farlymac
PF McFarland
National Camera Day found me with a Canon EOS 10D that needed testing. It came in an auction lot without a lens or battery, but with a 2GB CF card. So I got a used battery and charger off eBay, borrowed an EF 35-80mm 1:4-5.6 lens off a film EOS camera, and a hood from a Nikkor 35mm.
At first I was trying to use a Sigma UC 35-135mm 1:4-5.6 lens, but it kept causing “ERR 99” faults. After switching to the EF 35-80mm, there were no longer any issues.
The images straight out of the camera (SOOC) left something to be desired, so I ran them through PSE10 to fix exposures (mostly with Auto Levels), and do some cropping for Web posting.
I’ll not be keeping this camera, as I have plenty of other gear to keep me busy, but now that I know it works, it should be easier to give to someone who wants to get into DSLRs.
All images taken at Walrond Park.
Drum Practice II by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Praying To Keep The Bugs Away II by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Eggs by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Hole 5 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
See the rest at https://flic.kr/s/aHsm3tf6yL
PF
At first I was trying to use a Sigma UC 35-135mm 1:4-5.6 lens, but it kept causing “ERR 99” faults. After switching to the EF 35-80mm, there were no longer any issues.
The images straight out of the camera (SOOC) left something to be desired, so I ran them through PSE10 to fix exposures (mostly with Auto Levels), and do some cropping for Web posting.
I’ll not be keeping this camera, as I have plenty of other gear to keep me busy, but now that I know it works, it should be easier to give to someone who wants to get into DSLRs.
All images taken at Walrond Park.
Drum Practice II by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Praying To Keep The Bugs Away II by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Eggs by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Hole 5 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
See the rest at https://flic.kr/s/aHsm3tf6yL
PF
farlymac
PF McFarland
For those of you interested on my impression of the EOS 10D, I think it would have given better results if there was a proper lens on it, one designed for the APS-C digital sensor.
The only two lenses I have in EF mount both came off of film cameras, and the low contrast shown in the originals (if you went to the Flickr site) is evidence of that. The Sigma UC 35-135 1:4-5.6 I found out is incompatible with any Canon camera manufactured after 2001, and the 10D was introduced in February of 2003. That's the reason I started getting the "ERR 99" codes after just a few exposures. I was afraid the camera was suffering from the same fate as one of my Nikon D80's, but luckily it was just the Sigma compatibility issue. Once I switched to a Canon EF 35-80mm 1:4-5.6 there were no problems, unless you want to count the fact it was designed for a full frame camera, so image sizes were much different than I'd have seen with an equivalent 18-55mm.
The meter system works fairly well, except in Shutter Priority (Tv). Even then, it's not that far off that if not put side-by-side with a photo taken in any of the other three modes (P, Av, and M), it doesn't look too bad.
The small viewing screen hampers any thoughts of making decisions on exposure based on what you can see on the screen. The histogram is nice to see right after an exposure, and it even has highlight blowout indication.
Button use selection is pretty straightforward, but placement is another thing. I found it hard to get my finger on a button and its corresponding control dial at times. But there's not as much real estate for placement, so it's just one more thing I like better about my Nikons.
The viewfinder is good. I didn't notice much distortion like I've seen in other APS-C cameras, or those with an EVF. I attribute this to the fact it is a pentaprism (not pentamirror) with 95% viewing area. The built-in diopter adjustment is a great feature, as my vision is still good enough to be within its range.
Once I did get used to the button layout, it handled quite nicely. The grip coverings are nicer than on my Nikons, which have a surface that can turn to goo if you're not careful. The Canon surface is a harder plastic that seems like it will hold up for much longer than my Nikons, and already has in some circumstances.
It's a nice camera, but it's getting long in the tooth for a DSLR. If I had been a Canon digital fan all along, I would have been quite pleased to have gotten one of these when they were new. Even now I am surprised that it has survived as well as it has, what with all the chips out of the plastic body edges I see. This camera was not babied! When I got it, there was only a 2GB CF card in the body, and no lens or battery. The card was blank, so I couldn't tell if the camera had performed very well before I received it. For a 6MB sensor, it records the scene very well, after adjustments are made in post to compensate for the improper lens usage.
