Canon 20D review

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The Canon 20D is not the newest digital camera around these days. Launched in 2004, it has been around for a number of years, so today, it’s pretty cheap to pick up and can be potentially an economical way to get into SLR photography without spending a lot more money for the latest equipment currently available.

Canon 20D specifications

The 20D is an 8.2 megapixel camera which uses a cropped digital sensor. A cropped sensor is typically found in the cheaper digital camera models and means that the extremities of a scene which you are seeing through the viewfinder of your camera will not be recorded, and hence an image with a slightly narrower field of view will be stored once you’ve taken a photo. The camera itself weighs 685g and it accepts both EF and EF-S lens mounts. EF-S lenses are typically cheaper and were made primarily for Canon’s range of digital SLR cameras. The 20D uses compact flash cards to store photos, as opposed to more recent cameras that tend to opt for SD cards instead. Built primarily with a metal construction, the 20D feels sturdy and well built, an advantage over the cheaper budget SLR ranges. With an ISO range of 100-3200 and a continuous shooting buffer of up-to 5 frames a second, the 20D is a flexible camera well placed amongst competing brands of a similar age. The 20D uses a navigation wheel on the rear of the camera, this is (subjectively) an advantage over the cheaper range of XXXD cameras (e.g. 450D) which use a cursor system.

Alternative cameras to the Canon 20D

The Canon 20D sits between the 10D and 30D in the family of Canon SLR cameras. The 20D was a noticeable improvement upon the 10D with an extra 2 megapixel resolution and 9 focusing elements as opposed to 7. The more recent 30D however, was not a massive leap forward in capabilities, with similar specifications although it did have a slightly larger LCD screen at the rear.

Canon or Nikon?

Canon’s main competitor in the digital SLR market is typically Nikon. Both makes of camera produce excellent photos and generally they have the same functions across the board. It is generally a question of personal taste as to which make of camera you prefer, and it’s advisable to go into a shop and try the different makes of camera to get an idea of which camera suits you better.

Overall

The Canon 20D is an excellent, versatile and cheap camera to buy. With its sturdy metal construction and ample capabilities it is an economical way to jump into SLR photography if you’re on a budget.

8/10

You can find the best current Canon 20D price here.