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Canon 20D vs 7D

The Canon EOS 20D and the Canon EOS 7D are two enthusiast cameras that were announced, respectively, in August 2004 and September 2009. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The 20D has a resolution of 8.2 megapixels, whereas the 7D provides 17.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon 20D
versus
Canon 7D
Canon 20D   Canon 7D
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
8.2 MP – APS-C sensor 17.9 MP – APS-C sensor
no Video 1080/30p Video
ISO 100-1,600 (100 - 3,200) ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 12,800)
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
1.8" LCD – 118k dots 3.0" LCD – 920k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
5 shutter flaps per second 8 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
700 shots per battery charge800 shots per battery charge
144 x 106 x 72 mm, 770 g 148 x 111 x 74 mm, 860 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 20D and the Canon EOS 7D? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon 20D and the Canon 7D are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Canon 20D vs Canon 7D
Compare 20D versus 7D top
Comparison 20D or 7D rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon 7D is notably larger (8 percent) than the Canon 20D. Moreover, the 7D is markedly heavier (12 percent) than the 20D. It is noteworthy in this context that the 7D is splash and dust-proof, while the 20D does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the 20D gets 700 shots out of its BP-511A battery, while the 7D can take 800 images on a single charge of its LP-E6 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 20D 144 mm 106 mm 72 mm 770 g 700 n Aug 2004 1,499ebay.com
2.
 
Canon 7D 148 mm 111 mm 74 mm 860 g 800 Y Sep 2009 1,699ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 7D II 149 mm 112 mm 78 mm 910 g 670 Y Sep 2014 1,799ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 70D 139 mm 104 mm 79 mm 755 g 920 Y Jul 2013 1,199ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 60D 145 mm 106 mm 79 mm 755 g 1100 Y Aug 2010 1,399ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 5D Mark II 152 mm 114 mm 75 mm 850 g 850 Y Sep 2008 3,499ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 50D 146 mm 108 mm 74 mm 822 g 800 Y Aug 2008 1,299ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 40D 146 mm 108 mm 74 mm 822 g 750 n Aug 2007 1,299ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 30D 144 mm 106 mm 74 mm 785 g 750 n Feb 2006 1,399ebay.com
10.
 
Canon 350D 127 mm 94 mm 64 mm 540 g 400 n Feb 2005 899ebay.com
11.
 
Canon 10D 150 mm 107 mm 75 mm 850 g 500 n Feb 2003 1,999ebay.com
12.
 
Canon 300D 142 mm 99 mm 72 mm 649 g 400 n Aug 2003 899ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D200 147 mm 113 mm 74 mm 920 g 400 Y Nov 2005 1,699ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The 20D was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 12 percent) than the 7D, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the 7D is 2 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.6. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Canon 20D and Canon 7D sensor measures

Despite having a slightly smaller sensor, the 7D offers a higher resolution of 17.9 megapixels, compared with 8.2 MP of the 20D. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 4.31μm versus 6.42μm for the 20D). However, it should be noted that the 7D is much more recent (by 5 years) than the 20D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 7D implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 7D for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 17.3 inches or 65.8 x 43.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 13.8 inches or 52.7 x 35.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 11.5 inches or 43.9 x 29.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 20D are 17.5 x 11.7 inches or 44.5 x 29.7 cm for good quality, 14 x 9.3 inches or 35.6 x 23.7 cm for very good quality, and 11.7 x 7.8 inches or 29.7 x 19.8 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS 20D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 100-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS 7D are ISO 100 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-12800.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

20D versus 7D MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. Of the two cameras under consideration, the 7D has a markedly higher DXO score than the 20D (overall score 4 points higher), which will translate into better image quality. The advantage is based on 0.1 bits higher color depth, 0.7 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.2 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon 20D APS-C 8.2 3504 2336none21.911.072162
2.
 
Canon 7D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.785466
3.
 
Canon 7D II APS-C 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.411.8108270
4.
 
Canon 70D APS-C 20.0 5472 36481080/30p22.511.692668
5.
 
Canon 60D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.211.581366
6.
 
Canon 5D Mark II Full Frame 21.0 5616 37441080/30p23.711.9181579
7.
 
Canon 50D APS-C 15.1 4752 3168none21.811.469663
8.
 
Canon 40D APS-C 10.1 3888 2592none22.111.370364
9.
 
Canon 30D APS-C 8.2 3504 2336none21.510.873659
10.
 
Canon 350D APS-C 8.0 3456 2304none21.810.863760
11.
 
Canon 10D APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none21.110.957157
12.
 
Canon 300D APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none21.010.854455
13.
 
Nikon D200 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.311.558364
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Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The 7D indeed provides for movie recording, while the 20D does not. The highest resolution format that the 7D can use is 1080/30p.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 20D and the 7D are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinder in the 7D offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the 20D (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the 7D has a higher magnification (0.63x vs 0.56x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon 20D and Canon 7D along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon 20Doptical Y1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
2.
 
