:::Canon EOS 20D::: Official Press Release

[DBL]

Review w/ samples and comments on the new lenses


Looks like Canon made them take the images down. Too bad. Maybe someone saved them and will provide a link.

 

[Nocturnal]

What's this I keep hearing about the RAW capability being dumbed down?

 

[Sid59]

Originally posted by: DBL
Review w/ samples and comments on the new lenses


Looks like Canon made them take the images down. Too bad. Maybe someone saved them and will provide a link.

maybe they'll show up =\

 

[Sketcher]

Added:

Bob Atkins Review
Digital Camera Resource Review

Canon Europe product page link

 

[Sketcher]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
What's this I keep hearing about the RAW capability being dumbed down?

Imaging Resource
Without a doubt, the EOS 20D is an impressively fast camera, all the more so given its 8.2 megapixel imager. (That's a lot of data to sling around that quickly.) Shutter lag is better than that of the earlier 10D, the Digital Rebel, or the Nikon D70, in many cases significantly so. Cycle times are also very impressive, whether in single-shot or continuous mode. Buffer capacity for JPEG images is excellent: Using a low-compressibility color-noise image as the subject, we consistently shot 19 large/fine JPEGs before having to wait for the card to catch up, and at roughly a second per image, post-buffer-fill cycle time was excellent as well. Shooting in RAW+JPEG mode cuts buffer capacity to 6 frames, regardless of the subject matter or JPEG quality setting, and slows both the post-buffer-fill cycle time and buffer recovery rate as well. - But the cycle time for those first 6 frames is still very good, and you don't have to wait for the buffer to clear entirely before shooting another series.

There is a lot of forum chatter from people complaining about the perceived 'dumbing down' of the RAW FPS. Considering the market Canon states the 20D specifically addresses however (PJ's & Wedding Photographers) and the realization that if you really need blazing RAW performance you should be considering a 1 Series rather than the 20D. Kind of like the "why'd you buy the DRebel if the specs you want are in the 10D" issue.

The whole camera is an exceptional improvement over the 10D. It addresses nearly all the issues that the 10D didn't address and it improved on everything the 10D did well. It is not however, nor should it be in my opinion berated or chastized for not being the holy grail equal or better than any 1 series cameras. It's a $1,500.00 camera that stands with the big boys for goodness sake! And when did everyone start shooting RAW or insist that they needed to anyway? I'm betting that the Increased Megapixel, New Generation Canon CMOS, Digic-II and ETTL-II captured Large/fine JPEG images are going to make RAW image processing a bit less of a requirement to achieve exceptional photo quality. But that's just opinion...


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[jonMEGA]

I'm glad I waited and didnt buy the D70

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: Sketcher
There is a lot of forum chatter from people complaining about the perceived 'dumbing down' of the RAW FPS. Considering the market Canon states the 20D specifically addresses however (PJ's & Wedding Photographers) and the realization that if you really need blazing RAW performance you should be considering a 1 Series rather than the 20D. Kind of like the "why'd you buy the DRebel if the specs you want are in the 10D" issue.

But I think the point that some are trying to get across is that Canon intentionally dumbed down the raw capabilities so as not to upset 1 series owners. Using some simple calculations, one can see that the camera should be able to do more than 6 raw if it can do ~25 JPEG. Of course, this assumes things we really don't know regarding how the camera process RAW and JPEG directly from the sensor.

However, considering the Rebel was dumbed down intentionally in some respects and coupled with the fact that some of the issues were resolved w/ a firmware hack, it is conceivable that the same could be done in this case. If these assumptions are correct and a hack created, you would most likely be looking at 9 -12 raw files before the buffer fills.

Personally, I rarely shoot RAW anyway, so this matters little to me.

 

[Nocturnal]

You can bet I'm starting to save for this bad boy. I hear the iso is exceptional. And this is all pre-production models too. I can't wait, woot!

 

[Leejai]

"Speed and Performance that improved than ever"

Am I the only one that didn't get this?

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by: Leejai
"Speed and Performance that improved than ever"

Am I the only one that didn't get this?

Maybe the translation is a little weird. I think the official announcement was made on Canon's Japanese website.

 

[Sketcher]

[Update 8.23.04]

Added Sample Image Links. The ISO 1600 and 3200 samples are incredible. In fact, if you don't check the EXIF Data while surfing through dpreview you might not catch which ones were high ISO! I haven't seen any low light images (where high ISO noise is more telling) yet but I'm sure they'll be impressive as well.

The 20D's exceptional lack of digital noise in the upper registers makes Canon's f/4 "L" lenses even that much better of a buy. Of course, high ISO viability makes ALL your lenses much more usable.

.

