|
 The 20D also has a faster top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec, conventional flash sync of 1/250 sec, and pulsed high-speed flash sync up to 1/8000 sec with supported EX-series Speedlites. The 20D meshes well with new E-TTL II flash units that take into account distance information supplied by many Canon lenses, and it has flash-exposure bracketing, FE lock, and external wireless flash control. The 35-zone TTL metering system is the same as in the 10D, and includes an evaluative, centerweighted, and 9-percent partial metering pattern. But there’s still no real spotmeter.
Additional cool features include the 20D’s white-balance bracketing control, its 10X playback zoom magnification, PictBridge compatibility, and improved RAW conversion software.
Image-quality contest
Because the 20D uses a smaller APS-sized sensor than the 8.2MP EOS-1D Mark II, we were initially concerned about increased noise levels, which plague all 8MP EVF cameras at higher ISO settings. But it looks as if the 20D’s 8.2MP (effective) CMOS sensor (which captures a 3504x2336-pixel image) has noise reduction aplenty, since noise levels ranged from extremely low at ISO 100 to only moderately low at ISO 1600. Color accuracy? A bit higher than the 1D Mark II, while resolution was nearly the same. Test portrait images shot outdoors show outstanding skin tones and fairly wide dynamic range, and close-up shots made with the built-in flash were rarely burned out. You can squeeze even higher image quality from RAW images that maintain their 12 bits per color when converted to TIFF files using the included Digital Photo Professional 1.1 software.
Two features attest to the improved integrated circuits and higher capacity BP-511A Li-ion battery found in the 20D. At 1.7 pounds, the camera is 3.5 ounces lighter than the 10D, and can capture more than 3,500 shots (half with flash) on a full charge. Impressive!
Without a doubt, the Canon EOS 20D will be the camera to beat in the sub-$2,000 price category this year. Only qualm? The 1.8-inch, 118,000-pixel LCD monitor doesn’t compare to the 2-inch, 235,000 pixel LCD on the Pentax *ist DS. But that leaves room for the EOS 30D—probably already on Canon’s drawing board.
What's Hot
Instant turn on. Excellent image quality up to ISO 400. Up to 30 frames at 4.5 fps in burst mode. Durable body and great AF system.
What's Not
1.6X 35mm lens factor limits wide-angle field of view. 1.8-inch LCD monitor is smaller than Pentax *ist DS; image shifted slightly to left.
Click to download full camera test for the Canon Eos 20D
-requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
|
