Continued from the last month's article, this issue continues the report on EOS D30, starting with Feature 9.
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| Fig. 1 Internal configuration of EOS D30 |
Feature 9: Complete compatibility with the E-TTL autoflash system
The flash systems of EOS D30, both the built-in flash (retractable type, with the guide No. 12/ISO100m), and the external flash (EX series flashes), are designed to support the E-TTL wireless autoflash control that is linked to active focusing points. Especially when the EOS-dedicated external flashes such as MR-14EX and 550EX are mounted onto this camera, its total flash system can provide specifications identical to those available with the EOS-1V and EOS-3 cameras. These features include the flash ratio control, the E-TTL wireless multiple autoflash for control of 3 groups (A, B, and C), the modeling flash, etc.
The E-TTL autoflash system of EOS D30 employs the most advanced flash control technology. Since its introduction in the EOS55+380EX in the autumn of l995, the E-TTL autoflash system has gone through several improvements, through the EOS-3 and EOS-1V and reaching near perfection with the EOS D30. This autoflash system has been well accepted by professional photographers in recent years.
The EOS D30 is also equipped with a PC sync terminal, so it can be used with large studio flash units.
Feature 10: Continuous shooting up to approximately 8 frames at 3 frames per second
It is possible to take 8 images continuously at the speed of 3 frames per second (with the settings of Large/Fine, One Shot AF mode, and the shutter speed of 1/250 second or faster). This capability is realized by incorporating motor drive and a high-capacity buffer memory into the camera.
The following three drive modes are available:
[1] One-shot Mode
[2] Continuous Mode
[3] Self-Timer Mode (shoots after 10 seconds delay)
Table 1 shows the recording image size, continuous shooting speed, and the number of frames at the maximum continuous shooting speed.
| Table 1 Quality setting, continuous shooting speed, and the number of continuous shooting frames | ||||
| Quality Setting | Approximate Number of Continuous Frames (Frames/Second) | Approximate Maximum Number of Frames | ||
| ONE SHOT | AI SERVO | ONE SHOT | AI SERVO | |
 Large/Fine |
3 | 2.5 | 8 | |
 Large/Normal |
17 | |||
 Small/Fine |
17 | |||
 Small/Normal |
30 | |||
 RAW |
3 | |||
| [a] | The number of frames is based on Canon's testing standards, which are determined at a shutter speed of 1/250 second or faster, and at ISO100. |
| [b] | The number of frames may vary depending upon the subject type and the shooting mode. |
Feature 11: 1.8" TFT color LCD monitor for instant confirmation of shooting images
Located on the back of the camera is a 1.8" TFT color LCD monitor (approximately 114,000 pixels with picture coverage of approximately 100%). The following are the major functions of this monitor.
[settings for Shooting]
A Quality (Photo 1)
B Red-eye reduction function
C AFB compensation
D ISO sensitivity
E Electronic sound
F Manual white balance setting
G Image selection
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| Photo 1 Menu screen to set Quality |
| H | Parameters (changes in the settings for automatic image processing characteristics) |
[Settings for Image Playback]
| • | Image protection (erase prevention) |
| • | Image rotation |
| • | Print command |
| • | Auto play |
[Settings for Camera's Basic Functions] |
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| • | Auto power-off |
| • | Review |
| • | Review time |
| • | LCD monitor Brightness |
| • | Date/Time |
| • | File number |
| • | Language |
| • | Video output |
| • | CompactFlash (CF) card Initialization Custom Functions (C.Fn: 13 types and 38 items) |
These settings can be accomplished simply by operating the quick control dial and "Set" button located in the center of the dial.
[2] Confirmation of shooting images (Review)
EOS D30 permits instantaneous review of the pictures that have been taken. The confirmation method can be selected as follows:
[Automatic Confirmation Immediately After Shooting]
If the "Review" on the camera basic function menu is activated, the shooting result is automatically displayed as soon as the picture is taken. The duration of the image display can be selected on the "Review time" menu as follows:
| • | 2 seconds |
| • | 4 seconds |
| • | 8 seconds |
| • | Hold (the image will be displayed until the shutter button is pressed down halfway again) |
| * | It is possible to erase the image immediately by pressing the erase button while the image is being displayed. |
[Review by Pressing the Playback Button] If the playback button is pressed, all the pictures taken previously can be verified at will by the following method: |
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| • | Single frame display (see Photo 2) |
| • | Index display with 9 frames (see Photo 3) |
| • | Enlarged display |
A single image frame can be displayed with the magnification factor of three by means of the focusing confirmation. |
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| Photo 2 Playback screen for single frame display |
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| Photo 3 Playback screen for index display with 9 frames |
The following information can be verified by pressing the "INFO" button located at the left side of the monitor:
• ISO speed
• Flash exposure compensation
• AEB step quantity
• C.Fn setting number
• Auto power-off time setting
• Review Setting
• Review time
| • | CF Card capacity remaining s (unit: MB) |
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| Photo 4 Ready-to-Shoot information display screen |
| • | Parameter (only when the changes in the automatic image processing characteristics are set through computer operation) |
| • | Possible images that can still be taken |
• Image
• File number
• Shutter speed
• Aperture value
• Year, date and time of shooting
• Exposure compensation
• Camera mode
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| Photo 5 Information display screen at playback |
• White balance
• Shooting mode
• Displayed image number/Total number of recorded frames
• Protection of recorded images (when "image protection" is set)
• Histogram (overall brightness distribution)
When the display of "INFO" data is deselected, only the information on the images, file numbers, displayed image number and total number of recorded frames will be displayed (see Photo 2).
