Canon 20D Announced Aug.20

[egarrard]

http://www.photographyblog.com/images/products/canon_eos_20d_all.jpg

http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/pressrelease/genhtml_photo/photokit_EOS20D.dcr.html
As you can see from the pictures, the 20D will support the same EF-S lens mount as the EOS 300D, and there is a new EF-S lens in the shape of the 17-85mm F4-5.6, which will also be image-stabilised.

As for the actual specification of the camera, the best that I can do is this non-official list from a thread on the DPReview forums:

EOS-20D
8.2 MegaPixels
DIGIC II
1:1.6x Crop
9 Point focusing
1/8000s Max Shutter speed
5fps Continuous speed
25 frame buffer
EF-s support
E-TTL II support
0.2sec startup time
50g lighter than 10D

Price US$1600 RRP
(Street price should be closer to 1300 they say)

August 20 - Announcement
September 20 - On Sale

Also 2 Lenses will be announced at launch of 20D
EF-s 10-22mm /f 3.5-4.5
EF-s 17-85mm /f 4-5.6 IS (Will be sold with 20D also like the 300D)
http://www.photographyblog.com/comments.php?id=3445_0_1_0_C

[tanman_sg]

I wont be able to afford anythign like that for a while :(

Its a nice looking camera.

[egarrard]

$1300 is a great price for this camera. It's the same as the Pentax *ist-D... :Blah

[fleshcakes]

Hmm... Interesting :)

[coolhand]

very nice. this has been expected hasent it? i was reading at a canadian camera store site that supplys of the 10d were gone and that something was coming soon.

seeing as this is digital, does it have an electonic viewfinder in addition to the screen, or are these digital slrs through the lens optical like a film camera.

[egarrard]

very nice. this has been expected hasent it? i was reading at a canadian camera store site that supplys of the 10d were gone and that something was coming soon.

seeing as this is digital, does it have an electonic viewfinder in addition to the screen, or are these digital slrs through the lens optical like a film camera.Optical. That means no preview on the LCD, though.

[egarrard]

Notice that it's wearing the new 17-85mm IS lens... :)

[coolhand]

Optical. That means no preview on the LCD, though

brutal. i guess thats why it doesent look to be breaking ground in the lcd department.

[abb1]

Hmmm....looks like my Sony F717 might be up for sale :shifty

[meng-chieh]

Optical. That means no preview on the LCD, though

brutal. i guess thats why it doesent look to be breaking ground in the lcd department.

That's b/c the intended users are semi-professional photographers (or heavy users) that generally use the traditional way of aiming for a shot; having a LCD for preview just won't be necessary for ppl like that. And btw, WOOOHOOOOO!!!!! I"ve been expecting this thing to come out for weeks now! Hopefully the street price for the 20D will be lower than the 1790 cdn for the 10D.

[abb1]

That's b/c the intended users are semi-professional photographers (or heavy users) that generally use the traditional way of aiming for a shot; having a LCD for preview just won't be necessary for ppl like that.
Also, it gives the battery about twice as much longevity :KICKASS

[abb1]

Here is the official review from DPReview which just came out today:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/canoneos20d/

[abb1]

And here's another: http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/20d.html

[egarrard]

Looks really nice. I would be happy with one. :Wink

[abb1]

Looks really nice. I would be happy with one. :WinkI want one!!!!!! I will wait though for reviews to come out that shows the picture quality with ISO settings. I want to make sure that you can shoot (with good quality) at high ISO settings, as you can't with the point and shoot 8mp cameras.

[3dGameMan]

Hmmm....looks like my Sony F717 might be up for sale :shifty

I was thinking the same thing. Going to be hard to part with the Sony F717 though.

