Canon EOS 1D Digital Review
Earlier this year the Nikon D1X made its appearance and has delighted
pro photographers that wanted more image resolution and better color
rendition. Then came the Nikon D1H with a 5 frame per second capture
rate, but the same 2.7 megapixel resolution as the original D1. Now it’s
Canon’s turn to shine. The EOS-1D SLR captures images at a blazing 8
frames per second up to a depth of 21 images and at 4.15 megapixel
resolution. Working in concert with that incredible capture rate is the
world’s fastest auto focus system, the same as that found on the EOS-1v
35mm SLR. The EOS-1D is a pro sports shooter’s dream when teamed up with
one of Canon’s super-telephoto lenses like the newly released EF 400mm
f/4 DO IS USM. The EOS-1D also includes many of the advanced features and functions
of the 35mm EOS-1v including an exceptionally strong dust and
weather-resistant magnesium alloy body, 45 point autofocus, a 21-point
evaluative metering system, complete compatibility with Canon EOS System
lenses and Canon EX-series flash units, a comfortable and intuitive
control layout, plus 21 Custom Functions and 25 Personal Functions for
fine-tuning various camera settings. The EOS-1D’s 4.48 megapixel CCD has
a large imaging area of 28.7 x 19.1mm which gives it a focal length
multiplier of just 1.3X. This allows for true wide angle photography
with many of the Canon EF lenses.
Canon dealers in late December 2001 with a suggested retail price of
$5,499 (this is a thousand dollars less than the originally announced
price.)
EOS-1D Pro SLR Features:
- New 4.48 megapixel, large area (28.7 x 19.1 mm)
CCD sensor
(4.15 million effective pixels) - Interline transfer CCD provides for High-speed continuous
capture at 8 fps - RGB primary color and Low-pass filters
- 12-bit analog-to-digital converter for exceptional color
reproduction accuracy - Proprietary noise reduction and high-speed “imaging engine”
signal processor deliver outstanding image quality - Images can be recorded as 12-bit RAW files or in one of three
JPEG formats (Large/Fine, Large/Normal, and Small/Fine) - Finished image file sizes:
Large/Fine: approx. 2.4 MB (2464 x 1648 pixels)
Large/Normal: approx. 1.3 MB (2464 x 1648 pixels)
Small/Fine: approx. 1.1 MB (1232 x 824 pixels)
RAW: approx. 4.8 MB (2496 x 1662 pixels) - Users can select RAW + JPEG mode which captures both a RAW image
and a JPEG of the same shot simultaneously - Images stored on CompactFlash Type I or II cards, Microdrive
compatible - Users can create up to 500 subfolders on each CF card. Each
folder can store up to 9,999 images - 10 White Balance settings; Auto, Daylight, Overcast, Cloudy,
Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Flash as well as Custom and Personal
settings - Manual setting of color temperature in degrees Kelvin from 2,800
to 10,000K in 100K increments. - Hybrid auto white balance with the CCD sensor and a dedicated,
external sensor - White Balance Bracketing captures 3 consecutive images and
varies the White Balance up to +/- 3 steps in 1 step increments - New Color Matrix function: Five settings provide a choice of two
color spaces (standard sRGB or expanded Adobe RGB 1998) and four
variations in color characteristics for sRGB. This feature applies
to JPEG as well as RAW images - Up to 3 sets of image processing parameters such as custom tone
curves, adjustable JPEG compression ratios, and two forms of image
sharpening can be uploaded to the camera and selected for use with
any Color Matrix setting - The first digital SLR to provide ISO Speed Bracketing. This new
feature exposes a sequence of 3 images at the same shutter speed and
aperture, while shifting the ISO speed up to +/-3 steps in 1/3EV
increments. The ISO range of the camera is 100-3200 - Lens mount: Canon EF, compatible with all Canon EF lenses. Lens
focal length conversion factor is approx. 1.3 x of indicated lens
focal length - 45-point Area AF with a working range of EV 0-18 (at ISO 100)
- Focusing modes: One-Shot AF, AI Servo AF or Manual focusing
- AF point selection: Automatic selection, manual selection, home
position (switch to registered AF point). Selected AF point display
is superimposed in viewfinder and indicated on top LCD panel - AF-assist beam is emitted by the dedicated Speedlite’s built-in
AF-assist beam - Metering modes: TTL full aperture metering with 21-zone SPC
(1) Evaluative metering (linkable to any AF point)
(2) Partial metering (approx. 13.5% of viewfinder at center)
(3) Spot metering:- a. Center spot metering (approx. 3.8% of viewfinder at center)
b. AF point-linked spot metering (approx. 3.8% of viewfinder at
center)
c. Multi-spot metering (Max. 8 spot metering entries)(4) Centerweighted average metering
- High-speed Firewire IEEE 1394 interface with tethered computer
control via the Canon RemoteCapture software (PC and Mac supported) - Exposure control: Program AE (shiftable), shutter-priority AE,
aperture-priority AE, depth-of-field AE, E-TTL flash AE, manual,
flash metered manual - Remote control: Remote switch N3-type terminal provided
- External flash: Speedlite EX series E-TTL autoflash. PC terminal
for studio flash, operates regardless of sync polarity - Drive modes: Single-frame, low-speed continuous (3fps),
high-speed continuous (8fps) - Eye-level glass pentaprism viewfinder with 100% coverage,
eyepiece shutter and dioptric adjustment. Nine interchangeable
focusing screens available - Viewfinder Information: AF information (AF points, focus
confirmation light), exposure information (shutter, speed, aperture,
manual exposure, metering range, ISO speed, exposure level, exposure
warning), flash information (flash ready, FP flash, FE lock, flash
exposure level), JPEG format, number of remaining shots, CF card
information - Shutter Type: Electronic shutter with the CCD sensor and
vertical-travel, focal-plane shutter with all speeds
electronically-controlled - Shutter speeds: 1/16,000 to 30 sec. (1/3 stop increments), bulb,
X-synch at 1/500th sec. - Noise reduction for long exposure: Operates at 1/15th sec. or a
slower shutter speeds (including bulb) - Self-timer: 10-sec. or 20-sec. delay
- 2-inch TFT color LCD monitor (120,000 pixels) with 100%
coverage, brightness is adjustable to one of five levels - Image Playback with Histogram, Single image with information,
Single image, 4-image index or 9-image index. Highlight alert in
single image display formats, any overexposed highlight areas will
blink - Custom functions: 21, with 67 possible settings. Personal
functions: 25, up-loadable via IEEE 1394 computer connection - Voice narration recorded with the built-in microphone is
attached to the image. Max. 30 sec. per recording, saved as WAV file - High-capacity Ni-MH battery pack NP-E3 good for approx. 500
shots. Rapid dual-battery charger and AC power adapter and DC
coupler supplied
