10 Best Canon Digital SLR’s
What say you?
I was flipping though emails trying to find some worthy news, nothing came up. So I decided to give my top 10 Canon DSLR’s.
1) Rebel/300D
It was the first sub $1000 SLR, it could be easily hacked to unlock a pile of 10D features and it had great image quality. This camera really opened the doors for digital SLR’s
2) 20D
Tough call vs the 5D, but the 20D was the first “prosumer” camera to really break open the whole segment. Plenty of 20D owners went to the next camera on our list.
3) 5D
The first “affordable” full frame camera. It also boasts some of the best image quality ever produced by a digital SLR. Pictures taken with the 5D can still look magnificent today.
4) 1Ds Mark II
Massive resolution for the time and unparalleled image quality. This camera converted a lot of film users.
5) 40D
I just loved this camera. I think the IQ is fantastic and 10mp is just about pefect.
6) 1D Mark II/IIn
Blazing fast, fantastic autofocus and a staple of sports photography.
7) Rebel XSi/450D
This Rebel really matured the line I think. I think it’s the best built Rebel to date. We’ll see what the T1i has on offer.
8) D30
It has to be on the list, so I put it here. :)
9) 5D Mark II
Some say it’s missing features and sexiness for specs, I don’t really agree. It’s a camera with fantastic image quality. I have to put it on the list just for its video mode.
10) 1D Mark III
I love mine.. so it’s here!
cr
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:02 am
…and your top 10 lenses list??
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April 3rd, 2009 at 2:48 am
Good selection, though I would of put the 5D at the top as its such a iconic camera.
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April 3rd, 2009 at 3:15 am
I agree with your top 3 choices; the order is completely up to individual opinon. Makes me wonder what happened to Canon after those leading years… Sigh.
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April 3rd, 2009 at 4:01 am
I’d swap the 300D and the 5D, and move the 40D higher (where to put it I don’t know).
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mantra Reply:
June 17th, 2009 at 3:04 am
can’t understand about canon 40D
it’s the less trusty camera
almost every cameras had a shutter failure @ 10.00 -20.000 clicks
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Zac Reply:
June 17th, 2009 at 8:49 am
do you have some data to support that? this is the first time I’ve heard of the 40D having a shutter issue.
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mantra Reply:
July 18th, 2009 at 9:29 am
give a look at the digital review forum
or google 40D shutter error 99
then do it with nikon or other brands or models
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April 3rd, 2009 at 4:41 am
Whats so special with the 40D? Don’t get me wrong, it seems to be an excellent camera, just as the other xxD’s. But to me it seems more like the incremental, no fuzz, update from the 30D.
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Ted Reply:
April 3rd, 2009 at 5:09 am
What was so special for me was how the price dropped to half (in my region and with a rebate) about nine months after it was released. I jumped to it from a 400D.
The 40D probably gives you more for your money than any other Canon DSLR. It’s such a joy to use…and it only cost how much?
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April 3rd, 2009 at 5:27 am
Getting me all nostalgic about my 300D now… Gave it away after the sub-mirror failed. Silky smooth at ISO 100…
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April 3rd, 2009 at 5:43 am
That’s a real silly list, what the heck is “best” (?) and how can one forget about real history. For a while THE best (and the only one as it happens) Canon digital camera was EOS DCS 3 (if it was the only one, it was the best by definition), how possibly could it be missing from that list? It seems like it’s not “The Best” list but rather “The Most Popular Cameras I Can Remember While I Write This Blog Entry As I Have Nothing Else To Do” list. Yeah, it’s fun but it’s just as inaccurate as Nikon (Sony) autofocus (not that I mean it but I’m bored so maybe some Nikon or Sony fanboy will start a flame war :P).
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Canon Rumors Reply:
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:10 am
I knew someone would bring it up!
I didn’t include the DCS 3 because the digital aspect of the camera was Kodak, not Canon. It wasn’t until the D30 that Canon did the entire camera themselves.
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Michal Reply:
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:15 am
Nit picking you are. The camera was a Canon, the digital back was Kodak (what is Kodak anyway) :P
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Canon Rumors Reply:
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:20 am
So it wasn’t a Canon Digital SLR. It was a Canon SLR with a Kodak Back.
When I do my top 10 Kodak digital technologies, this can be on that list.
Is there 10?
