Canon EOS 20D, could I do better?
Discussion
Phil S said:
I have a 20D and I do like it, but from the spec sheet the new 350D looks almost identical for a fraction of the cost!
The build and speed of the 20D are much better though.
Even though I'm a Canon man myself, I think I'd wait to see the specs of the new D50/D70s announced soon before buying.
If you've got a load of Nikon SLR kit already you'd really have to be looking at the D70 surely. If not then really it's down to price. Currently you really get what you pay for.
Canon 350D
Nikon D70
Canon 20D
Priced in that order and probably quality in that order to. But they're all really close to be honest. Try them all in you hands. The 350D is really small and may not suit all. D70 and 20D are very smiliar but both have there fans. Me? Canon 20D out of that lot but the Canon shape works with me. It may not with you.
Canon 350D
Nikon D70
Canon 20D
Priced in that order and probably quality in that order to. But they're all really close to be honest. Try them all in you hands. The 350D is really small and may not suit all. D70 and 20D are very smiliar but both have there fans. Me? Canon 20D out of that lot but the Canon shape works with me. It may not with you.
Glanced and this thread and it prompted me to go and check some pricing - 350D already dropping and 20D seems to be available at well under a grand in a few places. Pixmania caught my eye a could of days ago so I thought I would start there ... and I came across this wonderful translation in the 20D accessories search list. At least I think it's a translation ... 
"CANON Power grip BG-E2 for EOS 20D
The power Grip BG-E2 has been designed for the EOS 20D camera , and has an autonomy for up to 2000 clichés. "
OK, so who has a powergrip on the 20D?
Anyone?
"CANON Power grip BG-E2 for EOS 20D
The power Grip BG-E2 has been designed for the EOS 20D camera , and has an autonomy for up to 2000 clichés. "
OK, so who has a powergrip on the 20D?
Anyone?
Try them.
I've got big hands. The EOS 20 felt rubbish in my mits, like a fisher price toy camera and I was of Shrek proportions. Operating it , for me at least, was like one of those infuriatingly small mobile phones where all the buttons disappear under my pudgy fingers...
Different cameras fit different people.
I've got big hands. The EOS 20 felt rubbish in my mits, like a fisher price toy camera and I was of Shrek proportions. Operating it , for me at least, was like one of those infuriatingly small mobile phones where all the buttons disappear under my pudgy fingers...
Different cameras fit different people.
srider said:
I have a 20D and I do like it, but from the spec sheet the new 350D looks almost identical for a fraction of the cost!
The build and speed of the 20D are much better though.
Even though I'm a Canon man myself, I think I'd wait to see the specs of the new D50/D70s announced soon before buying.
Last year I had the choice between a new EOS300D and a used EOS D30. Although the 300D had way higher resolution, it just felt like a bit of a toy. I much preferred the weighty build quality of the D30 and would probably avoid the 350D as a result. Nothing like a camera that feels built for the course!
LongQ said:
Glanced and this thread and it prompted me to go and check some pricing - 350D already dropping and 20D seems to be available at well under a grand in a few places. Pixmania caught my eye a could of days ago so I thought I would start there ... and I came across this wonderful translation in the 20D accessories search list. At least I think it's a translation ...
"CANON Power grip BG-E2 for EOS 20D
The power Grip BG-E2 has been designed for the EOS 20D camera , and has an autonomy for up to 2000 clichés. "
OK, so who has a powergrip on the 20D?
Anyone?
I have the BG-E2 on mine, and it changes the feel of the camera for the better - makes it feel like the 1-series bodies. Even without the grip, the battery life is phenomenal. I do a lot of portrait work, and the grip is invaluable.
With regards to earlier posts re: 17-85IS vs 28-135IS.
I have both, and the 28-135 stays in the bag all the time. If you take into account the 1.6 crop factor, the 28-135 is the equivalent of a 44.8-216, whereas the 17-85 works out at a 28-135!!!
The 17-85 also feels better built, and has the newer 3rd generation IS, giving you 3ish stops, whereas the 28-135 has older technology.
I find the 28-135 doesn't go wide enough, especially for indoor work.
Still, each to his own, I now have the 10-22 aswell, now THAT is wide!!!
Bee_Jay said:
I have both, and the 28-135 stays in the bag all the time. If you take into account the 1.6 crop factor, the 28-135 is the equivalent of a 44.8-216, whereas the 17-85 works out at a 28-135!!!
Fair point. Really depends on the work I guess. I did the whole of FOS one year, pits and track with the 28-135IS. I did get a Sigma 15-30MM the next year though....
Only one other point. The 17-85 is an EF-S lense so if you ever upgrade it's likely you'll not be able to use it.
Had some time to use up today whilst the car was getting its first MOT so I thought I would frequent a couple of camera suppliers and check out the usual suspects.