[3dGameMan]

and another review: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/E20D/E20DA.HTM

[abb1]

Thanks for the link, Rod! If this is true, "Higher sensitivity CMOS sensor and new second-generation on-chip 3-stage noise reduction circuit. Digital control circuit board has two dedicated ground layers and low-noise amplification. Noise is lower at all ISO ratings, especially above ISO 400. Canon claims ISO 1600 on the 20D is approximately equivalent to ISO 400 on the 10D, a two stop improvement. " then I will not even think twice about getting this camera. The features are awesome :thumb

[meng-chieh]

There is one thing that I'm slightly confused about though; isn't it true that the lower the EOS number (i.e. EOS 1), the better the camera is? So if EOS-20D is supposed to be better than the EOS-10D, then shouldn't it be named something like EOS-9D? Just a thought though, nothing important. I'm just glad that this thing is coming out soon.

[egarrard]

and another review: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/E20D/E20DA.HTM

From that review:
Image noise looks a fair bit better than that of most competing 6-megapixel cameras, and more so than you'd expect if you just looked at differences in the magnitude of the luminance noise. (The 20D's noise is finer-grained than most, and therefore less obtrusive.)

[egarrard]

Based on our use of the new model this week, some preliminary poking and prodding of its images and what we've learned about the camera's inner workings, the EOS 20D appears to be the real deal, a reasonably-priced pro digital SLR with enough of the good stuff to be a truly useful tool.
http://robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-6458-7153

[egarrard]

The Canon 20D is an excellent picture taking machine. Given its 8 Megapixel sensor, 5 frames / second shooting capability, instant turn-on, large buffer, extremely low noise, and excellent battery life, it's hard not to give this camera an A. I might have even been tempted to give it an A+ if it weren't for the missing ISO setting in the viewfinder and stupid mirror lock up sequence. The smaller dimmer viewfinder also knocks it down a peg.

As frequent readers know, I'm a hard marker. For me, how well a camera handles in the field is as important as its image quality. A camera can produce stunning image quality, but if it can't be used efficiently on location it goes to the back of the class. Some photographers scoff when I critique things like control placement and handling when wearing gloves, and if they only use their cameras to take picture of their kids during summer holidays then my critiques aren't that relevant for them. But for photographers who shoot hundreds if not thousands of frames a month throughout the year these are the things that make a difference between a useful tool and a frustrating boat anchor.

If you accept the Canon design idiom (and not everyone does so comfortably), then the 20D is a fourth generation refinement that scores extremely well. No, it's not perfect, but then, what is? But given its price / feature and performance equation I believe that when it starts shipping in September the 20D will offer the best value in its class.

Of course potential buyers will want to ask two questions. The first will be — should I get the 20D over one of the other DSLRs from another manufacturer? No sensible answer can be given to this question because there are too many variables. You really need to visit a dealer and try each camera to see how they handle and feel. And it t also will depend on whether or not you already have lenses in one manufacturer's mount or another.

The second question will be from Canon 10D owners wondering if they should upgrade. This is tough to answer as well because even assuming that money isn't an issue, though it is for most people, the improvements of the 20D over the 10D are real, but incremental; noticeable and useful, but except for turn-on speed, not earth-shattering. My suggestion would be to go for it, but to keep the 10D as your back-up camera if you can. Or give it to your brother-in-law as a gift.

As for me, I've already ordered my 20D and 17-85mm, as both an excellent light-weight travel system, and as backup for my 1Ds. It's that good.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/20d-part1.shtml

[3dGameMan]

A lot of happy folks come mid-Sept. :Beer

[abb1]

A lot of happy folks come mid-Sept. :Beer
I will be too if I can get a lot of overtime in by then :Wink

[JCYC5]

And the annoucement of the

EF-s 10-22mm /f 3.5-4.5

Will make lots of folks with the 300D happy too! You lucky &*)&#$@$(*!! :Blah

coolhand, I WOULDN'T use the LCD as a viewfinder even if it was technically possible and implemented. I like my reduced-lag D70, thank you very much...

If you don't know what I mean, try this. Hold your camera out in front of you, look at the LCD viewfinder and move your hand in front of the camera. Lag.