Canon 7Doptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon 7D IIoptical Y3.0 / 1040 fixed n 1/8000s 10.0/s Y n
4.
 
Canon 70Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon 60Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel n 1/8000s 5.3/s Y n
6.
 
Canon 5D Mark IIoptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 3.9/s n n
7.
 
Canon 50Doptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 6.3/s Y n
8.
 
Canon 40Doptical Y3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 6.5/s Y n
9.
 
Canon 30Doptical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
10.
 
Canon 350Doptical n1.8 / 115 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Canon 10Doptical Y1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
12.
 
Canon 300Doptical n1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
13.
 
Nikon D200optical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the 20D and the 7D write their files to Compact Flash cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 20D and Canon EOS 7D and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon 20DY- / ----1.1---
2.
 
Canon 7DYmono / -Y-mini2.0---
3.
 
Canon 7D IIYstereo / monoYYmini3.0---
4.
 
Canon 70DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
5.
 
Canon 60DYmono / monoY-mini2.0---
6.
 
Canon 5D Mark IIYmono / monoY-mini2.0---
7.
 
Canon 50DY- / ---mini2.0---
8.
 
Canon 40DY- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Canon 30DY- / ----2.0---
10.
 
Canon 350DY- / ----2.0---
11.
 
Canon 10DY- / ----1.1---
12.
 
Canon 300DY- / ----1.1---
13.
 
Nikon D200Y- / ----2.0---
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Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

Both the 20D and the 7D have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 20D was replaced by the Canon 30D, while the 7D was followed by the Canon 7D Mark II. Further information on the features and operation of the 20D and 7D can be found, respectively, in the Canon 20D Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon 7D Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Canon 20D better than the Canon 7D or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Advantages of the Canon EOS 20D:

  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 90g or 10 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (12 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in August 2004).


Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 7D:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (17.9 vs 8.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 48%.
  • Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (4 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (0.7 EV of extra DR).
  • Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 1080/30p video.
  • More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.63x vs 0.56x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 1.8") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (920k vs 118k dots).
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (800 versus 700) out of a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (2.0 vs 1.1).
  • More modern: Reflects 5 years of technical progress since the 20D launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 7D is the clear winner of the contest (13 : 3 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

20D 03:13 7D

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 20D and the Canon 7D place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the 20D and the 7D in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 20D......+ +.... Aug 2004 1,499ebay.com
2.
 
Canon 7D5/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 1,699ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 7D II4.5/5+3.5/584/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2014 1,799ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 70D5/5+ +..83/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2013 1,199ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 60D5/5+..79/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2010 1,399ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 5D Mark II4/591/100..79/1004/5.. Sep 2008 3,499ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 50D..+ +..+ +4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2008 1,299ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 40D..+ +..+ +4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2007 1,299ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 30D..+ +..+ +o.. Feb 2006 1,399ebay.com
10.
 
Canon 350D..80/100..+ +o.. Feb 2005 899ebay.com
11.
 
Canon 10D......+ +.... Feb 2003 1,999ebay.com
12.
 
Canon 300D......+ +.... Aug 2003 899ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D200..+ +..+ +o.. Nov 2005 1,699ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Canon 20D vs Canon 7D

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon 20D Canon 7D
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
    Launch Date August 2004 September 2009
    Launch Price USD 1,499 USD 1,699
    Sensor Specs Canon 20D Canon 7D
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.5 x 15.0 mm 22.3 x 14.9 mm
    Sensor Area 337.5 mm2 332.27 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 27 mm 26.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 1.6x
    Sensor Resolution 8.2 Megapixels 17.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3504 x 2336 pixels 5184 x 3456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 6.42 μm 4.31 μm
    Pixel Density 2.43 MP/cm2 5.39 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video 1080/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 100 - 6,400 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 3,200 ISO 100 - 12,800 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 2 DIGIC 4 (Dual)
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 62 66
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.9 22.0
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 11.0 11.7
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 721 854
    Screen Specs Canon 20D Canon 7D
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.56x 0.63x
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View
    Rear LCD Size 1.8inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 118k dots 920k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Canon 20D Canon 7D
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 5 shutter flaps/s 8 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy50 000 actuations150 000 actuations
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium CF cards CF cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    Connectivity Specs Canon 20D Canon 7D
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 1.1 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI mini HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Canon 20D Canon 7D
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type BP-511A LP-E6
    Battery Life (CIPA)700 shots per charge800 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 144 x 106 x 72 mm
    (5.7 x 4.2 x 2.8 in)
    148 x 111 x 74 mm
    (5.8 x 4.4 x 2.9 in)
    Camera Weight 770 g (27.2 oz) 860 g (30.3 oz)
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