Bit of a problem 'cos one of them was out of 350D's and only had a faulty 20D (being returned with replacement pending for the customer).
Had a look at the 20D sans lens - just to get a feel for the body and the positioning of the controls. Seemed OK.
Wandered down the road and found a competitor with a 350D. Got my paws on it and messed around a little. Pretty good - even the focus on the cheap lens was smooth, but felt a little small - frankly a little narrow rather than anything else.
The guy the other side of the counter was a big Nikon fan and pushed a D70 at me. Felt good in the hands and all the controls fitted under digits and thumbs and stuff. But the kit lens, for some reason, was nowhere near as smooth in the focussing range as the Canon. Perhaps a one off.
He did fit a different lens - a 900 quid job - which felt a lot better. As, of course, one would expect.
Sooooo. I could live with a 350D as a second body or for a small but good image quality unit for certain types of activity.
If doing a day long shoot at a track I think I would be more comfortable with the heavier but wider bodies. Which of D70 and 20D I don't know - I would need to do a back to back handling session at least.
The subject of new Nikon models came up. His take on the ones announced was that the D50 is likely to be a budget kit with a lower spec lens than the D70.
The D70 revision will probably be much like the D70 with just a few tweaks added.
Time will tell.
So a big spend today - a tenner for a mini tripod for the little Pentax. Well, I felt the first guy's time needed to be rewarded somehow. He also let me play with a couple of old Canon FD lenses (A nice 300mm but price a bit steep) and have a look at the recently released replacement for my almost new Pentax pocket thing. Seemed like a fair deal as I had decided to get a tiddly tripod anyway.
Bit of a problem 'cos one of them was out of 350D's and only had a faulty 20D (being returned with replacement pending for the customer).
Had a look at the 20D sans lens - just to get a feel for the body and the positioning of the controls. Seemed OK.
Wandered down the road and found a competitor with a 350D. Got my paws on it and messed around a little. Pretty good - even the focus on the cheap lens was smooth, but felt a little small - frankly a little narrow rather than anything else.
The guy the other side of the counter was a big Nikon fan and pushed a D70 at me. Felt good in the hands and all the controls fitted under digits and thumbs and stuff. But the kit lens, for some reason, was nowhere near as smooth in the focussing range as the Canon. Perhaps a one off.
He did fit a different lens - a 900 quid job - which felt a lot better. As, of course, one would expect.
Sooooo. I could live with a 350D as a second body or for a small but good image quality unit for certain types of activity.
If doing a day long shoot at a track I think I would be more comfortable with the heavier but wider bodies. Which of D70 and 20D I don't know - I would need to do a back to back handling session at least.
The subject of new Nikon models came up. His take on the ones announced was that the D50 is likely to be a budget kit with a lower spec lens than the D70.
The D70 revision will probably be much like the D70 with just a few tweaks added.
Time will tell.
So a big spend today - a tenner for a mini tripod for the little Pentax. Well, I felt the first guy's time needed to be rewarded somehow. He also let me play with a couple of old Canon FD lenses (A nice 300mm but price a bit steep) and have a look at the recently released replacement for my almost new Pentax pocket thing. Seemed like a fair deal as I had decided to get a tiddly tripod anyway.
Bee_Jay said:
Pixmania caught my eye a could of days ago so I thought I would start there ... and I came across this wonderful translation in the 20D accessories search list. At least I think it's a translation ...
"CANON Power grip BG-E2 for EOS 20D
The power Grip BG-E2 has been designed for the EOS 20D camera , and has an autonomy for up to 2000 clichés. "
OK, so who has a powergrip on the 20D?
Anyone?
I have the BG-E2 on mine, and it changes the feel of the camera for the better - makes it feel like the 1-series bodies. Even without the grip, the battery life is phenomenal. I do a lot of portrait work, and the grip is invaluable.
So, have you produced your 2000 autonomous clichés?
LongQ said:
LongQ said:
Pixmania caught my eye a could of days ago so I thought I would start there ... and I came across this wonderful translation in the 20D accessories search list. At least I think it's a translation ...
"CANON Power grip BG-E2 for EOS 20D
The power Grip BG-E2 has been designed for the EOS 20D camera , and has an autonomy for up to 2000 clichés. "
OK, so who has a powergrip on the 20D?
Anyone?
I have the BG-E2 on mine, and it changes the feel of the camera for the better - makes it feel like the 1-series bodies. Even without the grip, the battery life is phenomenal. I do a lot of portrait work, and the grip is invaluable.
So, have you produced your 2000 autonomous clichés?
Well, I've been taking it "one step at a time", but along the way I found the "life is a blob" and "I used to think it bad that I had no shoes, then I met a man with no feet". However, "life goes on", "maybe I'm a loser, but at least no-one knows". I just keep thinking to myself "If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again".
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