EOS 10D; a short review

I've had the 10D for a few days and shot close to 300 images with it. My biggest concern going into this was with the physical size of the sensor - I like wide angle shots, and the field of view of my favourite lens (24mm) wouldn't be the same. Well, it's not the same but still has a nice wide angle feel anyway (similar field of view of a 35mm lens on a 35mm camera.) Tasman Sea at North Head Originally uploaded by yankinoz.

My 28-105 is still a very useful zoom range, it is a normal-to-telephoto zoom on the 10D. I used it rather extensively at a friend's baby's baptism on Sunday. I've been shooting film with an EOS 1 for at least 12 years and the layout of the 10D is so familiar that it's easy to forget that it's a digital camera. The only thing that seems strange is the location of the depth of field preview. I have to hunt for it when I need it. This is not the end of the world because a) when depth of field is critical, the subject probably doesn't move and b) I'll get used to it over time. Highs:

• responsive (no shutter lag)
• fill in flash (controllable amount of fill)
• custom functions (focus related ones in particular)
• major functions easily accessible (drive, metering, iso, ect.)
• uses my existing lenses
• 3200 speed setting - wow!
• below 400, almost no noise at all
• beep can be turned off (it is)
• Price (new 10Ds can be found for under 1000USD)

Lows

• grip could be a bit bigger
• 2 seconds to power on
• dust (see below)
• 'auto' white balance - not!
• only manual flash with my 430EZ - guess I'll need a EX flash :-)

Here's a 3200 speed test, under incandescent light with the 'auto' white balance. I really don't see where Canon can call this auto white balance - but I don't mind the colour, actually prefer it to a photoshop corrected version. The other thing to check out here is the grain, or noise at 3200 speed. It's there, and is expected but is IMO far less than the grain in 3200 speed film. And rather similar to the 800 speed setting in the Nikon 995.

3200 test Originally uploaded by yankinoz.

Dust... Dust, dust, dust. This is totally my fault. With film, if a bit of dust gets behind the shutter and gets on the film, it shows up on one photo. Then the film and the dust move, ready for the next dust free shot. I've kept my 80-200 zoom lens in an imitation Domke wrap. Next to the wrapped lens, in my old camera bag sat my 24mm, with the 28-105 on the EOS 1. In my excitement with the new camera I grabbed the 24mm and put it right on the 10D - didn't notice that the imitation Domke wrap's loop fabric was deteriorating in my bag, leaving bits of black dust everywhere, and yup, a few bits made it's way onto the sensor. It's only visible with F/11 or smaller aperture and I've got most of it off with a blower bulb but there are a few stubborn bits. The good news is that it's easy to photoshop out and the Canon repair office is a few Km from my office, so it will get a professional clean after Australia Day.

Now, I'm adopting a new anal lens cleaning routine and am trashing my trusty old Tamrac bag (now loaded with black dust) and have replaced it with a Crumpler Tall-ee bag. Review of the Crumpler coming soon to yankinoz.