This month's Technical Report introduces the EOS 20D digital SLR camera, with an 8.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and 5 fps continuous shooting. It was announced on August 20, 2004.
The EOS 20D (see Photo 1), successor to the EOS 10D, is a state-of-the-art digital AF SLR designed and developed for advanced amateurs, with the highest performance in its class. The development concept is as follows:
High image quality
• 8.2-megapixel CMOS sensor
• DIGIC II digital imaging engine for precise natural color reproduction
High-speed, comfortable operation
• Wide-area, precise 9-point AF (high-precision center AF point compatible with f/2.8)
• Newly developed Multi-controller
• About 0.2-second start-up time
• 5 fps continuous shooting and maximum burst of more than 20 shots
Stylish design and compact body
• Magnesium alloy exterior
• Strong and rugged design
• Compact and lightweight
Enhanced basic features suggested by EOS 10D users
• 1/8000 shutter speed, X-sync at 1/250
• Compatible with EF-S lenses
• E-TTL II autoflash
• USB 2.0 Hi-speed
• Simultaneously developed size-AA battery grip
The major evolution of the EOS 20D compared to the EOS 10D is as follows:
Evolution of digital features for precise and high-quality image
(1) High-precision 8.2-megapixel CMOS sensor
| The EOS 20D's new large CMOS sensor has about 8.2 effective megapixels (out of a total of about 8.5MP) and an effective sensor size of 22.5 x 15.0mm (see Photo 2).
The EOS 20D achieves thorough noise reduction with its second-generation on-chip noise reduction circuitry developed for the EOS-1D Mark II, provides high-speed continuous shooting with high-speed 4-channel signal scanning, and consumes much less battery power. It incorporates the same hybrid low-pass filter with three-layer construction as the EOS-1D Mark II and EOS 10D. |
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The EOS 20D has the DIGIC II high-speed imaging engine developed for the EOS-1D Mark II, for precise natural color reproduction and high-speed continuous image processing at 5fps.
(3) Enhanced processing parameter settings
The EOS 20D has two parameter settings: Parameter 1 for sharp, vivid images ideal for direct printing, and Parameter 2, the EOS 10D's standard setting, for natural images maintaining fidelity with the subject. Furthermore, settings can be selected from four processing parameters (Contrast, Sharpness, Color Saturation, and Color Tone) with up to five levels each. Three sets of the parameter settings for various shooting conditions can be saved. The EOS 20D also has a new Monochrome mode, enabling users to set the contrast and sharpness at five levels, filter effects (yellow, orange, red, green), and toning (sepia, blue, purple, green).
(4) Improved white balance
The EOS 20D has the following white balance modes: auto, presets for six light source conditions, custom, and color temperature setting.
In addition to the EOS 10D's blue/amber bias correction, the EOS 20D also has magenta/green bias correction (blue/amber and magenta/green bias corrections cannot be set simultaneously).
(5) High-speed writing to the CF card
With DIGIC II and improvement in the CF card writing process, the EOS 20D achieves writing speed about 3.5 times faster than the EOS 10D.
(6) RAW and JPEG simultaneous recording as separate files
| While the EOS 10D stores a JPEG image within the RAW image file and requires dedicated software to extract the JPEG image, the EOS 20D can simultaneously record and store the RAW and JPEG images as separate files in the CF card, as in the EOS-1D series. Also, recording quality of the JPEG image can be directly selected from the JEPG image-recording quality selection screen (see Fig. 1). As the EOS-1D Mark II, the EOS 20D incorporates the same RAW format indicated by the file extension ''.CR2''. |
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The EOS 20D complies with DCF 2.0, revised to support Adobe RGB, and Exif 2.21. Images captured by the EOS 20D will open automatically in the Adobe RGB color space with software compatible with Exif 2.21, ensuring the proper color reproduction.
Furthermore, when a printer that complies with Exif 2.21 is used, the printer will adjust the color saturation of the print suitably.
(8) USB 2.0 High-Speed
Thanks to DIGIC II, the EOS 20D supports USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, enabling high-speed data transfer (the effective data transfer rate of approx. 50 Mbps), which is about 10 times faster than the EOS 10D.
Evolution of shooting features for speedy and comfortable operation
(1) Wide-area, high-speed, high-precision 9-point AF
| The EOS 20D features a newly developed 9-point AF sensor (see Fig. 2). The center AF point is a high-precision cross-type sensor compatible with f/2.8 large aperture lenses (vertical line-sensitive at f/2.8, horizontal and vertical line-sensitive at f/5.6). The eight other AF points are sensitive to f/5.6(horizontal line-sensitive at top and bottom focusing points, vertical line-sensitive at the other six points), which is standard sensitivity for the EOS series. The baselength of the center AF point sensor sensitive to f/2.8 is twice as long as f/5.6 compatible sensors. Also, all sensors sensitive to f/5.6 except for the top and bottom focusing points have a 30% longer baselength than the EOS 10D, assuring more accurate AF. In addition, the EOS 20D offers improved low-light AF performance by extending the focusing range in low light by 1-stop to EV-0.5 to 18. This is one stop better than the EOS 10D. |
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| (2) Newly developed precision matte focusing screen The EOS 20D's new precision matte (see Photo 3) focusing screen makes it easier to focus precisely when using manual focus. |
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Thanks to the DIGIC II, improved start-up sequence and access flow to the CF card, the EOS 20D has a startup time of about 0.2-sec. for class-leading responsiveness, allowing users to shoot comfortably as with a 35mm film EOS series camera.
