20D Field Report

[hugo drax]

A few notes after 6 hours of shooting.

 

1. Automatic exposure has been greatly improved I noticed it actually

balances out AE even in very sunny 12 noon day and shooting

landscape, it does a great job of getting a good exposure where the

sky and land are nicely exposed. No more compensation to worry about.

I was using Evaluative metering, nice improvement.

 

2. AE accuracy is a big improvement over the 10D

 

3. Being able to have the histogram as being the primary display is a

real nice change.

 

4. The metal body is the same quality as the 10D, slightly smaller

but same robust build.

 

5. Color/Dynamic range seems improved over the 10D, out of camera

JPEGS are actually accurate enough for print. Nice to see

clouds,bluesky and well exposed land without the use of a polarizer.

Very interesting.

 

6. Whitebalance is much better than the 10D I will do further

shooting with it tommorow and this upcoming week in much tougher

lighting condition and this is where the real WB test gets done

 

7. The camera balences fine so no ergonomic issues and the shutter

sounds more metallic and tight sounding no problem just a little

louder.

 

The 20D is a more transparent tool compared to using the 10D for

18month.

[topher]

Thanks for the report. In particular thanks for the phrase "transparent tool". Exactly

what I need to describe what I want in a camera and many other things.

[les]

What about AF ? Is it fast/reliable ? What lenes have you used ?

[donald_macklin]

We don't need any of you Leica trash hooligans around here stirring things up!Go back to

where you belong,on the Leica forum!

[erin.e]

And give us back that 20D before you leave!

[hugo drax]

I used the Kit lens and the 35mm 1.4L. AF is really accurate a night an day difference between the 10D. I really recommend going for the Kit, I shoot strictly primes and I am actually loving this little wide zoom. sharp and very close to the expensive 14mm 2.8L in quality.

 

Update on the 20D

 

Whitebalance is very very good, I shot in mixed lighting condition (Tungsten+Flour) and shot some frames in lighting that was a mix of Flour+Actinic lighting and the AWB has been able to get the proper balance.

 

The 10D image would have rendred a Pissgreen image using AWB in several of these environments.

 

Also the Battery charge I actually prefer over the corded one for some reason.

 

Tried the Kit lens, I like it its a nice 18mm lens and cheap as heck, cheapest near 15mm. I recommend purchasing the Kit and getting this little Zoom. Being a L Prime Guy this little zoom even impressed me it is a nice General Purpose wide and sharp enough. I will post samples.

 

1600 is amazing I notice a big difference vs the 10D

 

The Auto powersave is great, you never know it is on the moment the shutter is pressed it is turned on. I went a whole day on one battery shooting plenty and the full battery indicator was still on the LCD even when using full brightness.

 

 

Bottom line, I recommend the 20D over the 10D for beginners due to its transparency as a photographic instrument over the 10D. If you come off of Sony P&S bodies you will feel at home with this one. with the Kit lens you get the ease of P&S body with the future to grow.

 

For Pros, it takes a lot of little nags away making life just a little easier and anything that makes the shooting process as transparent as possible (ie camera an extension of your body) is worth the investment.

 

 

Monday my 10D goes to a collegue for 700 bucks.

 

if this body was waterproof it would be the perfect body in my book.

[rayn]

If you get a chance would you do a test on a tripod, shutter around 1/10, with the mirror

locked and unlocked? Use the 2-second timer please.

 

There have been reports that the 20D is especially vibration prone due to the heavy mirror

slap. I won't believe these reports until I see a side by side comparison myself.

 

Anyway, if you get the chance.

[david enzel]

I saw and held the 20D yesterday, I didn't have an opportunity to test it like Leica King. I

own a 10D. The 20D immediately felt smaller in my hand. It had the kit lens on it. The

joy stick for shifting focus point struck me as tiny but maybe I would get used to it. In

terms of overall feel, it struck me as part metal and part plastic (like the 10D). A very nice

camera in the advanced amateur category but lacking the rock solid feel of a professional

camera body.

 

I doubt I'll buy one.

[josh1]

What about the viewfinder? Everyone wants to know about the viewfinder...

[michael focus97.com lee]

Leica King, please stop posting great things about the 20D! Mine has not shipped from Adorama yet!

[hugo drax]

David, maybe the lack of weight makes it feel less solid but I carted around my 10D for lots of shoots, concerts, disasters,salt water air, etc.. changed lenses out in the field etc, had heavy primes hanging off the mount.. its been bumped, carried around with no bag etc.. and it has survived 18 months of hard use. The 20D feels just as solid as the 10D but a little lighter which is a nice plus when carrying around a body for extended hours. Every ounce counts. I really like the size factor of the 20D/10D bodies.

 

About the viewfinder I do not notice any negatives VS the 10D and I did notice it is easier to MF vs the 10D viewfinder.

[awindsor]

Should have ordered from Ritz, Michael. I placed my order for a 20D on Thursday and

it shipped on Friday. I should have it on Monday with luck. Of course I ordered a lens,

a CF card, the battery grip, and a handstrap from Adorama. I have an old Microdrive

hanging around the place which should keep the camera going until the card arrives

from Adorama. The battery grip, and the handstrap are both backordered.