Best value in DSLRs
Written: Mar 06 '05
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Pros: Low noise at high ISO,
Build quality,
5 frames per second
Cons: No spot metering,
Small RAW buffer
The Bottom Line: I would definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of upgrading from the digital rebel or 10D. I think it represents the best value for the money among current DSLRs.
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| rcomas's Full Review: Canon EOS-20D Body only Digital Camera |
I bought this as a replacement for my Digital Rebel. I wanted a DSLR that shot at a fast enough frame rate for outdoor sports, and that didn't feel like a plastic toy the way the DR did. Rather than get a 10D, I decided to wait for the 20D. I'm glad I did.
I was very impressed by the 20D. With a fast CF card, it can shoot at 5 frames per second for 24+ jpeg images, and the body is a light-weight magnesium alloy. I was also pleasantly surprised by the low noise in the images, even at ISO 1600, a great improvement over the DR, which produced images that were barely usable at ISO 800.
On the down side, there is no spot metering on the camera! Even cheap consumer P&S cameras have spot metering; I don't know what the canon engineers were thinking.
Canon also appears to have used the same sized RAW buffer as used in the 10D, but since the 20D has an 8MP sensor (vs 6MP for the 10D), RAW images are bigger, so the RAW buffer can only hold 6 shots (vs 9 for the 10D). However, the DIGIC II processor can write to the CF card and record shots at the same time, so with a fast CF card, you can get an extra 1-2 RAW shots off before the frame rate drops back down to 1FPS.
The 8MP sensor is also nice. Images aren't noticeably better than the 6MP sensor on the DR, but the extra pixels give me more cropping options without having to worry about losing image quality.
I am very happy with the performance and value I've gotten from the 20D.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1400
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Solid Enough for a Professional
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Epinions.com ID:
rcomas
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Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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