A Very Solid Product
The controls are a little complicated to get used to, especially the all-manual settings -- which should by definition be easy to use -- but overall this camera is very rugged and very capable. After I bought it, I took the D10 to Budapest, Hungary. I had a great view of the Danube and set my camera up for night shots. It did a brilliant job. How about this: take a digital night shot (use the largest image size possible), use a 300mm lense and blow the results up to 24x30 through Shutterfly.com. Image remained amazingly sharp. Colors were fantastic. The camera made it easy to look like a pro. The only gripe I have with this camera is that I wish it had a black and white setting like other less expensive Canon digitals, but this can be overcome with software so it's not a huge issue. The price is great, it has a magnesium body (vs. the Rebel's plastic body). You get a lot of the D1/D20/D30, without the cost.
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Great Camera, one major flaw
I have had this camera for about 6 months. I love digital cameras, but my early sony's were too slow. This camera is very very fast. The detail is incredible. I have taken thousands of photos and rarely have any that are under exposed. probably one in two hundred. This would be even less if I were more competent.
The one major short coming I have had with this camera is that it locks up. I will get the display "PA-A" and it won't go away. This is generally only displayed when I first turn the camera on and it last only a split second. Othertimes, however, this message pops up in the middle of shoots and locks up the camera. The fix is a quick removal of the battery from its contacts. I have gotten pretty fast at it, but this should never be an issue. I have heard that this is a problem with the new 20D as well. That is not very reassuring.
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Excellent technology, one big disappointment
Since there are tons of rave reviews about the features of this camera, I won't bother you with the details. Instead, I will tell you about the one HUGE letdown of this camera and the likes (Rebel, 20D): the 1.6x focal length factor. This means my dear 28-105 lens is now a sorry 45-170. To recoup the loss I'd have to spend $700 on a 17-40 4.0 lens. This is a consequence of using a small CCD. Cameras like the 1D with full-size 35mm CCD sell for over $4,000. I cannot wait for that price to go down. I also cannot help to wonder whether the focal reading of the Speedlite flashes will be correct (I own a 540EZ and discovered with dismay that it doesn't work in these cameras).
I look at my A2 (still infatuated with it) and I wonder if I did the right thing. I think I will keep it around for a while, just in case...
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Hasn't failed me yet
This is one of the four cameras, the only digital camera, I used to learn portrait photography. The class was on how to take portraits not how to use the camera. I wanted to graduate from the point and shoot but had to consider my budget because I wanted an SLR film camera also. I got the Canon Rebel Ti packed with two lenses. It made sense to me to purchase a Canon digital to interchange lenses. My original choice was the Canon Digital Rebel, however, in my WEB search, I found the EOS 10D for $750 with no catch. There were no required additional purchases scam when I called. This allowed me to spend the extra money I would have spent on the camera on accessories.
Since it's digital, I am not shy about trying out the features. When I first got the camera, some of the photos were dark or very light. After tinkering around and learning what the sensor-indicators means I don't get that anymore.
The 10D is more camera than I need that I'm sure I will have it for a long time.
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Fast, Fun and Feels Good
I've used the Canon EOS 10D for 5 months now and I'm absolutely thrilled with it. The EOS cameras are extremely comfortable to hold and handle. In auto mode, the camera produces correctly exposed, sharp photos. Unlike my Canon Powershot, the camera takes the picture with very little delay after depressing the shutter button.
In the creative zones, you can set aperture priority to take, for example, selective focus shots, or use shutter speed priority and set a slow shutter speed to take some good blurring shots.
The auto focus is quick and accurate, though how much of that is the camera and how much is the lens I do not know. I never use the manual focus mode. The pop-up flash works great for lighting subject that are in shadows or back lit.
I now find it a bit frustrating to use my film camera; I'm addicted to viewing my shots on the spot.
I have a Canon EOS A2 film camera that I purchased in 1995. Since I'm familiar with the EOS system and have Canon system lenses, I chose the 10D over the similarly priced Nikon prosumer digital camera.
I like my Canon cameras so well that I bought the Canon digital Elf for my sister and the Canon Powershot A80 for my mother. Both have reportedly been excellent cameras.
