Size comparison - 300D vs. 350D vs. 20D [Warning: Large Files]

[Wazza]

The other day I decided to line up all the cameras lying around and take a few shots. These were shot with a 300D, in M mode, 1/60th with flash. Didn't have patience to do none harsh lighting, with a tripod and longer shutter speeds.

http://wazza.nfscity.com/temp/d_compare4.jpg

http://wazza.nfscity.com/temp/d_compare.jpg

http://wazza.nfscity.com/temp/d_compare2.jpg

http://wazza.nfscity.com/temp/d_compare3.jpg

http://wazza.nfscity.com/temp/d_compare5.jpg


Well, the 350D, although maybe only 15% smaller than the others, feels much smaller. Maybe a touch too small for my hands. I've shot most with the 20D, and much prefer the larger solid feel to it, with the grippy texture as well.

[Dooglla]

Where is the 1D? just kidding. :)

[Wazza]

That will have to wait a year or two, when I have some money.

Obviously, I'm not silly enough to buy such similar cameras.. That EOS5000 is so close in performance to my 20D. ;)

[ron chappel]

Hey nice comparo :)
The 350D actually deos look too small there!(i still want one though:))

[picture-this]

Way to small for my liking.

[PhotosGuy]

Way to small for my liking. All of them together is way to expensive for mine! :D

[CousinMadness]

Greetings,

Camera manufacturers for some reason have acquired a propensity to produce smaller and smaller models. It's as if the whole raison d'etre for making the thing is to see how much electronics they can cram into an ever smaller space. Maybe they are showing off to the design team at Nikon.

Personally, and as several here have alluded to... I think a lot of models are too small. I hear everyone from here to dpreview raving about the new Canon wondertoy 350. I still cannot comprehend why the brains at Canon would make the handgrip even smaller. I mean... at over $1000 with taxes you at least want to be able to hold onto it.

.. and god forbid you do drop it... what engineer had a cerebrial misfire and thought up the idea of encasing your $1000 electronic ever shrinking gadget - in plastic?

Something is wrong with this picture folks (pun intended)... Gone are the days it would seem, that your camera could survive a roll down a set of concrete fire exit stairs... and live to tell you about it.

Camera manufacturers would be doing us all a great favour if they were to get their design crews out of the minature cellphone way of thinking. When does small become unusable? Soon all we will need to take pictures is a piece of velcro and voice commands.

I say give me something I can feel.... and wrap it in metal please.



CM

[condyk]

I love small gadgets, but the main problem I had was at the bottom of the 350D grip. Holding it made the bones around the base of my little finger ache quite quickly as they didn't grip anything and I also felt like the bones in the middle of my hand got a bit sore too quickly as the fingers gripping the camera had to grip more and the load not spread. I did try it with a quite heavy lens, as that's what I'd wanna be using it with. Without generalising at all, Japanese hands are probably smaller then mine on average. Maybe they need some big fat guys in their research labs :lol: :lol:

[cmM]

remember those threads about how there aren't many women into photography... Canon decided to make a dSLR for women... and that was the birth of the 350D concept :-P;);)

[condyk]

remember those threads about how there aren't many women into photography... Canon decided to make a dSLR for women... and that was the birth of the 350D concept :-P;);)

Of course ... how cool is that :lol: :lol:

[roanjohn]

That 20D looks yummy!!!

Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Ro1

[VesselinG]

When I got my hands on the 350D, I really expected something really smaller. And lighter. The surprise was good... I really like it. Though I never got my hands on a 20D, but still could compare the feelings that the 300D and 350D make. The 350D is pretty comfortable, at least for me. (even though i have "big hands".) I really dont think that, when you have 350D in your hands it will be THAT small. At least it wasnt for me.

[jimsolt]

I would suggest that Canon recognized that many people (not ALL people) would be receptive to a new camera that is slightly smaller and lighter than it's predecessor but very much heavier in capabilities. The initial sales figures would seem to prove them right about this.
The OVERALL difference in size is 1.6 inches. As the originator of this post points out, even this slight difference "feels" too small for him. Not to worry, Canon has not forgotten you, they still make the cameras you used for comparison, and I see no indication they intend to miniaturize them.
On the other hand, if I were to buy the 20D it would be for the capabilities, not the size, but if I picked one up and it "felt" too big, I'd probably opt for another camera more to my size likings.
I guess I just like compact things. I'd rather have a Ferrari than a Linclon Navigator. It's a lot smaller, but . . . .
Jim

[etaf]

i found the 350D too small for comfort - but then i'm used to the eos5

[Wazza]

As for expensive gear..
Only that 20D with 17-40 is mine.
The 300D pictured is my friend Daniel's (known as Rendezvous here),
The 350D is one of my uncle/aunties new cameras, which they have no idea how to use. And are disappointed that it can't do perfectly clear shots in the dark outside, 20 metres away with flash.. I didn't mean to make Canon sound that great.
And the camera taking the shots, and the EOS 5000, belong to another Uncle who has just gone back to the UK.

