This camera is loaded with professional features that others have done a much better job detailing than I possibly could. The main takeaway for an amateur is that if you choose to learn a lot more about photography, you're not going to need to upgrade your camera to keep up -- it's there and waiting for you to advance.

But forgetting all that, there are two good reasons for stepping up to this camera over the lesser consumer ones (if you can afford it) even if you're never going to use all those features.

1. Picture quality -- absolutely awesome. Even if you do nothing more than learn what 3 or 4 of the different point and shoot modes do, you'll feel like a pro with the quality of images that come out of this. There's one dial to turn to choose your mode -- you can keep it on the all purpose green mode, or switch to a portrait (which gives that cool blurred background look), or sports mode, or night mode. There are a couple others, but these are the main ones I use. The images are simply far superior to anything I took with mid-range cameras ($500ish) in the past.

2. Speed. My biggest complaint with lesser cameras is the time it takes (1) to turn on, (2) from pressing the shutter to getting the picture (the kids are in a different spot than when I started the picture) and (3) the write time between pictures. Those are completely solved with this camera. It turns on right away. The "shutter lag" (2) is negligible. And it has a buffer to store a number of pictures in cache to write out to the disk so you can rapid fire pictures in an action situation.

For family photos, this is a pretty big investment. But given that these memories are "priceless" and given the quantity of pictures we print -- if I look at it on a monthly basis it seems worth it to step up from the mid-range consumer cameras.

Downsides to consider (relative to lower end cameras):
- This is big -- it's a lot to carry around
- It's clearly expensive and you'll probably want to add on to it with an extra lens, a flash, high speed storage card, etc.

I am a camera buff. Have used many cameras and have shot thousands of photos. Having said that, the 20D was dissappointing to me for a few reasons.

1. The white balance is pathetic, especially under incandescent light - absolutely no improvements over the rebel.

2. As with the rebel, many of your shots get over exposed by default. I have consistently been able to reproduce this problem with the rebel 300, rebel 350 and the 20D.

3. Sharpening algorithm looks almost same as what is used in the compact powershot models.

4. No spot metering - was this a hugely complex thing to incorporate? Canon responds to most complaints by "well, you have options to do things manually...". but at the same time, they leave out spot metering which is by far the most dependable manual feature when doing macro photography.

Agreed these are not too many shortcomings. But, these are just so basic that I am not able to understand why the most expensive prosumer dSLR on the market today cannot have these...

Statements like "best value for money.." are very subjective. If you are the kind of guy who could easily afford a 20D, and keep it in your closet and go get another Nikon D70 and still not worry about your budget, then yes, for you this may be a good value for money - lots of features and options to play with.

But if you are like me, for whom an investment of 1500 bucks is like once in a few years thing then this is NOT the best value for the money. You would be far better off getting a cheaper camera that does not have a lot of fancy features but one that does have all the basic features well laid out.

If I have to rely on "Digital dark room" to perfect my photos, I do not need to spend a fortune getting this overly hyped up camera.

I would strongly recommend the Nikon D70 instead of the canon 20D. It does great on all the 4 basic things that I mentioned above which the 20D fails to have....

I do not work for Nikon and these are just my personal opinions.

I'm a first time dSLR buyer (bought the 20D from Amazon -- great service). This was a big jump for me and I read and I read before I decided on this purchase and whether I should jump into the dSLR world. I'd outgrown point and shoot a while back.

On the 20D. I agonized over the 10D and the 6megapix Digital Rebel until the 20D came out and I quickly decided on the 20D. I picked the 20D because of solid magnesium case, 9point autofocus, 8.2megapix sensor and DIGIC II, and Instant On. So even after the Rebel XT came out -- the 20D is in a different class altogether. The 20D is a professional chassis and you can use it as a pro camera -- the Rebel is for world travelers (In my opinion).

My agony now is over what type of photography I want to do. I only have the kit lens and a $79 dollar 50mm f/1.8 II ... lenses are expensive especially the good ones as I'm learning:

Here is what I've learned (intended for the new people who are wondering if they want dSLR or not). dSLR is really about the lenses and the options that you can use on the camera. You need great lenses for great pictures. This is my gradeschool version on dSLRs and lenses and I hope it helps:

The setup -- Lets suppose you are standing next to your car and on your car's hood sits your girlfriend and on the hood unbeknownst to her sits a litle grasshopper. Behind your car is a lake and in the distance there's a huge snow capped mountain. This is the difference lenses make:

Prime Lenses: Would let you take wonderful facial shot of your girlfriend (boyfriend). If the lens has a good aperture, you might be able to blur the background so you only get her beautiful face and get rid of the annoying mountain and they tend to be light and small. (Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 is a prime lens -- $350)

Super Wide Angle Lenses: Expands the foreground and compresses the background. So you'd get a picture of your girlfriend on the car which would both be huge and a lake that would stretch to the horizon and the mountain would look tiny in the far off distance. (Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L is a super wide angle lens -- $1,800)

Telephoto Lenses: Compress the foreground and magnify the distant objects. You would wind up taking a picture that would magnify the mountain in the background but your girlfriend, car, and lake would either be very small and compressed in the foreground or they wouldn't even come out in extreme telephoto lenses as you'd only get the mountaintop and cut out the rest. Your girlfriend would also wonder about your relationship at the sight of the humongous lens: good telephotos can be HUGE and heavy! (Canon 400mm EF f/2.8L is a super telephoto lens $6,000)

Macro Lenses: Let you take pictures of very small things and they tend to allow you to focus quite close in on the subject. You'd walk up to your girlfriend and she'd wonder what you were doing so close to the hood. You'd give her a peck on the cheek and then you'd close in on the little grasshopper next to her. With a macro lens, you'd could take a great picture of the little grasshopper and it would fill my frame. If your girlfriend is like mine, she'd be off the car as soon as she caught glimpse of the bug. Old stereotype here no disrespect ladies - I know a few that would put me to shame. (Canon EFS 60mm f/2.8 is a macro lens -- $450)

Zoom Lenses: Are any lenses that allow you to shift the focal length. That is to say I can make it more wide angle or more telephoto. The 20D comes with a 18 to 55 zoom lens which gives you marginal wide angle and up to 3x telephoto. Not a bad kit lens but its not USM (Ultrasonic) so autofocus is not as fast and not as accurate and can fail to focus sometimes and its not IS (Image stabilized) which lets you take clearer pictures without a tripod. (Canon EFS 17-85mm IS USM is a zoom lens that covers some wide angle at 17mm and some telephoto at 85mm -- $600). You can turn the barrel and you can change focal length!! What a wonderful invention but they're more complex with more parts than primes and the extra parts add weight and they generally affect the amount of light they let in (aperture stuff) but you don't have to change lenses and they offer more flexibility.