[Note] The EOS D30 does not have an LCD monitor viewfinder function. Similar to the EOS film cameras, the SLR optical viewfinder (both horizontal and vertical finder coverage of approximately 95%) is used.
Feature 12: Employed CF cards with large recording capacity to store shot images
The EOS D30 records images on a CompactFlash (CF) card, which has excellent features; data compatibility with personal computer via PC cards, easy expansion of storage capacity, robustness and reliability. As indicated in Figure 2, the appropriate image recording format can be chosen as necessary from the following options by the photographer. These include four JPEG file formats, called Quality settings, by combination of the image compression ratio (Fine/Normal) and the image size (Large: 2,160 x 1,440 pixels, Small: 1,440 x 960 pixels), as well as the RAW format in which raw data is stored in "lossless" compression without image degradation.
When a 16MB type CF card bundled with the EOS D30 is used, approximately 12 and 22 frames of pictures can be taken at the Large/Fine and Large/Normal modes, respectively, or approximately 22 and 40 at the Small/Fine and Small/Normal modes, respectively.
In addition, CF cards of 8MB, 16MB, 30MB, and 40MB capacity can be purchased separately. Since the EOS D30 is also compatible with CF Type II, the user can take advantage of the high capacity storage media such as the IBM Microdrive.
| Table 2 Quality setting and 16 MB CF card capacity | |||||
| Quality | Number of Recording Pixels | Recording Format | Compression Ratio | Single Frame Size | Number of Recordable Frames |
Large/Fine |
2160X1440 | JPEG | Low Compression | Approx. 1.3 MB | Approx. 12 |
Large/Normal |
High Compression | Approx. 0.7 MB | Approx. 22 | ||
Small/Fine |
1440X960 | Low Compression | Approx. 0.7 MB | Approx. 22 | |
Small/Normal |
High Compression | Approx. 0.4 MB | Approx. 40 | ||
| RAW |
2160X1440 | Loss-less Compression RAW | -- | Approx. 3.4 MB | Approx. 3 |
| [a] | The number of recordable frames is based on Canon's testing standards (at the ISO100 setting). |
| [b] | The number of recordable frames is that when the standard CF card/FC-16M is used. |
| [c] | The single frame size and the number of recordable frames may vary depending upon the subject type and the shooting mode. |
Feature 13: File format conforming to the industry standard
The file format of EOS D30 is compatible with the following standard specifications of the industry:
• "Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)" for image file
• "Digital Print Order Format (DPOF)" for printing
[DCF]
DCF is the industry standard determined by the Japan Electronic Industry Development Association (JEIDA). As long as a digital camera complies with this standard, no matter who the manufacturer is, it is possible to playback or add shooting images, exchange image data, as well as to print the images directly using the printers that support the DCF standard.
[DPOF]
DPOF is the printing format proposed by four companies; Eastman Kodak Company, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., and Canon Inc. DPOF was developed to minimize cumbersome print ordering processes or various settings for a direct printer at the digital service photo-labs. These jobs can be executed in the playback mode of your digital camera. You can specify from the camera the images and print quantities you want, and write this information onto the CF card for easy printing.
Introduced above in this issue are features 9 through 13 of the EOS D30. Since the explanations given may not be thorough enough due to the limited space, the contents of display panel (overall view) in Figure 2 and the names of external components are given in Figures 3-1 and 3-2 in Part 1 of this report. We hope these figures would assist you in understanding the general configuration of EOS D30.
(Continue to the next issue)
Fig. 2 Contents of display panel (Overall View) |
Fig. 3-1 External components Nomenclature (front view) |
Fig. 3-2 Names of external components (back view) |