Anybody upgraded from Canon 20D to 30D ?

Jim Beam · 07-06-2006, 17:01

I've just been offered a 20D at reasonable price, but not sure whether to pay that bit more for the 30D ?

Just wondered if anyone has actually upgraded, or have you stuck with the 20D ?

Any ideas on fair price for a 6 month old 20D ?

Thanks.

***Steve*** · 07-06-2006, 18:10

I have used a 20D since they first came out, I was lucky enough to be able to upgrade from a 10D at the time. In much the same way as the 10D was replaced by the 20D, the 20D has now been replaced by the 30D.

For the main differences between the cameras you can check out the 20D here and the 30D here.

You should consider your own needs and if the extras or differences between the two models would actually give you something to aid your level or style of photography. If you are a sports shooter and need the faster frames per second shooting rate that the 30D gives you or the spot focusing, then going for the 20D will in the long run leave you wanting for more. On the other hand if the 20D does everything you need and you don’t have the need to own the very latest equipment then you could save some money and invest it in better or more lenses.

If buying second-hand it is a good idea to test the camera thoroughly and if possible find out how many shutter actuations it has had(frames it has shot). With the camera only being about 6 months old you should be fine but if possible confirm this number.

Hopefully that helps you a little and sets you off on the right path, if you have any more questions though, please sing out

whitewash · 07-06-2006, 23:54

personally i dont see the need to upgrade to the 30D from my 20D, it wouldnt really provide much in the way of useful features to command the price id have to pay to trade the 20D for a 30D

any upgrade will more than likely be in the direction of the 1D range as i see it as an upgrade, whereas the 30D wouldnt really be as such, as its features are basically the same as the 20D just more refined

Jim Beam · 08-06-2006, 06:52

Thankyou Steve & Whitewash. Some more to think about.

dod · 08-06-2006, 23:46

I'm with Whitewash on this. The 20D is a great camera and I couldn't see enough benefit in the 30 to justify the upgrade.

***Steve*** · 09-06-2006, 07:04

Dod were you or have you recently upgraded your camera?

dod · 09-06-2006, 08:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

Dod were you or have you recently upgraded your camera?

I did Steve but not for the 30D

After a long story I picked up a 1D Mk II with 2500 actuations in mint condition. I had two main reasons. First was focus speed, the 20D is very capable is 90% of the situations I shoot but the set up at some tracks causes it to struggle. The second was the weatherproofing, I'll be updating the lenses in due course to match.

I've kept the 20D as it's ideal for macro, wildlife etc.

***Steve*** · 09-06-2006, 08:13

Vey nice

I am sure that the weatherproofing will stop alot of the worry you must have had when shooting the MotoX.

How are you getting on with the new baby?

dod · 09-06-2006, 08:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

Vey nice

I am sure that the weatherproofing will stop alot of the worry you must have had when shooting the MotoX.

How are you getting on with the new baby?

Yep, there's mud where mud really shouldn't be on the 20

The 1 is something else, although I've only maybe taken 20-30 shots with it. Build quality is fantastic, the larger review screen is handy, the options to customise it to your own preferences are vast. But at the same time it's a CAnon, the first one I got didn't have a manual but it was still reasonably easy to work out what did what, even though a lot of functions are two button rather than the single button on the 20. To be honest I preferred the 20 from that point of view, it's quicker to change things when you need to.

Get's it's first real run out this sunday so we'll see what it's really like then

***Dave*** · 09-06-2006, 09:25

Be looking forward to seeing some of those shots Dod ...always like the way you catch the action

Also be interested to hear your thoughts on final Photo quality from your new kit vs the 20D. Your lucky you have a subject you shoot extensively, so you are better placed than most to make a decent comparison of final shots.

**stepheno** · 10-06-2006, 09:16

I just upgraded, from 20D to 30D, yesterday. I thought long and hard about whether it was worth it but in the end I got an extremely good trade-in deal. With me it was never an issue about the quality of the 30D but simply about getting it at an affordable price.

The 20D was a stonking good camera - now I have a stonking good camera with spot metering etc, etc. So far I'm well pleased that I changed.

regards

***Dave*** · 10-06-2006, 10:58

Good on ya stepheno. I'm sure the 20D guys will be eagerly awaiting your views on improvements going forward

whitewash · 10-06-2006, 17:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by dod

Yep, there's mud where mud really shouldn't be on the 20

mines the same after the mountainbiking!

if i didnt have the 20D now then yes id be interested in the 30D as it is im looking at the 1D range when im ready for upgrade, im just hoping they up the megapixels with the next line of upgrades