Comparison & Opinions on 20D and 350D

[hjoli]

Ok, so now I have looked at and held and taken a few snaps with a new 350D. I've been reading about the 20D as well. In comarison from those of you who own or use either what are the pro's and con's on each one? The price difference in my area isn't much, I'm wondering if it is worth my while to pay the bit more and get the 20D. Please give me your 2 cents worth....

Thanks!

[booggerg]

For me, just the extra features of the 20D over the 350D wasn't worth the extra price. What sold me was the body design+durability in addition to the extra features....

The image quality of the two are identical so sometimes it's difficult to justify spending more.

[tim]

For me the 350D is too small, and the lack of the wheel makes a lot more difference than you'd think. Looking more like a professional also played a part in the decision. I've already had a few people tell me they have the 350D at home, people who clearly don't know sh1t about cameras or photography. Not putting the camera down, it'll take pics as good as a 20D.

[Skip Souza]

I was >< that far away from hitting the B&H order button on the XT when the wife told me that if I really wanted the 20D then I should get it because she did not want to hear me whining about how I wished I had gotten the 20D. I really wanted the 20D for build quality, feel and features (love that wheel). The image quality are the same. So I changed the order to a 20D.
If I could not have the 20D I would take the XT in a heart beat.

[phili1]

The new 350 has new features, so if your on a limited budget that is the way to go. The big difference is the 20D build quality of the body, the sensor and featuresa the 350 does not have. Is it qworht the difference you bet your life.

[hjoli]

It sounds to me like the 20D is the way to go. Afterall what difference is $100 now vs. the regret later about not spending it? LOL

Thanks everyone!

[EOSAddict]

It sounds to me like the 20D is the way to go. Afterall what difference is $100 now vs. the regret later about not spending it? LOL

Thanks everyone!

WOW, where can you get a 20D for only $100 more than a 350???????

[Rob612]

Having and using both I can tell you that in terms of picture quality they are almost undistinguishable. Where the difference appear is mainly with the extra features of th 20D. That's for me, because I do not have a problem with the size of the XT, actually I like it and if I'm going out extralight the XT is what I take.

So, not special preferences for me. 20D if I need extra burst speed (and extra ISO, among other things) and XT if I just do not feel like bringing along heavy stuff. Actually it becomes heavier once you put the lens on but well... can't make without it :)

[AjP]

for me personaly 20D worth every extra $$, I played with 350D and not the same, I'm not saying it is bad cam, 350D is nice but it is definately not 20D. and what is the point to compare, same thing to compare 20D and MarkII :) no point

[OceanView]

The small difference in price is negligible compared to all the money you will spend on lenses. Buy the 20D and you won't regret it.

[TheObiJuan]

I purchased the 350D first but moved up to the 20D because of the 5fps, metal body, and bigger size. Putting a 70-200 on the 350D without a grip was a joke. I traded the camera plus a little cash and then I had a new 20D. (it was a couple of weeks old)

I am really happy with it!

[Loaded]

20D its not that much more for the quality and build plus the extra features.

[sam bailey]

I think he is going to be very disappointed when he actually tries to buy a 20D for $100 over the Rebel. It's just not going to happen. If he can, and after he has received it, he should share this information with everyone. I dont' think that is going to happen. Good luck, hope you don't get conned and lose a bunch of money.

[zacker]

Jesus F***in Christ!! If I hear another Jagg-off state that the 350D is for people who dont know jack about photography Im going to force feed them a 600MM zoom!!! The 20 D is nice.. some think its the holey f***ing grail!! the 350D is EVRY BIT AS NICE people.... Dont act smugg because you blew /spent) the extra $$$$ on a metal body and a few more options... For 600 bucks more i could have bought the 20D too so, dont say we 350D owners arent good photogs!! Instead of the 20D i got the 350D and a FEW lenses!! As for the build quality?? guess what? I have a challenge for ANY 20D owner who based thier buying descision on the difference between High impact plastics and light weight metal... I will bet you, if we both drop our cams.. youre 20D and my 350D from about 4 feet... neither one will work again! the 20D might not crack but it will be almost worthless when done. Dont get me wrong.. the 20D is a great camera but if you think its actually the camera that makes you a good photographer or its the camera you have that means you know alot about photography, then why didnt you get the 1DS?
-zacker-

