topic Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

motheye — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 17:09:14 GMT

My Canon EOS 20D has died and I'm not interested in spending money to fix it. Any recmmendations on a replacement body? I'm getting back into photography but am not a professional. I have interest in taking and editing HDR images. I also want to still use my lenses from the EOS 20D. I would prefer to buy a used camera to get more for my money. If I am able to rekindle my interest, I'll be looking to upgrade all my equipment but for now just want to shoot and edit good pictures.

Also, I need to get imaging software that is Mac compatible. I am proficient with Pixelmator but I don't think it is very good for editing HDR images. I am looking at Adobe Photoshop Elements. Any other ideas?

Thanks for any help!

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

Waddizzle — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 17:52:27 GMT

"My Canon EOS 20D has died and I'm not interested in spending money to fix it. Any recmmendations on a replacement body?"

What would be your budget for a camera body? Buying used has the advantage of cost, and risk of reliability. If you're accustomed to a 20D, then I would not recommend any of the Rebel camera bodies.

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"Also, I need to get imaging software that is Mac compatible. I am proficient with Pixelmator but I don't think it is very good for editing HDR images. I am looking at Adobe Photoshop Elements. Any other ideas?"

How artistic do you want to get? I think a really good purchase would be Adobe Lightroom 6, the stand alone version. It includes HDR tools. It is similar to Canon's Digital Photo Professional software, except MUCH faster and more powerful. Adobe PSE would be a good compliment to it.

Be aware that many of the older camera bodies are being phased out of software support by some vendors. Keep this in mind when you choose a camera body AND a software package.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

motheye — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 18:33:58 GMT

Budget is less than $400 for used. Maybe a 60D? I just can't make much sense of the inconsistent model names over the years. I will go all out a buy a new package if I get back into this!

Thanks I'll look into Lightroom. I enjoy working with images on the computer.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

RobertTheFat — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 21:31:24 GMT

@motheye wrote:
My Canon EOS 20D has died and I'm not interested in spending money to fix it. Any recmmendations on a replacement body? I'm getting back into photography but am not a professional. I have interest in taking and editing HDR images. I also want to still use my lenses from the EOS 20D. I would prefer to buy a used camera to get more for my money. If I am able to rekindle my interest, I'll be looking to upgrade all my equipment but for now just want to shoot and edit good pictures.

Also, I need to get imaging software that is Mac compatible. I am proficient with Pixelmator but I don't think it is very good for editing HDR images. I am looking at Adobe Photoshop Elements. Any other ideas?

Thanks for any help!

To replace your 20D, look on the Canon site for a refurbished 7D. The latter was replaced a year or so ago, and it should be available at a decent price. And Canon refurbished cameras are often a best buy.

As for the software, download Canon's freebie (if you have a Canon DSLR), Digital Photo Professional. Try to overlook the fact that it's slow and buggy, because it really does have some nice features. If you use it for a while and are still dissatisfied, look into the Adobe products Lightroom and Photoshop Elements. Once you're familiar with some combination of those, you'll be in a better position to know what, if anything, to try next.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

Waddizzle — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 19:01:25 GMT

@motheye wrote:
Budget is less than $400 for used. Maybe a 60D? I just can't make much sense of the inconsistent model names over the years. I will go all out a buy a new package if I get back into this!

Thanks I'll look into Lightroom. I enjoy working with images on the computer.

" I would prefer to buy a used camera to get more for my money. If I am able to rekindle my interest, I'll be looking to upgrade all my equipment but for now just want to shoot and edit good pictures."

For the budget, you're going to be in Rebel territory. You might find a used 60D for that price, but the condition will be a questionable. If you buy a better camera than a used Rebel, then I guarantee you that it will rekindle your interest.

You may want to look at a used 7D, because of the body build. I think this might be your best bet in a used camera for your budget, althought it is still an older design. The condition of older camera bodies will always be questionable.

I would only recommend buying used gear from KEH or B&H, who at least guarantee their stuff for a brief period of time, though not quite long enough to fully shake down the camera body, especially a new one that you would have to learn..