Now bear in mind that if you're out there in the middle of a blooming field in Georgia and start changing lenses, you can get dirt or pollen in the sensor. I only change my lenses indoors in a non windy environment.

Exposure and Shutter Speed: Exposure is controlled by the ISO sensitivity of the sensor (ISO rating is another arcane film invention basically lower the ISO number the more sensitivity to light). One of the problems with smaller sensors was noise (graininess) on the pictures at high ISO numbers. Well not on the 20D the noise is imperceptible to me. Shutter speed is also controlled by your 20D...and the 20D has a great shutter 5frames per second, up to 1/8000 of a second. Wow! So you have two out of three big components taken care of here and the 20D is first rate on a ton of other things like custom White balance etc.

A note on Aperture. Its just how much light can come into the lens (the size of the hole). The lower the aperture number f/# on the lense the more light it allows. Aperture determines depth of field (how much of the foreground + background is in focus) and it constrains shutter speeds. Now aperture is a function of lens construction -- a 400mm f/2.8 lens is humongous and costs $6,000 while a 70-300mm telephoto f/4.5 to 5.6 is $1,200 but with the 400mm lens (get this)...you can use faster shutters and freeze the action of a quarterback spinning in midair across the field on a night game (or freeze your son as he's swinging a bat in little league: ball bat and son frozen in midair!). With the 70 to 300mm, you'd have to use a slower shutter and you'd get blurr and blurry does not make the cover of the USA Today nor brings a smile to grandpa. On another example, if you've been hiking for a month to take a picture of a sloth that moves at 1cm a year in some god forsaken South American jungle, the 70-300mm lens will weigh allot less and allow you to run faster than the 400mm white monster lens. If I'm a nature photographer, I'd rather come out with the picture than fall victim to some relocated pigmy tribe because I couldn't run fast enough and have someone years later find my bones still clutching my white 40lb $6,000 lens in the middle of Brazil still attached to my 20D with a flashcard full of razor sharp gorgeously blokehed* pigmy and sloth pictures, ala blair witch project. So get a lens for what you need -- I guess is what I recommend. (*Blokeh are those out of focus circles of light in the backgrounds of pictures taken with expensive good lenses)

A word on Nikon. There are two camps of photographers these days Canon and Nikon (well there are others like Leica - but if you own a Leica you're probably a pro, don't care about feature battles and are laughing at my gradeschool analysis). The 20D is more expensive and better chassis feature for feature than the D100 - go compare 8.2megapix vs 6.1 and the list goes from there. Nikon owners will tell you that their lenses have backwards compatibility 50 years...yes but you'll have to manually focus those lenses and on some of them you have to pay some guy to saw off some metal flaps to make them fit the D100. Canon EF has been around since 1986 and there are a ton of autofocus lenses out there. EF is the standard lens mount that fits the 20D and there is a newer mount called the EF-S Mount that also fits. Canon is very conservative in their advertisement as they aim for educated consumers: D100 claims a burst mode of 144 pictures -- yes but on the low quality setting, 20D can do the same if you cut the quality down...you'll hear spot metering, megapixels, focus speed --- you need to read to understand all of this and make a sound decision. Nikon makes great cameras and I don't want to get into a war. If you already own a bunch of recent Nikor lenses -- your mind is already made up. A good friend of mine owns the D70 and another the Digital Rebel and me with the 20D -- we're all happy. After much review and a ton of reading, I liked the 20D better for my purpose as a personal preference I bought it and am very happy.

On crop factors. Lenses are still stuck in the 35mm film focal length format world and 35mm film is bigger than the sensors on the 20D and this means simply that the EF and EFS lenses turn out more telephoto on the 20D. So a lens marked 10mm is actually a 16mm (multiply mm times 1.6 to get actual focal length) on a 20D and other small sensor cameras (Rebel and Rebel XT). The crop 1.6 crop is not extra zoom -- it only appears that way, its actual lost information. So, to telephoto photographers, this means you carry more weight than you need in physical glass and to wide angle photographers, it means its harder to find lenses that do true wide angle bc the sensor is too small to capture all the information. EFS was designed so they could make smaller lenses at least so don't lose information but they're still labeled "old school" and you still have to multiply. EFS was designed to take advantage of the smaller sensors on the 10D 20D Digital Rebel and Rebel XT. The higher end Canon cameras use a 35mm size sensor. People wonder if Canon will adopt bigger sensors for all lines and if they do, then EFS will probably go the way of the dodo. On the other hand, bigger sensors are expensive to make so who knows where it will go and the 20D has very low noise at higher ISOs (used to be one of the reasons they thought bigger sensors would prevail -- that and the 35mm mindset and large number of lenses out there for 35mm). I can't predict the future -- Canon seems to be still investing in both EF and EFS though and I think that for the next 3-6 years you're fine with either EF or EFS.

I heard a rumour that Canon is planning to release a new camera between the 20D and their higher end 1Ds around December? If you must have latest and greatest and have $4,000 to spend you might want to wait. If true, I'm sure the chassis will cost $2,500 - $3,000 -- just rumours here. I'm keeping my 20D until I can make money to justify more expensive than this extremely good camera. In my opinion, this new camera would not supplant the 20D as much as it would provide Canon a more complete EOS Digital line from Digital Rebel all the way up to the 16.7megapix 1Ds -- they'd provide an true entry level Pro Camera in the $2,000 to $3,000 range. Most interesting to me will be if it has 45pt autofocus and the size of the sensor. Also interesting, Canon is releasing a new 60mm EFS f/2.8 Macro lens. Good quality and interesting choice in focal length. Amazon carries it. I think Canon is telling us something with the type of EFS lenses they're releasing and the market they are targetting. Keep watching Canon.

Back to my 20D, I've only bought a 50mm f/1.8 lens for $79 and the kit lens and a tripod. I can't wait to get a USM (ultrasonic silent 0.5 second focusing lens) with IS (Image stabilization) -- if I can only decide what type of photography. But with what I have, I've taken pictures that have floored my friends and everyone who has seen them. Someone actually said, "I'll pay you for that picture." And that is a great complement to me and to the 20D and the complement goes to the 20D because my lenses are cheap! I am a huge Canon fan now and long and short of it, the 20D is an amazing camera and the best prosumer chassis out there (period!).

