topic Re: Old Canon DSLR in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Old Canon DSLR

jbcohen — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 23:34:15 GMT

I have an old Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT and would like to get the old manual for it. Does Canon keep copies of old models?

Re: Old Canon DSLR

hsbn — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 23:53:55 GMT

Here: http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/8/0900000278/01/EOSDRXT350DIM-EN.pdf

Re: Old Canon DSLR

jbcohen — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 00:46:56 GMT

I am siginficantly changing the subject here but I have a few question to ask

I have never really understood the art of digital photography. I never really learned how to compose a shot my old XT can compose the shot and my much newer Power Shot is not able to, its a great point and shoot but doesn't let me get my hands wet in digital photography. So I am going to take my old XT and try to learn as much as I can only I don't know where to go for the needed lectures and reading. Any recommendations?

I keep getting an error on the CF card message on the XT screen, perhaps I need a new CF card, its a lot cheaper than replacing the camera. What are some possible cuases for a CF card error?

Re: Old Canon DSLR

John_ — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 07:52:04 GMT

Hi, a couple questions for you. First which Powershot model do you have ? I can control all the exposure factors as well as other settings on my Powershot SX50HS. There are multitudes of tutorials and lessons on You Tube for just about every camera out there, do a search there I bet you will find what you are looking for.

And lastly what error are you getting with the CF card? They can become corrupt, broken if you will. If formatting it or perhaps a "check disk/repair disk" does not cure it theres not a whole lot else you can do that I am aware of but others will chime in maybe with suggestions.

Re: Old Canon DSLR

ebiggs1 — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 11:48:42 GMT

In your situation, if a new CF doesn't work, is find a camera store or repair shop and have the XT checked out.

Remember the CF card must be formatted by the camera and not used or formated by anything else.

Also a new battery is a good idea and when you have the camera checked make sure you take the charger, too.

This is the place to get questions answered, so ask away.

Re: Old Canon DSLR

jbcohen — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 12:58:26 GMT

John, I have a old Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, since it is that old I doubt that there would be much in the way of tutorials for it.

Ebbings since the camera is this old I am rather reluctant to get it repaired I am more likely to replace at this point.

Re: Old Canon DSLR

hsbn — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:58:22 GMT

It's old in "digital world" but it's not that old so you can find amber of information. Even so, the operation may be a bit different but all the photographic concepts are still the same regardless of the camera.

Re: Old Canon DSLR

ebiggs1 — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 13:38:49 GMT

If you are leaning towards a new DSLR, don't buy the CF card, they are rather expensive and won't likely fit a new camera.

A new body is most likely the most cost effective way to go too.

You may have a chance of using Canon's Loyality program.

Canon will buy your camera back, working or not, towards the purchase of a new camera. You will need to call them and see if the program is still in effect.

BTW, if you have lenses for your XT make sure you get a new DSLR that uses them.

Re: Old Canon DSLR

RobertTheFat — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 14:14:54 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
If you are leaning towards a new DSLR, don't buy the CF card, they are rather expensive and won't likely fit a new camera.

I finally got around to reading the specs for the 7D Mark II. Turns out that although it accepts SD cards, it accepts CF cards as well. (That's a feature not shared by the 6D; make of that what you will.)

Re: Old Canon DSLR

ebiggs1 — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:41:35 GMT

I consider it a plus. For one thing I will not buy another camera that does not have two card slots. At least one being a CF hopefully.

This is just another fact a 6D is an entry level camera. It was simply dreamed up because the 5D Mk III is so expensive so why not fill the gap with a more modest offering?

Re: Old Canon DSLR

John_ — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:50:40 GMT

Ok why are you so loyal to CF cards ? Or need 2 different card types in one camera ?

Re: Old Canon DSLR

RobertTheFat — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 16:48:42 GMT

@John_ wrote:
Ok why are you so loyal to CF cards ? Or need 2 different card types in one camera ?

In my case, it's because I have a couple dozen of them. And when I bought my wife a T2i, I wasn't happy that it took only SD cards.

Re: Old Canon DSLR

ebiggs1 — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 06:02:57 GMT

John_ wrote:
Ok why are you so loyal to CF cards ? Or need 2 different card types in one camera ?

In my case, it's because I have a couple dozen of them. And when I bought my wife a T2i, I wasn't happy that it took only SD cards.

I am not sure that is a good reason but it is a reason, I guess. CF cards are faster and they are more robust. Granted this difference has dimished in the last little bit of time but never the less it's there. They are easier to handle.