The 70D is a more current choice, which can be found used or refurbished. I believe the 60D is the model where they dropped the Auto Focus Micro Adjustment, which allows you to tune the camera body to your lens. The Canon Refurbished store offeres one year warranties.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

motheye — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 19:44:17 GMT

Thanks Robert and Waddizzle,

I think I'm in that slippery upward slope of paying more and getting a lot more, because the 7D looks good! But I really just need to get a camera in my hands and take some shots. I guess I don't know enough to know how the 20D limited me. So maybe I'll grab a 40D or 50D from KEH (thanks!) just to get going. I will assume my flash will work with these versions.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

TTMartin — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 22:21:24 GMT

@motheye wrote:
Thanks Robert and Waddizzle,

I think I'm in that slippery upward slope of paying more and getting a lot more, because the 7D looks good! But I really just need to get a camera in my hands and take some shots. I guess I don't know enough to know how the 20D limited me. So maybe I'll grab a 40D or 50D from KEH (thanks!) just to get going. I will assume my flash will work with these versions.

Both the 40D and the 50D are nice upgrades from the 20D.

The classic 7D is an upgrade from both of those.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

ebiggs1 — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 23:19:17 GMT

"...because the 7D looks good!"

If you go for a 7D, you will not need to upgrade it for a long time. Consider that when you decide on buying a stop gap model.

That has to be worth something. Because a used 40D or 50D is just another, I need to upgrade later idea.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

Waddizzle — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 01:09:30 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
"...because the 7D looks good!"

If you go for a 7D, you will not need to upgrade it for a long time. Consider that when you decide on buying a stop gap model.
That has to be worth something. Because a used 40D or 50D is just another, I need to upgrade later idea.

Exactly.

Let's say you spend $400 on stopgap camera, a 40D or 50D, with the intent of later upgrading. How much do you plan to spend on that upgrade? Maybe somewhere in the $600-$800 range, if not even more?

Let's say you spend $800 for a body upgrade down the road, then that's a total of $1200. You could spend half that amount today, and get a 7D. Plus, I am going to offer you my guarantee again. If you get a 7D, then you will ignite your interest.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

motheye — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 02:52:14 GMT

OK, thanks all. I will get the 7D and it sounds like I will be very happy with it. Can someone confirm that my 20D flash will work with it? I'm not sure where I would find this information. Thanks in advance!

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

TTMartin — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 03:03:01 GMT

@motheye wrote:
OK, thanks all. I will get the 7D and it sounds like I will be very happy with it. Can someone confirm that my 20D flash will work with it? I'm not sure where I would find this information. Thanks in advance!

What model flash?

Edit: All the EX flashes will work 550EX, 580EX, 430EX, 420EX, etc. The EZ flashes not so much.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

motheye — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 03:11:15 GMT

Ah got me there. Not sure, as I haven't used it in a while. I recently moved and it is packed away somewhere. So I will just take my chances I guess! Thanks.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

ebiggs1 — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 04:00:26 GMT

I hope you did not leave the batteries in it.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

lly3988 — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 14:14:54 GMT

Several members in our community photography club have recently acquired Canon 40D camera bodies. Instructors also recommended EF50 1.8 STM and EFS 24 2.8 STM lenses. They are not beginners but enthusiasts who don't want to pay too much for the modern models.

This camera is more than capable for daily shooting. Go to flickr etc and you will find tens of thousands of amazing images created by this awesome body.

It is better than older Rebels in terms of specs and construction. 10.1 mp is sufficient for rather large prints. 6.5 fps isn't slow compare to a lot of higher level cameras nowadays. 9 points AF and liveview featues are not bad at all. Magnesium alloy body is similar to 7D. If your interest is in landscape and HDR, 40D is more than enough. For you need more speed for birds and sport, you may consider 7D.

There are a lot of very nice condition 40D out there for around (CAD) $130 to $150. Depending whether it is boxed with full accessories or just the body with battery and charger only. The members all bought 40D with less than 25K shutter count and in excellent condtion.

If budget is limited, I will consider this camera and the two awesome prime lens. They are light in weight and excellent in performance. You may have some money left for a light tripod or spare batteries etc.

Just my 2 cents.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

RobertTheFat — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 14:52:03 GMT

lly3988 wrote:
Several members in our community photography club have recently acquired Canon 40D camera bodies. Instructors also recommended EF50 1.8 STM and EFS 24 2.8 STM lenses. They are not beginners but enthusiasts who don't want to pay too much for the modern models.
This camera is more than capable for daily shooting. Go to flickr etc and you will find tens of thousands of amazing images created by this awesome body.