My first Digital SLR, and I love it. I've had it for about 3 months, quickly switching from my Elan 7E film body to this. I have numerous "nice" Canon lenses, all of which have worked wonderfully with this camera. My Top Points:

1. Autofocus - incredibly fast. Very accurate. I've read some people have had issues with back focusing, but I must be lucky, as mine is perfect.

2. Start up speed - .2 seconds claims Canon - instantaneous for all intents. I haven't missed a shot yet, althought I leave it turned on, and allow it to auto-sleep after a minute - wakes up quickly with a half-press of the shutter

3. Construction - Body is extremely strong - feels solid and well manufactured.

4. Shutter Speed - no other Digital SLR rivals the 20D's speed for the money.

I have shot about 8,000 pictures since getting mine - weekends quickly accumulate 500-1000 photos. The controls are well laid out, easy to learn and quick to navigate, even in the dark.

No complaints here - only praises.

I have owned canon SLR's (Rebel back in 90's) and digital (G2 since 2000). This (D20) is not a toy. For simple point and click, you are better off with a cybershot, or whatever little gadget takes pictures, makes phone calls and fits in your purse.

This is a camera that is used by the most serious amateur photographers (and several pros when on "leave" :-) ...) ..

It offers unbelievable control and you will end up spending some serious money on lenses and filters before you get done. But, its all about whether you are into it to take pictures of the family, or whether you are into it to take pictures.

The digital workflow it allows is remarkably easy. The amount of "diving saves" you can do to a picture that was not exactly well-taken is incredible. But prepare to learn new skills and spend some time. Like I mentioned, this is a weapon not a toy.

I upgraded from a digital rebel to the 20D. I am an aviation photographer and need the speed that this camera provides with a 5fps shutter and 26 image buffer (large jpg). I was very satisfied with the battery life of my digital rebel, but the 20D does even better with up to 700 images per charge with the BP-511A battery. For a backup, I can still use the BP-511s from my rebel.

I have not experienced any lockups or Err99 messages, just outstsanding photographs using Canon L lenses. The camera also works well with my Canon 550EX flash. I'm the type of guy who only reads a manual as a last resort. I haven't needed it with the 20D. Eveything is intuitive and easy to find.

If you are looking for a professional grade camera that will produce photographs that you can be proud of, buy the 20D.

Excellent Camera!!!

Pros:

·shutter lag is about the same as a film SLR
·5 frames per second!!!
·The Sigma lens for my Canon EOS film camera work well with the digital.
·Battery life is good (even with that I strongly recommend at least one back up battery)
·Picture quality is amazing


Cons:
·If you are not used to the size of SLR cameras this may seem rather big; however with a good neoprene neck strap the weight is not as noticeable
·Set at maximum resolution it fills up memory cards quickly - Hitachi makes a good 2 and 4 gig micro drive that is fairly inexpensive compared to other compact flash memory


I have had this camera for about 4 months now and am very happy with it. I do a lot of bird photography. The lack of noticeable shutter lag and the ability to shoot 5 fps have helped me capture some amazing shots of the birds in my back yard.

I used a Canon G2 4.0 megapixel camera and this Canon EOS 20D is definitely all that AND a bag of chips. Don't let the price tag scare you. It's really well worth the price and looking back at it, this 20D camera is THE BEST purchase that I've made in a long time. I'm not even kidding. That's why this camera has so many great reviews from all sorts of people. It absolutely takes great stunning pictures, fast autofocus, fast 5 frames per second, sharp focusing, availability and scalability with the entire vast line of Canon EF and EFS (the newer) lenses. You just can't go wrong. This is hands down the best semi-pro consumer model out there. And trust me, I'm not even a pro and when I take pictures of just people at BBQ's or taking fast shots of my friends playing basketball, it's just amazing. My friends can't believe the high quality and clarity of the photos. Taking a photo of my friend dunking the basketball and freezing the picture while he is in mid-air - Now THAT'S amazing! The modes on the camera are easy enough for a point and shoot person to take great pictures but at the same time, offer so many complex options/customizations for the professional photographer that makes this camera a true winner. I totally did my research when I bought this camera and I'm glad I picked it up. I promise you that you'll love the camera too. It's a great investment and it won't be money thrown away later. Later on if technology gets better and Canon releases a better camera, then you can re-use all of your existing lenses and all you need to pick up is another body. I love it! Love the switch to Digital SLR. Can't imagine how I survived without this wonderful camera!

With the 17-85mm lens, it's a deal to get it with this bundle. This lens is the best all around lens. It does everything that the basic standard $50 18-55mm lens does and more. Very good lens to have as a "leave it on the camera and be the 1 lens you choose to have to take it around to travel or carry around with you to take pictures". The one lens that's multi-purpose and good for all around shooting. Can't go wrong! You'll love it! It has the ultra sonic motor that's super quiet, has auto-focus capability for fast auto-focus, and has a good large wide angle for wide shots as well as a healthy zoom for close up pictures. It's made in Japan for high quality, and like a lot of other things in life, there's a reason why it's expensive and there's a reason why you get what you pay for.

As another reviewer rightly mentioned, there are a few basic things that this camera can do better in.

Same time, there are a few things that no other prosumer dSLR does as well as the canon 20D. Eg., sports photography. With 5 fps, this camera Rocks. Whereas, with its bad white balance, this camera is not the best in its class for indoor with lowlight photography. Same goes for Macro mode - Spot metering is just so dear to macro photographers that it is very dissappointing not to have it in such an expensive camera.

If you can afford more than one camera (as most professionals do), then yes, get this camera for your sports and outdoor shooting needs and get a different one for doing your indoor, lowlight and macro shooting needs.

But if you are on a budget like most of us and if you are not going to limit yourself to just sports and outdoor photography, then in my opinion, you would be better off with a different camera - I vote for D70 too. Yes it is just 6 mega pixels but you will really not gain anything with an 8 mega pixel - it is really not a big jump. The professionals will tell you the same.

I give 3 stars only because Canon has a very aggressive marketing strategy and creating a lot of hype around their products. The camera is good, but it has an disproportionate hype to it that could cost some a lot of money...

