Canon announced the EOS 30D today. There were widespread speculations that it woule be called the 30D or 35D. Canon put all these speculations to rest today. So whats new with this camera? Has it got enough to abandaon the 20D and upgrade to the 30D? Well, it depends on what one is looking for in an upgrade. Let us see whats different and new with the 30D. Here are the pictures, before we go on to the features.


At the face of it, heres whats the same as the 20D

• Same Image Sensor as the 20D
• Same 8MP as the 20D
• Same 9 point AF system, same as the 20D but with a better Algorithm
• Compatible with 20D accessories including the BG-E2 battery grip (thank god!)
• 1/8000 max shutter speed
• E-TTL II Flash Exposure Control
• 1/250 flash sync speed

Whats New?

• Bigger 2.5 inch rear LCD
• Parameters menu replaced by Picture Style menu
• ISO between 100 and 1600 can be selected in 1/3 stop increments
• ISO can now be seen in the viewfinder (high time Canon had that feature)
• Better Burst Depth: 11 frames for RAW, 30 for Large Fine JPEG and 9 for RAW+JPEG
• Shutter rated for 100,000 cycles
• FEL indicator in the viewfinder
• 3.5% Spot Metering mode... getting closer to Nikon on this.
• 0.15 second camera startup time (in the 20D it was 0.2 seconds)
• A more-precise 4-increment battery charge indicator
• No more new folders created every 100 photos; in the 30D, a folder can hold 9999 photos
• Improved Jump function
• Refined multicontroller operation

There are a few other changes, but they are not earth shattering to be mentioned here. It would be available in the markets around mid-March for around $1399.

Verdict - Well, some of them might upgrade to the 30D because they are early adapters. I for one, dont see any significant changes from the 20D. The reason I would be happy is that, the prices of the 20D will go down now, and that would let me upgrade from my 10D to a 20D.