11 shot bursts in RAW with a 20D?

[bazair2air]

The 30D can do 11 shot bursts @5fps in RAW. I need this capability but would prefer not to upgrade from my 20D just for that reason. Is there a firmware upgrade that would allow the 20D to do 11 shot bursts in RAW? Or, is there more to it than that?(i.e. internal buffer, mem)

[fivefish]

The 30D has a bigger buffer that's why it can do 11 shots of RAW, so even if the 20D can do 11 RAW, there's no place to put the files in. Writing to CF is still slower than putting it inside the buffer.

That's what I think.

[kevbailey]

I don't think there is any upgrade for the firmware on a 20D. 11burst in RAW would be awesome, but I don't think it's gonna happen with this camera. I'm sure there's more to it then just resetting the firmware.

Kevin

[mbellot]

The 30D has a bigger buffer that's why it can do 11 shots of RAW, so even if the 20D can do 11 RAW, there's no place to put the files in. Writing to CF is still slower than putting it inside the buffer.

That's what I think.

Too bad its wrong.

Canon has officially stated that the 11 shot burst of the 30D was done through "software optimizations", not a larger image buffer.

This is the one place where Nikon shines over Canon - support of existing customers. It will be a truly cold day in (well, you know) before Canon does for the 20D what Nikon did for the D70 when the D70s was launched.

[fivefish]

Can you post the link where Canon said the 11 shot RAW was done only through software optimization?

When you take rapid photos, the image is first stored in the buffer, before written to the CF card. Once the buffer is filled -up, you can't take any more pics until some of the buffer memory has been flushed to the CF card.

Both the 30D and 20D can do 5fps.

But because of the smaller buffer in the 20D, it can only store up to 23 JPEG or 6 RAW frames before it stops... while the 30D can store 30 JPEGs or 11 RAW.

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/canon_eos_30D_review_2.html

[Mark_Cohran]

Too bad its wrong.

Canon has officially stated that the 11 shot burst of the 30D was done through "software optimizations", not a larger image buffer.

This is the one place where Nikon shines over Canon - support of existing customers. It will be a truly cold day in (well, you know) before Canon does for the 20D what Nikon did for the D70 when the D70s was launched.

When you make that bold a statement, you need to back it up with some data. So, I too would like to see the "official statement" supporting your premise.

Mark

[fivefish]

Found the white paper for the 30D. Looks like same buffer size!!!

Why the heck do thousands of websites and even photo magazines say it's got a larger buffer? I have a photo magazine article in front of me right now, that says it's got a larger buffer.

An improved image processing sequence, in particular enhanced memory manage-
ment during image processing, has increased the burst capacityofthe EOS 30D to 30
frames during high-speed continuous shooting in the JPEG Large/Fine mode, even
though the buffer memory capacityisthe same as that of the EOS20D. Also, in the
RAW and RAW+JPEG modes, a different image processing method is used so that the
maximum burst during high-speed continuous shooting is increased to approximately
11 shotsin RAW and approximately 9 shots in RAW+JPEG Large/Fine. (The actual maxi-
mum burst depends upon shooting and processing conditions and the type of CF card in
use.) In the EOS 20D, the maximum burst in both RAW and RAW+JPEG is 6 shots.

http://www.robgalbraith.com/public_files/Canon_EOS_30D_White_Paper_20060222.pdf

[bazair2air]

Found the white paper for the 30D. Looks like same buffer size!!!

Why the heck do thousands of websites and even photo magazines say it's got a larger buffer? I have a photo magazine article in front of me right now, that says it's got a larger buffer.
http://www.robgalbraith.com/public_files/Canon_EOS_30D_White_Paper_20060222.pdf

Nice find fivefish. And an excellent question as well. Marketing, I guess. So apparently it is just a firmware upgrade. That is good news (I think). I doubt that it is as easy as uploading 30D firmware to my 20D.

Suggestions anyone?

Canon 20D Spec Sheet (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelTechSpecsAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=10464)
Canon 30D Spec Sheet
(http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelTechSpecsAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=12929)

[Jack_C]

Its not going to happen for the 20D, if your waiting for Canon to do it anyhow.

The only time features were added after release I can think of is with the Digital Rebel.

It took some Russian owner who must have been a programming wiz, to figure out how to release locked features in the camera, or use features from the 10D firmware.

It added FEC, Mirror Lockup, and a few more. He has never been heard from since?