 

[Anubis]

can anyone access the full size sample images? they arnt working for me

 

[Sketcher]

Originally posted by: Anubis
can anyone access the full size sample images? they arnt working for me

I tried a few 3MB images. They load fine for me. File size and site traffic may attribute to slow page loads. Check your popup blocking (javascript enabled page load).

.

 

[Anubis]

they loaded just took longer then it should

 

[DBL]

The samples on Dpreview are pretty impressive. Looks to be close to 1 stop better performance compared to my 10D w/ regards to noise. This will be a great available light camera.

 

[m2kewl]

this camera is da pimp!

/must close wallet...must close wallet

 

[Sketcher]

I just did some low light shooting w/my 10D & 70-200 f/2.8L IS at a club concert over the weekend. The f/2.8 and IS with the 10D's pretty good 1600 ISO netted me some nice images after processing through Noise Ninja II.

The 20D's 1600 & 3200 ISO images won't even need a touch from NN (comparatively speaking). And the half-dozen shots I took having forgotten that I bumped up to 3200 for a test would have been usable w/the 20D vs 'artistic only' with my 10.

 

[Eug]

I am going to order the 20D with the EF-S 17-85 IS lens.

My store tells me Canon expects to ship them some by mid September. I hope so, since I'm going on vacation shortly afterwards.

 

[Sketcher]

Originally posted by: Eug
I am going to order the 20D with the EF-S 17-85 IS lens.

My store tells me Canon expects to ship them some by mid September. I hope so, since I'm going on vacation shortly afterwards.

Eug, get yourself on a pre-order list if they have one. If sale's are anything like the D30, D60 or 10D you'll not likely get one in time if you're waiting to see one on the shelf. Adorama, Onecall, B&H and Canoga all have the 20d up on their site now. I believe they're all taking pre-orders as well. Ordering online, you don't have to pay local state tax (unless specifically noted per state restrictions).

I'm on Adorama and CDW's pre-order list; taking whichever one delivers first.

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[GTaudiophile]

I'm waiting until buydig.com has it in stock...I want it, but not that bad...

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: Sketcher

Originally posted by: Eug
I am going to order the 20D with the EF-S 17-85 IS lens.

My store tells me Canon expects to ship them some by mid September. I hope so, since I'm going on vacation shortly afterwards.

Eug, get yourself on a pre-order list if they have one. If sale's are anything like the D30, D60 or 10D you'll not likely get one in time if you're waiting to see one on the shelf. Adorama, Onecall, B&H and Canoga all have the 20d up on their site now. I believe they're all taking pre-orders as well. Ordering online, you don't have to pay local state tax (unless specifically noted per state restrictions).

I'm on Adorama and CDW's pre-order list; taking whichever one delivers first.

Yeah, I'm on my local store's pre-order list. It's a huge store, so there is actually a chance they'll get it in time. The 20D there after the CAD$ conversion is only US$35 more than B&H (for the body alone). However, I note that B&H does not have the kit with the 17-85 listed. I have pre-ordered the full kit with that lens. There is no pricing for the 580EX yet locally though.

Fortunately, it uses the same batteries as my Canon G2 and my Canon Optura 200MC.

 

[GTaudiophile]

What do you all think about the EF-S lenses, specifically the kit 17-85 lens? I've heard that the EF-S lens packaged with the 300D is only so-so, and it's a better long-term investment to simply save $100 by buying the 20D body only and then buying an EF L lens like the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L for $680. EF-S lenses are ONLY compatible at the moment with the 300D and 20D cameras, whereas an EF lens can be used on all other digital and non-digital Canon SLRs. The "L" series lenses are also very high quality.

 

[Eug]

Well, the EF-S lenses are a consumer level series. I'm getting the 17-85 anyway, since it's light and it seems the guy from www.luminous-landscape.com likes it.

I don't want to buy a humungous L series lens for every day shots.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Eug
Well, the EF-S lenses are a consumer level series. I'm getting the 17-85 anyway, since it's light and it seems the guy from www.luminous-landscape.com likes it.

I don't want to buy a humungous L series lens for every day shots.

I only mention the 17-40L lens because I polled the Canon 10D forum over at DPreview, and many recommended that lens. No doubt it is pricey!

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I only mention the 17-40L lens because I polled the Canon 10D forum over at DPreview, and many recommended that lens. No doubt it is pricey!

Sure, it's a great lens but the 17-85IS will be a better all-around lens. With the 17-40, you are still going to need a longer lens, so you would be spending a lot more to have decent range. Personally, I would get the 17-85IS and the 50 f/1.8 for about $70, which is a super sharp available light lens. Later, you can complement these with the new 10-22 and a longer lens such as the 70-300DO for size and weight or the 70-200 f/4 or Sigma 50-500 if size and weight are not an issue.