With the 10D, I've used a Canon 50mm/compact macro, a Tamron 28-200mm and a Canon 15mm fisheye lens. Because of the difference in the way a film camera and this digital camera operate, you multiply the focal length of the lens by 1.6 to figure the effective focal length when used with a digital camera. So, for example, the 15mm fisheye lens is effectively a 24mm lens on the 10D.
I bought a 1 gig IMB microdrive storage card and that allows me to take 400 high res jpg or about 160 raw format files. If you shoot in auto mode, the camera will only capture in jpg format. If you shoot in manual mode, you can select jpg or raw format.
If shooting raw format, ensure you have a software program, such as Photoshop CS, that will open raw files. And know that not all developing and printing shops will accept raw format. But many of the image libraries will ONLY accept raw files (or a high resolution tif scanned from a slide).
With the raw format files, I've found that many of my shots require a bit of exposure adjustment, but this is simply a matter of moving a slider bar in Photoshop CS. When you first open a raw file, you get an adjustment window allowing you to play with exposure, tint, saturation, white balance and more. You can even simulate warmup filters and such. Very cool stuff!
I bought an extra battery to take along on trips. One battery typically lasts me for 2 days of shooting, as long as I don't do much reviewing of my shots through the camera monitor.
Unless you need the quality of the 1Ds immediately I would recommend getting the 10D because technology is moving so fast that the quality of the 1Ds will be available for the current price of the 10D in the near future.
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Like it? I bought 2
The 10D is an outstanding digital camera. I have been using both of mine for over a year now and they have done everything I needed, when I needed it, wthout a single flaw. I really use the 10D. I have taken over 30,000 pictures with it. I use the optional 2 battery Bg-Ed on the 10D which gives me an easy 400 pictures. The 17-40 Canon Zoom Lens has worked spotlessly as well. Pictures are crisp. Easy manual focus and the auto focus works well even in low light. I like the solid feel of the 10D, especially with the 2 battery pack, and 550EX flash. I shoot exclusively on manual mode so I can't comment on the other settings. Adjusting the flash output, ISO etc are all easy and quick. I have found this to be a very intuitive camera. The viewing screen on the back of the camera is clear and gives me good feedback for adjusting my flashes or hot lights. I use Lexar 1GB CompactFlash cards. And I carry an Epson P-2000 Multimedia Storage Viewer for my back up. The only drawback that I have found has been with a couple of my women friends who have found it a bit heavy. I have not only gotten use to its weight but have come to really appreciate the "feel" of the camera. I can tell you that I will NEVER use film again. With an Epson Photo 2200 printer, iPhoto and my own digital darkroom thanks to Photoshop CS I have everything I need right here at home. For downloading the pictures to my MacIntosh G4 or Powerbook I use a firewire SanDisk Reader. It too works perfectly. So if you don't need the increased megapixal of the 20D I would suggest you consider the 10D. One great camera.
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Great camera, but doesn't last long - planned obsolescence
This is a fantastic digital camera - reasonably priced for the myriad of features it has. I use it professionally.
The low-light shooting is excellent, with reasonable artifacts, and the speed is also great. Auto focus is excellent most of the time, and the auto focus field can be adjusted through the menu.
I loved using it, and am considering getting another one despite its short life (read below).
After having it for 2.5 years, it broke down. The auto-focus mirror below the main mirror is attached to the body by a tiny spring which latches to a flimsy plastic part. This part simply wears out after about 20,000 shots (according to the camera rating and the many irrate customers with a same problem, posting on the web). It's designed to fail after about 3 years of use (depending on the amount of use it gets). This is a terribly bad design that could have been fixed by using a metal part, considering that this is NOT a disposable camera...
Repair takes up to 6 weeks, as the camera can only be repaired in their main repair center, and costs about $200.
I've been told that most of Canon digital cameras of this line carry the same defect, regardless of price. Too bad, considering that the overall quality of this camera encourages professional use...
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Focus mechanism is a nightmare!
Lots of trouble getting my million dollar digi to focus. (I got it as a gift dec 03) I have an original rebel, Elan 7E and consider myself pretty experienced with canon. I've never seen anything like this. I am about to give up and go back to film. Shooting small children and weddings are a nightmare with this. I have a bride with lots of well focused flowers and she is out of focus in most picures. Very frustrated.
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