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April 3rd, 2009 at 7:11 am
I would change the d30 to the d60, that is the camera that made me jump ship (35mm film) I shot one heck of a lot of PR shots with that camera. I would ad the Kodak DSLR/C even though it was not Canon wow great images. I wish I didn’t sell mine.
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April 3rd, 2009 at 7:22 am
6) 1D Mark IIn
Blazing fast, fantastic autofocus and a staple of sports photography.
why the N and not the original, all the features you list here apply to the original as well, the N wasn’t much more than a cosmetic upgrade with some improved workflow options
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Canon Rumors Reply:
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:23 am
I see way more n’s out there than the original. I will change it to II/IIn. That probably makes more sense.
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April 3rd, 2009 at 7:22 am
nice list… im one of the 20D people that went to the 5D =)
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April 3rd, 2009 at 9:03 am
I totally agree with your top 3. 300D made me curious, then I got an early 20D in sept’04 and finally upgraded to a 5D. ^^ Well, I’m still happy with my 5D …
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April 3rd, 2009 at 10:59 am
Great list. My vote is for the 5D. Not only is it an iconic camera and a game changer in its day but it still ranks among the very best DSLRs today in overall image quality (i.e., it boasts the 12-13 Megapixel sensor ’sweetspot’ that Nikon has latched onto with its D700 and has increadible pixel sharpness and colour rendition as well).
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April 3rd, 2009 at 11:30 am
Sure it’s a fun list and interesting to read. Some of your choices and especially your comments that accompany them lead me to think this is much like Michal says: “The Most Popular Cameras I Can Remember While I Write This Blog Entry As I Have Nothing Else To Doâ€Â. Still fun to read, however.
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April 3rd, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Heh, the D30 was my first digital cam, and I only recently upgraded to the 40D! :)
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April 3rd, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Absolutely agree about the 40D. Cracking SLR for wildlife. Superb autofocus with a 2.8 lens (insert joke about the focus being better than a 1DIII as it actually works) great frame rate, lightweight but built well – love the c1-c3 settings. Super piece of kit. The pinnacle of the xxD series IMO. I’ll keep mine until the shutter wears out.
Wishes for the future ? When I come to replace it in a few years when the shutter breaks I’ll have a 12 MP x1.6 with better high ISO control, true auto ISO and a dedicated MLU. And that’s your lot.
I’ve got a 10D as a backup and its amazing when you shoot its amazing just how far the prosumer line has come. Super piece of kit worth every penny I spent on it (£600).
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April 3rd, 2009 at 4:16 pm
40D is probably the best bang for the buck camera in the in lineup. i’m glad it was mentioned.
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April 3rd, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Of Canon DSLR’s, I’ve owned the D30, 300D, 350D, 400D, 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D, 5D and 5D MK II.
Most of them were bought used, and traded or sold for another. Of these, the 40D and the 5D MK II are my favorites.
I also have as a collectible, the 6mp Kodak DCS 460. It came out in 1995 for a measily $28,000, but mine cost much less used.
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April 3rd, 2009 at 10:54 pm
I agree that the 300D should be at the top of the list.
It was an amazing value for its time and converted a lot of the entry level folks over to Canon.
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April 4th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
The 20d is in a perfect position. And since it is a few years old you can get one for $350. It and the 5d are the most solid cameras on the list. I have not felt the need to upgrade from my 20d yet (full frame & iso 50) are the only things that could get me to upgrade from my 20d.
p.s. Solid=bang for your buck.
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April 5th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Where is the 1st 1D????? I belive that was THE revelution!
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April 8th, 2009 at 7:46 am
And where is the Canon 10D – the first affordable digital SLR? This list is pointless without the 10D…
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April 8th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
“Pictures taken with the 5D can still look magnificent today.” I hope so, as it’s my main camera.
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April 13th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
wow the 50D didn’t even make the list
yeah i agree it’s a total piece of crap, that’s why i bought one…
just because the pixels count is higher and some people got error 99 it should be classified as the worse camera canon put out…
aight
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pixu Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Maybe because he doesn’t own one yet, i’m sure it’s great cam, but personaly, i’ve waited several months to get a “new” 40D at it’s lowest price and that when it’s gonna disappear from stores. My sister own a 450D with 12 MP, and my imac is a bit slow for the 12 MP RAW.. So, I can’t imagine with 15 MP :’(
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June 17th, 2009 at 3:04 am
i can’t understand about canon 40D
it’s the less trusty camera
almost every cameras had a shutter failure @ 10.00 -20.000 clicks
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