Travel Photography Conundrum

jlg84

I do a lot of traveling, both for work and pleasure, and naturally take a LOT of photos. Until recently, I had only a Canon 10D with a slew of lenses, including a Canon 28-135mm IS, Canon 100-300mm and a Tamron 17-35mm. This was a bit much to carry around on a business trip, so now I have a Sony DSC-F828 as well which serves me OK for those trips.

Now here's the question: when my partner and I travel together, both of us like to have a camera at hand. In the past, one of us would use my Canon Elan IIe 35mm and the other would use the 10D, but I have pretty much given up on film photography. My original thought was to have one of us use the Canon and the other use the Sony, but then I got to thinking about getting a second DSLR, since they are so much easier to use and more flexible, etc.

Is there a new Canon out there that makes it worth investing in a new body already? Does anyone know if Canon plans to come out with a DSLR for amateurs that has a 35mm-size imaging area? What would you do?

Andy

jlg84 wrote:

Is there a new Canon out there that makes it worth investing in a new body already? Does anyone know if Canon plans to come out with a DSLR for amateurs that has a 35mm-size imaging area? What would you do?

yeah, the 350D - 8mpx, creamy smooth cmos, light and small good for travel.

the prevailing wisdom is that canon isn't coming out with an "amateur" ff camera - though in this shooter's opinion there's room in their lineup for a $3-$4k ff body

BenA2

Digital Rebel XT
The answer to your question begins and ends with the Canon Digital Rebel XT (aka 350D). It's arguably a better camera than the 10D and only costs about US$800-900 for a body. I just bought one and love it. It's not quite the 20D, but I prefer it for it's small size and light weight (I like to travel light too.)

As for a beginer/prosumer SLR with a full frame sensor?--Don't count on it. Canon has developed several EF-S lenses now geared toward the APS-C sensors in the 300D, 350D, and 20D. With their low-noise and high resolution, there's no compelling reason (other than possibly reduced DOF) to put a larger, more expensive sensor in an entry-level DSLR.

That's my take anyway,
Ben

Andy

sure there is

BenA2 wrote:

... there's no compelling reason (other than possibly reduced DOF) to put a larger, more expensive sensor in an entry-level DSLR.

...because i want a 1Ds Mark II in a 20D-sized body

OlgaJ

Another vote for the Rebel XT as a travel camera. It's closer to the G3 in size than it is to the 20D without losing much to the 20D.





And here's a 1DM2 next to the group.



Olga

mercphoto

jlg84 wrote:

Does anyone know if Canon plans to come out with a DSLR for amateurs that has a 35mm-size imaging area? What would you do?

Would be almost impossible. A 24 by 36mm piece of silicon for that sensor is always going to be expensive.

jlg84

And what camera did you use to take the picture? (n/t)
??

OlgaJ wrote:

Another vote for the Rebel XT as a travel camera. It's closer to the G3 in size than it is to the 20D without losing much to the 20D.





And here's a 1DM2 next to the group.



Olga

OlgaJ

Camera used
to take these shots was a Canon S60.

Olga

BenA2

Canon 5D - your wish come true!

andy wrote:

...because i want a 1Ds Mark II in a 20D-sized body

Well Andy, it looks like you've just about gotten your wish with the 5D. Could I borrow that genie lamp you're using? I'd like to use it on getting a 12-oz EF-S 35mm f/1.4L USM for a price around $600. Hope you haven't used up all three wishes...

Ben

Matthew Saville

BenA2 wrote:

Well Andy, it looks like you've just about gotten your wish with the 5D. Could I borrow that genie lamp you're using? I'd like to use it on getting a 12-oz EF-S 35mm f/1.4L USM for a price around $600. Hope you haven't used up all three wishes...

Ben

I take it we're not talking about the new Minolta Maxxum 5D...

Methinks it's time to go a-surfing!!!

But yeah, If you've got Canon lenses then the 350D will suit you wonderfully. But if you're interested in going totally digital and packing VERY light, then consider any of the new compact DSLR's, the Nikon D50, the Minolta 5D, or the Canon Digital Rebels, and maybe a nice sigma 18-200mm zoom? That's probably the lightest setup you can go with, lol

-Matt-