Canon EOS 20D Digital SLR

(Via PhotoBlog) Canon have announced the EOS 20D Digital Camera which has a new APS-C (15.0 x 22.5 mm) 8.2 megapixel CMOS image sensor with a maximum resolution of 3504 x 2336 pixels. Replacing the critically acclaimed EOS 10D, the EOS 20D is powered by the same DIGIC II processor found in Canon’s professional series EOS-1D Mark II. Second generation DIGIC improves on the colour rendition accuracy and increases the speed of processing and start-up times.

It is aimed at the high end amateur, photojournalists and professionals on a budget. Available in September, the EOS 20D digital SLR will carry an estimated US street price of $1,499 without a lens; $1,599 with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5 -5.6 zoom lens; and $1,999 with the new EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Wide Angle Zoom lens. In the UK The EOS 20D will be available from mid-late September 2004 for Body only £1279.99 RRP inc. VAT - 1849.99 RRP inc. VAT., Lens kit £1349.99 RRP inc. VAT - 1949.99 RRP inc. VAT.

The EOS 20D digital SLR is about 3.6 ounces lighter than the EOS 10D and it has a reduced width, height and depth by 5.7, 2 and 3.5 mm, respectively. The shutter unit, mirror box, main mirror, pentaprism, focusing screen and viewfinder optical unit have all become smaller as they were optimized for the APS-C sensor.

The EOS 20D is the first DSLR model from Canon to feature a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface, making it viable to shoot with the camera tethered to a computer in a studio environment, recording images straight to hard disk and circumventing the need for post-shoot card downloads. USB 2.0 Hi Speed is approximately 40 times faster than standard USB 1.1, which was used on the previous EOS 10D. The EOS 20D also has a Video out interface to allow monitor viewing, and the camera is PictBridge compliant to support direct printing to any compatible photo printer without the need for first downloading to a computer. It takes both CompactFlash Type I and Type II cards, including cards of 2Gb and larger capacity.

The camera features a 9-Point Autofocus System, a top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec. and a maximum flash synchronization speed of 1/250 sec. Canon has expanded its EF-S lens offerings to now include four lenses - the new EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM and EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM zoom lenses as well as standard and USM versions of the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens. (Canon U.S.A., launched the standard EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens in August of 2003 in conjunction with the EOS 300D (Digital Rebel) SLR.) The EOS 20D digital SLR is also fully compatible with all Canon EF lenses and with the entire system of Canon EX Speedlites and accessories, including the new Speedlite 580EX flash.

The Canon EOS 20D digital SLR incorporates the same new RAW format featured in Canon digital cameras from the EOS-1D Mark II model onward. The file extension is .CR2 (Canon RAW, 2nd edition). The RAW data records the white balance data, processing parameters, and other settings. All these settings can be edited freely with compatible RAW file conversion software such as Canon's EOS Viewer Utility and Digital Photo Professional software, which are supplied with the camera.

Posted by Paul in Digital Cameras Tech at August 21, 2004 03:29 AM | 0 Comments