[JCYC5]

There is one thing that I'm slightly confused about though; isn't it true that the lower the EOS number (i.e. EOS 1), the better the camera is? So if EOS-20D is supposed to be better than the EOS-10D, then shouldn't it be named something like EOS-9D? Just a thought though, nothing important. I'm just glad that this thing is coming out soon.


True to an extent...

But calling it the EOS-9D looks...weird...

The EOS-5D works, but the EOS-5 is a very old camera already...

[meng-chieh]

I'm hoping that my Tamron AF 28-200mm lens will still work with the Canon 20D (it worked fine with the EOS-10 non-digital camera). Can anyone say for sure?

[meng-chieh]

I'm hoping that my Tamron AF 28-200mm lens will still work with the Canon 20D (it worked fine with the EOS-10 non-digital camera). Can anyone say for sure?

[meng-chieh]

I'm hoping that my Tamron AF 28-200mm lens will still work with the Canon 20D (it worked fine with the EOS-10 non-digital camera). Can anyone say for sure?

Ahh shoot, sorry for the double post, Rodney.

[meng-chieh]

True to an extent...

But calling it the EOS-9D looks...weird...

The EOS-5D works, but the EOS-5 is a very old camera already...

Or maybe call it the EOS-10D Mark II

[egarrard]

I'm hoping that my Tamron AF 28-200mm lens will still work with the Canon 20D (it worked fine with the EOS-10 non-digital camera). Can anyone say for sure?It should work just fine. The only problem would be fitting the new AF-S lenses on your older camera.

Some of the older Sigma lenses might have trouble too, but that's because they are reverse engineered and don't quite keep up with the advancements Canon introduces. You read in the forums about Sigma lenses needing to be "re-chiped". That's why. To match the electronic parts to the newer bodies. It's the same thing as with the VIA chipsets that weren't licensed to use Intel's technology a few years ago. They worked, but not quite all the way. That changed when they bought a license from Intel and received the full specs.

I've not read of Tamron having the same problem.

[abb1]

It should work just fine. The only problem would be fitting the new AF-S lenses on your older camera.

Some of the older Sigma lenses might have trouble too, but that's because they are reverse engineered and don't quite keep up with the advancements Canon introduces. You read in the forums about Sigma lenses needing to be "re-chiped". That's why. To match the electronic parts to the newer bodies. It's the same thing as with the VIA chipsets that weren't licensed to use Intel's technology a few years ago. They worked, but not quite all the way. That changed when they bought a license from Intel and received the full specs.

I've not read of Tamron having the same problem.
Yes, the AF-S lenses will only fit on the 300D and the new 20D.

[egarrard]

Sample Pics: http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/eos20d/eos20d_sample-e.html

[meng-chieh]

Sample Pics: http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/eos20d/eos20d_sample-e.html

Absolutely wonderful. :thumb

[abb1]

Yeah, they have been out now for a bit. I am still awaiting some more sample pics, especially at different ISO settings. Review sites cannot release any sample pics until the 23rd, so hopefully today we will see some more :KICK ASS

[egarrard]

http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/?gallery=canoneos20d_preview/ :thumb :)

[abb1]

http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/?gallery=canoneos20d_preview/ :thumb :)AWESOME!! :thumb Did you see the image results at ISO 3200 :jawsdown There is hardly any noise at all! I WANT IT, I WANT IT :tantrum

[egarrard]

AWESOME!! There is hardly any noise at all!I don't know that I'd go that far...

A direct comparison of the different noise setting here: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/20d-part2.shtml

[abb1]

I don't know that I'd go that far...

A direct comparison of the different noise setting here: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/20d-part2.shtml
ISO1600 looks pretty good :Thumb . ISO3200 has noise but is still very usable. Here is a graph from DPReviews that shows that the 20D clearly outshines the 10D and the Nikon D70 in noise.
http://home.cogeco.ca/~abb2/graph.gif