Destined UPGRADE?

Destined UPGRADE?
Originally uploaded by ZeeDesertRat

I have been shooting with a Canon EOS 20D for the past three years. It is a great camera for me for the following reasons in no particular order:

8.2 megapixel CMOS sensor
This sensor captures images with relatively low noise, good saturation, and produces files which print up to 20"x30" rather well in my opinion.

Size / Controls
I chose this camera over the Canon EOS Rebel XT and Nikon because the body size and shape felt more comfortable to me and I thought the menu system was relatively easy to use.

Durability
Although I tend to baby this camera, it's fallen to the floor on more than one occasion. It's built 'well enough' for my use.

I am now considering upgrading to the recently announced Canon EOS 5D Mark II. Canon's level of DSLR cameras follow this format in terms of features and quality:

XXXD - Entry Level DSLR, plastic body, Sub-$1,000 purchase price, small size, and lack of various features of the...

XXD - Considered an advanced-amateur camera, magnesium body, $1,200-$1,300 purchase price, larger 'standard' camera size, more color controls, and easier controls. Sometimes used by professionals.

5D - This has been considered a "prosumer" camera as it bridges the gap between Canon's professional line and consumer line. As new a $3,000 purchase price. The 5D is also a full-frame camera meaning the sensor is the same size as 35mm film. This gives the user a much larger view finder, more depth of field options, generally a better sensor in terms of color, and better body construction overall.

1D - Canon's professional line of cameras. $4,000-8,000 dollars depending on the model. Again, a full-frame sensor, more color and imaging functionality, better body construction - essentially waterproof, better autofocus, a built in vertical grip, and a larger battery.

I'm sure there are other differences between the model types, but for this discussion I'm leaving it with what I have. The Canon 20D has been proceeded by the 30D, 40D, and recently the 50D. The 50D in my opinion has been the first significant upgrade to the 20D. In short, the sensor's megapixels increased 184%, the processing chip has really changed in order to facilitate the 5 frames per second and cleaner images at higher ISO (film speed). That said, the real upgrade for me is the recently announced Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

The 5D series is a full frame digital SLR. There are many advantages of a full frame sensor. The biggest reason for me is for a much larger viewfinder. The XXXD and XXD sensor/viewfinder compared to the 5D's is 1.6 times smaller. The full frame gives a larger field of view, a brighter view, and also allows lenses designed to for 35mm film to be used 'as designed'. These are other features/upgrades as compared to my 20D:

Full Frame 21.1 Megapixels
This is the same (or similar) sensor used in Canon's 1DsMkIII current series ($8,000). In terms of size, it's a 257% increase in pixels for me which gives me some latitude to crop images while still allowing for large prints. That said, a full 21.1 MP print should make a very nice 20"x30".

Slightly Larger Body
The 5DmkII is larger than the XXD models. I eventually purchased a vertical grip to make the camera more comfortable for me, and also to give me a 'portrait' grip. Also, the 5DmkII is better weather sealed than the 20D, although I don't see myself taking too many pictures in the rain.

Movie Mode
I didn't think I'd like this at first, but having the ability to take video with the camera, and more importantly my lenses, sounds like a 'fun' thing for me. In photographer's forums it's somewhat controversial.

Improved Image Quality
The 5D "classic" is considered to be one of the best image producing cameras ever created. I can not imagine Canon having it's sequel having any less quality. The 5DmkII also allows for ISO usage up to 25,600. I'm no so interested in the use of ISO 25,600 as so much as the image quality of shots from ISO 100-3,200.

I don't see myself using both the 20D and the 5DmkII if I upgrade to it. I'm not a pro, nor do I have a real need for two cameras. The 20D is able to shoot at 5 frames per second compared to 3.9fps of the new 5D, but for myself that's more of a novelty than anything else for me as I don't generally shoot sports.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II is available at the end of November and has a list price of $2,700 USD. I'm sure it would take really good pictures of turkey.