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Canon EOS-1Ds

Canon EOS-1Ds Canon EOS-1Ds Review, Phil Askey, December 2002

Review based on a production EOS-1Ds, Firmware Version 1.0.1 Introduction The EOS-1Ds is Canons newest professional SLR. Based on the EOS-1D body the EOS-1Ds raises resolution to 11 megapixels, uses a CMOS sensor (just like the EOS-D30 and D60) and is the first Canon digital SLR with a sensor which captures a full 35 mm frame. Last year Canon introduced the EOS-1D, it was the first professional digital SLR since the EOS-D2000 which was a collaboration with Kodak. The EOS-1D has a 4 megapixel sensor and can capture at an amazing 8 frames per second, clearly targeted at the sports photographer. The EOS-1Ds covers almost every other type of photography, from landscape to portrait, photo journalism to weddings. The ability to use 35 mm lenses at their designed focal length (field of view) combined with the high pixel count will be strong points for those film photographers who have hesitated on going the digital route because of these two issues. The 1Ds is capable of shooting at wider angle than any other digital SLR (at least until the actual release of Kodaks DCS-14n). The EOS-1Ds body is based around the EOS-1V professionalfilm SLR. From a size point of view the 1Ds body is almost identical toan EOS-1V with the additional powerdrive booster attached. The base ofthe camera contains the large battery pack and allows for the integrationof a vertical (portrait) hand grip and control system. Build quality issuperb, the entire body moulded from magnesium alloy with environmentalseals around every compartment door, terminal, connector and button. Canon EOS-1Ds major features summary Professional EOS Digital SLRMagnesium body, environmentally sealed, based on EOS-1VIntegrated battery compartment / vertical hand grip11.4 megapixel CMOS sensor (primary colour filter)Full frame sensor, no field of view crop / focal length multiplierOutput image size: 4064 x 2704 or 2032 x 1352JPEG (Fine/Normal), RAW (12-bit) Simultaneous RAW+JPEG mode (saves RAW plus either Full sizeor Half size JPEG) Maximum burst speed of 3 fps for up to 10 JPEG frames or 10RAW framesOption to also record a JPEG file when shooting RAWISO 100 - 1250 in 1/3 stop steps, ISO 50 available from a customfunctionISO 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 - 1/8,000 sec (1/250 sec flashX-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 sensorWhite 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, 26 personal functions, which can be stored intofunction groupsBracketing of exposure (shutter / aperture), white balance andISO sensitivityVoice annotation capability (built-in microphone)Illuminated status LCDsSupplied RAW conversion application (File Viewer Utility)Supplied remote capture (tethered operation) software Double battery chargerNew features / updates since the EOS-1D Full-frame 11 megapixel CMOS sensorContinuous shooting down to 3 fps, max 10 imagesISO range 100 - 1250, ISO 50 selectable from custom functionNoise reduction takes effect from 1 sec (1/15 sec for the EOS-1D)Personal functions can be set via in-camera menuJPEG compression now represented as numbers rather than a rulerFAT32 filesystem support for Compact Flash cards greater than2 GBPlayback magnification now availableImages can be tagged with a unique signature for use with DataVerification KitImproved battery life (thanks to CMOS sensor)Fastest shutter speed down to 1/8,000 sec (1/16,000 sec forthe EOS-1D)X-Sync speed down to 1/250 sec (1/500 sec for the EOS-1D)

Canon EOS-1Ds Eleven megapixels

The EOS-1Ds features a full-frame 11 megapixel CMOS sensor.The sensor makes this camera the first Canon EF mount digital SLR withoutany field of view crop (focal length multiplier), that 16 - 35 mm lenswill provide the exact same field of view on the EOS-1Ds as it would onan EOS-1V with film. Interestingly despite the increase in resolution comparedto the EOS-D60 the EOS-1Ds sensor has a larger pixel pitch because ofits larger effective imaging area, this in theory will lead to more sensitivity,dynamic range and lower noise. Below you can see a comparison of the EOS-1Dssensor beside that from the EOS-1D and EOS-D60. To the right is a shotdown the neck of the EOS-1Ds with the sensor exposed.

Camera	Type	Effective pixels (millions)	Output image size	Focal length mult.	Effective imager size (mm)	Pixel pitch (�m)
Canon EOS-D30	CMOS	3.25	2160 x 1440	1.6x	22.7 x 15.1	9.9 x 9.9
Canon EOS-1D	CCD	4.15	2464 x 1648	1.3x	27.0 x 17.8	10.8 x 10.8
Nikon D100	CCD	6.11	3008 x 2000	1.5x	23.7 x 15.6	7.8 x 7.8
Canon EOS-D60	CMOS	6.30	3072 x 2048	1.6x	22.7 x 15.1	7.4 x 7.4
Nikon D1x	CCD	5.33	3008 x 1960	1.5x	23.7 x 15.6	5.9 x 11.7
APS-C negative	Film	n/a		n/a	23.4 x 16.7	n/a
Canon EOS-1Ds	CMOS	11.1	4064 x 2704	n/a	35.8 x 23.8	8.8 x 8.8
Kodak DCS-14n	CMOS	13.8	4536 x 3024	n/a	36.0 x 24.0	7.9 x 7.9
35 mm negative	Film	n/a		n/a	36.0 x 24.0	n/a

Canon EOS-1Ds Review Notes

Custom / Personal functions - throughoutthis review you will see small items written in this blue text, theserelate to the interaction of one or more of the EOS-1Ds custom or personalfunctions on that particular camera feature. Because of the similarity between the EOS-1Ds and EOS-1D some portions of this review are based on our review of the EOS-1D. Note however that certain critical points must still be observed and so I would recommend you read the entire review even if you are familiar with the EOS-1D.

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window.To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top.DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.

This article is Copyright 2002Phil Askey and the review in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced inany 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.