Canon 20D versus Canon Rebel XTi

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: NaOH
Can someone give me a more indepth reason to choose between the two? I want the quality feel , shutterspeed, and sensitivity of the 20D . But it's pretty old and I like how the XTi is smaller, has more pixels and has a bigger screen. What do you think Fuzzybunny!?

I can get both for around the same price (although the 20D is refurb).

*pops out of air conditioner*

This is a tough call, even for me. The bigger LCD on the XTi is really nice, as well as the light weight. But that's kinda about it. The dust vibration apparently doesn't work very well and the extra 2MP is meaningless.

20D:

better/easier/faster controls than the XTi. The turn wheel is REALLY nice.

bigger and brighter viewfinder

ISO3200 is actually very convenient and useful, I've used ISO3200 on my 30D on a number of occasions and it has performed very well

5FPS is very useful

Things I don't like about the 30D:

Heavier than the XTi. After a long day of using my 30D, it feels SO good to shoot with the XT.

I like the XT's battery grip better than the 20D/30D's battery grip. The XT's battery grip IMO feels better, is better designed, and is more responsive than the 30D's.

My recommendation would be the 20D, although this is no where near a landslide decision.

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: NaOH
Can someone give me a more indepth reason to choose between the two? I want the quality feel , shutterspeed, and sensitivity of the 20D . But it's pretty old and I like how the XTi is smaller, has more pixels and has a bigger screen. What do you think Fuzzybunny!?

I can get both for around the same price (although the 20D is refurb).</end quote></div>

*pops out of air conditioner*

This is a tough call, even for me. The bigger LCD on the XTi is really nice, as well as the light weight. But that's kinda about it. The dust vibration apparently doesn't work very well and the extra 2MP is meaningless.

20D:

better/easier/faster controls than the XTi. The turn wheel is REALLY nice.

bigger and brighter viewfinder

ISO3200 is actually very convenient and useful, I've used ISO3200 on my 30D on a number of occasions and it has performed very well

5FPS is very useful

Things I don't like about the 30D:

Heavier than the XTi. After a long day of using my 30D, it feels SO good to shoot with the XT.

I like the XT's battery grip better than the 20D/30D's battery grip. The XT's battery grip IMO feels better, is better designed, and is more responsive than the 30D's.

My recommendation would be the 20D, although this is no where near a landslide decision.

Thank you for replying! Well I've given it a lot of thought. But I will be springing for the XTi. Mainly due to the size of the screen and the fact that I can easily carry it around. Sure, I won't have the extra 2 fps and iso setting, but I'm not that serious anyways. I just want a camera that my dad(who's eyes are steadily declining) and gf (I'm letting her borrow my G5 to learn) can use whenever they need to. I just can't stand having another camera that has a 1.8" screen (learned my lesson with the G5 since I can never tell if something was in complete focus). If anything, I'll just wait till full frame sensors go down in price and get a new camera then.


I'll be purchasing from Adorama since it's 729.99 with 13 for shipping (no tax). If any of you guys want the 20D, you can get it refurb there too for 20 bucks more.


Oh yeah, fuzzybunny, what camera did you use for those aquarium shots....they're awesome.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: NaOH
Thank you for replying! Well I've given it a lot of thought. But I will be springing for the XTi. Mainly due to the size of the screen and the fact that I can easily carry it around. Sure, I won't have the extra 2 fps and iso setting, but I'm not that serious anyways. I just want a camera that my dad(who's eyes are steadily declining) and gf (I'm letting her borrow my G5 to learn) can use whenever they need to. I just can't stand having another camera that has a 1.8" screen (learned my lesson with the G5 since I can never tell if something was in complete focus). If anything, I'll just wait till full frame sensors go down in price and get a new camera then.

I'll be purchasing from Adorama since it's 729.99 with 13 for shipping (no tax). If any of you guys want the 20D, you can get it refurb there too for 20 bucks more.

Oh yeah, fuzzybunny, what camera did you use for those aquarium shots....they're awesome.

