Specifications

I. OVERVIEW 4
h
ave the 1D Mark II. The least expensive current D-SLR that shoots faster is the Nikon D2H,
whic
h has half the resolution and costs about $1700 more. Within $500 of the 20D today,
ther
e are the Fuji S2 (to be replaced eventually with the S3 for, presumably, a greater
pric
e difference), the Nikon D100 and D70, the Olympus E-1, the Pentax *ist D, and the
Sigm
a SD10. All these cameras are slower than, and have lower resolution than, the
20D
. All but the E-1 are plastic bodied. None has the controls or the autofocus prowess
of
the 20D. The 20D is simply a better performing, more complete camera than anything
in its general price class and a legitimate rival to cameras costing thousands more.
The EOS 20D will naturally appeal to serious amateurs who will recognize what a
remarkable package of performance and value the camera represents. The 20D presents,
essentially, a unique selling proposition to the thousands of wedding, newspaper and
magazine photographers who must purchase their own equipment: most of the speed,
resolution, control and reliability of an EOS-1D Mark II for one third of the price.
Its 8.2 megapixels can record facial details in group photos, the absolute baseline for
professional wedding photography and magazine portraiture. Small and mid-size
magazines and newspapers that maintain an equipment pool but have to keep a close
eye on costs will find the EOS 20D perfect for their needs. The 20D is fast enough for
daily news coverage and general sports shooting, and the extensive Canon EOS System
of lenses, flash units and accessories is available to help configure the 20D for almost
any task. The 20D weighs 24.3 ounces while the 1D Mark II weighs 43 ounces, both
body only. This difference alone means that some photographers will choose the lighter
camera as their primary unit and others will select it for backup duty rather than a
heavier and more expensive option. Whenever value is part of the purchase decision
process, the Canon EOS 20D will make a compelling case for itself.