How Viable is the EOS 10D Today? (2007)

I still use a 10D as backup and second camera to the 1DMk3. A recent gallery of shots with the 10D done in-between the paid work can be seen <a href="http://www.spirer.com/gladiator/">here.</a> Despite the proclamations of some people that digital "requires" constant upgrade, and the proclivities of some people to do just that, older cameras produce fine images. I'm putting together a show with some of these and others taken with it (and with the Mk3) soon.

I"m happy with my 10D, only dslr I own, I purchased it new in Jan 2006 from B&H at a significant discount. I will probably use it until I kill it. Can't go wrong with KEH, I've bought used stuff, and no problems returning.

The 10D still makes nice files to work with, and its "ace in the hole" is its near-silent operation. Because of its extremely shutter, I use it during quiet ceremonies. The 40D comes close in quietness, but I still use the 10D when I need the stealth. I won't pick the 10D over a 1DmkII, 1DmkIII or 40D for regular shooting, but I still love it when I need it.

Hi,

 

I've got two 30D as my "daily users", but my original 10D still serves as a backup.

 

It's been a great little camera for 4 years. Good camera to learn digital, in my opinion, and there are plenty of work-arounds for the few issues it has. (BTW... *all* cameras have *some* issues and need at least a few work-arounds.)

 

Yes, it's a little slow to wake up. Solution one is to lengthen the time before it goes to sleep. That can be set in the menu (Auto Off function). However, setting it longer or turning it off entirely will tend to run down batteries a lot faster. I set mine to 4 minutes and just got in the habit of occasionally "half-tapping" the shutter button to keep the camera awake, if I was anticipating a shot.

 

It's quite a bit harder on batteries than the later cameras, but then the orignal BP511 that were sold with it are also lower powered than the more recent BP511A and non-OEM BP511 that are widely available. They are all interchangeable. Just get some extra batteries. I have had good luck with non-OEM batts off eBay. Best price I got was four 1500 mAh batteries for $24 total, including shipping. More recently I purchased a couple non-OEM for $18 total, not as good a deal but still okay. Compare to about $45 for one Canon BP511A, before shipping. I also use a vertical/battery grip on my 10D (and 30D, and EOS3s, and Elan 7) which doubles the number of batteries along with your shooting time. Plus the vertical grip is great for portrait orientation shots.

 

10D can't shoot RAW + JPEG like later cameras, and uses the older Canon RAW file format (CRW, 20D and later use CR2). Now, I happen to need to shoot RAW + JPEG in some instances, but many folks don't. So, this may or may not be an issue. The earlier Canon RAW file type isn't a big deal either. I think all later Canon RAW converters can still handle it... plus older versions of Adobe Camera Raw/Photoshop/Elements will work with it, too.

 

In my experience, a 6MP file starts to run out of gas enlarged much more than 11x14. A perfectly exposed and post-processed file can do a very presentable 13x19, but any significant cropping or heavy editing or much adjustment will begin to show up in the final print. I didn't realize how much until I started shooting alongside the 10D with 8MP cameras a lot. Still, if doing 8x10s and even some 11x14s, it's quite capable.

 

AF on 10D takes a little getting used to, is all. It's not as quick as some other cameras, but fast enough for many situations (I've used it for moderate speed sports, without much trouble), and has large box-like AF point indicators in the viewfinders. Anyone coming from a film camera may be surprised how much more dependent upon AF you are when using the APS-C/1.6X D-SLRs, with their smaller viewfinder image and lack of support for manual focus.

 

The LCD on the 10D is small in comparison to the 20D's. I don't use any camera's LCD much for serious image reviews, but do check histograms regularly. It's fine for histograms. The text in the menu is a little small, which can be hard to read outside on bright, sunny days.

 

The price seems right and KEH is a very reliable source. Over the years I've made a number of purchases from KEH and have no concerns about recommending them. They tend to grade items far worse than they actually are. I got a "bargan" rated camera a while back that would have been rated "like new" if it were being advertised by most sellers on eBay. One thing, confirm exactly what comes with the camera. If it's missing the software CD or the User Manual, you can probably download those from Canon's website. If there are no batteries included, you'll need to get at least one and a charger, separately, before you can use the camera at all. Camera-to-computer cables might not be included... Which is generally okay, unless you use your computer to set certain of the camera's parameters (for example, I sync the time on all three of my D-SLRs via my computer... and also have loaded copyright/owner info onto the cameras), or want to transfer image files with it. The latter is not recommended, anyway... A compact flash reader is much more practical for file transfers.

 

Speaking of compact flash memory, a little goes a long way with a 6MP camera. It will take quite a while to fill up a 2GB card, and it doesn't need to be the expensive fast stuff, to accomodate a 10D... 60X or 80X is more than enough for the camera.

 

Since any 10D is approaching 4 years old, the internal, button battery may be reaching the end of it's lifespan. This batt provides a small amount of steady voltage that's used to store settings in memory, time/date, etc., whenever the main BP511 batt(s) is(are) removed. this is simply one thing you'll want to check out, on a used camera this age. See the manual for exactly what battery is needed and how to change it. (I think it's a separate, round cover on the bottom of the camera, if memory serves. That's different from the later cameras that have a slot and holder for the button batt in the main compartment, alongside the BP511.)

 

I say go for it and enjoy it!

 

Cheers!

 

Alan

just to comment on KEH...I've bought a lot of stuff from them used...and a lot of that is their Bargain rated stuff....never had a problem with them. Only one item was a digital cam, a Canon A80, which I have since given to my daughter...and it still works. Very reliable firm.

Hey all, thank you so much for all of the input, it has really helped alot and I'm not

throughly excited about getting this.

 

someone mentioned earlier about me posting some of my work, most of my work can be

found at kissmyash933.deviantart.com

 

 

Thanks again all!

 

Blake.

"...I'm not throughly excited about getting this."

 

Is a teenager who has NO car not happy even when his parents get him/her a Beetle instead of the Cadillac he/she wants?

 

No. The teenager thanks his/her parents and uses the car to get from point A to point B, regardless of how bumpy the ride.

 

Keith

"...I'm not throughly excited about getting this."

 

Is a teenager who has NO car not happy even when his parents get him/her a Beetle

instead of the Cadillac he/she wants?

 

No. The teenager thanks his/her parents and uses the car to get from point A to point B,

regardless of how bumpy the ride.

 

Keith"

 

Keith, I must have been thinking totally wrong because i am REALLY excited about getting

this, and feel i would be in debt to my parents forever.

 

sorry that made me sound like an ass

 

:(

Blake.

I thought it was a bit of a weird sounding statement.

 

I thoroughly understand typing errors. I don't know how to type and try to do it much faster than I actually can.