WOW!!! Coming from a 300D which I had maxed out capability wise - this is in practice, WAY MORE than I could have hoped for! I knew all the specs, I test drove one in the store, deciding between the 400D and 30D...now htat I have it all setup, have actually used it's features, compared it's function in real life - I am ASTOUNDED at the difference! It's as big of a difference as when I got the 300D coming from a 2MP Olympus P&S!
Obviously you all know it's better in every way, but I just can't get over the leap of performance. The speed boost is something I had not seen properly described, at least in comparison to the 300D. Going from a 6 shot (RAW) burst and a 5-6 second write time per shot, to this...unbelieveable. Now it's litterally only limited by the card capacity in jpg mode, and shooting at 5fps, for more than double the shot capacity, and in one TENTH the time...WOW! Write time, even though file size has gone up, is down from 6 seconds to under ONE per shot for RAW. JPG is instant. Shot review even RAWs, is INSTANT. No more looking at the red light, waiting through the 2 second delay between pics reviewing them. I shot a 5fps burst of my big screen and you can play it back so fast the screen doesnt even go dark- it's like watching a movie using the big scroll wheel to go through them. The TV litterally plays back.
I also played with my first macro lens - now I really want the 1x-5x lens to play with! I picked up the compact 50mm, and it's perfect for what I need right now, taking shots of material defects and close dimentions of parts. But knowing that there is a lens to go ten times closer - that is a neat possibility indeed!
Anyway, if ANYONE is tempted to upgrade from the 300D, don't wait another second, it is MORE than worth it! Everything from the size, to the larger and BRIGHTER viewfinder, the awesome speed of every operation...day and night, that's all I can describe it as. I'm even more glad I chose the 30D over the 400D now also, the pro factors I diserned were right on the money in real use.
Incidently I got it at
www.ibuydigital.com for $1160. I also purchased the battery grip for $199, although that is coming in another shipment. If anyone is going to order through them save yourself some time and just call to order. I ordered online and they waited on it for a few hours, sent me an email to call them to 'confirm my order', which was simply an attempt at an upsell. Call in and it will be placed right away to begin with.