Home > Consumer Reviews > Canon EOS 300D Digital SLR Camera Lens Kit [6MP, EF18-55mm]

I've been using this camera for 6 months and at a rough count have probably taken 2000 images. I've also bought a canon 28-105 usmII lens which I'm very pleased with. Previously i've used an Olympus OM10 with manual focus. A re kindled interest in photography and the ease of use of a digital, autofocus camera account for the prolific turnover of photos!
I would say the strengths of this camera are:
Potential for superb quality photos easily up to 15x10 print size. With the 18-55 lens supplied in the kit the camera is lightweight and ideal for varied everyday use, the lens being very unobtrusive. The TTL focus points are easy to use (though read up on the actual arrangement of the sensors. I've seen this in a review and it is useful information to know. Canon should show this in the manual) The autofocus system is fast and accurate 99% of the time. The ISO range is wide and even at 1600 gives very good results in low light with manageable shutter speeds. The white balance options allow for both accurate representations and more inventive representations (with limitations).It will also white balance bracket. For most occasions the evaluative metering system is accurate though trickier lighting situations do need either bracketing or centre weighted metering - both available on the camera. I find the best (quickest) way is a quick check on the screen and then exposure compensate and take more shots - very easy on this camera.
Although plastic, the camera body is tough and durable (and so far water resistant!) The very slow shutter speeds coupled with ISO100 are very useful. Battery life is OK so long as the LCD screen is not over used in the field. Buy a spare battery or two. There appear to be lots of other lens available. The std lens has a usefully wide angle capability at 18mm and I use this setting a lot. The instruction manual is actually very easy to use and understand.
I would say the weaknesses are:
The std 18-55 lens is not easy to manual focus as the focus ring is too narrow and the slightest touch will upset the focus in manual mode (not in auto mode). Also, being at the front, it is easy for your fingers to smear the lens whilst trying to focus or trying to find the focus ring whilst composing the picture. This presumably is the penalty for compactness and lightweight and as many other canon lens are available I find this an acceptable compromise on the std lens. My 28-105 lens is not like this and is excellent in this area by comparison (quieter in auto focus mode too) so horses for courses. The auto focus sometimes "hunts" in very low light or into very bright light so this is one occasion when you will need manual focus. The std lens is very good 99% of the time. I find I could use more flexibilty in white balance settings ie: individual temperature settings. Also direct access to spot metering is a must on this class of camera. Start up time is annoyingly slow though you get into the habit of switching on as soon as you feel a photo coming on! The switch itself is well designed and well placed. Manual selection of focus points is slightly tricky as the thumb button is too far to the right though practice will sort this!
Summary:
Very pleased with the capability of this camera and overall design also it's scope for accepting a wide range of other lens. I would certainly buy this camera again even with the benefit of hindsight. At the moment it is excellent value for money. Buy it.

Having been an 'oldish' pro and a Nikon user for over 25 years buying a Canon was a bit of a wrench. I've had the camera for around 3 weeks now and have been using it in full auto and in complete manual mode and have not been disappointed. I've even managed to hook up a Metz Flash 45 CL-4 and with some serious bracketing have had some very good results. I may be from the old school in wanting to have complete control over my camera including manual focus but the EOS 300D allows me to do this. I was using a Nikon 5700 but the delay between pressing the button and the camera actually firing meant that although I had seen the shot the camera didn't - the picture had gone. I've not had this problem with the EOS, so far it's been pretty good. Canon seem to have a winner on their hands here and if you do buy one make sure you pay the extra and get the lens too.

Just got my 300D and take a few shots and it is a excellent camera with superb image quality at the very good price. The only thing I would complant about is the fact it DOES NOT come with CF card, so you have to purchase this as well before you get try it out, apart from that it is excellent. If you are looking for a SLR digital camera and you are on a limited budget this is for you.

Well done Canon.

I bought this camera from Amazon for two reasons.

1)It was the cheapest anywhere on the Internet

2)It was the best camera from countless reviews I had read.

On using the camera I am pleased to confirm everything written about it is true. It's a semi-pro Digital SLR, that can be enjoyed from beginner to expert. It is lighter than I imagined, yet has a nice weight to it. The build quality is rather 'plastic', but CANON were forced to do this to save on costs and to seperate it from the slightly superior yet WAY more expensive model above this, which has no higher mexapixel level anyway...

The battery charges very quickly and the supplied software is very simple to use and has a surprising amount of features considering it's 'free'. The 'pop-up' flash is amazing. I can take pictures in near darkness (inside) yet they look like daylight, imagine how good photography can be if I purchased an additional flash to clip on.... Really I am amazed that this thing is meant to be compromised by being Digital, but I cannot find fault. It has every single feature a 'proper' SLR does. How about 7 zones in the view finder to auto-focus on. Simply cycle through with the shutter release button. As for professional looking photos, you can alter the white balance, appature, and even (amazingly) the film speed. This is virtual as (obviosuly) it has no film, but CANON have thought of and given practically everthing needed. Swapping the lenses is a novel yet now necessary feature on this excellent camera. No longer are my pictures compromised due to digital technology.

Any problems? Well the pictures take quite a while to appear on the PC, even on a modern XP machine whilst using the supplied USB lead, this is due to the fact they are over 3MB each! (On highest quality).Don't forget to get a high speed COMPACT FLASH card to take full advantage of the SLR features. This isn't included in the LENS KIT PACK, my only real gripe.

Overall, if you haven't got one, you're missing out on superb quality with the useability of digital media, simple as that.

I'm off to buy a 400 SLR Zoom Lens, how many other people with digital cameras can say that?!

I have used the Canon EOS 35mm range for years and was not interested in this new fangled digital stuff until they brought out the EOS 300D. I still put off purchasing one, but kept on reading all the reviews until one night, after returning from the pub (you know how it is), I took the plunge.

Plonker, I should have bought one months ago. The change over from 35mm to digital is seamless. It uses all my existing EOS accessories and is so convenient to use. No need for film, I have never taken so many pictures with a new camera, but don't forget to buy a Campact Flash card when you purchase the camera as one is not supplied. I recommend a 265MB which will give you approx 78 pictures. The 300D allows you to try out all those techniques that you read about and can never afford the film to try them. You can try out all the features supplied with the camera without it costing you a fortune. It gives you instant results and you don't have to wait for the film being processed and then wondering why you took the picture in the first place. How many times have you left a film in your camera from one holiday to another?

One warning though, it is NOT compatable with the EZ range of Canon Speedlite Flash Guns, you will have to trade up to the 550EX or 420EX, which I can also highly recommend from Amazon.