30D first impressions

[DaveB]

This is cut-n-paste from a post of mine to NSN:

Got my 30D home this evening and so far have only had a short play, but here are my first impressions. As for my background experience, I'm intimately familiar with the behaviour of the D30/D60/10D/20D/350D, and have used the 5D/1D.II/1Ds.II cameras a few times each.
Mostly I'm interested in how this camera compares with the 20D, as it's replacing that in my own kit.


First news that a lot of people will be interested in: the shutter/mirror sound is quieter than the 20D!. Actually, I'm not sure how much quieter it really is, but the noise is more of a "thunk" than a "thwack" if that makes sense. I had a 20D in one hand and a 30D in the other and the 20D was obviously the "louder" of the two (according to me and to my long-suffering family).

In the fading evening light I put on the 100-400mm lens with 1.4x TC (with contacts taped) as a simple focus test tracking various plants and birds in the back yard. It's hard to be concrete on this: sometimes the 30D seemed the same as the 20D, sometimes I had the vague feeling that the 30D was being more decisive. Maybe it was wishful thinking...
And no, if you don't tape the contacts the 30D will not autofocus with this f/6.3-8 combination.

With the larger LCD the rear lower edge of the camera is quite different to the 20D, and most (if not all) customised QR plates for the 20D will not fit the 30D. This is good news for me as I want RRS to produce a new one so it will have the extra lug for the E1 handstrap (as seen on their D200 L-plate). While I'm waiting I have a Wimberley P-5 plate which fits beautifully.
I also have a double-ended Arca-style "Camdapter" which does not fit the 30D (although it fits the D30, D60, 10D, 20D, D70, and more fine). I don't have the BG-E2 grip to compare the integrated shape, but I expect that 20D+BG-E2 L-plates will fit fine (maybe not Kirk's: it clamps onto one of the strap attachments so any slight change will be noticeable).

The large LCD and the RGB histograms are wonderful! If you've used a camera like the 5D you'll know what I mean. Having 1/3-stop ISO increments will take a bit of getting used to though (not that that's a bad thing!).
Now that the camera displays the ISO in the viewfinder while you're changing it, I immediately saw what I want as the next step in this: displaying the meter so you can see it change while you change the ISO. Sigh... maybe in another 5 years or so...

Just for kicks here's a shot of the camera (with Wimberley plate underneath, Op/Tech strap, and Nikon eyecup already attached...):

Not the sharpest as it was a 1/20s handheld shot with a 50(80)mm lens, but it'll do for this.

[petal666]

My only concern is the Kirk L plate that I have. Might go into photocontinental and see if they will let me try it on their 30D with grip.

[gstark]

Dave,

Nice.

Thanx for posting this, and we all look forward to seeing what you can make this baby do.

[Schniff]

DC got them in today!

Might get mine tommorow if I'm lucky, but more likely will arrive on Monday.

[fozzie]

Schniff - for your sake I hope it arrives tomorrow, so you can use it on the weekend

DC got them in today!

Might get mine tommorow if I'm lucky, but more likely will arrive on Monday.

[Schniff]

Schniff - for your sake I hope it arrives tomorrow, so you can use it on the weekend

Thats the idea! Bring it on.
Hopefully, the battery grip, hand strap and remote shutter arrive from HK tommorow too.

[fozzie]

Schniff - big few days coming up then

Look forward to seeing some sample shots. I am sure that 'Big V' will be very interested too.

Schniff - for your sake I hope it arrives tomorrow, so you can use it on the weekend

Thats the idea! Bring it on.
Hopefully, the battery grip, hand strap and remote shutter arrive from HK tommorow too.