Great decision

It's all about which pros are most important to you. You may not realize it yet, being a new SLR owner and all, but the XTi is really small and delightfully lightweight compared to the 20D/30D. While I use my 30D as my main camera, I still love shooting with my XT. I'd love it more if its LCD screen was bigger, which the XTi has, and yeah, a small LCD screen is really irritating. I can't tell you how many times a picture has looked in focus on my XT's tiny screen, only to be out of focus when I look at it on my monitor.

The aquarium shots were all taken with my XT + Sigma 500DG Super flash on an off-camera cord.

 

[Jawo]

I'm sure you'll love it! I love mine....just trying to find a sharp Tamron 17-50 to complete the ensamble.

 

[mastertech01]

I beat myself silly trying to decide. I finally got a new 30D from B&H. It was down to 1024.00 (Body only of course) and you can get the 6 months same as cash with Bill Me Later.

I had been shopping Canon for a couple weeks and finally decided on the 30D about 4 days ago. One popped up on Ebay with two nice lenses, two batteries, charger, and all the retail stuff in the box, and some other goodies. I was the winner at 786.00! Man I fell to the ground, what a deal!.
Then two minutes later I get an email from the seller wanting me to send the payment via Western Union out of country and I immediately knew I had been had. I told him I wanted to pay via Paypal only and he needed to contact me via Ebay messaging. He said he would check out the Ebay fees and that was the last I heard from him. About an hour later Ebay had removed the auction even though it was completed and notified me that the sellers account had been hacked. Im sure glad I didnt elect to send him the cash via Western Union.

After that was when I decided to buy from a reputable dealer and buy new with a full warranty. The average price used on Ebay or anywhere I shopped was only a couple hundred off that 1024.00 price at B&H and its used. You might get one that has 20000 clicks or much more on the actuator.

Anyway Im looking forward to my first SLR in many years and moving out of the Elphs.

 

[rivan]

I actually just ordered a 30d from BH this morning, too.

I'd mentioned at work wanting to upgrade from my 300D and one of my coworkers asked if the Rebel would be for sale when I did - so that kicked this all into gear. I read this thread last night, thinking I might do the XTi to save a little cash. I'd seen someone mention that the XTi was smaller than the original rebel, so I hit Worst Buy on the way home to handle 'em both, and wow am I glad I did. The XTi feels like a toy in comparison to the 30D; the smaller camera combined with me being a pretty big guy netted out with the XTi feeling like a pebble in a baseball glove.

The moral here is if you're deciding between these two - go hold them both, side by side. The originals - the 300D and the 10D - were very nearly exactly the same size in hand. I'm not sure where the XT falls, but the 20D and 30D are very similar to the 10D, and the XTi got significantly smaller.

Good luck!

 

[randomlinh]

Yeah, the XT and XTi are virtually identical. Unfortunately for me, I'll probably be going that route when I do upgrade...unless the 40D comes out.. and the 30D stays in production a little longer and drops in price

 

[dug777]

I'm amazed that the 350/400D Canons get so much love.

Compared to their competition, they're so cramped, and feel/look so damn tacky...while i hate to harp on, the Nikon/Pentax/Sony cameras feel/look/handle so much better, both from personal experience, and from most people i've talked to who have handled the range...

The 30D is a nice piece of gear, no dispute there :beer:

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: dug777
I'm amazed that the 350/400D Canons get so much love.

Compared to their competition, they're so cramped, and feel/look so damn tacky...while i hate to harp on, the Nikon/Pentax/Sony cameras feel/look/handle so much better, both from personal experience, and from most people i've talked to who have handled the range...

The 30D is a nice piece of gear, no dispute there :beer:

I actually don't like the XT/i at all. But I'm sort of a canon whore and too lazy to switch glass/don't want to lose too much money... starting over, I think I would have went nikon for the viewfinder.

I have a feeling I'm just going to suck it up and spend the money when the time comes.. I never listen to my financial logic side.. hahaha