With a top shutter speed of one-eight thousandths of a second, the Canon 20D is a good camera to use for sports photography.
The Canon 20D digital single lens reflex camera is a powerful semiprofessional camera body positioned in the middle of Canon's product line, between the entry-level Rebel and professional grade EOS-1D and EOS-1Ds. Released in 2004, the 20D marked an improvement over its predecessor, the 10D, with an increase in sensor resolution to 8.2 megapixels and the capability to capture frames at a rate of up to five images per second.
Exposure Modes
There are two exposure mode zones on the Canon 20D: the basic zone, which is represented by icons, and the creative zone, which is identified by letters. In the basic zone, you can select exposure modes that include fully automatic, portrait, landscape, close-up or macro, sports, night scene and flash off. In the creative zone, you can select from program mode, shutter priority, aperture priority, manual and depth of field. Each one of the exposure modes controls the amount of input the photographer has over the camera. In the manual mode, the photographer controls both the shutter speed and the aperture to determine the correct exposure. At the other end of the spectrum is the fully automatic setting where the camera will make all the decisions based on the mode you select. For example, if you were to select the sport mode, the camera would set the shutter speed to capture fast moving subjects, and it would then adjust the ISO (light sensitivity setting) to match the fastest (largest) aperture setting for the lens that is attached to the camera.
Focusing Points
With nine focusing points, the Canon 20D gives you control over composition inside the viewfinder by selecting where the camera will focus on. If you choose, the camera will also select the focus point it determines as being the best for the scene you are trying to capture. To adjust the focus point, you press the "focus point" button located on the back, top right side of the camera. It is the button that has an icon that looks like an asterisk. While holding the button, select the focus point by moving the small joy stick located on the back of the camera above the selection wheel. Once you have selected the focus point you want, release the "focus point" button and the camera will now use the selection you made.
Shutter and Drive System
The Canon 20D has a top shutter speed of one-eight thousandths of second and a motor drive capable of recording five images per second. The motor drive can also be set at single frame and three frames per second. It has a timer function as well.
Tags: focus point, camera will, shutter speed, basic zone, creative zone, five images