Digital AF SLR camera incorporating ultra-fine 6.3 megapixel CMOS sensor

EOS D60 (Part 2)

Continued from last month, this month’s technical report introduces more points of evolution (Evolution 8 to 10) of the EOS D60, a new digital AF SLR camera. Please refer to the previous issue for points 1 to 7.

Fig. 1 EOS D60 internal structure

Evolution 8: Improved operability While retaining the "shooting-priority" concept of the EOS-D30, the operation system of the EOS-D60 (see Photos 1 and 2) incorporates further improvements as follows:

Photo 1 EOS D60 top view Photo 2 EOS D60 back view

(1) Shorter startup time from power off The EOS D60’s startup time* is the same as the EOS D30’s when used with a CF card, but reduced approximately 30% when used with a high-capacity Microdrive storage device (about 2.2 sec. with 50% usage of 1GB medium compared to about 3.5 sec. with the EOS D30). This was achieved by improving the process for obtaining information about the recording medium’s usable area. * Startup time: Starting from main switch off/auto power off, the time from power on until the camera is ready to shoot. (2) More stable shutter release time lag With the EOS D30, the release time lag* varies depending on its drive mode (single-frame/continuous shooting) and lighting condition (shutter speed), because of noise reduction. The EOS D60 has a stable release time lag of about 100 ms and the viewfinder blackout time of around 300 ms, giving almost the same shutter operation as with film-based EOS cameras. * Release time lag: Starting with the shutter button half pressed, release time lag is measured from the instant the shutter button is fully pressed until exposure actually starts. (3) Superimposed display for AF points The EOS D60 employs the EOS 55 illumination optics for the superimposed display (red) in the viewfinder so that the in-focus AF points are illuminated clearly. (4) More viewfinder information The EOS D60 provides additional information at the bottom of the viewfinder (see Fig. 2). • Flash exposure compensation icon • Maximum burst count during continuous shooting • Shots remaining on the CF card

Fig. 2 Viewfinder information

(5) LCD panel illumination The LCD panel of the EOS D60 (see Fig. 3) now has Electro-Luminescent (EL) backlight illumination, improving the display visibility in poor light.

Fig. 3 LCD Panel

(6) Improved LCD monitor visibility The TFT LCD monitor on the back provides a greater angle of visibility, enhancing the visibility at peripheral angles. (7) Expanded Custom Functions The EOS D60 incorporates two additional Custom Functions and modified settings. C.Fn-14 (new): Superimposed display (on/off) C.Fn-15 (new): Shutter release without CF card (enabled/disabled) C.Fn-5 (modified): AF-assist beam/Flash firing (four combinations of setting). Only AF-assist beam setting (emits/does not emit) was available with the EOS D30, but flash firing setting is added to the EOS D60 to allow users to select from among four combinations of setting. The following design changes were also made mainly for improved operability.

• Shape of the main switch • Color of the top of the mode dial (changed from black to metallic titanium) • Integration of the terminal cover The PC terminal and remote control terminal now share a joint door/cap with the Digital and Video Out terminals, instead of separate caps, to prevent loss. • Attachment of "DIGITAL" nameplate to the lower right of the camera front.

Evolution 9: Compliant with Exif Print standard (Exif 2.2) The EOS D60 supports Exif Print (Exif 2.2: Exchangeable Image File Format) standardized in February 2002. This Exif Print standard was accredited by JEITA (the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association) to strengthen the interaction between digital cameras and printers for easy, high-quality prints. With the Exif Print capability, information about shooting conditions (exposure compensation, white balance, flash firing, etc.) and situations (normal, landscape, portrait, night scene, etc.), which is saved in the camera’s memory, is transmitted to the printer for more faithful printing. The detailed mechanism will be explained at a later date. Evolution 10: Comprehensive package of application programs Bundled with the EOS D60 is the EOS Digital Solution Disk Ver. 2.0 containing comprehensive application programs, as well as Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE, the standard image-processing software. The EOS Digital Solution Disk consists of the following software. For Windows (1) TWAIN Driver This driver works with Windows 98 SE or Windows 2000 (see Fig. 4). It enables users to view and download images and process RAW images stored in the EOS D60’s CF card when the camera is connected to a computer with the dedicated USB cable. As shown in Table 1, it is also compatible with the EOS D30 and even with EOS-1D images downloaded through a card reader. This driver operates within an image-processing program such as Photoshop LE.

