Photography BLOG

 The D30 is aimed at the high end of the amateur market and will be of
great interest to those with EOS 35mm cameras and lenses. The only other
digital SLR in this price class is the Fuji S1 Pro. They are both
excellent cameras, the major difference between them is the lens mounts
(Canon vs Nikon) and the image sensors (CMOS vs CCD.)

 

In the past Canon partnered with Kodak to make its digital SLRs such as
the Canon EOS D2000 and Kodak DCS 520. The D30 has been built from the
ground up by Canon and uses a newly developed 3.25 megapixel (15.1 x
22.7mm) CMOS sensor that captures 36-bit full color 2,160 x 1,440-pixel
images and stores them in standard JPEG format or in Canon’s RAW format.
Accurate color reproduction is attained through the use of an RGB
primary color filter. The D30 features a Canon EF mount and can use the
more than 40 Canon EF lenses or compatible third-party lenses.  

D30 shown with optional BG-ED3 battery/grip CMOS sensors are well known for their low power usage and robust signal
processing capabilities. Canon employs an “Image Engine” DSP chip that
provides a high speed, high definition image processing with a
significantly improved signal to noise ratio. With conventional digital
cameras, the longer the exposure time, the greater the noise. The D30
overcomes these problems by automatically enabling its noise reduction
system for exposures that exceed one second.

Common 3-megapixel CCD (on left)
and the D30’s 3.25-megapixel CMOS sensor Exposure options are abundant with full AUTO mode or Program AE, shutter
speed priority, aperture priority, full Manual or one of the EOS Image
Zone modes (Sports, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Night.)
Burst capture at 3 frames per second up to a maximum of 8 frames in JPEG
Large/Fine mode. Shutter speeds from 1/4000 to 30 seconds plus Bulb. Auto exposure bracketing (AEB) captures three exposures, taken with a
single shutter release, at stops over and under the targeted exposure.
TTL metering is accomplished with a silicon photocell in one of three
modes: 35-zone evaluative (matrix), 9.5% partial (spot) or
center-weighted averaging.

ISO sensitivity is adjustable between 100-1600. White balance can be
automatic, one of five presets or manually customized. The D30 features
One-shot AF, AI Servo AF with focus prediction, AI Focus AF or manual
focus. The autofocus system is wide-area AF with three selectable
focusing points.

 

 

On the back is a 1.8-inch TFT color LCD with 114,000 pixels of
resolution that is used for image review and menu operations. Most all
of the controls on the rear are for the digital section of the D30, the
camera and exposure controls are located on the top.  

 

On top is the Mode Dial, hot shoe flash with TTL contacts for Canon
speedlights, metering and flash exposure compensation button, drive mode
button, AF and white balance button, main command dial, the shutter
release and a large monochrome data display.  

 

A flat bottom with a metal tripod socket and the access doors
for the main battery and the memory backup battery.  

 

The key to the D30’s light weight is shown here by its construction.
The outer body is highly durable polycarbonate material, underneath is a
heavy guage steel skeleton to provide rigidity and protection for the
delicate internals.