(4) 65 ms release time lag
The EOS 20D gives class-leading short shutter release time lag (about 65ms) and viewfinder blackout time (about 115ms) by employing a new, high-speed mirror driving system. This enables users to capture the moment without delay and have a clear image through the viewfinder even during 5 fps continuous shooting.
(5) High-speed continuous shooting (about 5 fps)
The high-speed reading of 4-channel signals in the CMOS sensor, high-speed image processing DIGIC II, the new high-speed mirror drive and shutter-charging mechanism enables the maximum continuous shooting speed of about 5 shots/sec. in both One-Shot AF and AI Servo AF modes despite of high-resolution 8.2MP sensor.
(6) Maximum 23-shot burst in JPEG Large/Fine format
The EOS 20D gives continuous shooting up to a maximum burst of 23 shots in JPEG Large/Fine format with the highest image quality, and 6 shots in RAW format. The approximate maximum burst during continuous shooting for each image-recording quality is indicated in Table 1. When a buffer memory (temporary recording memory) on the camera becomes full, it takes about one second for JPEG (Large/Fine), or about three seconds for RAW before the camera is ready for the next shot.
| CF-card type | Image-recording quality | |||||
| Large | Medium | Small | ||||
| Fine | Normal | Fine | Normal | Fine | Normal | |
| SunDisk Ultra II | 24 | 47 | 38 | 81 | 68 | 152 |
| Canon 512MSH | 23 | 43 | 36 | 83 | 67 | 138 |
The EOS 20D is compatible not only with all of more than fifty EF lenses, but also with the EF-S lenses such as EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM, developed for the EOS Kiss Digital, and newly developed EF-S17-85mm f4.0-5.6 IS USM and EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. This became possible by incorporating the compact mirror swing-up mechanism and mount system for EF-S lenses. This allows the user a wider range of photographic expression.
The approximate 35mm-equivalent focal length multiplier is approx.1.6X (17-85mm to approx. 27-135mm, 10-22mm to 16-35mm).
(8) Compact, high-speed 1/8000 second shutter
Canon developed a compact shutter unit (see Photo 4) dedicated to the APS-C sized CMOS sensor. Smaller shutter blades have lower moment of inertia and faster curtain travel time, achieving a top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec. and X-sync at 1/250 sec.
The shutter durability is about twice that of the EOS 10D.
The EOS 20D employs the E-TTL II autoflash system that has been well received for its precise, consistent flash exposure in the EOS-1D Mark II.
The built-in flash covers the field of a 17mm wide angle lens. The EOS 20D has a longer flash head / optical axis offset(see Photo 9). This effectively reduces the incidence of red eye and allows the flash coverage as close as 1 meter using the EF-S17-85mm lens without its hood.
(10) 40% higher shooting capacity than the EOS 10D
The EOS 20D's power-saving design and lithium ion battery pack BP-511A (1390mAh) with approximately 26% higher capacity than prior versions, gives about 1000 shots at normal temperatures (about 20 °C) and about 750 shots at 0 °C without flash (700 shots at 20 °C and 550 shots at 0 °C with 50% flash use).
(11) Enhanced custom function settings
New custom functions of the EOS 20D compared with the EOS 10D are as follows:
| • | C.Fn-02: Noise reduction for long exposure (Off/On) |
| • | C.Fn-08: ISO speed extension (Off/On, moved from EOS 10D's menu setting) |
| • | C.Fn-13: AF point selection method (Normal/Multi-controller direct/Quick Control Dial direct) |
| • | C.Fn-14: E-TTL II autoflash system (Evaluative/Average) |
| • | C.Fn-18: Append original image verification data (Off/On) |
Evolution of design and operability
(1) Smaller and lighter body
The EOS D20 incorporates the compact shutter unit, mirror box, and viewfinder optics optimized for the 22.5mm x 15.0mm sensor size, and a restructured stainless steel chassis. Compared to the EOS 10D, it is smaller by 5.7mm in width, by 2mm in height, and 3.5mm in depth (see Fig. 3), and 105 grams lighter.
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| * The outline silhouette is the EOS 10D. |
The EOS 20D employs the well-received magnesium alloy exterior of the EOS 10D, realizing a solid body. The design gives the camera a ''rugged, powerful, high-quality'' look, suitable for its compactness and high-performance.
(3) Multi-controller
While inheriting the basic operations of the EOS 10D, the EOS 20D features the new Multi-controller (see Photo 5) to allow users to select the AF point quickly and intuitively by pushing in eight directions and down at the center.
The Multi-controller can also be used to set white balance compensation, scroll around a magnified image display, and move the cropping frame for direct printing, providing a great improvement in operation.
* The multi-controller is just above the Quick Control Dial.
New EF-S lenses and system accessories
Along with the EOS 20D, Canon has developed the following EF-S lenses and system accessories:
(1) EF-S17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM (see Photo 6)
(2) EF-S10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM (see Photo 7)
(3) Speedlite 580EX system (see Photo 8)
(4) Battery grip BG-E2 (see Photo 9)
(5) Semi-hard case EH17-L
Table 2 Major Specifications Comparison between EOS 20D and EOS 10D