Canon EOS 20D Digital SLR Camera Review

The Canon EOS 20D is, in my opinion, a very nice upgrade from the Canon EOS 10D.

My biggest complaint (albeit not that big) with the Canon EOS 10D was the sometimes inaccurate autofocus. The Canon EOS 20D seems to have cleared up this issue. Autofocus is both fast and accurate. Although the Canon EOS 1D Mark II is still superior for focus speed, I'm impressed with this upgraded feature on the 20D - it is excellent for a non 1-Series camera body.

Not lost in the Canon EOS 20D upgrade is excellent image quality. Results from the 20D are impressive. All of the "Auto"s are excellent including Auto White Balance, Auto Exposure and as I mentioned already, Auto Focus.

The Canon EOS 20D gains the Canon EOS 1D Mark II's excellent low noise high ISO quality. Direct high ISO noise comparisons between these two DSLRs are very similar - both excellent - with the Mark II having a slight edge. And low ISO images are very smooth. Color is similar between the two DSLRs - both excellent. The Canon EOS 1D Mark II seems to have a higher dynamic range.

The Canon EOS 20D also gains an 8 megapixel sensor.



Canon EOS 20D Digital SLR Camera


Although they are both 8 megapixel DSLRs, the Canon EOS 20D and the Canon EOS 1D Mark II do not share the same field of view crop factor - 1.3x for the Mark II and 1.6x for the 20D (the Mark II has a larger sensor). If you are shooting wildlife or sports with long lenses and wide apertures, you will welcome the 20D's field of view crop factor. While retaining the same 8 megapixel digital image size, the 20D will give you a noticeably tighter crop than the 1D Mark II. The 1D Mark II requires a longer focal length (and likely slower, more expensive and/or heavier) Lens to get the same image framing as the 20D. If you are shooting wide landscapes, you will likely prefer the Mark II's 1.3x factor.


Canon EOS 20D Digital SLR Camera


Another interesting difference between these field of view crop factors is how they use a lens. Lenses generally perform best near their center. The 1.6x field of view crop factor body uses the sweet spot in the lens (the center of a lens generally shows the best sharpness and fewest aberrations in the final image). However, since it is concentrating the same number of megapixels into a smaller area of the lens, it requires the lens to be higher quality to not show softness and aberrations. My Canon EOS 1D Mark II tended to give a slightly sharper image than my Canon EOS 20D when using the same lens wide open. The difference was slight, but it was there. The two bodies produced very similar images once the lens was stopped down. Again, both excellent. As always, good lenses make a difference.


Canon EOS 20D Digital SLR Camera


The first thing I noticed when removing the Canon EOS 20D from the box was how small and light this DSLR is. Slightly smaller and slightly lighter than the Canon EOS 10D and without a Canon BG-E2 Battery Grip, much smaller and much lighter than the Canon EOS 1D Mark II. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage.

The disadvantage is that my pinky finger does not comfortably fit onto the grip. I don't feel like I'm in full control of the Canon EOS 20D when I have a large/heavy lens attached. With a Canon 550EX Flash attached, I felt like I should sit the 20D on its side to prevent it from falling over. Having exclusively used the Canon EOS 1D Mark II DSLR for several months, I have grown used to the full size landscape and portrait grips. They offer excellent control over the body and lens Adding the Canon BG-E2 Battery Grip should resolve this problem for the Canon EOS 20D.


Smaller size and lighter weight makes the Canon EOS 20D less of a burden to take with you. Hanging the 20D on your shoulder all day is not at all burdensome (unless you attach a huge lens of course). Adding a small lens to the 20D creates a nice lightweight package. The Canon EF 70-200 f/4 L Lens and 20D are an example of a great matched combo.

Turn on the power switch and the Canon EOS 20D is on. Instantly - no waiting - very nice. Startup is much faster the its predecessor, the Canon EOS 10D. If you use the rear thumb wheel (doesn't everyone?), make sure you turn the 20D power switch to the second position. I don't like this feature but can easily live with it. I would prefer to enable/disable the thumbwheel from a menu option.