I spent a lot of time deciding on my first digital camera so here's a review that imparts some of what I learned. First off, Canon is a small notch up from Nikon. They're chess players; Nikon releases first, Canon responds with something slightly better. If you've always used Nikon, just stick with the Nikon. My friend uses the D70 professionally; she loves it. Real solid camera. I went with Canon because it's what I'm used to 35mm-wise. The Digital Rebel was highly appealing to me given it's price, so I went into a store to hold it. This was the turning point for me. The Digital Rebel and Digital Rebel XT are way too small and light. They're basically oversized point-and-shoots. This is great for some people, but for someone looking for a professional-grade digital SLR, you're going to want something more substantial than plastic. After rejecting the Rebel, I tried out the 20D. It was perfect. The 20D is made from a magnesium alloy, making it slightly heavier than the Rebel, but much sturdier. Pixel-wise, 6.3 or 8.2 doesn't make a difference unless your trying to make posters. Features do matter, though, and the 20D is packed with them. It's easy to use right out of the box, but if you're into advanced features, you can play with new stuff on the 20D for months. The Digital Rebel XT has got less than half the features of the 20D. Basically, the 20D is just much more versatile for a photographer interested in developing their craft. If you go with the Rebel, please purchase black. The silver plastic makes me cringe. Also, purchase a battery grip for whatever camera you get. Battery grip=clutch, no pun intended.

There seems to be plenty of hyperbole over the specs of this camera vs. the nikon d70. very few of the specifications are so far apart that it makes a huge difference. I guarantee that a professional photographer could figure out how to get the most out both cameras.
Most people i've spoken with that have this camera are upgrading from point and shoots or SLR style cameras from sony, nikon, olympus, canon, etc. This is not a point 'n' shoot inspite of the novice settings on the dial.
Just because you pay $1400 for a camera doesn't mean it will convert your snapshots into artwork. If you're into taking candid shots of your kids goofing off or your wife snoring with her mouth open, or granny's dentures falling out, Stick with a point 'n' shoot. But if you want to develop the art and craft of photography, that takes patient work and time.
Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Pentax, etc. It doesn't matter. Camera's don't make pictures.

I have Canon 20D for just two months and took about 1000 pictures. After first two weeks, I found there were some spots on the sensor. Amazon changed a new one for me (very good service). After using for two weeks, there were some spots on the pcitures again. I probably changed lenses for about 7-8 times for the cameras. For some reasons, it seems to me that D20's sensor "attracts" dust easily compared with Digital Rebel (300D). I used 300D for 18 months, but I never have any problem like this.

Please note that, there is a small section in the 20D manual (p36-37) descriing sensor clearing by selecting .... on manual dial.... but there is no sensor cleaning on 20D. Maybe the manual is just translated from Japanese manual and the function is not available for US version.... I am not sure.

The sensor clearing fee is about $80 for Canon authorized prepair shop. D20 generates better pcitures than 300D. but for the sensor cleaning issue, I give it ***. I am really afraid changing lenses now since the sensor gets dust so easily. BTW, the blower does not really work for sensor.

I've owned the 20D since November 2004, and I must have shot around 10,000 pictures with it. Before that, I had a Canon Powershot A80, which delivered consistently good pictures, but was slooooow to start up and had a big shutter lag. The 20D solves these problems with flying colors (no pun intended). Start up is instantaneous (you will spend much longer removing the lens cap!) and there's no shutter lag.

The other expectation that I had was to get shallow depth of field in my pictures (almost impossible with the A80). The problem was that I ordered the camera with the basic 18-55mm lens that comes with it. I shot with nothing but this lens during 6 months (I couldn't afford anything else), and was not very satisfied with the sharpness (even by changing the parameter in the custom functions), the vibrance of the colors, and the poor bokeh. I tried a demo version of DXO optics pro, which made me realize how soft my basic lens was. It's OK, I knew I shouldn't expect too much from that basic lens.

When I was able to afford a second lens, I realized how good the 20D could be. I got a Canon 70-200mm f4L telephoto lens, and man! does this make a difference! The pictures I get with that lens are awesome: crisp, sharp, vibrant, constrasty, and finally I got the bokeh I was expecting.

Then I got the Speedlite 420EX flash, and my pictures became just wonderful. It solves all the problems that people may experience with the built-in flash.

So, basically, try different lenses on this body, and you'll be surprised how much better your pictures can get with the right lens. Your pictures will only be as good as the weakest element of your system. Well, the weakest element won't be the 20D body!

The major complaint I have, though I know it's inherent to all digital SLR (except the Olympus), is the dust on the sensor. It's very disappointing to make 400 shots in a session and then find the same 3 ugly dust spots on every single picture, regardless of the aperture you shot at. I tried the sensor swabbing method to clean it, it worked fine, but it scares me too much to do it on a regular basis. Nothing that Photoshop couldn't fix, but still, it drives me crazy.

I also learned to live without the spot metering, but I still don't understand why they didn't include it. They can't expect you to buy the 1D Mark II instead, since only pros can afford to spend that much money on a body. And you don't need to be a pro to feel the need for a spot metering. Everything I learned about photography refered to the use of that spot metering (John Shaw, Bryan Peterson...).

Anyway, great camera body, very average lens. Expect to invest in a better lens and an external flash. I gave it four stars because of the dust on the sensor (not its fault, but still, it's frustrating).

I'm an art student who contructs and photographs hand painted setups etc. I still prefer to shoot with my Hasselblad medium format cam and scan the negatives to get lots of detail for serious work (I'm talking 90 MP files). I admit, it took a lot of persuation for me to try and go into the digital realm. My first digi-cam was a Sony DSC-F717 5.0 MP. I chose it because it has Carl Zeiss optics like my Hasselblad, and good reviews. The photos were acceptable, though it did suffer from much noise at higher ISOs (400, 800), and there was some chromatic aberration on edges. I know Advertising design majors at my college who use the 20D for some projects. It was the first time I saw (13x19) images in print from the 20D. SUPERB quality with the Epson 2200 printer. The 20D and many other Canon DSLRs deliver very clean images even at ISO 1600. However, if you want the sharpest images you can get, with high contrast and detail, you really need to invest in some good (prime) optics as opposed to the pre-packaged zoom lens. So it might be a good idea to just purchase the body alone.

Also, people have been complaining about the lack of spot metering mode. If you're willing to invest...just buy a handheld spot meter.

If you want the full hard core review of this camera you need to be looking somewhere like LuminousLandscape.com because there's far more to this camera than a normal user will ever meet.

Having said that we are left with just the little bits and pieces a normal user would meet.

The camera is actually a little smaller than optimal for a person with average sized hands, the little finger of the left hand has nowhere to sit and the EOS10D actually feels better. But in normal use you won't notice this. The viewfinder is small, in many cases you just have to trust that it really has done a good job of focus because there isn't enough image for you to see for yourself. I find it quite difficult to be certain that I even have the camera level. It's also not the brightest viewfinder you ever saw.

