Canon EOS 20D 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
by Canon
|
List Price: Our Price: $849.99 You Save: $450.00 (35%) Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days Buy Used: from $379.00 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon EOS 20D 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Customer Review: One missing feature
Summary: 5 Stars
For what ever reason Canon doesn't have a way to change the file prefix - and worse it is the same as some of their other cameras - so it is quite possible to overwrite pictures with the same name!
A sane file name would allow the user to put a prefix - like ones initials and then add date and GMT time when the file is moved off of the FAT files system ie (kps20060201-175317 for Feb 1st 5:53Pm + 17seconds)
Customer Review: Not Perfect but Probably the best camera out there for the money
Summary: 4 Stars
Not Perfect but Probably the best camera out there for the money. I would actually rate it a 4.5 out of 5. Image quality is excellent, speed is excellent, good focusing. Image quality is limited mostly by the lens quality, the better the lens, the better, more sharp the image.
A few gripes are:
1) comes with sensor dust on the sensor so will need a professional cleaning right out of the box, you wouldnt expect this at this price level.
2) no spot metering, which is almost unacceptable and can be very annoying and cause you to miss the shot, must use manual exposure or adjust other modes with exposure adjustment
3) Mirror slap much too loud, doesnt matter in many situations but during a wedding is disruptive and can get you removed from a church, or during wildlife or candid photography, can scare away or shy the subject
4) misses perfect focus too often, i think a infrared light would help, because when i use my 580 speedlite that has one, it is perfect focus every time. in good light focus is usually dead on, especially if i tell it where to focus.
5) One occassion so far where camera locked up and wouldnt work at all...removed battery and put back in, then it worked again.
6) kit lens is no good, so have to spend an additional $500 on a good lens. I have found the 17-85 4-5.6 IS lens to be great other than its price and the lack of lens hood. No other lens has IS in that focal length and it allows me to take photos in low light handheld to 1/4 second, its pretty sharp, and has a great focal range. I just wish it were "faster" (i.e., f 2.8 throughout the range).
8) I miss 50 iso from my previous camera, the Olympus C-750 UZ. Its good for waterfall shots.
7) Viewer is only 95%, which wouldnt be so bad if it were centered but its is not so cropping is often necessary, wasting at least 0.5 megapixels.
These are the major issues i have encountered so far, but I still like this camera very much. I would have a hard time choosing between the 20d and the nikon d200 if i were to do it all over but the 20d was the best camera out there at the $1300 price range when i bought it and still is one of the best out there in this price range.
Customer Review: I would wait...
Summary: 4 Stars
Personally I don't have this camera, but I know the 20D succesor might be announced at the annual PMA in February 20 or so, and that's when Canon will make their announcement with their new lineup of Digital SLR and lens. So I would wait if I were you for this camera's succesor, and there's a good chance it's due out!Customer Review: Good one
Summary: 5 Stars
Too goodCustomer Review: This Camera is a dream machine...
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been a Canon EOS user since film days (can we say those are nearly erstwhile yet?). I always favored my RebelG because it did what it was supposed to do very well, every time, and predictably. I also have some medium format cameras that are just fun cameras, such a twin-lens Rollei on 220 format.
For the past two years, I've owned and used a Digital Rebel with the hand grip, and loved that camera, and the pictures it makes.
Now, I feel like I was missing out on something that whole time because the 20D is all those cameras and a banana split to boot.
I pulled the camera from the box and attached a 28-135 IS, and have been snapping away ever since. The camera feels good in the hand and is easy to handle. The new control styles will take Rebel users a while to accomodate as things are moved around a little on you, but the new control system is well thought out and intuitive on its own.
Setting options on the fly is a breeze, and easier than with my Rebel because two options can be changed with each button. The thumb wheel in the back controls one, and the finger wheel controls changing the other option. For instance, to change the ISO, click the DRIVE-ISO button, and move your thumb on the back wheel. Changing the drive is done with the finger wheel. Slick. Especially when you want to change a lot of options for a quick shot.
EOS accessories work well, as expected. So far, I have attached an ancient 50/1.8 EF (mk I -- the tank lens), the 18-55 EF-S, and the 28-135 IS. Each of these lenses has worked as expected. However, the viewfinder is so much brighter than my old Rebel, that even the lenses seem new. I even used my Speedlite 380EX without hassle. I don't think the 380EX supports TTL-II (the new metering system), but the exposures came out as I have expected them to be from years of EOS use. Even better.
Picture Quality is simply phenomenal. Two years ago, I was astounded at how similarly my Digital Rebel responded as if it were film, but the 20D is not only like film, it's like perfect film. What I mean is that is no matter what you shoot (ISO 100 to 1600 to H (3200)), the image responds the way you expect film would, but you don't have to worry about graininess caused by bad film processing, or from film getting hot, etc... Shooting in H (ISO 3200) is cleaner than the old Fuji 800 I used to shoot.
Now, looking through the viewfinder is a little different: the 9-point AF layout is new to any EOS camera I have handled. The diamond shape is quite an improvement. Plus, I have noticed that the camera gives more information than my Digital Rebel did. There are AF points that dimly flash to show that an object will be in focus, but at the edge of the focal plane. Bright points are in perfect focus. It's a very nice addition to the usual feedback.
The multipoint joystick located on the back of the camera makes it easier than ever to change AF points without getting out of the viewfinder, too. Click the AF-point selecter button on the the far right and slide your thumb over to the joystick to move right to the AF point you want. It couldn't be any simpler!
ONE BIG DIFFERENCE!!!! The shutter sound is totally different than my Digital Rebel. It's louder, but sleeker sounding. The 20D sounds like it is a film camera. For people like myself, who enjoyed film shooting, it is handy to hear the mirror slap up and the shutter motor bzzzeeerrriiipppt!
Setting the drive in continuous can be a bit startling, however, if you leave your finger on the shutter. You can fire off 5 shots in a second, and it means it. bam! bam! bam! bam! bam! What's funny is to hand the camera to someone who has never used an EOS and they will snap 10 pics. Keep it in one shot if you have a mediocre CF card.
Setting in-camera parameters is very, very, very easy. One very nice addition to the 20D is the ability to make custom parameters, but also to tweak the white balance in the same way you can on the top of the line. I haven't needed to do so yet, but I can see where it will be handy in mixed lighting (flourescent/incandescent).
The bottom line is that there is really very little to hold you back from getting this camera, if you want a digital SLR. The fit and finish is awesome (even down to the nice embossed logo on the flash -- so much nicer than the screen printed logo). The styling is appropriate for an SLR (don't expect a light load if you add the battery grip, an external flash, and have a long lens). The end result is spectacular!
You should look into finding excellent printing resources to go with this camera. I use a Canon Pixma at home, and one online service that has exceptional print quality. The prints this camera can make will make you proud to see your friends and others gawking -- but be prepared to print more posters and large, large prints than ever. It's kind of nice when 4x6 just isn't enough for some prints.
The bottom line is a 5 for this camera. Canon has made each feature work well. It has provided durability (even in a 100,000 snap shutter). And it works very very well for what it is. No less than a 5.
One more thing (I can't shut up about this camera, I love it). The features of the camera mechanics themselves (such as the 1/8000 top shutter speed, and little things like 2-d curtain synch, PC synch for studio flashes, etc) are what you expect in a top-of-the line film camera. Many of the similarly featured film-based EOS cameras used to price out around $1000. Given that you never have to buy film or processing, this camera is a steal... it really is. I love it!
If you want to shoot in low light, fast action, or plain old snapshots, this camera is for you.