Canon EOS 30D - Expert Reviews

Pros: Excellent low-light performance ; fast and responsive ; straightforward controls ; nice balance of features for both experienced and rookie photographers

Cons: Pop-up flash casts shadow with some lenses ; viewfinder provides only 95 percent view ; average battery life ; 1.6X lens-conversion factor

Verdict: The 8-megapixel Canon EOS 30D should be on your short list for a semipro dSLR camera.

Pros: Excellent low-light performance ; fast and responsive ; straightforward controls ; nice balance of features for both experienced and rookie photographers

Cons: Pop-up flash casts shadow with some lenses ; viewfinder provides only 95 percent view ; average battery life ; 1.6X lens-conversion factor

Verdict: An excellent midrange digital SLR, the 30D has given way to its even more excellent successor, the 40D. However, it remains a great choice if you can find it at a good price.

Review summary: While many observers expected a sensor upgrade when Canon announced this year’s first new DSLR, the new EOS 30D sticks with the EOS 20D’s 8.2-megapixel CMOS chip, while offering some noteworthy improvements over its predecessor. The camera body ...

Verdict: With the bundled EFS 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 lens, the EOS 30D produced image files that looked sharp, detailed and colour accurate. Their dynamic range was also above average - even for a DSLR. Imatest showed this camera-plus-lens combination was capable of ...

Review summary: Canon 30D On of many premieres on PMA 2006 International Trade Show is new Canon evolution of EOS 20D digital SLR camera the new EOS 30D camera. Canon try to add and improve all things that 20D was missing and make next bestseller in its price range. ...

Review summary: The Canon EOS 30D replaces the 20D, a very solid performer, and a very popular camera in the 18 months it has been on the market. When the 20D was introduced, it was such an improvement over its predecessor, the 10D, that a good fraction of 10D users ...

Pros: - Excellent image quality - 5 fps burst speed at 8 MP resolution - 2.5-inch, 230,00 pixel LCD is marked improvement - Built-in flash for fill - Spot metering

Cons: - No substantial improvements to imaging system - Lacks 5D's autofocus improvements - Mirror lockup is clumsy

Verdict: Canon's EOS 30D is numbered as if it were a major upgrade to the popular and excellent EOS 20D, and Canon marketing plumps it up even higher than that - the line is that it really has more in common with the 5D than the 20D. Really? With the same 8.2 ...