Is the Canon 30D as cranky as the 20D?

Hello all:

I'm a relatively busy wedding/corporate photographer and my main kit includes

a Canon 5D and 20D. With Canon's rebate program about to expire, I'm wrestling

with the notion of replacing my 20D with a new 30D. Now I fully expect, as

many of you do, that Canon will be announcing a replacement for the 30D later

this month. Even so, I'm thinking a 30D makes sense for me right now strictly

on a bang-for-the-buck basis. I'm also planning to pick up the 100mm macro, so

my rebates would double, landing me a 30D at roughly $940 net. Anyway, my real

concern is that the 30D may carry some of the bad habits of the 20D, which I'd

describe as cranky, rather than really buggy. Many of you have reported the

unexplained err99 shutdowns that I've experienced in the 18 months I've had

the 20D. I notice that the 30D uses the same vertical grip, the BG-E2, as the

20D. I've never liked the interface between my 20D and BG-E2 -- too much give

which, I'm sure, contributes to err99 and other shutdowns. Can those of you

who have the 30D/BG-E2 combination give me a critique of the performance? Does

the grip flex away from the body when the camera is in the vertical

orientation, especially on a tripod? Do you get many error messages? Feedback

from those who've had both the 20D and 30D would be especially welcome. Thanks

for all.

Nothing wrong with the 20D. What lenses give you "err99"? Unless you're using really old 3rd party lenses, cleaning the contacts (with a pencil eraser) on both the lens and camera should fix the problem.

Still can't believe you called the 20D "cranky"... As my daughter says "you cranky!"

Did you get an early BG-E2? Canon improved the design a little, and offered a fix/exchange for early grips.

http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&fcategoryid=215&modelid=13390&keycode=2112&id=27701

Ronaldo

if you've never had them, you're lucky

I've had so many, and lost images, and focus problems, and no useful support from canon. I've sold mine

google some of these points ...

:-)

Mark: Good point about the second generation grips...in fact I did make Canon replace my first one, and while the new one is a little better, it's still not a great fit... not nearly as good as the interface between the old 10D and its grip, not to mention the 5D, which fits hand-in-glove with its grip.

Ronaldo: Indeed, if you've never had problems with a 20D using the vertical grip and, heaven forbid, a Lexar card, then you are a fortunate man. I use all Canon lenses, most L-series, and shoot a ton. The problems I've described have been shared by many on this forum. Now, how about the 30D?

Hi,

I'm also a wedding/portrait photographer with a 20D and I had the err 99 a couple of times, but the pencil eraser solution seems to have banished it (using kit and L series lenses).

The battery grip issue was a complete new one to me. Mine's as solid as a rock, on or off a tripod. Never even realised it could be a problem.