• 8.2-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 16 x 22-inch prints
• Large 2.5-inch LCD monitor that can be viewed at extreme angles up to 170 degrees
• High- and low-speed consecutive shooting (5 frames and 3 frames per second, respectively)
• Fully compatible with all EF and EF-S Lenses and a wide range of EOS system accessories (no lenses included)
• Powered by a lithium-ion battery pack; stores images on CF cards

I bought this body a little bit after the 40D was released. The 30D is my first DSLR. I did the research and I took other people's advice. I spent more on the lens than a body and haven't regretted that decision yet. I think the 30D is a great body to learn on. Sure it doesn't have the live view that the 40D. I having researched/played with the 40D much to determine if the live view is good enough to show what you will actually have when you trigger the shutter.

It is a very good camera, very fast and clear; really miss the information on the display, I have also a XTi and I miss the quick information for the camera showed in the LCD display, in the 30D we spend more time to get all the informations;

This is my first DSLR and i can't say enough great things about it. I won't get into the technical details, it's all right there at the Canon website. The programs are user friedly and the menu is laid out very well. I reccommend reading the manual and any other reading material that helps you get the most out of this camera. Remember you paid a good chunk of change for it so you might as well understand how it operates. If you are wondering whether or not the 8 mega pixels is enough for your needs, just ask yourself how big you plan on printing. You can easily print beautiful 8X10 with this many mega pixels. Just remember that the mega pixels doesn't have anything to do with the quality of the image until your start printing LARGER prints. In other words you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a 5 mega pixel and 15 megapixel on a 4X6 print. Choose a great lens and then you will start noticing a difference. I ended pairing this with a Sigma 10-20 and a Canon 24-105 L. I hope to get the 70-200 IS f/4 and be done with it. For a beginning photographer you cannot go wrong with this camera! I highly reccommend it and have produced terrific images with it!

UPDATE;

I had to send off my Canon 30D to Jamesburg, NJ to clean dust off the sensor. Most of the time you can blow it off with a bulb blower... Canons customer service was excellent and very quick. It was back in my hands dust free in less than a week. Another great reason to go with Canon products!

I'll be Frank. I've had this camera for a month now, and i love it. From the extremely Fast continuous shoot. Which is Five Frames per second, heres a video that i recorded about it shooting off those frames:

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It's really fast, i love it!

The image quality on this camera is Great! Don't mind that it ' only ' has eight megapixels. Although it has less resolution than the XTI, it would sure put it to shame, and beat its image quality. The Pictures are really Great, sharp, colorful, and detailed. I need to use Photoshop less and less. It's a really Great camera. I'm glad the price has gone down from the 1,600$ it was around two years ago, it's really becoming more affordable, who need a Mark III?

I'm extremely happy with my camera!
You can't beat this camera for the money.