Upgrading to 20D from 300D

[Medic1]

Well, I am finally breaking down and going to the 20D. I just can't tear myself away from the idea of wanting to upgrade my camera body for the extra features the 20D provides. I have only had my 300D for 6 months, but already realize its shortcomings.

I do alot of aviation photography/plane spotting, and really need a more consistent AI servo than the 300D provides. I realize that it professes to have AI servo/predictive focusing, but find it almost non existent unless you use sports mode (which then means JPEG and not RAW). The 20D has dropped alot in price lately, and I think now would be a good time to pick one up. For what I am going to get for the 300D, I think I will just keep it as a backup body.

Anyone who has both, or has had both: is the AI servo on the 20D all that much better?

Anything I should know prior to going out and picking the 20D up? Complaints? Things to watch out for? I have done alot of reading, but would still like to hear some opinions.

Thanks

[Dante King]

Yes, this was one reason I upgraded. Not to mention for the digic 2 processor, B/W mode, Well the list goes on an don and I am sure you have spotted all the differences.

[Medic1]

Yes, this was one reason I upgraded. Not to mention for the digic 2 processor, B/W mode, Well the list goes on an don and I am sure you have spotted all the differences.

Yes, the AI servo is my biggest draw I think. The other functions are great to have too. The 300D does a good job with image quality, but for aviation photography when panning, I might as well not even be focused when I press the shutter.

[Dante King]

yeah I was pretty darn unhappy with the sports mode and AI servo in my 300D

[tim]

AI servo's a great feature, plus the 20D's much much faster to use, and it has a bigger buffer which I often use. I used a 300D on the weekend, and after the 20D it was horribly slow. I upgraded 3 months after I got my 300D, it was a great move for me.

[cmM]

I have both. The AF on the 20D is greatly improved over the one on the 300d, but don't expect miracles.
The lens also plays a major role in how well it'll focus.

[Medic1]

I have both. The AF on the 20D is greatly improved over the one on the 300d, but don't expect miracles.
The lens also plays a major role in how well it'll focus.


I have been using the 70-200 f4L on the 300D and find that it is ok as long as I am not panning. The AI servo takes a $1000 CDN lens and makes everything out of focus. I am suspecting (hopefully) that its the 300D and not the lens thats causing the problems. A friend has the 350D and seems to get better results during panning situations (with a 75-300 non IS, non USM lens) than I do with the rebel and a pro white L series lens. This is what made me think its gotta be the camera's focus tracking.

[Volatile]

I made the same move from 300D to 20D about a month ago and here are my observations:

20D is much faster, in every regard, and is a huge plus from startup to AF to shutter lag.
Burst is faster and longer, super!
They are about the same size and weight, so no real change in feeling (to me at least)
Despite the higher pixel count, image quality is about the same.

Is it worth the upgrade? Depends. I sold my 300D before the 350D hit the streets and devalued it, but just after the 20D made its price drop to $1300.

HTH

[the7ferret]

in the less than 8 hours I have had my 20D I think I should of just gotten it from the start had I known it was out already.

[jgutierr57]

Hi.

I also had 300D (Digital Rebel) for less of 6 month. Then I sold to a friend and
purchase the 20D. Really is a great Camera, more rapid response. Very solid and Balance.
Congratulations.

[Jraun]

Ditto: on the 300D and would like to upgrade body to 20D - saw prices of 800 - 1100 US on eBuy?
Will my equipment be compatable with the 20D?

[tim]

Ditto: on the 300D and would like to upgrade body to 20D - saw prices of 800 - 1100 US on eBuy?
Will my equipment be compatable with the 20D?

Except for the shutter release cable (if you have one), yes. I have a vauge memory that the 300D has an IR port that can trigger the shutter, but the 20D doesn't. Lenses and batteries will be the same.

[fortinaa]

I recently upgraded to the 20D when my 300D was replaced under warranty (only cost me $600 bucks extra!). At that point in time, it was a no-brainer, since the XT was hitting store shelves and the 300D price dropped steeply. I love the AI servo on the 20d. I tested it shooting some horses trotting and cantering. With center spot focus (or single point focus) it seemed like 6/8 shots were keepers. Even when they weren't spot on, they were better than what I got out of the 300D in sports mode. I think you'll be very happy with the 20D Servo, burst rate, and buffer. I didn't buy the battery grip for the 20D, as I seem to get about 800 shots to a single battery anyhow. Just be prepared for a memory upgrade. If you don't already have a large and fast card, take a look at Sandisk Ultra II or better the Extreme III. The 300d wasn't even up to the Ultra II card's capabilities. You are going to be amazed at the write speed.