[zacker]

i use my 350d with a 75-300 IS with no problems at all... and i got huge hands.. like baseball gloves! But, then again.. im used to using a Pro1... now that is a small camera!
-zacker-

[SAZABI]

haha... i agree with Zacker... however, the difference is: whether I get 350D or 20D, i still don't konw crap about photography as most of u here. :o

[zacker]

..and if a pro really thinks that than guess what?? He aint a pro! or he thinks he is but.. I beg to differ.
-zacker-

[AjP]

Things that are different where the EOS 20D is better



The EOS 20D has a rear QCD (Quick Control Dial) which can be used to set exposure compensation, flash compensation, shutter speed or aperture in manual mode and has several other functions. The same functions are available in the Digital Rebel XT, but require the pushing of buttons. The advantage of the QCD is you can do things faster and without taking your eye from the viewfinder.
The EOS 20D can shoot at 5 frames/second, the Digital Rebel XT can shoot at 3 frames/sec
The EOS 20D can shoot a burst of 23 high resolution JPEG frames before the buffer fills, The Digital Rebel XT can shoot 14 frames
The EOS 20D has 9 autofocus zones, the Digital Rebel XT has 7
The EOS 20D provides full cross-type performance with maximum apertures as small as f5.6, yet it achieves up to 3 times the standard focusing precision when used with EF lenses featuring maximum apertures larger than or equal to f/2.8. The autofocus system of the Digital Rebel XT is inherited from the film Rebel XT body and has normal precision f5.6 sensors.
The EOS 20D autofocus is specified to operate in 1 stop lower light than the Digital Rebel autofocus (-0.5 EV vs +0/5 EV)
The EOS 20D autofocus is faster than the autofocus on the Digital Rebel XT
The EOS 20D has a top shutter speed of 1/8000s, the Digital Rebel XT has a top shutter speed of 1/4000s
The EOS 20D has a flash x-sync speed of 1/250s, the Digital Rebel x-sync speed is 1/200s
The EOS 20D has a pentaprism with a 0.9x viewfinder magnification, the Digital Rebel XT has a pentamirror with 0.8x magnification.
The EOS 20D has a highest ISO setting of 3200, the Digital Rebel XT has a high ISO setting of 1600.
The EOS 20D is good for 1000 shots (no flash) on a single battery charge, the Digital Rebel XT is good for 600.
The EOS 20D has a PC terminal for use with an external flash or strobe, the Digital Rebel XT does not.
The EOS 20D maximum flash sync voltage is 250v (for both the hotshoe and PC terminal), the Digital Rebel XT maximum sync voltage is also 250v, not 6v as I had earlier reported. Canon have recently stated that the Digital Rebel XT does in fact share the 250v sync voltage with the 20D and other high end Canon EOS bodies. Sorry for any confusion on this point.
The EOS 20D has a high performance shutter designed for increased reliability (100,000 cycles), the Digital Rebel XT has the normal Canon shutter (about 50,000 cycles).
The shutter lag time of the EOS 20D is 65ms, the shutter lag time of the Digital Rebel XT is 100ms.
The high-speed mirror drive give the EOS 20D a shortened viewfinder blackout time (115ms) compared to the Digital Rebel XT (170ms)
The EOS 20D sensor (8.2MP, 22.5 x 15mm) is very slightly larger and has slightly more pixels than the Digital Rebel XT sensor (8.0MP, 22.2 x 14.8mm).
The EOS 20D has a multi-controller on the back of the camera can be pushed in eight directions, as well as down in the center, to simplify selection of the AF point, correction of white balance, trimming of images during direct printing, scrolling of magnified images etc. The Digital Rebel XT uses push buttons for the same functions.
The EOS 20D has top, front and rear covers made of a magnesium alloy for added strength and rigidity. The top, front and rear covers of the Rebel XT are plastic.
The EOS 20D has 18 custom functions, the Digital Rebel XT has 9
The EOS 20D ships with Adobe PhotoShop Elements 2, the Digital Rebel XT ships with ArcSoft PhotoStudio 5.5. Adobe have an upgrade offer from Elements to full Photoshop CS for $299 (http://store.adobe.com/store/products/master.jhtml?id=catCanon). This offer applies to copies of Elements which were supplied bundled with Canon products. Since Photoshop retails for up to $599 ($649 list), this can be a significant saving.
Things that are different where the Digital Rebel XT is better



