Is it worth upgrading to a 20D from a Digital Rebel?

My wife uses the 300D and I use the 20D. We are both very happy. I like the feel and ergonomics of the 20D. I feel it has a considerably better build quality also. Much more versatility than the 300D. I also feel the 350D is getting a bit small for my liking and also seems to have build quality similar to 300D. If I were buying a new camera today, it would be the 20D. Whenever the next model comes out, the 20D will still function as it is now, and it meets all my needs and then some. Why go without for undetermined time waiting for the next one shows up? Not quite how I felt about the 10D, though I did prefer it to the 300D. 10D is a great camera but I much prefer the 20D!!

I had alot of error99 problems with the 75-300 lens. I can't say I'd recommend that lense to anyone. The focus did drop off over 200, but not significantly. It's definately not a free-hand lens though.

I had my 300D for a year before I upgraded to the 20D. I've not regretted it for even an instant. The frame, control and buffer make the camera. Of course, quibbling over $500 on the body is pretty petty given that the lenses are where the $$$ are going to go. I'd rather hook that $2000-$5000 glass up to something that I know will support it without any problems.

Wait for the 30D like I am.

Much as I'd like the 20D, I'm sticking with my DReb. Most of the advantages of the 20D are getting aruond annoyances on the DReb. I'm not convinced I could get better pics for the most part, although I have missed some pics wating for the buffer to flush. And the lower noise is certainly nice. Personally, I'm waiting for a bigger step in Mpixels before I buy. Maybe the "30D"?

When do you think the 30D will come out and when it does, what price could the 20D get down to (range, more or less) I am saving for a 20 D. I am hoping that the lense that is included in the kit package will satisfy my needs, because I know I will not have enuff to buy fancy sigma (wish i could, but just dun have the $$)

Thanks,
Learner

I sympathise with your predicament, as buying cameras and lenses can soon run away with lots of money. People have theories about when the successor to the 20D will come on to the market but I doubt whether you'll find a very reliable answer here.

If you're in a hurry, and also bearing in mind the fact that you'll likely only be able to afford a 20D body and Kit Lens, have you considered getting either a 300D or 350XT ? Either of these, especially a 300D, will cost you much less than a 20D and leave you some money with which to buy an extra lens.

Personally, I hope to eventually acquire a 20D but I'm very pleased with the results obtainable with my 300D and, if I had to choose, would sooner have it and an decent extra lens than a 20D with only a Kit Lens.


Happy snapping, David

Learner:
I second the suggestion to pick up a 300D and spend the extra on a lens. The 20D might seem like your ultimate camera now, but in 5 yrs it will probably be selling for a couple hundred bucks while the lens will likely serve you for decades.

in five years we would probably see 40D or 50D by then and the 20D would've been long discontinued.

I absolutely loved my 300D and then I tried out a 20D. I couldn't wait to get my 20D after that, the difference in image quality at higher ISO's is amazing. At 1600 ISO on my 20D I get about the same noise as my 300D at 400 ISO. The rebel only has AI servo in the sports mode where the 20D has it in any of the creative modes. I shoot a lot of kids sports stuff and with the 20D the number of keepers is over double compared to the 300D. 5 FPS vs 2.5 FPS makes one hell of a difference shooting sports. The metering system seems to be way better than the 300D too. So is it worth upgrading??? To me there is no question, the answer is a resounding yes!

I upgraded my DR to a 20D about 8 months ago and have never looked back. The features I needed were high ISO/low noise, 5fps, instant start up, fast CF write speeds and custom functions. I shoot a lot if indoor concerts and stage lighting with gel lights needs the high ISO low noise performance of the DIGIC II processor and the 8mp sensor. I noise correct very few images now where with the DR, I used Noise Ninja on every ISO 1600 image I shot.

I'm glad I upgraded and now, I'm waiting for the 1D mkII replacement.

Good luck,

Darren

I upgraded from 300d to 20d mainly because of the AI Servo (in all modes), the noise at high iso and the FPS.

When I start using it, I realized that the feeling of the camera was worth the upgrade too.

I didn't care about the 6 to 8 MP.

I liked the fact that I didn't have to hack my 20D to get Mirror Lock up or FEC.

In my personal experience, it was worth every penny.
leo.

Feel of 20D was what got me, along with quicker start time (was adding to a 10D).

Was shooting a 25th wedding anniversary the other weekend inside a church with both cameras, 20D with 28-75 and 10D with 70-200. Was really noticable as i swapped from one the other. Ended up setting 10D to max time beffore it turned off (after i misseed a couple of shots).
Was also shooting with out flash at around 800iso and a lot less noise from 20D...

Loving 20D more and more....