Fig. 4 TWAIN Driver main window

(2) WIA Driver This driver works with Windows Me and Windows XP. When the EOS D60 is connected to a computer with the interface cable, the Scanners and Cameras Wizard automatically appears to download images. It also permits users to easily copy images in much the same way as files are copied in Explorer. (3) ZoomBrowser EX When the EOS D60 is connected to a computer with the USB cable, this image management software starts automatically and displays the images stored in the camera’s CF card (see Fig. 5). With ZoomBrowser EX, the images can be downloaded, sorted by file, and displayed in alphabetical or chronological format on a computer. The Japanese version of ZoomBrowser EX includes a CIG (Canon Image Gateway: membership online photo service) access function.

Fig. 5 ZoomBrowser EX main window

(4) PhotoRecord This layout and printing utility program (see Fig. 6) provides functions to apply photo frames and backgrounds to images, and to insert characters such as titles and comments. It also allows users to easily layout and crop multiple images in various sizes on one page, or print an index of stored images. (5) RAW Image Converter This utility program can process the RAW images captured by the EOS D60 and saved in a computer. The processed images can be stored in TIFF (8 or 16 bit/channel) or JPEG format. (6) PhotoStitch This utility program can be used to automatically merge multiple images into a single image with great precision and is ideal for creating panorama photos or even 360-degree cylindorical pictures. Fig. 6 PhotoRecord print layout window

(7) RemoteCapture This utility program (see Fig. 7) enables users to control the EOS D60 from a computer and to download images directly from the camera to the computer. As well as shooting single images, RemoteCapture can take pictures using a timer (from 2 to 30 seconds in one-second increments) or interval timer (with intervals of 5 seconds to 60 minutes in one-second increments).

Fig. 7 RemoteCapture save window

For Macintosh (1) Plug-in Module This plug-in module has the same functions as the TWAIN Driver for Windows. (2) USB Mounter This utility mounts the EOS-D60, when connected with the interface cable, as a read-only removable disk on the computer desktop. Images captured by the EOS-D60 can then be easily copied to the Macintosh's hard disk. (3) ImageBrowser This is an image management utility that provides the same functions as ZoomBrowser EX for Windows, and also has the same printing functions as the PhotoRecord for Windows. (4) RAW Image Converter This is a Macintosh version of RAW Image Converter for Windows. (5) PhotoStitch This is a Macintosh version of PhotoStitch for Windows. (6) RemoteCapture This is a Macintosh version of RemoteCapture for Windows. The information on the EOS D60 has been presented in two parts. The EOS D60 is designed to satisfy result-oriented creative users with its 6.3 effective megapixel CCD for excellent image quality even in A3-size prints as well as with its advanced functions.

Table 1 TWAIN Driver functions and compatible cameras

Function Compatible cameras EOS D60 EOS D30 EOS-1D* Compatible format JPEG RAW JPEG RAW JPEG RAW Rotate image Protect image Erase image Set checkmarks Transfer image Save image Input comment Show image information Set IPTC information - - - - Show AF frame - - - - Play back sound - - - - Extract JPEG - - - - - Digital exposure compensation - - - - Set white balance - - - Set color temperature - - - - - Click white balance - - - Save white balance data - - - - - Adjust contrast - - - - Adjust color density - - - - Adjust color balance - - - - - Adjust tone curve - - - - - Select color matrix - - - - - Camera setting functions ID, date & time Disabled because the functions are not compatible with IEEE 1394 interface Personal functions - - Processing parameters Can be set on the camera itself

* The EOS-1D is compatible only with images downloaded to a computer with a card reader.