Click to take a QTVR tour of the EOS-1Ds

Canon commemorates the 15th anniversary of the EOS system by releasing their first digital SLR with a full-frame, 11.1-Megapixel CMOS sensor. The EOS-1Ds is designed primarily for studio photographers, but useful for a wide variety of professional and advanced amateur photographers. It features a weather-proofed magnesium alloy body, 45-point autofocus, 21-point evaluative metering, simultaneous RAW + JPEG recording, 10-mode White Balance and 5-mode Color Matrix selection. It's capable of shooting up to 3 frames per second in 10-frame bursts at any resolution or quality setting including RAW. The EOS-1Ds has an ISO range of 100-1250 (ISO 50 via a Custom Function), high speed IEEE 1394 FireWire interface, a top shutter speed of 1/8000 second, X-sync speed of 1/250 second, 21 Custom Functions (with 67 settings), 26 Personal Functions, and extended battery life.

The EOS D30 proved that a 3.25-megapixel CMOS sensor with superb color, wide dynamic range and exceptionally low noise could be successfully produced and used in a high- performance camera. That sensor technology improved with the 6.3-megapixel EOS D60 and now Canon takes it to the next level with an 11.1- megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor. The EOS-1Ds' sensor has an imaging area of 24 x 36mm (the same dimensions as 35mm film) and a maximum resolution of 4064 x 2704 pixels. This large sensor eliminates the focal length multiplier common to most other dSLR cameras. This means that every EF-series lens will have the same effective coverage with the EOS-1Ds as it does with EOS-System 35mm film models.

Compare the size of the 11-megapixel, 6-megapixel and 3-megapixel image sensors

Each of the camera's 45 focusing points are linked directly to Canon's exclusive 21- zone Evaluative Metering system. In addition, the metering system also allows photographers to choose from Center-Weighted, Central Partial, Central Spot, Focusing-Point Linked Spot, or Multi-Spot metering. In the Multi-Spot metering mode, the camera can automatically average up to eight different spot meter readings, for precise exposures in even the most difficult lighting conditions.

In addition to its extensive controls over White Balance, the EOS-1Ds features a 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, and allows EOS-1Ds image quality to be matched to the requirements of the subject or output device, ranging from 4-color offset presses to desktop color Bubble Jet printers. Additionally, up to 3 sets of image processing parameters such as custom tone curves, adjustable JPEG compression ratios, and two forms of image sharpening can now be selected in the camera and used with any Color Matrix setting.

The camera's imaging engine is one of the keys to its exceptional quality. The advanced chip assembles and processes image data captured by the sensor to achieve color accuracy and wide tonal range equivalent to digitally scanned images from conventional film-based cameras. And even with twice the resolution of other professional digital cameras, the imaging engine continues to support a 10-frame buffer memory at 3 frames per second in all image quality settings including RAW.

EOS-1Ds Features:

• New 11.1 megapixel, full-frame (36mm x 24 mm) large plate CMOS sensor

• 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 sizes:
  Large/Fine: approx. 4.1 MB (4064 x 2704 pixels)
  Large/Normal: approx. 1.7 MB (4064 x 2704 pixels)
  Small/Fine: approx. 1.4 MB (2032 x 1352 pixels)
  RAW: approx. 11.4 MB (4064 x 2704 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

• Lens mount: Canon EF, compatible with all Canon EF lenses.

• 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.

• White Balance Bracketing captures 3 consecutive images and varies the White Balance up to +/- 3 steps in 1 step increments

• 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 stored and selected for use with any Color Matrix setting

• 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

• 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 data and control interface

• Exposure control: Program AE (shiftable), shutter-priority AE, aperture-priority AE, depth-of-field AE, E-TTL flash AE, manual, flash metered manual

• External flash: Speedlite EX series E-TTL autoflash. PC terminal for studio flash, operates regardless of sync polarity

• Drive modes: Single-frame, Continuous (3fps up to 10 frames)

• 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 speeds: 1/8,000 to 30 sec. (1/3 stop increments), bulb, X-synch at 1/250th sec.

• Noise reduction for long exposure: Operates at 1/15th sec. or a slower shutter speeds (including bulb)

• 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. Playback magnification up to 25X.

• 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. 800 shots. Rapid dual-battery charger and AC power adapter and DC coupler supplied

Bundled Software

The Canon EOS-1Ds driver software offers improved functionality, making it easier than ever to access images and review them or adjust them before they're acquired into your image-editing software. The new File Viewer Utility (compatible with current Windows® and Macintosh ® operating systems**) is also used to process RAW images into 16-bit TIFF files, 8-bit TIFF files or JPEGs. In addition, the File Viewer Utility can be used for a broad range of RAW file adjustments, including image processing parameters (digital exposure compensation, white balance and color matrix settings, custom tone curves, subject pattern sharpness and edge enhancement), as well as detailed IPTC captioning and even the application of up to 26 different Personal Functions to the EOS-1Ds. File Viewer Utility is also compatible with other EOS digital SLRs and Canon PowerShot digital cameras.

Additional bundled software includes an entirely new and improved version of ZoomBrowser EX (version 4.0) for Windows, Adobe Photoshop LE for image editing and Canon's RemoteCapture which allows users to control the EOS-1Ds from a compatible Windows or Macintosh computer. Controllable functions include real-time single frame shooting, self-timer shooting, and interval shooting.