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Canon EOS-1D

Canon EOS-1D Canon EOS-1D Review, Phil Askey, November 2001

Preview based on a full production EOS-1D, Firmware Version 1.0.1 Introduction Canons EOS-1D is the first professional digital SLR from Canon since the EOS-D2000 (introduced in March 1998 which was a collaborative effort with Kodak, also known as the Kodak DCS 520). Indeed, the EOS-1D is the first all Canon professional digital SLR. Canon themselves admit that after the EOS-D2000 they were caught dragging their heels somewhat when Nikon released the D1 but believe that they are coming back strong with the 4 megapixel 8 fps EOS-1D. The EOS-1D is based on the excellent (and highly praised) EOS-1V professional film SLR. The 1Ds body is almost identical to an EOS-1V with the additional powerdrive booster attached. The primary differences are the EOS-1Ds battery and vertical grip have now become a moulded part of the camera body, and of course that the back of the camera hosts an LCD monitor with variety of digital controls and buttons.Canon EOS-1D major features summary Professional EOS Digital SLRMagnesium body, environmentally sealed, based on EOS-1VIntegrated battery compartment / vertical hand grip4.48 megapixel CCD sensor (primary colour filter)Focal length multiplier: 1.3xOutput image size: 2464 x 1648 or 1232 x 824JPEG (Fine/Normal), RAW (12-bit) Simultaneous RAW+JPEG mode (saves RAW plus either Full sizeor Half size JPEG) Maximum burst speed of 8 fps for up to 21 JPEG frames or16 RAW framesOption to also record a JPEG file when shooting RAWISO 200 - 1600 in 1/3 stop steps, ISO 100 or 3200 availablefrom a custom functionISO sensitivity bracketingSame 45-point AF as EOS-1VResponse time similar to the EOS-1V - 57 ms shutter release and87 ms viewfinder blackoutEvaluative, Partial, Center-weighted, Spot and Multi-spot meteringShutter speed range: Bulb, 30 - 1/16,000 sec (1/500 secflash X-sync)Aperture range: F91 - F1Noise reduction can be enabled for exposures 1/15 sec or slowerIEEE 1394 (Firewire) connectivityCF Type I or II (inc. IBM Microdrive)Hybrid Auto White balance combines external white balance sensorand main CCDWhite balance bracketingUp to three parameter sets: tone (gamma) curve, sharpening, JPEGcompression ratioSelectable colour matrix settings define colour space (sRGB /Adobe RGB) and balance21 custom functions, 25 personal functions, which can be stored intofunction groupsBracketing of exposure (shutter / aperture), white balance andISO sensitivityVoice annotation capability (built-in microphone)Illuminated status LCDsCropped viewfinder (to enable compatibility with EOS-1V focusingscreens)Supplied RAW conversion application (TWAIN), supplied remote capturesoftware Double battery charger

Canon EOS-1D EOS-1V meets its digital brother

Here you can see how closely related the EOS-1D is to the the EOS-1V with the powerdrive booster. The entire photographic side of the camera is identical to the 1V, all the controls for exposure mode, AF, ISO, drive, bracketing, metering, exposure compensation, FEL, AF points, AE lock etc. are in the same places. The 1D is slightly thicker and the vertical hand grip now fits flush to the back of the camera (as it is now an integral part of the body). The viewfinder eyecup protrudes further than the 1V and this helps to keep your face away from the LCD screen (avoid nose smear). The final difference is that the 1D is very slightly shorter (vertically). Summary of physical differences (1D vs. 1V ) EOS-1D is slightly shorter (height) by approx. 10 mm, deeper (frontto back) by approx. 6 mm and narrower (across the front) by approx.6 mm than the EOS-1VEOS-1D and 1V are virtually the same weight (both loaded with batteries)EOS-1D eyecup protrudes further (set further away from the rear)Battery compartment and vertical hand grip are integrated into camerabodyEOS-1D has an additional assist button on the rear of the camera forthe vertical gripEOS-1D has a slightly larger Quick Control DialPower switch has been relocated to below Quick Control DialObvious addition of LCD monitor, status panel and digital controlbuttonsTop status LCD has been slightly redesignedConnectors on left side of camera are under two rubber doors: digital,remote, PC terminalEOS-1D has an external white balance sensor on the front, right ofthe camera

Canon EOS-1D EOS-D30 meets its big brother

As you can see the EOS-1D has much smoother, professional lines than the EOS-D30. With the optional battery pack on the D30 the 1D is very slightly taller and wider. Thanks to its solid metal case the 1D is approximately 300 g (11 oz) heavier.

Canon EOS-1D 4.15 megapixels

The EOS-1D features a 4.58 megapixel CCD (not made by Canon), this may well be a departure from the CMOS type sensor used in the EOS-D30 but Canon explained that this was simply to do with the CCD sensors ability to output its image data at high speed and thus keep up with the eight frames per second specified shooting rate. The other detail about the sensor is its size, its larger (relatively speaking) than the CMOS sensor used in the EOS-D30 and reduces the focal length multiplier (cropping factor) to 1.3x. This means that Canons new 16 - 35 mm L lens offers a wide 21 - 46 mm equiv. focal length range.

Camera	Type	Effectivepixels (millions)	Effective*1 resolution	Output*2 resolution	Focallength mult.	Effectiveimager size (mm)	Pixelsize (�m)
Nikon D1	CCD	2.66	2012 x 1324	2000 x 1312	1.5x	23.7 x 15.6	11.8 x 11.8
Canon EOS-D30	CMOS	3.25	2226 x 1460	2160 x 1440	1.6x	22.0 x 14.9	9.9 x 9.9
Canon EOS-1D	CCD	4.15	2496 x 1662	2464 x 1648	1.3x	27.0 x 17.8	10.8 x 10.8
Nikon D1x	CCD	5.33	4028 x 1324	3008 x 1960	1.5x	23.7 x 15.6	5.9 x 11.7
APS-C negative	Film	n/a	n/a		n/a	23.4 x 16.7	n/a
35mm negative	Film	n/a	n/a		n/a	35.0 x 23.3	n/a

*1	Effective meaningactive pixels used to capture image
*2	Output resolutionbeing the resolution of the final image

As you can see the EOS-1Ds sensor is larger than an APS-C size negative and that despite the additional resolution the pixel size is approximately the same as the Nikon D1.

Canon EOS-1D Review Notes

Custom / Personal functions - throughout this review you will see small items written in this blue text, these relate to the interaction of one or more of the EOS-1Ds custom or personal functions on that particular camera feature. Please support this site if you decide to buy

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Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are basedon the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE reviewbefore coming to your own conclusions.Images which can be viewedat a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottomright corner of the image, clicking on the image will display alarger (typically VGA) image in a new window.To navigate the review simplyuse the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular sectioneither pick the section from the drop down or select it from thenavigation bar at the top.DPReview calibrate theirmonitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted)PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can makeout the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscaleblocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you shouldbe able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideallyA,B and C.

This article is Copyright 2001 Phil Askey and the review in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author. For information on reproducing any part of this review (or any images) please contact: Phil Askey.