Still haven't switched from a film SLR camera to a digital SLR, and you believe you can't be persuaded? Well prepare to be swayed, for you may well change your mind once you see the images from Canon's 8.2-megapixel (yes, we did say 8.2...) EOS 20D SLR. It has all the makings of a top-notch SLR for both pro photographers and serious hobbyists.

Compact and light enough to tote around without making you feel like you're pumping iron, the EOS 20D has a sturdy magnesium body with a matteblack finish, nicely accentuated by the slip-proof leather-like material on the grip side.

The built-in pop-up flash provides excellent wide-angle coverage, automatically adjusting its intensity for well-balanced exposures. Canon's range of dedicated flashguns provides a more powerful and better quality of illumination, and the 20D also includes a hot shoe and a PC flash terminal for powerful lighting options in the studio.

Although the power switch is awkwardly located at the back of the camera - right at the bottom - the other controls are well positioned; just read the quick-start guide and begin shooting. For beginners, Canon has included mode settings: portrait, landscape, close-ups, action, and night portrait with flash.

It also provides aperture and shutter priority modes, full manual exposure, and a plethora of professional features for the experienced photographer. In fact, the 20D is a more professional version of Canon's recently released EOS 350D, with extra options. Both cameras share the same sensor, but the firmware differs.

Memory-hungry

To use the 20D you'll need high-capacity memory cards (not included) to store JPEG images that can be as big as 3.6MB each. RAW files weigh in at 8.7MB (expanded file sizes are 23.4MB), but you don't have to shoot at 8.2 megapixels; both 4- and 2-megapixel resolutions are available if you're short on space or only need images with lower resolutions.

Compared to other digital SLR cameras in its class, the 20D is one of the fastest. You can switch it on and be taking your first shot in around a quarter of a second. There's no noticeable delay between your press of the shutter release and the camera's generation of the exposure. The 20D comes to life from its power-saving sleep mode almost instantly and plays back images very quickly.