Auto Mode
The 30D features a full auto mode that essentially turns it into a point-and-shoot camera. It also includes a Program mode, which controls aperture and shutter speed, but leaves other controls to the user. We found that the 20D's auto mode worked well in typical lighting situations. Look for our full review to see if the 30D performs as well.
Movie Mode
The 30D does not offer a movie mode. DSLRs typically can't create the continuous view needed to make movies.
Drive / Burst Mode
The 30D's burst mode shows how similar it is to the 20D: It shoots its 8 megapixel images at 5 frames per second, just as the 20D does. 5 fps is a useful rate for most shooters. Wedding and portrait photographers do fine at that rate, as do commercial shooters using higher-megapixel cameras. The 30D apparently has a larger buffer than the 20D, because it is spec'd to have a maximum burst of 30 Large/Fine JPEGs, up from 23 on the 20D.
The 30D includes a “Low-Speed continuous” burst mode, which shoots up to 3 frames per second with a maximum burst of 37 Large/Fine JPEGs. Canon also says that the 30D can hit 5 fps even with slower-focusing non-USM lenses in AI Servo AF mode, something the 20D could not do.
Given the 18 months that has passed since the 20D was introduced, and the fact that Canon markets the 30D as a new camera rather than an update, we're puzzled and disappointed that the 30D's frame rate, among many other specs, is exactly the same as the 20D’s.
Playback Mode
The 30D offers image review with both luminance and RGB histograms, display of shooting data including the active autofocus zone, magnification, a thumbnail view, the option to navigate through large numbers of images with a skip function, a slide show mode and PictBridge and DPOF printing. We didn't have the chance to explore the print and editing options fully, but will have more information in our full review.
Custom Image Presets
The 30D offers custom image presets that optimize settings for various types of scenes. The 20D included presets, while the 5D dropped them. They are: Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Portrait, No Flash and Closeup. Each mode adjusts exposure and other parameters in generally the same way an experienced photographer would in the shooting situation – shallow depth of field for portraits, deep depth of field for landscapes, fast shutter speeds for sports, and so on.