Price - a no-brainer. The Digital Rebel XT is around $500 cheaper!
The Digital Rebel can use the low cost ($25) RC-1 and RC-5 infrared remotes. The EOS 20D can't.
The Digital Rebel XT is lighter than the EOS 20D (17.1oz vs. 24.2oz)

[Todd Jacobsen]

Things that are different where the Digital Rebel XT is better



Price - a no-brainer. The Digital Rebel XT is around $500 cheaper!
The Digital Rebel can use the low cost ($25) RC-1 and RC-5 infrared remotes. The EOS 20D can't.
The Digital Rebel XT is lighter than the EOS 20D (17.1oz vs. 24.2oz)


You forgot to add color options...

A better comparison is the 10D vs 350D.

[hjoli]

I think he is going to be very disappointed when he actually tries to buy a 20D for $100 over the Rebel. It's just not going to happen. If he can, and after he has received it, he should share this information with everyone. I dont' think that is going to happen. Good luck, hope you don't get conned and lose a bunch of money.


For starters "he" is a she. I'm very happy with my estrogen vs. your testosterone; but thanks anyways. My local specialty photogrophy store stocks the 350D, but if I want the 20D they will special order it and charge me $100 more than the 350D. Now, between my husband and I we spend alot of money in this store for cameras, lenses, film, developing, printing, large format, medium format, 35mm, color, black & white, and digital, yes they are giving me a great deal on it. Would they do this for every schmo that walked in off the street wanting a camera, I seriously doubt it.

[zacker]

yes the 20D is better... but for the extra $$$ its a question of are the differences really that big a deal?? maybe to those who can afford it but to those of us who cant the 350D is an awsome tool. like i said.. if bigger is better and more functions mean your a better photographer than run out and get the 1DS.. why screw around with that inferior 20D?? same comparison... no?
-zacker-
-zacker-

[AjP]

I might forgot something but in reality, what is the point to compare there 2 cams, it is depend on user, if someone likes 350D or 20D, way to go, good luck and have great time and great pics.
I love my 20D and have nothing against 350D, just for me personaly it is a little too small and I like design & funcionality of 20D more, its why I choose 20D.

[zacker]

hjoli, if you can get the 20D for not much more than the 350D id say go for it... its a great camera and well worth the extra $$. Just dont buy it for show. My experience with cameras is this... the ONLY ones who can judge you by your camera is other photographers, and if they do? screw em! they aint worht the time. the basic person in the streets wouldnt know a 1DS from a Powershot g6!
-zacker-

[hjoli]

I might forgot something but in reality, what is the point to compare there 2 cams, it is depend on user, if someone likes 350D or 20D, way to go, good luck and have great time and great pics.
I love my 20D and have nothing against 350D, just for me personaly it is a little too small and I like design & funcionality of 20D more, its why I choose 20D.


Thank you for all the great information.

I really like the looks of the 350D, but when I played with it I did find it light and smaller than the 35mm film cameras I am more used to holding. I figured that with the slightly added expense it would cost to get the 20D with the "bonuses" it would feel more like my 35mm and I would be more comfortable with it.

[hjoli]

hjoli, if you can get the 20D for not much more than the 350D id say go for it... its a great camera and well worth the extra $$. Just dont buy it for show. My experience with cameras is this... the ONLY ones who can judge you by your camera is other photographers, and if they do? screw em! they aint worht the time. the basic person in the streets wouldnt know a 1DS from a Powershot g6!
-zacker-

If I did this to be judged by anyone I might worry about it, however all of my photos are for my family's private use only, so as to what others think, it doesn't matter because opinions are like a**holes, everbody's got one, some have two.

The reason I asked about these two cameras is because I looked for months for a "descent" digital camera just about 2 years ago and ended up getting a G2. Now I really like this camera, but I want something that is more like my 35mm and has the same functions and then I can use my lenses that I already have with my digital instead of having to sink more money into more gadgets and buying new filters in different sizes, etc. If I am going to spend all that extra money I may as well buy the "stepped up" model of what I want.

