For those interested in Astrophotography, Canon Japan has introduced a new variation of the 20D specifically for Astrophotography, the 20Da. It uses a fixed, semi-silvered pellicle mirror that does not move up and down like a traditional SLR mirror, apparently allowing for real-time focusing using the LCD monitor. Also, improvements can be found in the areas of Infrared sensitivity and high ISO performance.

I am actually surprised by this, Canon departed from fixed mirror cameras in 2000 when the EOS-1n RS (introduced 1994) was discontinued. The main advantage used to be speed, but the current flagship film body can achieve the same shooting speed as the RS, 10 fps. The only advantage of using this technology in the 20D (although I’m not sure it’s really an advantage) is the ability to use the LCD screen to focus.

Here’s the link to the Japanese site: 20Da

Apparently its only available through special order and with an open price (set by the dealer), it will be interesting to see if it makes it into the mainstream market in the near (or distant) future.

I was under the impression that they fixed the mirror in order to remove the "mirror slam" effect in film cameras (important for astro-photography). This doesn't seem nessesary in a digital camera since it can concievably just wait until the mirror is fully stopped before sampling from the CCD. The LCD focus would be nearly useless if the camera is connected to a telescope. Maybe it is just a marketing gimick?

According to dpreview, they removed the IR filter. I have a feeling that caedes is right about the mirror slap, why have a moving part if it's not necessary? They may also be doing this a proof of concept, to put a new feature (framing with LCD) into a specialty camera before moving the tech to more lines, where this would be a good feature for those moving up from p&s digital.

Actually, in that dpreview article, the last line implies there is still a moving mirror ("requires the mirror to be locked up").

Interesting, I missed that. Then the only purpose would be for focusing. But as Caedes put it, it’s kind of a gimmick...

I think that in astrophotography you always focus at infinity. They could have the focus permanently set at the factory =)

I was reading in the dpreview forums that the "view/focus on lcd" is necessary/useful for good results in IR. Since your eyes have no response to IR light, but the sensor does, the lcd would show the result of the photo better than the viewfinder and make focusing easier.

And here's the new dRebel.... dpreview

What do you guys think about the new rebel? Im thinking i will be buying a D70 in the next few days or so, and im wondering if i should maybe wait alittle and see what these new ones are like. Do you think that would be worth it, or will they probably just be more expensive and not really that much of an improvement for the increase in price?

Well, the new rebel is 8MP, and uses the same DIGIC II chip that the 1D Mark II uses, plus has improved focusing, speed and boasts E-TTL II flash metering. It looks like a pretty good little package, especially since it should be a little cheaper than the previous D. Rebel.

Hmm, it's been said something was lost in translation. Here's the real scoop on the EOS 20Da. It seems most if what I'd heard/said is wrong. =D