Canon EOS 1D SLR Review

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

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.

The Canon EOS-1D digital SLR camera will be available at authorized 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