Re: Canon EOS 20D - is this review fair?

"Peter Guest" <plg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:r78le1h2lf1s7er30togll3meal4up7mca@xxxxxxxxxx
> Excerpts from a review of the EOS20D from a leading UK magazine:
>
> "Unfortunately, exposures are not quite as accurate or reliable as we
> might expect from an EOS camera. The 20D is prone to slight
> underexposure, particularly with wideangle lenses."

Haven't observed this, my self, but I've only used Sigma 17-35 f2.8-4 and
Canon 16-35 f2.8L, no fixed focal length wide angles. What I have seen is a
tendency to underexpose in ambient light situations with Speedlites and less
that f2.8 lenses.
>
> Autofocus: "the camera occasionally appears to disagree with the user
> about what is the subject and we found the best way of working is to
> switch off the auto AF sensors and select our own using the new toggle
> control."

Again, haven't observed this, either, except when I press the shutter button
repeatedly. The camera seems to say, "Ok, you didn't like that subject or
focus pattern, let's try this one!" It keeps changing what it is focused on
until you decide it is properly done. I, too, have turned off the auto
sensors, but I did that as a matter of course in the beginning.
>
> "...the extra pixels do make a difference to the potential image
> quality, but they also mean that users will have to put a bit more
> effort into making the potential image quality the final image
> quality. Although it is possible to obtain acceptable results simply
> by using in-camera controls for sharpness and contrast, it really is
> worth taking the time to process your image post-capture in a decent
> software program. If you do this, you will find that the 20D is
> capable of quite remarkable results."

Very true.
>
> FOR: very fast start up; high resolution; massive amount of control.
>
> AGAINST: mirror action noisy; B&w filters not effective; no
> spotmetering.

Mirror seems to be a little on the noisy side, louder than my D30, for
instance, but quieter than my old 1n film camera. Not sure what they mean
by B&W filters not effective, if they mean add on filters in front of the
lens, maybe. I haven't really tried to shoot through a red filter, and
convert to B&W in Pshop. If I shoot in color, I just use the channel mixer
in Pshop when I convert to B&W. If they mean the built in software based
"filters," then I disagree. I've found them to work pretty well, though not
as well as a 25 red on Plus X. The black and white mode on the camera, set
with the yellow filter, does an admirable job of emulating Ilford XP-2.
No spot meter nearly kept me from buying the camera, but I needed two, and
couldn't afford to get two 1D mkIIs... I do miss having a spot meter for my
portrait and figure work, but, otherwise, the camera is very capable.
>
> Overall Specs 28/30
> Build 18/20
> Handling 18/20
> Performance 27/30
>
> Total: 91%
>
>
> The 350D got 88% with complaints of image softness "It may be better
> than the processor infested 300D but not better than the clarity of
> image produced by the 10D".
>
> I can't decide which camera. Comments, please.

I have no experience with the 350D, so I can't comment on that one...

--
Skip Middleton
http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com



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