The two slots allow much more flexibility. Different file types or real time backups, etc. In a consumer camera this is not as important. But in a pro model it is essential.

And with a Canon pro camera you get both. So you do get the best of either format. SD or CD.

Re: Old Canon DSLR

John_ — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 16:07:30 GMT

Ok that makes sense I thought the answer would be along those lines including the flexibility in the Pro lines of cameras. I haven't looked at the pro lines of Canon cameras and for me at my level the SX50HS is enough to handle and learn. Do the pro series have the 2 slots ?

Thanks for the reply !

Re: Old Canon DSLR

RobertTheFat — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 03:43:28 GMT

@John_ wrote:
Ok that makes sense I thought the answer would be along those lines including the flexibility in the Pro lines of cameras. I haven't looked at the pro lines of Canon cameras and for me at my level the SX50HS is enough to handle and learn. Do the pro series have the 2 slots ?
Thanks for the reply !

It's becoming more common, the 7D Mark II being the latest example. But the more conspicuous change is that when a new camera has only one card slot, it's almost certain to be for SD cards.

Re: Old Canon DSLR

ebiggs1 — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 06:07:28 GMT

"Do the pro series have the 2 slots ?"

All Canon's pro level cameras have two slots as do all of Nikon's. It is almost a given anymore. I used a Nikon D4 a couple days ago and I believe it had two CF slots???? The 1 series Canon pro all have a CF and a SD. Except the first one, it had only one CF.

I won't comment on other brands as I don't consier them "pro level".

Re: Old Canon DSLR

tallrob — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 08:52:31 GMT

I had a 5D and then a 5Dii, and when the 5Diii came out I realized I had a camera that was bin great condition, built like a tank but technologically obsolete. So I decided until the tech curve levels out I would go "entry level" and picked up a 6D. I never had two card slots before and really don't miss a second slot. Not really necessary. So 6D full frame vs 7D crop, I say go 6D. Great great camera for the money.

Re: Old Canon DSLR

John_ — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 13:03:38 GMT

As a novice I ask a lot of questions...what do you mean by full frame 6D vs crop 7D ? Does the 7D crop the subject so that what you see through the veiwfinder is not what you get in the photo ?

Re: Old Canon DSLR

ebiggs1 — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 16:21:31 GMT

John the term "crop sensor" is totally over used and misleading. The wonderful 7D and 7D Mk II show you exactly what you get in the view finder or LCD screen. To the vast majority of camera users the them, to them it is meaningless.

The only practical use is to give you a relationship of the focal length numbers on the lens compared to a 35mm film camera.

Some say it has a telephoto benefit. And some photographers make use of this in sports and birders, etc. Whether it is actually a benefit is up to debate. If it is there is also the same loss of wide viewing on the short side.

Most consider a 35mm lens as "normal" on a crop camera and a 50mm is more "normal" on a FF body. There again it is just numbers.

If you want a camera that is more "pro" in build and you want a speedy camera than the 7D series is for you. If you do like the look that you get from a FF, better low light ability, but are willing to take a lesser built and slower camera than the 6D is good.

Another benefit to the crop series of camera is less expensive lenses as it can use any lens Canon makes where the 6D can not.

Remember no camera does it all. There is no free lunch in photography. You give to get and you have choices.

Re: Old Canon DSLR

tallrob — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 15:48:21 GMT

The 6D has a larger sensor than the 7D, that's all it means. So when considering the image that a lens projects onto the sensor, the 7D (and all other DSLRs with a APS-C sized sensor) "crops" the image. You still get everything you see through the viewfinder in both cameras.

In my experience, the 6D has the advantage over the 7D. I shoot more for print, and therefore noise is a huge factor. Theoretically, the 6D has lower noise in higher ISO situations, and this is generally true of full frame cameras because their sesor pixels are less dense. In the real world, it depends on the situation but I've had better results with the 6D (which has exactly the same sensor as the 5Diii).

Also I prefer full frame because I've found shooting wide angle on an APS-C sensor is very challenging since you run into distortion problems when accomodating the equivalent angle of view (10mm lens vs 16mm on the full frame, 14mm vs 24mm, etc). You don't have that same problem when shooting telephoto, and the "telephoto advantage" is really a myth, since you would get the same results "cropping" a full frame image (in this case "crop sensor" is appropriate).

I honestly see no reason not to go full frame. It's better all around, and trust me, the 6D is very well bulit. The ONLY disadvantage it has compared to the 5Diii and 7D is fewer focus zones (not a big deal), slower shooting rate and video features. If you'll be shooting a lot of pro-level video I wouldn't recommend the 6D.