Canon EOS 30D Review

Even 8-megapixel sensor, features virtually unchanged, image quality always impeccable. The new Canon digital SLR, the EOS 30D looks to be mistaken 20D, except the screen and some functions improved the margin.

Verdict Canon EOS 30D
if you are looking for a digital SLR semi-professional, add the Canon EOS 30D 8-megapixel to your list.

It does not change a winning formula, as seems to be the approach followed by Canon for the EOS 30D, the successor of its flagship product, the EOS 20D. Apart from some improved performance, the Canon EOS 30D is the same camera as its predecessor. It presents the same housing and well-balanced magnesium alloy with its orders prepared intelligently, with the notable exception of the LCD. It offers an almost identical set of adjustable features for shooting almost professional. Its performance is virtually unchanged, still excellent. In addition, through the same CMOS 8-megapixel system and image processing, the 30D produces equally beautiful photos, including the setting of high sensitivity ISO.

The LCD is one of the most visible changes, it is gaining in size and reached 6.35 cm, against 4.5 cm for the 20D. It also offers a viewing angle greater, which is always convenient to view your shots. The presets styles image Canon is a good way to organize the myriad settings (sharpness, tone, saturation and contrast) that the device offers. Finally, Canon ensures the reliability of the valve of this model on 100 000 trips. Point that we were unable to verify.

Canon EOS 30D Review
Among the few other major improvements 30D is the increase in the number of shots burst mode: 30 JPEG images or 11 RAW shots, respectively, against 23 or 6 for the 20D. The pace of shooting at 5 frames per second (fps) remains unchanged. During our tests, it took 14 shots RAW before the buffer not slow down the pace. However, it has allowed to take an unlimited number of JPEG photo quality, but at a speed of 3.5 fps. At least photographing actions as a very fast race cars, this type of performance should be enough to burst most cases.

The 30D is now equipped with a true measure spot, even if the circle measuring 3.5% is not as precise than 2% of other models. At the risk of sounding fussy, it means you will not see much difference between the measurement mode part to 9% and the mode of spot 30D, as you might between modes of measurement other cameras. Canon has also added the ability to adjust the ISO sensitivity in increments of 1 / 3.

Except that this function would be more valid if the performance of the 30D high sensitivities were not as good. It is nevertheless useful when you need greater latitude in exposure to very precisely control your depth of field.

Canon 30D preserved on some aspects of the 20D that would have deserved an update. Thus, the battery was exhausted before the end of one of our sessions, or about 250 photos. The objective always projected a shadow when using flash embedded with certain objectives in focal length wide angle. In addition, the viewfinder still shows that 95% of the scene. Nevertheless, the 30D model remains the excellent was the 20D.

If you do not need improved performance in terms of shooting burst, measurement spot or the largest LCD screen, you might as well save about 200 euros and buy a 20D as you can.

Filed under Canon, Digital Cameras |

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