Canon EOS 30D

Model Design / Appearance
Nobody will upgrade from the 20D to the 30D on looks alone – it's very hard to tell them apart. From the big black shutter release to the curvy contours around the viewfinder hump, Canon is sticking with the style it introduced with the 1D series. The cameras' textured black gripping surfaces and matte black top are clean and simple. The general impression is of a useful tool, more than of a high-tech gadget.

Size / Portability
The 30D, at 5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 inches, is the size of a 20D. That's middle of the range for DSLRs – entry-level cameras like Canon's own Rebel XT or the Pentax *istDL are smaller, and the pro-level cameras are much larger. If the 30D follows in the 20D's footsteps, it will be a popular second camera for 1D users who want to save space and weight. The 30D has better build quality than entry level DSLR cameras, which accounts for its added size and weight.

Handling Ability
Users familiar with Canon's DSLR interface will feel immediately comfortable with the 30D: its controls are unchanged from the 20D and 5D, sharing plenty of features with both the Rebels and the 1D series.

Users new to Canons typically have an easy time learning how to use the Quick Control dial, and will be pleased to see the small four-way controller, which allows navigation the same way most compact cameras do.

The 30D's size and shape is large enough to help the user hold it steadily. It lacks the vertical grip and controls that add bulk to most pro cameras; there's a large market that prefers to do without both.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size
The tested layout of the 20D and 5D has proved very popular. Canon has left it unchanged, except that it has combined each camera's minor advantages in the 30D. The 30D has the print button that the 5D introduced, but retains the scene settings on its mode dial – settings the 20D has, but the 5D lacks.

The combination of the Quick dial on the back and the control dial near the shutter release allow for quick exposure changes. Direct access buttons for autofocus zones, exposure compensation, white balance and other major parameters speed up handling as well.

The 30D has the fit and finish of the 20D and 5D – a significant notch up from the Rebel and Rebel XT, but without quite the seals and robust build of the 1D series.

Menu
The 30D menus follow the pattern of other Canon DSLRs, with a long, color-coded, scrolling list of menu entries. The 30D's Jump button skips between menu categories, which speeds up access to specific settings.  

Ease of Use
The 30D's major controls and layout create a simple and quick interface for most photographic functions. Its menu-based features are also well executed. They're powerful and clearly designed.

Canon includes ease-of-use features from its more expensive cameras and its entry level models in the 30D. The Picture Style system, an interface for setting multiple image parameters, and save sets of settings, trickled down from the 1D series to the 5D and now the 30D. The 20D didn't have it, and users who customized the 20D – or other DSLRs – will be impressed with how easy it can be.

For beginners, the 30D retains the scene mode function from the 20D and cheaper cameras. These set exposure and metering settings for users who aren't sure of how to handle them.