It is better than older Rebels in terms of specs and construction. 10.1 mp is sufficient for rather large prints. 6.5 fps isn't slow compare to a lot of higher level cameras nowadays. 9 points AF and liveview featues are not bad at all. Magnesium alloy body is similar to 7D. If your interest is in landscape and HDR, 40D is more than enough. For you need more speed for birds and sport, you may consider 7D.

There are a lot of very nice condition 40D out there for around (CAD) $130 to $150. Depending whether it is boxed with full accessories or just the body with battery and charger only. The members all bought 40D with less than 25K shutter count and in excellent condtion.

If budget is limited, I will consider this camera and the two awesome prime lens. They are light in weight and excellent in performance. You may have some money left for a light tripod or spare batteries etc.

Just my 2 cents.

I can't quarrel with the reasoning, but I think I'd look for a 50D. At 15Mp (instead of 10), it was a significant jump over the 40D. I never owned a 40D, but got a lot of good pictures with my 50D back in the day. My only real beef with it was that it had no IR receiver, which limited its utility for remote shooting.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

Waddizzle — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 15:13:04 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
@lly3988 wrote:
Several members in our community photography club have recently acquired Canon 40D camera bodies. Instructors also recommended EF50 1.8 STM and EFS 24 2.8 STM lenses. They are not beginners but enthusiasts who don't want to pay too much for the modern models.
This camera is more than capable for daily shooting. Go to flickr etc and you will find tens of thousands of amazing images created by this awesome body.

It is better than older Rebels in terms of specs and construction. 10.1 mp is sufficient for rather large prints. 6.5 fps isn't slow compare to a lot of higher level cameras nowadays. 9 points AF and liveview featues are not bad at all. Magnesium alloy body is similar to 7D. If your interest is in landscape and HDR, 40D is more than enough. For you need more speed for birds and sport, you may consider 7D.

There are a lot of very nice condition 40D out there for around (CAD) $130 to $150. Depending whether it is boxed with full accessories or just the body with battery and charger only. The members all bought 40D with less than 25K shutter count and in excellent condtion.

If budget is limited, I will consider this camera and the two awesome prime lens. They are light in weight and excellent in performance. You may have some money left for a light tripod or spare batteries etc.

Just my 2 cents.

I can't quarrel with the reasoning, but I think I'd look for a 50D. At 15Mp (instead of 10), it was a significant jump over the 40D. I never owned a 40D, but got a lot of good pictures with my 50D back in the day. My only real beef with it was that it had no IR receiver, which limited its utility for remote shooting.

I cannot quarrel with the reasoning, either. I'll will just repeat my caution about software support for many older camera bodies is slowly being phased out. For example, the Canon software released for use with the 40D runs on Windows XP, which isn't a problem if you have an old XP machine to use.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

RobertTheFat — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 16:00:24 GMT

Waddizzle wrote:
RobertTheFat wrote:
lly3988 wrote:
Several members in our community photography club have recently acquired Canon 40D camera bodies. Instructors also recommended EF50 1.8 STM and EFS 24 2.8 STM lenses. They are not beginners but enthusiasts who don't want to pay too much for the modern models.
This camera is more than capable for daily shooting. Go to flickr etc and you will find tens of thousands of amazing images created by this awesome body.

It is better than older Rebels in terms of specs and construction. 10.1 mp is sufficient for rather large prints. 6.5 fps isn't slow compare to a lot of higher level cameras nowadays. 9 points AF and liveview featues are not bad at all. Magnesium alloy body is similar to 7D. If your interest is in landscape and HDR, 40D is more than enough. For you need more speed for birds and sport, you may consider 7D.

There are a lot of very nice condition 40D out there for around (CAD) $130 to $150. Depending whether it is boxed with full accessories or just the body with battery and charger only. The members all bought 40D with less than 25K shutter count and in excellent condtion.

If budget is limited, I will consider this camera and the two awesome prime lens. They are light in weight and excellent in performance. You may have some money left for a light tripod or spare batteries etc.

Just my 2 cents.

I can't quarrel with the reasoning, but I think I'd look for a 50D. At 15Mp (instead of 10), it was a significant jump over the 40D. I never owned a 40D, but got a lot of good pictures with my 50D back in the day. My only real beef with it was that it had no IR receiver, which limited its utility for remote shooting.
I cannot quarrel with the reasoning, either. I'll will just repeat my caution about software support for many older camera bodies is slowly being phased out. For example, the Canon software released for use with the 40D runs on Windows XP, which isn't a problem if you have an old XP machine to use.