[Stymyx]

After using a dRebel (300D) since November of 2003, I just recently "upgraded" to a 20D. I asolutely love it.

For starters, the difference between how these two camera feel in my hands is like night and day. The 20D feels much better in my hands (the 300D didn't feel bad, per se, but the 20D feels much more solid and substantial).

Another thing I love: Just about everything about the 20D is faster than the 300D. Autofocus speed and shutter lag time is noticebly faster. Frames-per-second speed, reading from and saving to the CF card (I use a 1GB SanDisk Extreme III card), all faster. Data transfer times from the 20D to the PC, faster (thanks to USB 2.0). AND, my biggest peave about the 300D, the nearly 3-second power-up time? Gone. The start-up time on the 20D is, for all intents and purposes, instananeous.

The main reason I wanted the 20D was because I found some of the settings on the 300D were too limiting. For example, I too never liked not being able to select the AI-Servo AF method with any mode other than "Sports" mode (to answer Medic1's question, the AI-Servo AF mode on the 20D isn't any better than the same mode on the 300D, it's just available in ALL the "Creative" shooting modes, not just the "Sports" mode). I do a lot of soccer (football) photography myself. My two nephews play soccer and I'm always there at all their games with my camera. In nearly a year and a half with the 300D, I still hadn't got that "perfect" shot of either one of them (when I say "perfect" I mean the combination of the right play, the right pose, the right angle, perfect focus, perfect lighting, etc). However, the very first day on the field with my new 20D, I got some shots that come real close to my ideal of that perfect shot. Being able to hold the shutter release down and click off 20+ shots in a row without stopping is fantastic. And being able to make all my own descisions about AI mode, white-balance mode, ISO speed, etc is a welcome change from the limitations of the 300D. For me, making the switch from the 300D to the 20D was an absolute joy. Yes, it costs quite a bit more, but for me, it was definitely worth it. Believe me, you will suffer NO buyer's remorse from switching from the 300D to the 20D!

And yes, I'm new here and this is my first post here. So far, I really like what I see around here!

[rfreschner]

And yes, I'm new here and this is my first post here. So far, I really like what I see around here!


Welcome Stymyx - there's lots of friendly folks and great advise here. I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

[Jraun]

Ditto WELCOME Stymyx - I'm also new 2 weeks since signing up - and already enjoyed the advice from the old times and newbie’s like us. It a congenial sharing environment!

I broke three pins inserting CF card and in the process of repairing my 300D - which is 6 months young - yea, I'm a hard head and want to go it alone in repairing - looking for schematic but haven't found any for the 300D - found may others but not for 300D.

Great information and I've started to price the 20D - all I need is the body - at least that's my thinking - I have a 17-40 USM and 75-300 USM and various add ones. I'm an old Pentex old technology film user - this is my first venture into digital; hard to hold back my want - stupid mistake crushing those pins - live and learn!

[Stymyx]

Thanks for making me feel so welcome! Thanks, from an old Pentax ME-Super user (man, I'm really dating myself now! :) )

-Jeff

[copter105]

Hey Medic1 are you a pilot? Do you shoot air to air stuff?
Copter

[Medic1]

If you don't already have a large and fast card, take a look at Sandisk Ultra II or better the Extreme III. The 300d wasn't even up to the Ultra II card's capabilities. You are going to be amazed at the write speed.

All my cards are fast even though the 300D could never take advantage of them, I knew I would upgrade at some point....Just bought the Extreme III 1GB

[Medic1]

Hey Medic1 are you a pilot? Do you shoot air to air stuff?
Copter

No, not a pilot. Paramedic, ground ambulance. Just a huge aviation enthusiast, aviation photography is just a great way to combine a passion and a hobby...



And yes, I'm new here and this is my first post here. So far, I really like what I see around here!
[/font]

Welcome Stymyx - there's lots of friendly folks and great advise here. I'm sure you'll enjoy it!


Let me second (or third, or fourth whatever we're at now...lol) that. Welcome to the forums.

I also realize its the same AI servo focus mode as the rebel, but shooting at 400ISO in sports mode with the 300D is just sooooooo limiting. I like to shoot RAW so thats the huge downside to working in auto mode right there. I think I will pick up the 20D in a couple weeks....the price is starting to come down, now I just have to work on the local shop to cut me a little deal on top of that....lol.