Battery life is very good, even powering an image stabilized lens, I just filled a 1Gb card on a single battery, that's a few hundred images and the battery still isn't showing low.

Dust has been a small issue, there are cameras now that will clean their own sensor but this isn't one. I eventually found a good hand air blower. You can not use canned air or a brush to clean the sensor, either can damage the camera badly. Once I got the dust off, it was there from new, it has remained clean. So maybe it's not that much of an issue. I use Tokina 24-200, Canon 50mm and Sigma 80-400 OS EX lenses, so I do change the lens fairly often, so perhaps dust isn't that big an issue.

Switch on is unbelievably fast, slow switch on times have cost me numerous shots with other cameras, with the 20D the camera is on by the time you realize the switch has clicked into place. Speaking of which, on a camera with excellent ergonomics the on-off switch is about the only thing that doesn't come to hand well, but it's not a factor in normal use. Just not perfect.

Low light performance has been excellent, the camera will shoot at 800 or even 1600 ASA with no apparent noise, you can even configure it to use 3200ASA though I have not.

You do need to be mindful that the exposure controls on this camera really do do what they say, you need to keep your eye on the shutter speed and aperture to get the shot you think you want, this isn't an instant camera that will just make the most of it.

The autofocus is excellent, however in programmed modes you need to pay attention to which of the focus zones it has actually selected. If there is something closer to you than the subject you may need to select the correct focus point, fortunately this is very easy to do, you can hit the control and then select the focus point using the joystick, both with your right thumb.

Another minor irritation to me is that if you are using the fully auto mode, which does a very good job of most things, it will sometimes select the flash even though the autofocus should tell it that the subject is way out of range. Perhaps I expect too much?

Picture quality? Well, unless you have an absolutely perfect lens and need to make 36" wide posters you are unlikely to find that the camera is a limiting factor. I'm actually waiting to see an Epson R1800 because the current generation of printers can't reproduce the quality I have available with this camera and my lenses.

Would I buy it again? Sure. Will I trade for the next great EOS digital to come on the scene? Unlikely. Maybe if it has a larger viewfinder, this camera already does way more than I need.

As I mentioned in my prior review after I had used this camera for a while I would try and do an update well here we go. I have just finished filling a 4GB micro-drive with the E-300, and must say that I am still in awe of this camera.I had the chance to shoot it along with a 20D as well as an XT (Canon) not my cameras but ones that belonged to friends. I still have to put the Olympus at the top. Here's why- first off I take pictures for quality not for speed, if you are the type of photographer that shoots say sporting events, or horses, etc. then no doubt the Canons are your weapon of choice, Because lets face it Canon's "DIGIC 2" processor is truly amazing. But speed aside picture to picture I found the E-300 to be the best as far as over all picture quality and accuracy, and with the exception of the 20D far less noise at higher ISO's. Now I shoot a wide variety of pictures from sky scenes, to low light pix, as well as something I call "lightpainting" wich involves turing down the shutter speed (way Down) and cranking the ISO (as high as you can stand it!) So I guess the type of pictures I take covers the gamut of situations. Again, in each situation the EVOLT blew away the 2 Canons. the most amazing thing is that out of almost 550 shots I had only about 20 where the camera (or myself) had mis-read the shot, the 20D had twice as many (due to the camera) the Xt nearly three times!By mis reading I refer to under or over exsposure, and/or blurred images. All three cameras were set to the auto or "P" mode. The E-300 has also made me want to try flash photography again! Flash photography is an art unto itself and the E-300 made it possible for even myself to get decent results! The flash on the 20D is completely useless as far as I could tell either it was too hot, or too weak, the Xt didn't fair much better. Now before Canon fans call me a lunatic let me explain something the 2 Canon SLR's I used are in thier own right top of the line photographic weapons, more than worthy of the high praise and reviews they have recieved from pro and novice alike. Heck- I had an Xt in my hand ready to buy, until I saw the E-300 further down the counter and decided to check it out, In fact if I was ready to buy another SLR it more than likely would be the Xt (The 20D is just too damn high priced for what you REALLY get)The reason I love the Olympus over the others is the fact that the camera takes great pictures by nature not by settings, it relys on the ability to take amazing pictures at a varitey of situations on a extremely consistant basis. The Canons alas, do not, due to the fact that they are complicated to operate (especially the 20D) and the biggest being that they are not consistant in the quality of pictures they take. This is just my opinion if you love the Canons by all means buy one, but me...I'm staying with the EVOLT. You may take pictures faster, but I'll be taking em better! Happy Shooting!

I bought this back in March from Amazon, specifically for a trip we were taking to Washington DC. I only had a couple of days to get used to the controls before we departed. I have owned mostly Canon cameras in my time and the 20D felt comfortable and familiar from the start. It has an intuitive design and pressing a button and/or turning one of the wheels provides access to the most important and basic functions. I was immediately impressed by the sharpness of the photos, the speed of the autofocus and near instantaneous turn on, as well as the light, yet solid, feel of the body. The ISO range is fantastic and easy to change, great when you don't have a tripod and flash is out of the question - think an orchestra performing Bach's St. John in the National Cathedral. I've also used the camera to photograph rally cars speeding by in a dwindling light and was impressed.

The 20D provides control over all of the functions that you would want, and if not, it will do everything for you. For an advanced amateur, or someone who wants to take their photography to the next level, I think you will find this a camera worth buying. I compared it to other brands within it's price range and found that the 20D is more comfortable, easier to use, and more sophisticated than the others. The price is coming down from what I paid and I'm now considering getting a second one.

excellent in every aspect, even though couldn't get much affect changes between spot metering and evaluated metering whether in manual or auto, but alway get perfect metering

For the same money you can either buy a 20D with the 18-55mm kit lens or a XT with 17-85mm IS zoom. Either system will satisfy majority of the people who just want to take sharp memorable pictures. Ask youself if you want a super great camera with a so-so lens or a great camera with a great lens.

I bought the Rebel because XT already has "ALL" of the functions I'll ever need, and the extra range and Image Stabilization 17-85mm offers will make an appreciable difference in everyday use of the system. IMHO, lenses are more important than cameras, and I doubt there's a single pro out there can tell the difference between images taken by the two cameras. Unlike 17-85mm, 18-55mm lens looks and feels cheap, and lack USM; however, it does produce good images though.

All images taken by the 17-85mm lens have turned out sharp and vibrant, focusing is quick and almost silent, and the built quality is high-end Canon. Barrel distortion is acceptable at 17mm and completely disappears at 24mm, which is still wide enough for photographing buildings or interiors. The image stabilization is a must-have. Combine it with XT's incredible low-noise ASA 1600 setting (less noise than ASA 400 film), you'll be able to take sharp hand-held photos at night or indoor without flash, resulting in much more natural looking images. Any color balance issue can easily be corrected with Photoshop, which is why I don't carry a heavy flash with me anymore.