[yobri]

A 20D for only $100 more, that's virtually a no-brainer... get the 20D. I don't have such pricing options, thus I got the 350D and it's also sufficient for my purposes as well ;)

[TheObiJuan]

Jesus F***in Christ!! If I hear another Jagg-off state that the 350D is for people who dont know jack about photography Im going to force feed them a 600MM zoom!!! The 20 D is nice.. some think its the holey f***ing grail!! the 350D is EVRY BIT AS NICE people.... Dont act smugg because you blew /spent) the extra $$$$ on a metal body and a few more options... For 600 bucks more i could have bought the 20D too so, dont say we 350D owners arent good photogs!! Instead of the 20D i got the 350D and a FEW lenses!! As for the build quality?? guess what? I have a challenge for ANY 20D owner who based thier buying descision on the difference between High impact plastics and light weight metal... I will bet you, if we both drop our cams.. youre 20D and my 350D from about 4 feet... neither one will work again! the 20D might not crack but it will be almost worthless when done. Dont get me wrong.. the 20D is a great camera but if you think its actually the camera that makes you a good photographer or its the camera you have that means you know alot about photography, then why didnt you get the 1DS?
-zacker-

I left my zipper open on my backpack and my 350D dropped to the tile clad floor. It was about 5ft, that's my midback or so.
It worked without a problem, no scratches even.
The plastic sure is some hard ****. I wish canon would have included some soft rubber like th 20D has. It makes a difference. The 350D's grip has it, and is a very nice touch.

[Sicily1918]

This is one of the reasons I try to avoid "which camera is better/should I get" threads... Let's get some perspective, shall we?



Read AjP's freakin' excellent write-up (18th post, I believe).
The 350D and the 20D are not the same. If they were the same or as close as some people claim, why is the 20D so much more expensive? Why would Canon shoot themselves in the foot like that by making an equivalent camera that costs 1/3 (or so) less money?

The Rebels are aimed at the consumer looking past point-and-shoots and is an excellent way to step into the world of SLR photography. As I understood it, this is a consumer body.


The 20D is aimed at the more serious hobbyists/enthusiasts/pros who can't/don't need to/won't pay $5000 for a camera body. This is a prosumer body.


The 1D's are aimed at the pure professional. This is a pro body.

You cannot make some of the comparisons that are being made. You don't go in saying that the 1DmkII is not worth it 'cause the 20D gets you close for 1/3 the price; it's like comparing a BMW 3 and 5 series -- they're different beasts.
Back to the thread:

hjoli:
I would go for the 20D in a heartbeat... only $100 more? Not even a question -- that's beyond a great deal :)

[wibbly]

I am a 20D owner and had a play with my sister's 350D. I was impressed & would be happy to use it if I were on a tighter budget. As it happens the 300D or Nikon D70 were my other choices at the time I got my 20D.

I spent more than I wanted and got the 20D. Right choice at the time I think. But I think the 350D is sufficiently better than the 300D or D70, that if I were buying again, I might have got the 350D.

J

[malla1962]

if you can get it for $100 more i would just get it.you will love it.:D

[SAZABI]

Supposed that the image quality is not much different between 20D and rebel xt.

I don't know if it is me or the camera. I had rebel xt before and never completely satisfied with the image I got from xt.

upgraded to 20D few weeks ago, I am now happy with at least 6/10 shoots...

Talked to some guy in camera shop. He said putting EFS lens on rebel xt or 20D should not be any diff. But EF lens on 20D is better... is that true?

lens i have is
14-70
70-200

[kidpower]

Like many of you I have read tons of reviews/comments on the XT, 20D, Nikon D70S, D50, and more. One of the biggest concerns about the Rebel XT 350 is its size and build. Very few doubt its photograhic abilty.

I''m considering buying the XT and have had all of the above cameras in my hands. Yes, many of them feel bigger and sturdier in your hands. But the XT is not a "toy". I'''m coming from and will keep my Canon G6 (takes beautiful photos). The XT is larger and heavier than my G6. It feels just as solid as my G6. My hands are large (can palm a basketball no problem). The G6 is absolutely no concern for my hand and neither is the XT. Depends on how you grip the camera and what's comfortable for you.

Of all the reviews/comments/threads I have ever read, I honestly can't remember any about a camera falling apart. Reading about the XT you'd think that would be the case. Sure, stuff breaks off cameras and things break, but I have a feeling the XT will be a hardy camera.

If the feel of weight and build are important to you then by all means go for one of the larger cameras.