Canon EOS 30D SLR Review

Click to take a QTVR tour of the EOS 30D

The EOS 30D Digital SLR is the much anticipated update to Canon's popular EOS 20D. It takes the same 8.2-megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor and mates it to the more powerful DIGIC II Imaging processor for fast 5 fps performance. The EOS 30D takes photographers closer to the level of Canon's pro digital SLR line, incorporating features and innovations from the EOS 5D and the EOS-1D Mark II N Digital SLRs, at a fraction of their respective prices. Whether your job is covering a wedding, a hot news story or capturing the fine details of a portrait, the EOS 30D has got you covered.

The major improvements of the EOS 30D vs. the EOS 20D are:

• A rugged new shutter, fully rated up to 100,000 cycles;

• A brilliant 2.5-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD monitor (that a 92% increase in viewing area compared with the EOS 20D's 1.8-inch monitor); and

• A new spot metering capability that covers approximately 3.5 percent of the viewfinder area at the center while maintaining the 20D's 35-zone metering sensor (raising the EOS 30D's available metering modes to four).

Increasing the camera's flexibility and ease of use, the ISO speed can now be set from 100 to 1600 in 1/3 stop increments, rather than full stops (and can be pushed to 3200 with ISO expansion). What's more, users can see the ISO setting in the viewfinder while changing it (and not simply on the monitor display as on the EOS 20D model), which in turn permits photographers to keep their eyes on their subject.

The EOS 30D continues its predecessor's fast shooting rate of five fps but, thanks to improvements in signal processing algorithms, the burst rate has increased from 23 to 30 consecutive frames in JPEG L/F mode and from 6 to 11 consecutive frames in RAW mode.

Canon enhanced several basic functions for easy, efficient use that make the EOS 30D even more responsive than previous models, including:

• An initial startup time of 0.15 seconds (the fastest of any EOS digital camera on the market);

• A much-improved recovery from the camera's auto power off mode. Where previously the only way to restore operation was by depressing the shutter button half way, the EOS 30D permits users to awaken the camera by pressing the Playback, Menu or AE Lock button as well; and

• A single shot AE/AF lock, which retains settings for subsequent shots simply by keeping the shutter release half-pressed after taking the first shot.

The EOS 30D retains the 9-point Wide-Area AF system, originally introduced on the EOS 20D. This AF system features a diamond-shaped layout with a dual-precision central AF point that provides full cross-type performance with maximum apertures as small as f/5.6, yet achieves up to three times the standard focusing precision when used with EF lenses featuring maximum apertures larger than or equal to f/2.8. A convenient Multi-controller provides fast and easy AF point selection.

While using the same 35-zone metering sensor as its predecessor, Canon has added a spot metering capability that covers approximately 3.5 percent of the viewfinder area at the center. As a result, there are now four metering modes offered: Evaluative (set automatically in the Basic Zone modes), partial (approximately 9 percent), center-weighted average and spot. AF-point linked Evaluative metering, E-TTL II autoflash and 12 exposure control modes (11 AE modes plus manual) are unchanged from the EOS 20D.

First introduced on the EOS-1D Mark II N and EOS 5D cameras, Picture Style is an improved approach to selecting the presets for sharpening, contrast, saturation and color tone that most closely reflect the needs and intent of the user. Similar to selecting the film type in order to achieve a desired result, the Picture Style feature offers six setting choices - Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful and Monochrome - with an additional three user defined settings available.

Among the enhancements most immediately noticeable is the large 2.5-inch LCD screen with 230,000-pixel resolution, wide 170-degree viewing angle, and LED-backlight for improved visibility. Like the EOS 5D, the EOS 30D's full-featured INFO screen includes files sizes, a choice of brightness and RGB histograms and AF frame displays. In addition, Quick Review images are now enlargeable making it quicker and easier to check the focus of a shot immediately after taking the shot.

You can now access direct print and direct download functions simply by pressing the print/share button on the back of the camera. Further, when connected to a PictBridge or other compatible printer, the user can select paper sizes, cropping, and even some special effects.

In addition to its standard PictBridge features the 30D supports additional direct printing features exclusively when the camera is connected to one of the new Canon PIXMA Pro9500 or PIXMA Pro9000 desktop photo printers. These features include:

• Full support for Picture Style settings: Photographers can print images according to their preferences for sharpening, contrast, saturation, and color tone, as well as monochrome and other special effects;

• Fine adjustment of other image quality settings such as color balance, overall brightness, face brightness, and microcontrast levels as well as a red-eye correction function; and

• Expanded paper selection, including a range of fine art paper stocks available in a variety of sizes up to 13 x 19-inches.

EOS 30D Major Features

• Lightweight and durable magnesium alloy body

• Canon EOS (EF/EF-S) lens mount, 1.6x focal magnifier

• 8-megapixel, CMOS image sensor, low-noise / wide dynamic range

• Recording choice of 6 levels of JPEG, CR2 RAW, or RAW plus JPEG (choice of 6 different levels of JPEG)

• 2.5-inch color LCD with wide 170-degree viewing angle

• 9-point AF unit with high precision cross-type center sensor

• Ultra-fast start-up time of 0.15 seconds, only 65ms shutter lag time

• Adobe RGB and sRGB color space selection

• High-speed mirror drive allows a major reduction in viewfinder blackout time

• Picture Style feature offers six setting choices - Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful and Monochrome - with an additional three user defined settings

• 12 shooting modes, seven Basic Zone modes (Full Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-Up, Sports, Night Portrait and Flash Off) and five Creative Zone modes (Standard Program AE, Shutter-Priority AE, Aperture-Priority AE, Manual and Depth-Of-Field AE)

• 35-zone TTL metering, Evaluative, Partial, Center-weighted average, or 3.5% Spot metering

• White Balance: Auto, six presets and Manual color temperature (2800-10,000°K in 100° increments) and can be corrected for blue, amber, magenta or green.

• Continuous mode capture: 5fps up to 30 frames (11 frames in RAW mode)

• Shutter speeds: 30 to 1/8,000 seconds, 1/250 sec. flash sync

• Eye level TTL viewfinder with diopter adjustment, illuminated AF points, depth-of-field preview and detailed information display.

• AE bracketing and White balance bracketing

• Playback histogram and up to 10x image zoom

• ISO Range: 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1,600 (3200 with ISO speed extension)

• 18 Custom Functions with 50 settings available

• Built-in E-TTL II popup flash with red-eye reduction.

• Hot shoe for Canon EX Speedlites and standard PC flash sync

• CompactFlash Type II card slot, Microdrive and FAT32 compatible

• High-speed USB 2.0 interface for fast image downloads

• Video Out with selectable NTSC or PAL timing

• Powered by BP-511A Li-ion battery, CG-580 rapid charger included

• PictBridge, CP Direct and Bubblejet Direct printing

• Optional BG-E2 Battery Grip doubles battery power and adds vertical grip, shutter release and controls

EOS 30D Specifications