I have a hacked version of the 1st Digital Rebel. I use it for creative shots and 30D for everything else. It allows me to shoot at 3200ISO. The grain is HUGE, but I convert to B&W and use some film grain actions and images turn out pretty cool. I will seach my hard drive for some to post.

We still use our D30 on a continuous basis. The little 3 meg files still look great!

I had the 300d until December and shot several weddings with it. It was fine, although the buffer was limiting at times and the noise was pretty bad for what I like (I had the hack too, but never really went to 3200 because of the noise). It was a good camera and if I wasn't needing a faster camera it would have been more than enough camera for me.

That said, I love the spot metering on the 30d, the better high iso noise, and that I can choose to shoot at 5fps, which I can't wait to unleash at a wedding.

Yes, the 1st Digital Rebel had the worst buffer. I found myself shooting at medium resolution to compensate. Though, it is built like a tank(for a plastic body)! I have punished that camera, and it keeps on taking great shots.

Ahhhhh. . . I love love love my 300d. I never added the hack, though. It started doing funny things this week (I think the secondary mirror is loose), and I'm so sad about it!
I think I'm going to try and fix it myself, and if it works, the hack is next!

I have heard of people modifying the sensor so it is an infra red camera. Makes some pretty cool-looking images.

What is the hack?

I use my Nikon D2x when I want to get photos with lots of noise and off colors just being sarcastic about some other thread floating around... I shoot N and still use my D70 with weird lenses.

I'm curious about the hack, too. I don't shoot with mine anymore, but I cannot stand the thought of selling it. It is my backup camera to my 5d. Now, it was as slow as could be...no doubt about that...lol But I just felt like I was "one" with that camera and loved shooting with it. The only reason I upgraded was to be able to shoot at a higher iso.

The hack basically turns the 300d into somewhat of a 10d. It unlocks 3200 iso, allows for on body control of FEC (definiely a big help when I had a 420ex with no FEC control) and some other custom functions. Honestly, the 3200 on the 300d is pretty terrible, but it's better than nothing. http://www.digitalrebel.nl/firmware.html you can download a hack here

Thanks, Phil! That sounds familiar now that you mention it. I thought the iso sucked above 400. I bet you're right about the 3200 being pretty terrible....lol

Well I guess it isn't absolutely terrible. I took the following shot with 3200 iso and I have it in my portfolio, could be worse

The ISO above 800 is terrible. And with the hack ISO 3200 grain is HUGE! That is the fun part! You can be creative with it. You cannot make images like this with the 5D. I use it as a tool, like I used a Holga when I use film. Have fun, take some risks, thats what it is all about. The 5D will take care of the other stuff.

Sigh - you are all correct about the buffer. You don't really notice, though, except when you dig it out of your camera after shooting with anything else

I found a hacked 1st Rebel, 3200ISO image.

Click to view attachment

wow!!! that post is like an instant time warp. you and me, shakey knees...feeling the weight of the entire world as we dusted off our tamron lenses, took a deep breath and just went for it. We've learned so much, yet still don't know a thing.

cheers!

Dude, I am happy you mentioned the Tamron lens. I have not used it much at all since I went to prime, L glass. Though, recently I have been using it more because it gets some great flare shots. Those sweet primes just don't flare.