Canon EOS 30D

Conclusion
The Canon EOS 30D has several important refinements over its predecessor, the Canon EOS 20D, and it maintains that camera's many strengths. Its solid build, excellent image quality, and respectable speed (5 fps at 8.2 megapixels) make it a very attractive camera for a range of users. Weddings, portraits, photojournalism, family pictures, and even landscapes are perfectly within the Canon EOS 30D's scope, as many thousands of 20D users have proven. Photographers who own other Canon SLRs have a very good option in the 30D: it can be either a step up from the Rebel or Rebel XT or a moderate-cost backup to the 5D or 1D series. The 30D feels very substantial and professional compared to the Rebels, and its interface and build quality look just fine in comparison to Canon's more expensive cameras.

It's a little tougher to weigh the 30D against competing cameras. Nikon's D200 has a few big advantages over the 30D: 20 percent more resolution and a much better interface and controls. The D200's image quality is better at ISOs under 320, though worse at the high end. We're convinced that the D200 is a better deal at $1700 than the 30D is at $1400, but not by such a margin that we'd tell Canon owners to sell an inventory of lenses.

Finally, we remain puzzled by the 30D's lack of innovation. Look at Canon's history of cutting-edge cameras and lenses and you'll find more ground-breaking equipment than most companies can point to. The Canon EOS 30D simply doesn't match the advances Canon usually makes.

Mini Head-to-Head with Nikon D200	Page 12 of 14		Specs / Ratings
Canon EOS 30D Digital Camera Review Navigation
Intro	Testing / Performance	Physical Tour	Components
Design / Layout	Modes	Control Options	Image Parameters
Connectivity / Extras	Overall Impressions	Mini Head-to-Head with Nikon D200	Conclusion
Specs / Ratings	Photo Gallery