But I am a Nikon guy, and I can see what sort of rabbit hole I'd be going down if I went and kitted out the camera the way I'd like to. Which would lead to wanting a newer model, and of course newer lenses, as the 10D will not work with the EF-S line. And on and on, until I had another camera system too many. So I'm going to find someone local that would like a nice learner camera, or replacement for their 10D.
PF
The only two lenses I have in EF mount both came off of film cameras, and the low contrast shown in the originals (if you went to the Flickr site) is evidence of that. The Sigma UC 35-135 1:4-5.6 I found out is incompatible with any Canon camera manufactured after 2001, and the 10D was introduced in February of 2003. That's the reason I started getting the "ERR 99" codes after just a few exposures. I was afraid the camera was suffering from the same fate as one of my Nikon D80's, but luckily it was just the Sigma compatibility issue. Once I switched to a Canon EF 35-80mm 1:4-5.6 there were no problems, unless you want to count the fact it was designed for a full frame camera, so image sizes were much different than I'd have seen with an equivalent 18-55mm.
The meter system works fairly well, except in Shutter Priority (Tv). Even then, it's not that far off that if not put side-by-side with a photo taken in any of the other three modes (P, Av, and M), it doesn't look too bad.
The small viewing screen hampers any thoughts of making decisions on exposure based on what you can see on the screen. The histogram is nice to see right after an exposure, and it even has highlight blowout indication.
Button use selection is pretty straightforward, but placement is another thing. I found it hard to get my finger on a button and its corresponding control dial at times. But there's not as much real estate for placement, so it's just one more thing I like better about my Nikons.
The viewfinder is good. I didn't notice much distortion like I've seen in other APS-C cameras, or those with an EVF. I attribute this to the fact it is a pentaprism (not pentamirror) with 95% viewing area. The built-in diopter adjustment is a great feature, as my vision is still good enough to be within its range.
Once I did get used to the button layout, it handled quite nicely. The grip coverings are nicer than on my Nikons, which have a surface that can turn to goo if you're not careful. The Canon surface is a harder plastic that seems like it will hold up for much longer than my Nikons, and already has in some circumstances.
It's a nice camera, but it's getting long in the tooth for a DSLR. If I had been a Canon digital fan all along, I would have been quite pleased to have gotten one of these when they were new. Even now I am surprised that it has survived as well as it has, what with all the chips out of the plastic body edges I see. This camera was not babied! When I got it, there was only a 2GB CF card in the body, and no lens or battery. The card was blank, so I couldn't tell if the camera had performed very well before I received it. For a 6MB sensor, it records the scene very well, after adjustments are made in post to compensate for the improper lens usage.
But I am a Nikon guy, and I can see what sort of rabbit hole I'd be going down if I went and kitted out the camera the way I'd like to. Which would lead to wanting a newer model, and of course newer lenses, as the 10D will not work with the EF-S line. And on and on, until I had another camera system too many. So I'm going to find someone local that would like a nice learner camera, or replacement for their 10D.
PF
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
The 10D is the only digital camera i have. It is good enough for me and i never thought of upgrading (anyway i am only shooting film). I have a M42-To-EOS and a Zuiko-To-EOS adaptors and i enjoy using old lenses with it. At ISO 100 it is plenty good for me.
Regarding light metering, i find that the 10D is heavily biased towards the focusing point it uses, that can be a bit unpredictable at times.
Pity about two things, not b&w mode, i have to desaturate it on GIMP and any ISO more than 400 are not useable.
Overall it is a nice camera to own - i like mine.
Regarding light metering, i find that the 10D is heavily biased towards the focusing point it uses, that can be a bit unpredictable at times.
Pity about two things, not b&w mode, i have to desaturate it on GIMP and any ISO more than 400 are not useable.
Overall it is a nice camera to own - i like mine.