:)

[pradeep1]

One thing to realize about the 350D's size is that Canon is not stupid. They probably did enough market research to find out that this size would have the highest consumer appeal. They didn't design the 350D to appeal to people who shoot 1 series bodies. I've had my 350D for a while now and don't even notice the small size. When you add L lenses, and a heavy flash, all of a sudden, your camera is still a big clunker.

[CGrindahl]

I'm using a 300D and it seemed HUGE after working with a friend's Nikon 5700 for a couple of months. After eight months with my Digital Rebel I recently visited my local camera shop and picked up a 350D. It is MUCH too small! In fact, I was so disappointed with the size that I concluded my upgrade would have to be the 20D... when my budget can handle the expense.

My guess is that folks who come to the new 350D/XT from point and shoot cameras will be very happy. The camera is packed with outstanding features. Plastic has been no problem for me, even with a piece of L glass hanging on the front end. I say enjoy yourself with your new 350D! And, I'll keep my eye out for deals on the 20D and take the plunge when I can't wait any longer.

Thanks much for the photos and this discussion. It is nice to know I'm not the only person unable to make the move to a smaller camera.

[KurtKuhn]

My guess is that folks who come to the new 350D/XT from point and shoot cameras will be very happy. The camera is packed with outstanding features. Plastic has been no problem for me, even with a piece of L glass hanging on the front end.

From someone who came from an S45, I totally agree that the DrebelXT fits this niche very well, L glass & all.

-KK

[Carzee]

I handled all three -330d, 350xt, 20d - at a shop up north, yet I was not permitted to 'check out' the 135mm f2 lens they had on the shelf above. Anyway, the 300d and 350xt didn't endear themselves to me much at all. The 20d was NICE and.. [just pausing to wipe drool from the keyboard].. the 10d is just the same size.
PS ++ My 10d arrives soon -its in transit from Roan's local NYC post office to mine- sometime after the weekend. This time next week I could be out shoooooting with Mr Digic.

[d123]

My guess is that folks who come to the new 350D/XT from point and shoot cameras will be very happy. The camera is packed with outstanding features. Plastic has been no problem for me, even with a piece of L glass hanging on the front end. I say enjoy yourself with your new 350D!

I'm the opposite, I've gone from a 10D, which I found too heavy to always carry around with a couple of lenses, the size didnt bother me, but after the first day of orientation the size of the 350D actually feels better to me (even though it is dwarfed by my hands), and the weight means I can carry it with my 28-75 2.8 attached all day in comfort.

And with regard to the metal/plastic debate, the engineering grade plastic composite is actually stronger, gram for gram, than the magnesium alloy used on the 10D etc.

Dave

[Pelao]

It's interesting to hear the viewpoints on size. the other day i was looking at some 20D threads and when it first came out some were commenting that it felt a bit light, and perhaps even delicate.

I think I could live with the XT's size. It does not feel comfortable too me, but that may be because i come from the much larger 300D. So the general size issue may just be a matter of getting used to it. The controls and interface are a different matter for me.

I have never been too fond of the 300D's controls. For basic use they are fine. But the ergonomics of using the menu in action are uncomfortable for me. I don't want to have to think so much, and take my eyes off the scene so much. The XT is broadly the same - although the smaller size means the controls are closer together, and for me this means more bending of fingers, more changing of grip etc.

Again, I would probably get used to it, and perhaps very quickly coming from the 300D.

But I find the 20D so much easier to use.

I think if you are coming from a P&S the transition to the XT is so easy - managing the camera is so similar. To my mind though, the advantage of so many choices only becomes really apparent when you can access them swiftly and intuitively.

I have spent a couple of hours checking out the XT now. An amazing camera - so much packed into a little body. I think it's spot on for it's targeted market segments. I sure like the price / capability mix, but the overall control and ergonomics don't seem right for me.