Originally posted by aviduby
Lowell Goudge: I have to say your post intrigued me the most. I have to admit that before your post I didn’t even researched the *ist as an option. Then, I read some older threads –one where you commented of *istD TTL flash benefits- and as a beginner a less expensive TTL flash is a plus. I also liked the mode/setting “dial” (similar to 10D), front and back command dial and pentaprism vs pentamirror. The only –and rather important for me- drawback was that the hand grip is not as deep. Since my hands are large the “feel” and handling of this body worries me.
Thanks again to all of you who posted.
I too have large clumsy hands, with short fingers and at first, the lack of the more pronounced and more positive grip of later bodies worried me, but I soon got used to it and found it really was not as bad as it first seemed. Keep in mind also, I used this camera a lot, in my early digital days with either a 300/4 lens plus 1.7x AF converter, or a 70-200/2.8 and 2x TC. Soninwas carrying by the "skimpy " grip with no problem, actually it has a more positive feel than it would appear from first inspection. If I can carry a 2kilo lens and TC combo with one hand on the body, I think you will also find it is no issue.
I still use the camera simply because it is a nice little camera to use with the manual focus lenses. If you choose to do the same get a split image finder it will help a lot