Canon’s 8.2-Megapixel (3504x2336 pixels) EOS 30D is pitched as a semi-pro digital SLR (DSLR), but it’s more than capable for most photographer’s need. A mild evolution of the EOS 20D, the camera sports a subtly redesigned body (144x106x74mm, 700g), spot metering, selectable continuous shooting speed, 100,000 shutter cycle life, larger LCD monitor (2.5-inches) and the expected switch from simple image parameters to Canon’s preferred PictureStyles (likened to selectable film types for different photographic expression).
From an imaging pipeline point of view this camera has the same sensor and image processor and the default PictureStyle matches the EOS 20D’s default image parameters (so you should expect exactly the same imaging performance). Good news also comes in the form of a slightly lower price than the EOS 20D, at around
£822 (body only).
Compared to the EOS 20D, the EOS 30D also sports a soft-touch shutter release button, its AE/AF lock remains set if shutter is kept half-pressed between shots, and it has faster startup and wake from sleep times. There’s now a direct print button on rear of camera, spot metering, 100,000 shot shutter cycle, ISO is selectable in third stop steps, and ISO speed is now shown in viewfinder as you change it. Finally, continuous shooting is selectable at 3- or 5-fps, you can have 9999 images per folder (instead of 100 as per the EOS 20D), and there are 15 menu languages (three are new).
The EOS 30D features Canon’s excellent CMOS sensor technology, with large 6.4µm2 pixels for wide dynamic range with low noise. Any remaining fixed pattern and random noise is dealt with by on-chip noise elimination circuitry. A low-pass filter in front of the sensor reduces false colour and moiré effects, while an infrared filter suppresses red fringing caused by sensor reflections and fog. The camera also features Canon’s DIGIC II processor now found across the digital EOS range. DIGIC II maximises speed and image quality by processing uncompromisingly complex colour rendition algorithms, clearing the buffer at high speed.
Picture Style pre-sets simplify in-camera control over image quality. Picture Style pre-sets can be likened to different film types - each one offering a different colour response. Within each easily selectable pre-set, photographers have control over sharpness, contrast, colour tone and saturation. The camera’s factory default configuration is set to deliver immediately-usable JPEG images without need for additional menu settings. Picture Style presets applied to a RAW image do not degrade the image in any way and can be revised with Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software.
The six pre-sets include Standard (for crisp, vivid images that don’t require post-processing), Portrait (optimises colour tone and saturation and weakens sharpening to achieve attractive skin tones), Landscape (for punchier greens and blues with stronger sharpening to give a crisp edge to mountain, tree and building outlines), Neutral (ideal for post-processing), Faithful (adjusts colour to match the subject colour when shot under a colour temperature of 5200K), and Monochrome (for black and white shooting with a range of filter and toning effects). The User Defined pre-set can be used to store up to three customised pre-sets, or any of the pre-sets available for download from Canon’s Web site.
Other technical delights of the camera include support for both RAW (.CR2) and JPEG (EXIF 2.21) files formats, 35-zone evaluative metering mode, +/-2.0 EV exposure compensation, ISO 100 to 3200 sensitivity, 30- to 1/8000 second shutter speed, and auto pop-up E-TTL II flash. The camera also automatically writes FAT16/FAT32 depending on capacity.
It connects to a computer using USB 2.0 (cable supplied) and has a video-out port. Storage comes by way of Compact Flash Type I or II (Microdrives supported) and power in the form of a Lithium-ion BP-511A rechargeable battery (charger supplied). As is the case with all D-SLRs, Canon does not include a memory card or lens with the EOS 30D, so you’ll have to factor that into the total purchase price.
One of the EOS 30D’s greatest advantages is the EOS system, which means compatibility with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses, EX-series Speedlites and EOS accessories such as the Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E1. The EOS 30D’s EF-S lens mount allows connection to Canon’s range of lighter and wider angle lenses, including the new wide aperture EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM standard zoom lens. For high-speed processing of lossless RAW images and complete capture-to-print workflow management, the EOS 30D also comes with Canon’s latest Digital Photo Professional software.
Digital Photo Professional provides high-speed processing of lossless RAW images. Processing with Digital Photo Professional allows real-time display and immediate application of image adjustments, giving control over RAW image variables such as white balance, dynamic range, exposure compensation and colour tone. The camera JPEG images can be recorded in sRGB or Adobe RGB colour space, and the Digital Photo Professional application supports sRGB, Adobe RGB and Wide Gamut RGB colour spaces.
An ICC (International Colour Consortium) profile attaches automatically to RAW images converted to TIFF or JPEG images. This allows faithful reproduction of colours in software applications that support ICC profiles, such as Adobe’s Photoshop. For improved efficiency, a set of image adjustments can be saved and applied to multiple images. Canon also supplied a new EOS Utility (integrating remote capture software), plus the latest versions of ZoomBrowser/ImageBrowser and PhotoStitch. The EOS 30D even includes membership of Canon’s online photo album, iMAGE GATEWAY, with 100MB of space for image uploads and photo sharing.
Canon’s EOS 30D is an excellent camera and is quite possible the best midrange digital SLR on the market. While its new features aren’t exciting enough to get this 20D owner to run out and upgrade, those who are moving up from point-and-shoot or entry-level D-SLRs should definitely give it a look. The camera is very well put together, with a metal core and solid plastic and rubber outer shell and the controls are well-placed and easy to use. There are tons of manual controls and custom settings, including exposure controls and class-leading white balance controls, and you can quickly change things like sharpness, colour, and contrast.
But most importantly, the EOS 30D delivers in terms of performance - its near-instant startup speed means you’ll never miss a shot and photos were well-exposed, with accurate colours, very low noise levels (even at high ISO sensitivities), and minimal purple fringing. Images can be a bit on the soft side straight out of the camera (nothing Photoshop can’t fix), but you can compensate for this by increasing the in-camera sharpening a tad. There really aren’t any major negatives to talk about, except that the EOS 30D isn’t a very exciting upgrade over the EOS 20D. It’s also better value than Nikon’s competing D200.
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