossless RAW images. Processing with Digital Photo Professional allows real-time display and immediate application of image adjustments, giving control over RAW image variables such as white balance, dynamic range, exposure compensation, and color tone. The camera JPEG images can be recorded in sRGB or Adobe RGB color space, and the Digital Photo Professional application supports sRGB, Adobe RGB and Wide Gamut RGB color spaces. An ICC (International Colour Consortium) profile attaches automatically to RAW images converted to TIFF or JPEG images. This allows faithful reproduction of colors in software applications that support ICC profiles, such as Adobe Photoshop. For improved efficiency, a set of image adjustments can be saved as a recipe and applied to multiple images.
Box Contents
Customer Reviews
Canon 30D
I upgraded from a 300D to a 30D and what a difference. The build quality is far superior and the way it feels, but it successfully retains that familar Canon feel. The larger LCD at the rear is easier to use and see for those of who are getting a little older. The menu is largely left alone but with little added extra's . The addition of an top LCD for functions that don't require your eye to he viewfinder is a blessing. The Battery seems to last forever and the included is extraordinary, full printed manual ,quick start guide, warranty 2 cd-rom's with electronic versions and software for transferring and manipulation .The packaged lense is the new mkII 18-55 ,quiet and fast couldn't tell the difference from he mkI.
I could go on and on but I'll just bore you. I was was going to buy the 5D but couldn't justify the extra grand but this camera gives everything I need without the added expense. I have been using Canon cameras for many years from T70, A1, F1 and have never been let down as of yet for quality or reliability
Canon 30D 18-55 kit
This camera is superb, I cannot fault it. There are a good many reviews on the web more thorough and more expert than any I would be able to provide, but I'll say a few words, if I may, on this particular body/kit lens deal. The 30D comes with an 18-55 cheapie lens to get you started, and this is a bit of a gripe.
It pays not to be snobbish about lenses. The manufacturing processes involved in making lenses have improved dramatically in the last couple of decades, putting inexpensive, practical lenses into the hands of almost everyone who has an interest. Of course, some are still better than others, but better lenses take sharper photographs, not better photographs, and some of the best images ever made were made using equipment which, by today's standards, would be thought distinctly crude. A better lens gives you a wider margin for error - it will not make you a better photographer. A Canon L-lens costing a thousand pounds will not improve anyone's unimaginative holiday snaps.
However, this is not to say that the 18-55 lens has a great deal to recommend it. The lens works well enough, but if - like me - you prefer to work candidly and spontaneously, often in low-light situations without using a flash to bleach your subject into featurelessness, this lens will annoy you. The maximum aperture is quite narrow, and will not admit enough light to make a sharp, well-lit image in any number of critical situations. There's no full-time manual control. It's rattly, plasticky and cheaply made. On the plus side, it's light, and you won't break your heart over it if it gets damaged.
If this beautiful camera has a flaw, it's the fact that the sensor isn't full frame. It is slightly smaller than a 35mm negative would be. Long story short, the image is ends up cropped.
If you're used to a 45 or 50 mm lens on a manual camera, this means that in practice the standard prime lenses you have already will effectively draw the subject in, as though you had an 80mm lens fitted. Your dependable, sturdy 50mm will act just like a telephoto, so you'll need a 28mm wide angle to achieve the same effect as a standard prime, which will bother some people, and will affect any choice you make about lenses.
Other than that, I love this camera. I love the five FPS burst, the customisable shooting modes, the customisable white balance. It has a large, bright screen, the controls are intuitive and friendly. It FEELS solid and dependable, like a Jeep - it's very well made, no rattles or creaks. It's designed to be carried often and everywhere, a real, solid workhorse for daily use by people who are passionate about photography, the sort of people who'll take it out in the rain to try to get an image of a raindrop hitting a puddle, or who'll stand out in a field in the dark, trying to get an image of leaves blowing in the wind, not those who'll take it out twice a year for weddings or family group photos. So get one, and go and do it!
What a Camera!!!
I bought the EOS 30D with the 17-85mm IS lens as I wanted something a little better than the kit lens. This is my first digital SLR and I wasn't disappointed. I have had my '30' for several months now and I can honestly say that it is one of the best buys I have ever made. The whole digital experience has been quite amazing, but using this camera has taken photography to a new level. Like many before I was well entrenched in film and didn't really feel that digital was 'real' photography - how wrong I was. The quality of the pictures is simply stunning - even if you are a beginner you can switch to full automatic and use it as a point and shoot camera until you feel ready to experiment a little. As the other reviewer has already pointed out, the (rechargable) battery lasts for ages, but I still carry a fully charged spare. If you are moving from film to digital then prepare yourself for a shock. The whole process of picture taking changes with digital, no film to waste and hundreds of pictures captured on a single 2 gig card which can be transferred to computer or edited in camera. The Canon EOS 30D is superb; from the quality of its design and manufacture to the lovely "Clunky Click" of the shutter.
The best investment to the digital age I have ever made - I'm sure that if you follow the same path, you too will find the wonderful world of digital photography will drawyou in and you'll soon be hooked.