I have no trouble editing RAW files from my 50D (and from my wife's T2i) with Digital Photo Professional Version 4 on a Windows 10 computer. (With Version 3 I can even edit files from our old XTi's.) I might be more concerned about finding batteries for a 40D than about incompatibility of the software.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

ebiggs1 — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 16:28:30 GMT

" I'll will just repeat my caution about software support for many older camera bodies is slowly being phased out"

This is the point! Why trade an obsolete camera for another obsolete camera. Just to upgrade it later?

There is no doubt the 40D and/or the 50D are good cameras but most any DSLR is a good camera when you come down to it. I know a Star reporter that still uses a 40D so it can be done.

Canon does not make any bad cameras nor any bad lenses. There are just some that qualify as better choices for the situation. Yours seems to lean towards a more relevant camera like the 7D. It will stay relevant for longer, years longer, than a 40D. But whatever your decision is, getting back into photography is the goal. Right?

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

motheye — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 16:14:05 GMT

Thanks guys, I'm taking all this in. Much appreciated.

Re: Replacing Canon EOS20D and HDR software

TTMartin — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 16:57:51 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
@Waddizzle wrote:
@RobertTheFat wrote:
@lly3988 wrote:
Several members in our community photography club have recently acquired Canon 40D camera bodies. Instructors also recommended EF50 1.8 STM and EFS 24 2.8 STM lenses. They are not beginners but enthusiasts who don't want to pay too much for the modern models.
This camera is more than capable for daily shooting. Go to flickr etc and you will find tens of thousands of amazing images created by this awesome body.

It is better than older Rebels in terms of specs and construction. 10.1 mp is sufficient for rather large prints. 6.5 fps isn't slow compare to a lot of higher level cameras nowadays. 9 points AF and liveview featues are not bad at all. Magnesium alloy body is similar to 7D. If your interest is in landscape and HDR, 40D is more than enough. For you need more speed for birds and sport, you may consider 7D.

There are a lot of very nice condition 40D out there for around (CAD) $130 to $150. Depending whether it is boxed with full accessories or just the body with battery and charger only. The members all bought 40D with less than 25K shutter count and in excellent condtion.

If budget is limited, I will consider this camera and the two awesome prime lens. They are light in weight and excellent in performance. You may have some money left for a light tripod or spare batteries etc.

Just my 2 cents.

I can't quarrel with the reasoning, but I think I'd look for a 50D. At 15Mp (instead of 10), it was a significant jump over the 40D. I never owned a 40D, but got a lot of good pictures with my 50D back in the day. My only real beef with it was that it had no IR receiver, which limited its utility for remote shooting.
I cannot quarrel with the reasoning, either. I'll will just repeat my caution about software support for many older camera bodies is slowly being phased out. For example, the Canon software released for use with the 40D runs on Windows XP, which isn't a problem if you have an old XP machine to use.
I have no trouble editing RAW files from my 50D (and from my wife's T2i) with Digital Photo Professional Version 4 on a Windows 10 computer. (With Version 3 I can even edit files from our old XTi's.) I might be more concerned about finding batteries for a 40D than about incompatibility of the software.

The 40D and 50D use the same batteries. The BP511 battery was used in Canon camcorders as well as their dSLRs. There are dozens of 3rd party sources if Canon ever stopped making them.

Having extensively used the 40D, 50D, classic 7D and 7D Mk II, here's my opinion.

For a couple hundred dollars the 40D is simply an amazing deal. It has aged very well, and still outclasses new entry level Rebels T#.

The biggest advantage of the 50D over 40D isn't really the megapixels, but, ability to micro focus adjust lenses. That is the reason to choose it over the 40D if found at similar pricing.

The classsic 7D is a big step over both of those. Here is a comparison I did between the 50D, classic 7D, and the 7D Mk II.

Frames per second

50D - 6.3
7D - 8
7D Mk II - 10

RAW buffer

50D - 16
7D - 15 later increased to 22 with firmware.
7D Mk II - 31

Cross-type AF Points

50D - 9
7D - 19
7D Mk II - 65

Megapixels

50D - 15
7D - 18
7D Mk II - 20

ISO Range

50D - ISO 100-3200
7D - ISO 100-6400
7D Mk II - ISO 100-16000

Metering

50D - 35 zone
7D - 63 zone IFCL
7D Mk II - 150,000-pixel RGB+IR 252-zone metering system