So Canon officially announced the new Canon EOS 20D. If you really want the details, “dPreview”:http://www.dpreview.com/ has “all the information”:http://www.dpreview.com/articles/canoneos20d/. If you just want the highlights focusing on the differences between it and the Canon EOS 300D, the Canon EOS 10D, and the Nikon D70 then read on.
Most important of all, it will have an 8.2MP sensor. This is an upgrade over the 6.1MP sensors that come in the 10D, the 300D, and the D70. In order to give you a more accurate idea of what that means, at its maxium resolution, the 10D and the 300D are producing a, roughly, 3000 x 2000 pixel image. The 20D, on the other hand, will produce a 3504 x 2336 pixel image. So, even though you’re seeing a ~34% increase in “megapixels”, it really means a ~17% increase in real image size. Either way, it’s substantial.
The second most important thing is its magnesium alloy body. This is what the 10D has, and it is MUCH more durable than the plasic body of the 300D and the D70. This is what real professionals look for in their camera’s, and the 20D has it. My initial thoughts were that the 20D would have a plastic body, therefore making the 10D a viable product, still. However, with a cheaper street price, a bigger sensor, and a metal body, it looks the 10D will no longer be sold.
Another large improvement over the 10D, and on par with the 300D and D70, is the new 0.2 second startup time. With the 10D taking almost 2.5 seconds to turn on, this makes a huge difference.
The sensor data is processed by the new Digic II processor, first seen in the EOS-1D Mark II. This just means better quality, more math, faster processing, etc.
If you’re into this sort of thing, the 20D has 9-point TTL AF, as opposed to the 7-point in the 300D and 10D models, and the 5-point in the D70. I say who cares, but, for some people, this is a great feature.
The 20D will also support the new EF-S lenses, which the 300D does but the 10D does not. Of course, the D70 doesn’t support EF-S lenses at all, they are for Canon cameras, silly.
There is an optional battery grip, which is something not offered for the 300D or D70 yet much desired by professionals and amatuers alike.
And, finally, Canon debuts the E-TTL II flash metering and exposure system. On par with the i-TTL metering that debuted with the D70, this just makes it easier for inexperienced external flash users to get it right on the first try, and VERY easy for professionals to get the job done without having to think too hard. Of course, this is only the case if you buy E-TTL II flashes.
Overall, this is a HUGE jump in the market. With a street price of $1300, I’m sure there are a lot of would-be D70 purchasers that will seriously consider this camera in its place, especially if they haven’t already invested in Nikon glass. At only a $300 difference in street price, for most people that have the extra cash to spare, the upgrade is going to be WELL worth it. Those who have already invested in lots of Nikon Glass will simply drool and wait for Nikon to get off their butts and release something similar. For would-be 300D buyers, this camera doesn’t pose much of a threat. With a $500 difference in price as compared to an $800 camera, most buyers will be focused on one or the other. And of course, this makes the 10D market non-existant. Except in very specialized cases, no one in their right mind would pay more for a 10D than a 20D.