For the same money, go with the better lens.

I was upgrading from point-and-shoot digital. The choice was between the Canon Rebel XT, Nikon D70, and the Canon 20D. I am glad that I footed the extra cash for the 20D and even the IS 17-85 lens. It's well worth the investment for budding enthusiasts/amateurs like myself. Like playing a violin, you can't really be inspired to do better and do more if you don't have the right instrument.

PRO: FAST system in turning on and triggering, 5 shots/sec bursting (for great children pictures), 1/8000th second shutter speed (fun water pictures), 9-point auto-focusing system, solid feel of the body, ease of menu and yet plenty of options.

IMPROVEMENT: The door for the memory card is a bit loose as it is on the back side of the right hand grip. The shutter is a bit loud if you don't want the turning heads in a quiet setting (but even then it's not so unacceptable as you do have a nice camera to show off!).

17-85 IS LENS: Way better than the cheap stock lens! Image stabilization is great especially if you don't like shooting with a flash.

I have this camera about 4 months now, and I'm still in awe. It is just brilliant. The body is very robust. It isn't light, but feels solid in your hands. It's well balanced and easy to grip.

The battery life is just great. I've taken about 1200 photos on a single battery charge. I have not yet even considered the need to buy the extension battery grip with an extra battery.

All the functions are within easy finger reach. It is so easy to adjust the settings as you go. I am still learning how to use things. I guess so far I've taken in excess of 20,000 photos.

One little gripe would be sensor dust. I've a small speck of dust somewhere (on the sensor I assume), and I can't seem to get rid of it. Nothing to ruin my photos though. It's not an uncommon thing with any dSLR. A cleaning kit is essential with this camera.

I already have a small collection of Canon lenses. The combination gives me excellent quality photos.

Bottom line - if you're thinking of buying a Digital SLR, this one should come very high on your list of options. I would recommend it to everyone.

This camera has an extremely good quality, and it's so easy to use, that it's so much fun to "play" with.

For the same money you can either buy a 20D with the 18-55mm kit lens or a XT with 17-85mm IS USM. Either system will satisfy majority of the people who only want to carry one lens. Ask yourself if you want a super-great camera with a so-so lens or a great camera with a great lens.

XT has virtually "ALL" of the functions most people will ever need, and the extra range and Image Stabilization 17-85mm IS offers will make an appreciable difference in everyday use of the system. IMHO, lenses are more important than cameras, and I doubt there's a single pro out there can tell the difference between images taken by the two 8MP cameras. Unlike 17-85mm, 18-55mm kit lens looks and feels cheap, and lacks USM so focusing is slower and noisier; however, it does produce good images though.

I had done extensive comparison between 17-85mm IS USM and Canon 28-105mm f3.5-4.5 USM, which is one of the best standard lenses ever made. Wide-open, 17-85mm IS USM produces noticeably sharper images with higher contrast. At f8.0, the performances of the two lenses from 24-85mm and 28-105mm are virtually identical in terms of distortion, center sharpness and chromatic abrasion; however, 28-105mm is slightly sharper at corners. 17-85mm IS USM is not perfect - at 17mm, it has rather noticeable barrel distortion and CA, and the image is slightly soft when view at 100%, requiring applying Photoshop Sharpen filter once to get it on par with the rest of the range. Barrel distortion is gone at 24mm, which is still wide enough for photographing buildings and interiors.

The image stabilization is simply great. I have shot several nighttime and indoor events handheld without flash with XT set to ASA 1600, and it's amazing how well the photos have turned out. I'll never buy a lens without IS anymore, period.

17-85mm USM IS is the best standard lens for XT and 20D. Getting any other lens means you will either have to carry two lenses to get the same 35mm 27-136mm coverage or do without image stabilization. BTW, thanks to software like Photoshop, images taken by high-end consumer lenses can now easily be made to match or surpass images taken by the expensive and heavy "Pro" lenses.

I don't think there is a camera out there that can compete with the Canon EOS 20d for the money. I am a semi professional photographer and I take images from high speed action to high def. macro. The range of features on this camera is amazing. The custom settings, the auto settings and the scenery settings are all perfect. The camera adjusts the white balance perfectly AND it lets you customize it if you want. It takes 8.2 mega pixels which will let you enlarge phots to as big as you can print them without losing quality. It has speed like no other digital camera. It says in its advertsing that it can take up to 23 shots at a time at 5 frames per second. The advertising is wrong. It can take well OVER 23 shots at a time at 5 frames a second. I have personaly take over 7 seconds of continuos shooting. 36 frames to be exact. And that is at 8.2 megapixels. It takes a high end memory card to do it, but it does it none the less. Image quality? Amazing. Ease of use? Phenominal. Those who say it is complicated probably can't set up their alarm clock either. Don't get me wrong, this camera is so feature rich that you will need to read the manual to get it all figured out. But out of the box without reading a thing I was taking advanced shots, setting my own shutter and or f-stop, changing ISO speeds, taking single and multi burts shots and more without reading the manaul. Now I've worked with digitals before but never a canon. The construction is top rate. It feels solid in your hand. It doesnt feel plasticky, or hollow. The controls are easy to reach, and it's comfortable to hold. Ive heard of people complain that it's to small. Well, I've got fairly large hands and I dont have any trouble holding it. One of the best features on this camera though is thenearly instant on. .2 seconds from flipping the switch to taking a picture. This has saved me a number of times. It also turns off after a minute of sitting idle to save battery life. Then you simply press the shutter button down and it's back on instantly. Oh ya..one of the best things about it for me...it records the photo settings along with the image. When I go back and review my images the camera can also tell me what the exact settings were for each shot so I know what to set them to for the best picture. The battery life is simply amazing as well. I have a 2 gig flash card in my camera. I took over 500 pictures at a mountain bike race last weekend, and I wasnt even close to the end of the power life. Canon says it will take over 700 pics per charge. I believe it! I honestly can't think of anything negative about this camera. Oh wait...the viewing screen is a bit small, and a bit hard to see in the sun. If they could make the viewing screen bigger, and more direct light viewing friendly, this camera would be perfect in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, its not TO small. Just smaller than I prefer. All in all though, I have looked at a LOT of cameras, and I have not found one that even comes close to this one. It has more features, and nicer features. More memory and a faster shooting speed. Easier operation, and better build than any of the cameras that compare in price. So unless you want to spend 3-4000 dollars...the 20d is the way to go.

