My 20D - The results

Sleepyd · 18 Jun 2006 at 23:03

Hello,

I bought a 20D a few weeks back as I figured that a body was a bargain at £520, and I've been wanting the extra speed/AF speed coming from a sluggish 300D.

Anyway, what I have noticed so far is that the results from the two cameras are so different! My old camera used to produce quite bright, vivid images even when on Parameter 2 (neutral). My 20D on the other hand seems to produce quite washed out(lacking in contrast), seemingly under-exposed results from a parameter 2 setting - you have a to do quite a bit of tweeking to what I would call an acceptably bright image. I haven't got an exposure bias set, my Dad's 20D does the same thing, so I'm thinking it's a common thing to make sure that detail is preserved in the highlights?

If any of you have had similar experiences I'd like to hear about them, especially if you went as I did from a 300D->20D.

Sleepyd · 19 Jun 2006 at 21:02

Anyone care to comment?

SDK^ · 19 Jun 2006 at 21:25

Can't say I've noticed low contrast images from both my 20D's.
What lens are you using ?

^^Gord^^ · 19 Jun 2006 at 21:40

You're correct, the picture is underexposed to retain the detail. You could either shoot in RAW or use Photoshop to automate the processing on your images to a brightness level of your choice.

Sleepyd · 19 Jun 2006 at 22:18

SDK^ said:
Can't say I've noticed low contrast images from both my 20D's.
What lens are you using ?

I've noticed it with my 50mm Mk2, the Tamron 17-35, my dad's 17-40 L. So far I've been correcting it from RAW using levels/curves adjustment as you say.

I was reading on the web today that the way the 20D exposes is to automatically retain highlight detail, which is fine, but I'm not too impressed that I now have to cater for this in low light conditions by over-exposing 1/3rd of a stop rather than lift it after and raise the chance of getting noise on the final image produced. Oh well, all part of experience!

Paul11 · 19 Jun 2006 at 23:27

ive also noticed it. same thing, pictures seem washed out and just not sharp and need a lot of post tweaking.

DizMatt · 20 Jun 2006 at 10:44

can you not set your custom parameters to give it a higher contrast image?!

Psilonaught · 20 Jun 2006 at 10:56

i think if you shoot RAW then all of the parameter settings like saturation, sharpen etc are ignored. Is that correct?

^^Gord^^ · 20 Jun 2006 at 14:29

Correct, but the output you see on the camera's LCD will show the settings. e.g shoot something in RAW with B&W set in the parameters. The pic will display B&W on the LCD but the RAW will be colour. Caught me out the first time!