Canon EOS 30DCanon EOS 30D Review,Phil Askey, April 2006

Review based on a production EOS 30D, Firmware Version 1.0.4The model line in which the EOS 30D sits has seen a total of five models, each offering either an upgrade in features, resolution or both. From the EOS D30 to D60 we saw a doubling in megapixel count as well as numerous feature upgrades, from the EOS 10D to 20D again we saw an increase in megapixel count and performance (continuous shooting up to five frames per second). So eighteen months after the EOS 20D comes the EOS 30D, which honestly has to be one of the least exciting upgrades so far. The real headline improvements are a larger LCD monitor, standardizing on Picture Style, spot metering, third stop ISO selection and selectable continuous shooting speeds. Despite this subtle update theres still a huge amount of interest around this model, Canon has taken the "if it aint broken dont fix it" approach to the image pipeline, the EOS 30D has the same sensor and image processor (DIGIC II) as the EOS 20D, and that camera has for the eight megapixel digital SLR benchmark since it was introduced.Model line historyModelAnnouncedEffective pixelsAuto focusContinuous (JPEG)LCD monitor

EOS D30	Apr 2000	3.1 mp	3 point	3.0 fps, 3 frames	1.8"
EOS D60	Feb 2002	6.3 mp	3 point	3.3 fps, 8 frames	1.8"
EOS 10D	Feb 2003	6.3 mp	7 point	3.3 fps, 9 frames	1.8"
EOS 20D	Aug 2004	8.2 mp	9 point	5.0 fps, 23 frames	1.8"
EOS 30D	Feb 2006	8.2 mp	9 point	5.0 / 3.0 fps, 30 frames	2.5"

Canon EOS 30D vs. EOS 20D feature and specification differences

	Canon EOS 30D	Canon EOS 20D
Metering modes	• Evaluative 35 zone• Partial (9% at center)• Spot (3.5% at center)• Center-weighted average• 1.0 to 20 EV metering range	• Evaluative 35 zone• Partial (9% at center)• Center-weighted average• 1.0 to 20 EV metering range
ISO steps	0.3 EV steps	1.0 EV steps
Image parameters	"Picture Style"• Standard• Portrait• Landscape• Neutral• Faithful• Monochrome• User 1• User 2• User 3	• Parameter 1• Parameter 2• User 1• User 2• User 3• B&W
Custom image parameters	• Sharpness: 0 to 7• Contrast: -4 to +4• Saturation: -4 to +4• Color tone: -4 to +4• B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, G• B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G	• Sharpness: -2 to +2• Contrast: -2 to +2• Saturation: -2 to +2• Color tone: -2 to +2• B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, G• B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G
LCD monitor	• 2.5" TFT LCD (wide viewing angle)• 230,000 pixels	• 1.8" TFT LCD (wide viewing angle)• 118,000 pixels
Histogram	• Luminance• RGB	Luminance
Continuous speed	• 5 frames per second•3 frames per second	5 frames per second
Continuous buffer	Up to 30 JPEG or 11 RAW frames	Up to 23 JPEG or 6 RAW frames
Playback file size display	Yes, MB	No
Playback jump	• 10 images• 100 images• By date	10 images
Record review magnify	Optional	No
Shutter life	100,000 shutter cycles	Not quoted
ISO in viewfinder	When changing	Not shown
Custom functions	19 custom functions with 53 settings	18 custom functions with 50 settings
Dimensions	144 x 106 x 74 mm (5.6 x 4.2 x 2.9 in)	144 x 106 x 72 mm (5.6 x 4.2 x 2.8 in)
Weight	• No battery: 706 g (1.6 lb)• With battery: 785 g (1.7 lb)	• No battery: 685 g (1.5 lb)• With battery: 764 g (1.7 lb)

About this review

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (normally 1024 x 768) image in a new window.To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top.DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.

This article is Copyright 2006Phil Askey and the review in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced inany electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.For information on reproducing any part of this review (or any images) please contact: Phil Askey

Canon EOS 30D More INFO

Canon EOS 30D specifications

Like Canon EOS 30D

?Spread it by clicking below: