• 8.2 Megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor
• 5fps and 30 large JPEG frame burst
• 2.5”, 230K pixel, 170º wide viewing angle LCD screen
• Picture Style image processing parameters
• Spot metering and High Precision 9-point AF system
• DIGIC II image processor with 0.15 sec start-up time
• Digital Photo Professional RAW processing software
• 100,000 cycle shutter durability and rugged magnesium alloy body
• Simultaneous RAW and JPEG recording
• Wide 100-3200 ISO range
• E-TTL II Flash
• PictBridge compatibility
• Complete compatibility with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites
• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed and Video Out connectivity

Improved performance
Many improvements on the EOS 20D are made in response to EOS 20D owner feedback. Along with the larger screen, improved durability and 3.5% area spot metering, these include Canon’s Picture Style pre-sets, Canon’s in-camera image processing standard. Picture Styles can be likened to selectable film types for different photographic expression (see appendix ‘Technologies Explained’). Frame rate is selectable between 5 and 3fps and photographers are given finer control over exposure, with ISO settings now adjustable by 1/3 stop increments rather than whole stops. A Print/Share button is included and the camera features new advanced PictBridge functionality. The maximum number of images in a folder is increased from 100 to 9,999, while the in-built flash has been upgraded to match the 100,000 shutter cycle durability, an increasingly important feature in the digital age.

Speed and image quality
The EOS 30D features Canon’s award winning CMOS sensor technology, with large 6.4µm[2] 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 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. (For more on CMOS and DIGIC II, see appendix ‘Technologies Explained).

Picture Style
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; Monochrome – for black and white shooting with a range of filter effects (yellow, orange, red and green) and toning effects (sepia, blue, purple and green). 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.

DIGIC II
Now found across the EOS range, DIGIC II is a purpose built, dedicated image processor responsible for the high speed calculations necessary in order to providing exceptionally accurate colour reproduction in real time. Canon’s second generation imaging engine, DIGIC II performs the duties of a number of separate processing units to speed processing, save space, and optimise battery life.

To avoid the trade off faced by other manufacturers between camera responsiveness and image quality, Canon has created a processor so fast it can read, process, compress and write image data back to the buffer between exposures. This allows for longer continuous bursts at maximum frame rates before the buffer fills. Moreover, each image can be subjected to the full complex processing algorithms required in order to deliver superb image quality.

CMOS
Canon’s award winning CMOS technology is one of the company’s key competitive advantages. With noise reduction circuitry at each pixel site, Canon’s CMOS sensors have lower noise and lower power consumption characteristics than CCD sensors.

CCD sensors use a bucket relay system to transfer each pixel’s accumulated electrical charge to a corresponding gutter. The operation is time consuming and draws considerable power, which limits battery life and generates unwanted heat, further increasing noise and lowering image quality.

By contrast, signal conversion in Canon’s CMOS sensors is handled by the individual amplifiers at each pixel site. Unnecessary charge transfer operations are avoided, vastly speeding up the process of getting signal to the image processor. Noise generation is reduced and power consumption limited.