Hello everyone, I've been off the list for a few years.. happy to be back and watching discussions on digital stuff.
My Background: Rebel X: 1995-1998; Elan IIe 1999-current; lenses 20/2.8, 28-105/3.5-4.5, 100-300/4.5-5.6; 380EX flash, BP-50 battery pack Reason: a customer wants digital, so I have to get a DSLR in my hands by October 9. (6 weeks) So, some of this is moot if I can't get a 20D by October 9. Budget (usd): Figured at least $1k, probably around $1.5k, hopefully not over $2k. Requirements: 1. a camera with similar features/drive/metering to the Elan IIe 2. battery power capable of shooting ** 3000 ** frames in one day under comfortable temperatures 3. two CF cards (minimum 256mb each) so I can shoot with one while the other is transferring to my laptop (probably via PC card CF reader) 4. Something in the 100-300 (35mm equiv) range. My current lens would give 160-480, so that would work until I can afford a 70-200/2.8. ;) 5. small JPG image size (my customer prefers the 10D over the DRebel for this) 6. I don't need 8mp yet... but who knows. Since I would be using the JPG small/normal a lot, the 20D is 0.6MB (1728 x 1152 pixels), the 10D is 0.4 MB (1536x1024 pixels) and the Digital Rebel is 0.9MB (1536 x 1024). So, this makes the 10D more appealing. With prices on the 10D dropping, it makes me look at it more than the DRebel, but then I look at how close the price is to the 20D. But I hate being the first to jump on the bandwagon for new (and sometimes overpriced) things. Questions: 1. Any estimated ship date on the 20D? Prices for its accessories? Should I just order the 10D and be done with it? 2. How many batteries would I need for a sporting type event, no Servo, but lots of rapid succession pictures in the number of 2000-3000? My ElanIIe and battery pack would get by on 4 fresh 1500mAh NiMH in the pack no problem. I would be doing a lot of verticals, so I would probably get the battery grip, and I like how the 20D can use 6AA's in it... but I haven't seen any prices on it yet. So, should I assume $150-175? I might just invest in a car DC/AC inverter and just use 3 batteries. 3. I've always ordered from B&H... are there any cheaper yet reputable alternatives? Looks like the 20D and 18-55 is going to run $1600usd. I found a 10D at Infiniti photo for less than $1k. With the price drop on the 10D, it makes more sense for me to buy it. 4. Are non-drive CF cards that much faster than CF microdrive cards? $300 for a 2GB Hitachi... or $300 for a 512mb solid-state. Is a microdrive capable of 100 small/normal 0.4-0.6mb pictures in 10 minutes? What do most people use for memory cards nowadays? I remember using a 32mb CF card through a laptop card reader, and it was about as fast as the computer's hard drive as far as transferring images. How do most people transfer their pictures? USB 1.1 would probably be painfully slow. I have USB2, but I just imagine a PC Card CF reader would be sooo much faster. 5. The most insalubrious option I could think of: 20D with BG-E2, a couple of extra cheap japanese batteries, the new 17-85 IS lens, a couple of 512mb cards... probably around $2800usd, right? But, most likely, I'm thinking the 10D, with BG-ED3 battery pack, couple of extra cheapo batteries, and since the 18-55 is cheap, I would probably opt for it regardless of what camera I get just to keep my budget low... then wait for the 17-85 to drop $100 in price. Then a couple of 256mb cards and card reader... probably around $1700, right? I'm new to the world of digital, so any people who have gone through the same transition, please don't be shy to tell me your tips and tricks. Sorry for the long email, thanks for reading this far, and thanks for any tips and info! Brian -- http://www.angelfire.com/ms/brianberryhill MS Region SCCA: http://www.msscca.org * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