I am very disappointed with the Canon 20D. My first disappointment is with the sharpness of the pictures. I've tried all kinds of combinations for the auto and manual functions, but most pictures came out soft around the edges of the subjects. The Nikon D70 takes much better and sharper pictures. I was actually willing to put up with the softness because of the fast sutter speed, but then came the second disappointment. It's actually a shock more than anything else -when I changed the camera lens for the first time, the lens release button fell out and wouldn't stay in place unless I tape it down. This should never happen on a $1,400 camera! What a mistake in buying the Canon 20D! I'm returning the camera for a refund.

Fast, accurate, and produces amazing results. I take lots of indoor shots in low light, even indoor sports shots (I use two fast Canon zoom lenses) and they come out unimaginably beautiful with the 20D's amazingly clean ISO 1600 performance. The camera reposnds instantly, and focuses so fast I almost never perceive any lag at all. The camera is built like a tank with a very solid feel, and the 5 fps shutter has earned me an unbelieveble collection of sports action shots I could not have gained otherwise.

Cons? I wish the current ISO setting was displayed in the viewfinder, and the shutter is a little louder than my old Minolta 7000i (film SLR). However, this camera feels like an extension of my hand when I am holding it, and I have no plans to replace it for several years.

I was thinking between the Rebel XT and 20d . I didn't like the plastic body of the Rebel XT. Also the XT size is like miniature SLR or a crossbred between point-n-shoot and SLR, it just didn't right in my hand. But, the 20D fits like the gloves in my hands. The 20d is a litle bigger than XT. It's metal is rock solid.

I like to travel and take a lot of pictures of people. I thought if I have to take pictures, people will notice me of my shootings, I might as well carry the best camera that I could afford which is the 20d. I just bought mine about 3 weeks ago and I've been taking more than 3000 pictures. I use Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM len (Made in Japan len). The IS (Image Stabilization) feature of the len is a must. Most of the my pics are very sharp. I'm still playing around with this camera. Some of my pics are blurred because I used third party flash Metz Mecablitz 45 CL-4, and it did not synch correctly for right amount of flash needed. I shot mostly in automatic (P mode) TTL flash.

Since I've spent a good amount of money on the camera already, I thought I might as well invest in a good flash. I just ordered through Amazon (which prices are very competitive to Beach or Adorama, B&H) the Canon 580EX flash. I hope this flash will do the trick.

To sum up, so far so good. Very happy with my Canon 20d. The battery that comes with is amazing! I took more than 1000 pictures before I realized I need to recharged, just in case. Also the full recharge of the battery takes less than 2 hours. I plan to get the Canon BGE2 Battery Grip and extra battery set. It's not that I really need it, but I just like the beefed-up look of this camera and made me look like a pro. I'm glad I picked this one over the Rebel XT--I don't think the XT would have the extension of the battery Grip like the 20D.

One more thing. Amazon.com reviews influenced me to buy this camera. I'm very happy with prices and services which makes Amazon my one stop shopping and reading reviews on books and all electronic gadgets.

I've been shooting with a Digital Rebel for about a year, that camera is great but it just plain doesn't have big enough onboard memory buffers for the kind of fast action I tend to shoot. This camera, when coupled with a high speed Compact Flash card will rarely bog down and quit shooting when using continuous mode (5 fps) (even more so if you aren't shooting in full quality mode since more frames fit in the buffers). The difference between this baby and the Rebel is like the difference between a Yugo and a Cadillac, just no comparison! The Rebel is a starter camera, this is a real camera. There are three different metering modes, three different types of AF and single and continuous shooting modes available in all "creative modes" (i.e. other than the stock modes they give you for common situations and of course in auto mode). I haven't had a chance to shoot a whole lot with the 20D yet but so far I'd say it's much faster (both on startup and between shots) than the Rebel and much more capable in "mixed-lighting" situations than the Rebel is. With the rebel, the combination of mercury vapor gymnasium lighting and flash would give my shots these awful yellow backgrounds, so far the 20D is handling this situation in a superior manner--i.e. no annoyingly colored backgrounds (Auto White Balance control is much better here). If you use IS lenses I suggest you buy the battery grip. The 20D is made of metal and much more ergonomic than the Rebel but someone with big hands will probably still like the battery grip to make the camera easier to hold onto. The built in flash on the 20D is capable but for real shooting you'll want a professional flash. Canon speedlights (550/580EX) are the most integrated but there are other cheaper choices that are just as good (but may not be as integrated). The 20D has a flash sync port on the side for a "potato masher" handle style flash unit such as made by Metz, Sunpak, etc. This is a pricey camera for most of us but worth the money, I am going to have a lot of fun with this. One last comment: The 20D apparently incorporates some advanced circuitry that operates with the flash to conserve flash power, it's my impression this is more refined on the 580EX than the 550EX but on my first shoot I did notice far less misfires with the 550EX on this camera than on the Rebel. If you're torn between jumping on a Rebel or saving for a 20D then save for the 20D it's more than twice the camera the Rebel is and if you shoot fast moving sports you won't be happy with the Rebel Original, the XT is supposedly a bit improved but I still don't believe they've done very much about improving the image buffers and that is where the 20D shines. Now that I've got my hands on a 20D I'm curious about what the even more expensive Canons can do.

I own this camera, my second digital camera, and I am exceptionally happy with it! I will not go into all the technical details about this camera, as this information is available in the product description and in other reviews. I will say that this is not a camera for one just getting into digital photography. This is a (near) professional quality instrument and has so many options that one not grounded in digital photography would be quickly overwhelmed. It is also higher priced than the typical consumer-grade digital camera, with an asking price of right arund $1400 dollars at the time of this writing. Once you add a couple of filters, a telephoto zoom lens, and some other accessories, you quickly have an investment of over $2,000 dollars. Thus, this is not a camera for the masses.

If you are looking for a camera that provides you with all the versitility of a SLR quality film camera, you have come to the right place. Canon's 20D will absolutely overwhelm you with its extensive options! This is truly a versitile instrument that will allow you to do virtually anything in photography! I don't think it is an exaggeration to say that the Canon 20D is the best camera for its price in its class. It blows the competition away.

The camera body has a firm heavy feel to it. It is not a miniature digital camera at all. It fills and fits the hand nicely, much like a SLR should feel. The buttons, wheels, and controls are all within finger reach, but there are so many options that one has a pretty good learning curve to be proficient with the camera. By the way, the instruction manual is well over 150 pages, and it does a mostly adequate job of introducing the camera controls to the operator. Still, it has taken me several weeks of use and review to learn the camera's many features and then remember them so that the operations are automatic.

