Canon EOS 30D Digital Camera Review

Model Design / Appearance (8.0)
Users who love the 20D's looks will at least like the 30D very much. With both cameras in hand, from the front, it requires a second glance to tell them apart. The 30D has smoother contours than the 20D, though, and is generally more aesthetically akin to the 5D and 1D series. Its pop-up flash adds a bulge that the higher-end cameras don't have, however, the flash assembly on the 30D and 20D overhangs the lens mount, while the viewfinder humps on the 5D and 1D series are more or less flush. 

Size / Portability (7.25)
The 30D is much smaller than the 1D series. At 5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 inches, the same size as the 20D, it's a bit larger than Canon's entry-level Rebel XT and that class. However, for DSLRs, the smaller size generally forces designers to sacrifice a vertical grip, reduce control spacing and compromise durability.

Handling Ability (8.0)
Canon users will benefit from 30D's close similarity to the 20D, the 5D, and Canon DSLRs in general – they won't really need to look at the manual to use it. More generally, the 30D is a comfortable camera to hold and operate. The hand grip is large, but its smooth curves lend themselves to both large and small hands.

The 30D does not have a vertical grip or shutter release, which typically add more than an inch to the height of a camera as well as considerable weight. Like the 20D before it, the 30D should be popular among photographers who need to cart a couple of cameras around for many hours at a time.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (8.0)
The 30D has Canon's distinctive large Quick Control Dial set flat on the back of the camera. True to its name, the dial allows users to make quick adjustments and scroll through menu items or images in playback. Users new to Canon cameras will get used to it quickly and appreciate it. The 30D also has a small four-way controller, a more common control for DSLRs and one that is sadly absent from the 1D series cameras.

All buttons and dials work smoothly and have a nice feel – it's easy to tell when they're activated, and they provide just the right resistance when in use. We found that the Quick control dial on the 30D we tested has a bit more resistance than those on other Canon cameras, but the difference did not affect the control's usefulness.

Like the 20D and Rebel XT, the 30D has scene modes accessible from its mode dial. Scene modes were apparently a little too down-market for the $3200, full-frame 5D, but the 30D otherwise resembles it greatly, even incorporating its direct print/download button.

On the downside, the 30D buries certain controls in menus when we would rather access them directly. The options for flash sync are in a couple of separate menus, for instance, and the mirror lockup is buried in the custom features submenu.

Shooting Menu
Quality	Sets resolution and format (RAW or JPEG Fine or Normal)
Red eye	Red-eye reduction for flash shots
Beep	Controls alert sound
Shoot w/o card	Allows the user to operate the 30D without a memory card. The default setting prevents shooting without memory.
AEB	Bracketing settings
WB SHIFT/BKT	White balance fine adjustment and bracketing
Custom WB	Set a custom white balance based on a saved image of a white surface
Color temp.	Dial in white balance in degrees Kelvin
Color Space	Select an RGB color space
Picture Style	Choose from groups of settings for image parameters including Sharpness, Contrast, Saturation and Hue
Playback Menu
Protect	Protect an image from deletion
Rotate	Display vertical images correctly
Print Order	DPOF or PictBridge printing settings
Auto Play	Slide show
Review Time	Set length of time for display of images as they are shot
AF Points	Display AF sites on images in playback
Histogram	Choose Luminance or RGB
Setup Menu
Auto Power Off	Set length of time the camera will wait before shutting off
Auto Rotate	Save vertical images upright
LCD Brightness	Set display brightness
Date/Time	Set date and time
File Numbering	Control image numbering
Language	Choose menu language
Video system	Choose PAL or NTSC video output
Communication	Set USB for mass storage or printing
Format	Format CompactFlash card
Custom Functions	Customize interface
Clear Settings	Return to factory defaults
Sensor Clean	Choose to flip up mirror and open shutter to clean sensor
Firmware	Load firmware update from memory card

Custom Functions allow the user to access modify options that most people will set once and leave alone. One exception is the mirror lockup control, which is inconveniently buried here.

Set function when shooting	Choose function for “Set” button
Long Exposure Noise Reduction
Flash Syn Speed in Av mode	1/250 or auto
Shutter/AE lockup button
AF-assist beam	On/off or external flash only
Exposure level increments	½ or 1/3
Flash firing	Yes/no
ISO Expansion	Access higher ISO values
Bracket Sequence/Auto cancel	Set the order in which brackets are shot; set whether 30D switches out of bracket mode automatically
Superimposed display	Show active AF sensor in viewfinder
Menu button display position	Set to have menu return to the last control set
Mirror lockup	Lock up mirror to limit vibration for tripod shooting
AF point selection	Dial, quick controller, multi-controller
E-TTL II	Flash metering pattern
Shutter curtain sync	Set for front- or rear-curtain flash
Safety Shift in Av or Tv	Set to automatically adjust the manual setting in aperture or shutter priority, if necessary to get a good exposure
Magnified view	Playback only or playback and review
Lens AF stop button function	AF stop, AF start, AE lock, AF point, One shot vs AL Servo, IS start
Add original decision data	Tags an image to allow a verification program to detect whether it has been modified

Ease of Use (7.0)
The 30D is comfortable to handle and has straightforward controls. We wish that a few controls were easier to access – flash sync, mirror lockup and setting a custom white balance, for instance. Still, we like the way the 30D feels and the mechanical quality of the controls. The 30D is a solid, substantial camera, but it's not so big that most users would get worn out shooting all day with it. Also, its inclusion of various scene modes and dedicated mode dial, allow the camera to be immediately familiar to those graduating from an entry-level DSLR or compact model.