Beautiful!
Written: Nov 20 '04 (Updated Dec 15 '04)
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Pros: Canon at the top of their game with a camera for the rest of us!
Cons: The shutter is rather loud.
The Bottom Line: Canon has got it right. This is a camera of professional caliber at an affordable price.
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| fashfoto's Full Review: Canon EOS-20D Body only Digital Camera |
Having enjoyed a career as a fashion photographer for major magazines, my one concern with respect to the equipment that I used was that of achieving maximum quality in my photos. That, eventually, led me to using Leica cameras, with their superb Leitz lenses and shooting on Kodachrome film.
It's been a decade and a half since my last assignment for Harper's Bazaar. Now, in my late sixties, I love to shoot, but my shooting is purely personal, except for an occasional small job or a spec shoot for On Request Images (.com).
I love film and I love the quality of film (and I keep my Leica M6 at hand) but, I have come to embrace digital photography. I began with a series of Sony cameras (F505V, F707, F717 and some tiny Sony whose model number I don't recall).
Some three and a half years ago, I was to give a weekend photo workshop. I wrote to the president of Canon asking to borrow a (film) body and some lenses. I had never used Canon cameras. About a week later, a package arrived with about $20 thousand in cameras and lenses (for me to try, not to keep).
Frankly, I was quite intimidated by the Canon camera. It had all those dials and a computer inside. I was used to cameras that were essentially mechanical with some relatively minor electronics.
Nonetheless, when the Canon 10D arrived on the scene, I was eager to acquire one and managed to do so, some months after it's appearance.
Again, I was intimidated by this highly computerized camera so I allowed myself a week to familiarize myself with using it. But after spending just an hour or two with the camera and the instruction manual, I was totally at ease with the camera. Many of those little buttons which I believed to be daunting and confusing (along with the electronic readout) are actually quite simple and intuitive once you understand how they are laid out.
(For example: a series of three buttons on top of the camera has two functions listed for each button: pushing the button, the first function is controlled [set] by turning the wheel at the FRONT of the camera; the second function is controlled by using the wheel at the BACK of the camera).
Well, I love(d) my Canon 10D. However, there was the frustration that if the camera was turned-off or in a sleep mode and a photo opportunity presented itself, it could take a full three seconds (seemed even more) for the camera to respond to the urgent pressing on the shutter release. And the camera was limited to shooting all images in color (not the worse thing).
But, bring on the Canon 20D. Immediately, the shutter lag is virtually a thing of the past. The specifications say that the camera responds in two-tenths of a second from its sleep mode. That's fast enough for me that I've not noticed any shutter lag when I shoot. I do notice a small lag when the camera is first turned on but I estimate that to be no more than about a half second.
By the way, I just got the Canon 20D yesterday so I am not completely familiar with all its attributes but moving up from a Canon 10D is a snap (sorry, folks; I had to say that).
The Canon 20D is an 8.2 megapixel camera compared to the 6.3 megapixels of the Canon 10D. One can shoot to yield JPEGs or RAW files or RAW with JPEGS embedded. I was shooting the identical subject with both (10D and 20D) cameras to try to compare image quality. Side by side, the image of the 20D is larger because of a larger file but I could not see a difference on my computer monitor. I'll likely have to make prints to see if there is a visual difference though I suspect the 20D will hold up better in making large size prints. I'm also going to try to get a feeling for differences in dynamic range but, again, it may take some comparison prints to tell me.
The ISO range of the Canon 20D extends from 100 to 3200 (that's something I appreciate about digital cameras; no changing film for different light conditions).
With respect to light, I believe the AUTO White Balance of the Canon 20D does a much better job than it's predecessor in interpreting colors correctly and minimizing unwanted color casts.
In order to shoot in black and white one must go into the Menu, choose Parameters and then choose B/W. From there, one can choose a filter effect: yellow, orange, red, green or none. One can also choose toning: sepia, blue, purple, green and, of course, none. Though, I did a few black and white shots, I've not yet had the light quality (outdoors) or subject with which to try the filter effects (I'm looking forward to that).
The camera offers exposure modes for both the casual snapshooter (though I would recommend a point-and-shoot for such a person) and various program modes (and manual settings) for the more experienced shooter. The 20D like the 10D before it has built-in diopter correction which I, and my aging eyes, appreciate.
The built-in flash is at a higher point when it is opened then was the flash on the 10D. This both allows it to better clear longer lenses or lens hoods and, likely, reduce the incidence of red eye.
An image can be enlarged, for viewing on the LCD screen, up to ten times and can be moved about the screen with a single joystick (button) kind of control.
The Canon 20D accepts the full line of Canon lenses and, in addition can utilize the new series of (S) digital lenses (not available to the 10D).
Various software comes with the Canon 20D including the EOS Viewer Utility and Photostitch for creating panoramic images. New, to this camera is Digital Photo Professional software which, at first glance, seems quite robust. Though I've used it, I've not yet read the instructions for it (the instructions are a PDF file which I may have inadvertently caused to be password protected and I don't have the password). But, it does open RAW files and allows corrections to colors, et al.
Canon is known for the long battery life of the 10D and 20D. I've shot hundreds of shots with my Canon 10D then gone out and shot again without recharging the battery. I've never had a battery die on me with the 10D and I expect the same for the Canon 20D.
Unfortunately, I was obligated to buy the Canon 20D Kit which comes with an 18-55mm "S" lens. It's something I don't need since I already have a series of Canon's "L" (top quality) lenses. Nonetheless, the 18-55 mm "S" lens is serviceable and will yield some fine images.
This camera is a bit lighter than its predecessor, the 10D. Surprisingly, at least to me, the shutter seems quite a bit louder than that of the 10D. So far, that is the only negative thing I might say about this camera.
Canon seems to be the company at the top of its game with respect to designing and producing, arguably, the best digital cameras for the advanced and/or professional photographer. Five or six years ago, if a camera of the caliber of the Canon 20D were available, it would likely have been priced in the range of 15 to 20 thousand dollars. Today, the 20D is priced at $1500 and another hundred if purchased as a kit with the aforementioned lens.
The three features which are most appealing to me and were a consideration in moving from the Canon 10D are, in order of importance: 1) virtually no shutter lag 2) the option of shooting in black and white 3) the increased resolution (8.2 megapixels).
I am very excited by the evolution photography has been undergoing in these very recent times. The quality of digital image making and the wonderful photoblogs one finds on-line are contributing to a new appreciation of the photographic medium.
In this respect, Canon and the 20D play an important role.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1599
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Solid Enough for a Professional
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Epinions.com ID:
fashfoto
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Stan Malinowski
Location: Chicago, IL
Reviews written: 49
Trusted by: 8 members
About Me:
Glamour and fashion photographer shot for Playboy and Vogue now snapshoots and loves his dogs.
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