The pictures I have taken are very pleasing. One can shoot in low light, bright light and all conditions in-between. A flash is available and pops up automatically if desired for additional light. This camera takes excellent pics in low-light conditions.

The lens that comes with the camera is acceptable and I am pleasd with the sharpness of the images produced. Other reviewers have stated that compared to fixed focal length lenses, such as the 50 mm, the variable zoom lens is not as sharp. My view is that the lens provided is very adequate for virtually all applications, however, if the operator wants the very sharpest images possible, especially for portrait work, then perhaps a fixed focal length lens is beneficial. I purchased a EF-S 28-135 IS lens for a telephoto zoom, and am happy with it. Again, the quality of the zoom does not approach that of the Canon "L" series lenses, but then how many consumers can afford a single lens that is over $4,000 dollars? From my perspective as an amateur that shoots a lot of images, I think the 20D is more than adequate for my needs.

I highly recommend this camera to any amateur photographer that seeks a highly versitile top-quality camera that is a definite cut above the rest. If you can afford this camera, buy it. It will give you the creative options a photographer desires in a camera, and will give years of pleasure.

Jim "Konedog" Koenig

This is a great and easy camera, I take many action photos, like surfing and the results are amazing.

I have been shooting for many years and have purchased many cameras from 35mm to digital. This Canon 20d is the Best yet. I have played around with it and still have yet to experience all of the features and capabilities. I shot a wedding and was truly surprised at the outcome of those photos. I have way too many great shots to pick from, for my clients. I shot a self portrait with it and it was so much detail you can see the hairs coming out of the pores on my face. This is a great camera and I recommend it to anyone who wants true professional looking photos.

This is how an SLR should feel--solid and sturdy without being overbearingly heavy and clumsy. It fits naturually into your hands and feels balanced with a range of lenses attached. The autofocus on this camera is unbelievably fast and accurate. It has become a favorite of photojournalists, and it's easy to see why.

After several years of gradually adjusting to the "digital revolution" I decided that it was time to take the plunge and move up to a digital SLR. As a long time Canon emulsion-camera enthusiast it seemed logical to stay with the people I knew, and I have to say I am simply delighted. The 20D is tough enough to deal with field conditions (I am an ecologist who needs must spend extended periods on foggy off shore islands)and, while less portable than the "pocket" digital I have used previously, the results are simply superb. Things of particular note for wildlife photographers include the enormous range of exposure and auto-focus options, the rapid cycle time and "burst-mode" filming that has allowed me to capture guillemots on the wing, the intelligently placed and organized controls, a nice, bright LCD display that allows you to review what you have taken while you are still out of doors, and then of course the ability to use REAL telephoto lenses! I got a Canon 100-300 right away and couldn't be happier with the results. This is a serious camera for serious users but it also has enough "auto" features that novices will get great results out of the box. Oh yeah, did I mention battery life? I find that I can shoot and shoot and shoot until the crows come home....

I've used several digital point and clicks... I've also use an Olympus C5050. I've been wanting to upgrade to a Digital SLR and believed the great reviews. I've been terribly disappointed with the pictures... all seem far to dark and dull. Doesn't seem to mater which lens or what type of lighting. I'm checking with Canon to see if maybe there is a problem with the camera... if not, I would say this is an awful investment. If you have time to work in the advanced modes, maybe you can find a setting that takes clear, crisp picture; but if you are using in any of the basic modes, you have no control over the results.

its a good choice as a back up camera to my 1Ds MarkII.the 20D's 8.2mp really do a good job.No comments der.

I purchased this camera after using the EOS 10D and was very pleased with the price and value for money, it was shipped promptly as advised by Amazon. I have used the camera professionaly and it has met or exceeded my needs and expectations on all occassions. You can see photos from my last shoot at this site - daylight and night photos, action and stills, used with the speedlite 420 : http://hirpm.net/v-web/gallery/raftabout2005
These are some other shots from a UB40 Concert in Trinidad, mostly without flash : http://www.hirpm.net/Promotions/ub40/index.htm
It can be very easy to use in the fully automatic mode, and my son uses same to take pictures also, with great results.
I would recommend this camera without reservation, well done Canon.

Can anyone please verify that they did buy this 20d at $400, comes complete, with a warranty and is not a black market make? or some off the wall brand being sold as a true Canon 20D
I am interested but very weary with the price at on $400.
thanks

Apart from all the good points rightly pointed by all reviewers there is one design problem with the camera: the LCD screen. It is simply too dim. To the point that is almost useless on a bright day. The quality of the pictures is great and the bundled software is very powerful and easy to use. Specially the Digital Photo Professional, that comes with no manual, is great. You can find an excelent tutorial here: [...].
Maybe that is why another reviewer complains about the images being too dull. I first tried the camera on an overcast day in Chicago and as almost everything is gray, the pictures at the LCD screen were quite ugly and flat. Very different from another cameras LCDs.

The camera arrived witin the time period estimated by the shipper and unpacked for inspection. The canon EOS 20D is a great camera with only one flaw. The switch the turns the camera on is in a awkward place. All the other controls are placed very well and operate all the camera functions easily.

The 20D has been out for about a year now, and meanwhile Canon and Nikon have issued much less expensive SLRs aimed at the expanding "prosumer" market. But the 20D is still tops -- the perfect blend of features, size, weight, and good design for serious amateurs, and probably a good backup for a pro. I've had this camera (with the 17-85 mm lens) for nine months and have taken all sorts of shots -- landscape, portraits, telephoto, brightly lit scenes and night shots and it feels solid, sturdy and sure-footed in every situation. The controls are logical and well-placed.

Having hefted the newer, less expensive Canon 350D and the Nikon D70, I'd still buy the 20D. The only complaints are that macro performance of the 17-85mm lens is only so-so, and the LCD screen washes out in bright light.

If you're migrating from a film SLR, this camera is a full-fledged replacement that starts up and focuses fast, with no annoying shutter lag at all. And you have the huge range of Canon accessories. Three recommendations: Use the RAW/JPEG format for your pictures -- that way, when you do serious editing, you can start with the RAW file, which will give you more flexibility and a better result than the JPEG; buy a 1GB CF card; and buy the Canon 420EX flash, which is much less expensive than the 580EX and does a superb job.

I was skeptical after switching from from film, medium format, which I have been using for close to a decade. It took a few weeks of playing to figu