I had been telling myself for quite some time that I wouldn’t upgrade until my current camera (Canon 30D) took a crap on me. Costco has had a Canon 70D “bundle” available for $1,249 for a while now though, so, I decided it was time to upgrade before the 30D died.
After getting everything out of the box, I started to think about my two previous DSLR purchases. I put the numbers down and it was very interesting to compare the price that I paid for the technology available at the time of purchase along with what came with the camera.
| Canon 300D (Digital Rebel) |
Canon 30D | Canon 70D | |
| Purchased | 2005 | 2008 | 2016 |
| Price | $999 USD | $1,200 USD | $1,249 USD |
| Came with |
EF-S 18-55 1 BP-511 battery |
Body only 1 BP-511A battery |
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM 32GB SD card 2 LP-E6 batteries Canon camera bag |
| Body Material | Plastic | Magnesium Alloy | Plastic |
| Megapixels | 6.5 | 8.5 | 20 |
| Max Resolution | 3072 x 2048 | 3504 x 2336 | 5472 x 3648 |
| Max Sensitivity | ISO 1600 | ISO 1600, ISO 3200 (Enhanced H) | ISO 12800 (25600 with boost) |
| Shutter | 1/4000 – 30 sec | 1/8000 – 30 sec | 1/8000 – 30 sec |
| Continuous Drive | 2.5 FPS | 5 FPS | 7 FPS |
| Storage Type | Compact Flash Type I or II | Compact Flash Type I or II | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Reason For Upgrade | I wanted to get my first DSLR, so I did. | The shutter on the Canon 300D failed. | I wanted a higher ISO range for less flash use in low light settings. The price was also too good to not upgrade based on what was included in the bundle. |
I have wanted to make an attempt at shooting a concert for a while now. The one and only problem with that was the fact that the 30D maxed out at ISO 1600, and at that ISO, the photos were way too grainy to do much with. Removing the grain was possible, but at the cost of the overall quality of the photo. Yes, I could have used flash, but bands don’t want flash going off in their face second after second.
Shooting a concert with the 70D will allow me to not have to use flash and not have to deal with photos that turn out too grainy, even with the ISO pushed beyond 1600.
The plan is to try to shoot Fit For An Autopsy when they play The Loving Touch in Ferndale, Michigan on Sunday, March 20th, 2016. I am also going to try to meet up with them before the show to partake in “some fun” with them before they go on, and to see if they would be willing to let me shoot a portrait of each of them.
New night sky photos will be taken when we go camping up north this year too. The outcome will be a literal night and day difference.
I will also be putting the 70D to the test by shooting a home birth in May 2016 for some good friends who are having their fourth child.
For anyone that needs/wants photos taken, contact me here.