Evolution of digital features
(1) Large CMOS sensor with 6.3 effective megapixels
As did the EOS D60, the EOS 10D employs a large CMOS sensor with about 6.3 effective megapixels (out of a total of 6.50 megapixels) and an effective sensor size of 22.7 x 15.1mm (Photo 2).
Although the size and pixel count of the EOS 10D’s CMOS sensor are the same as those of the EOS D60, the EOS 10D achieves a higher sensitivity and S/N ratio as well as further noise reduction during long exposure, thanks to a new even more precise manufacturing method, new advanced peripheral circuitry and an improved built-in amplifier.
The EOS 10D incorporates the primary color filter and the hybrid low-pass filter comprised of two quartz crystal plates and a phase plate combined with infrared cut dichroic mirror and infrared absorption glass.
| (2) DIGIC Digital Imaging
Processor With Canon’s proprietary Digital Imaging Processor, called DIGIC (Digital Imaging IC, Photo 3) for high-quality image processing, the image quality of the EOS 10D is more precise and detailed and the color reproduction looks more natural than that of the EOS D60. |
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(3) RAW+JPEG simultaneous recording function further expanded
When a RAW image is captured, the EOS 10D simultaneously records and stores a JPEG image in the RAW image file. Unlike the EOS D60 where this mode is only possible for the Middle/Fine setting, the JPEG image can be set to any of the six JPEG quality settings with the EOS 10D (see Table 1).
Table 1 Image Recording Quality and Capacity
(4) Compatible with Adobe RGB
While the EOS D60 is compatible only with sRGB, the EOS 10D is compatible both with sRGB and Adobe RGB (see Fig. 1) like the EOS-1D/EOS-1Ds.
(5) Processing parameter settings expanded with more increments
The settable processing parameters (Contrast, Sharpness, Color Saturation, Color Tone) are the same as with the EOS D60. However, the range of the parameters has been extended and the increments have been increased from 3 steps with the EOS D60 to 5 steps (see Fig. 2), allowing the user to define more detailed image characteristics according to the shooting conditions.
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| Fig. 1 Adobe RGB Selecting Menu | Fig. 2 Processing Parameter Settings Menu |
• White balance bracketing (WB-BKT)
With JPEG images, white balance bracketing can be set up to ±3 stops in whole-stop increments (1 stop equivalent to 5 Mireds). With just one shot, three bracketed images (normal, reddish, bluish) are captured automatically while the EOS-1D/EOS-1Ds require three shutter releases.
• Color temperature setting
The color temperature can be set from 2800K to 10000K in 100K increments.
• Preset white balance
In addition to the EOS D60’s five white balance modes (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent and Flash), the EOS 10D has a new setting for Shade (approx. 7000K).
(7) ISO speed
The ISO speed can be set to 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and to 3200 when ISO expansion is set to ON.
While the highest ISO speed of the EOS D60 is 1000, the EOS 10D offers even higher ISO speed of 1600 or 3200.
ISO speed can be set to any value in the Creative Zone modes such as shutter-priority AE, but it is set automatically within ISO 100 to 400 in Basic Zone modes as shown in Table 2.
| AE Shooting | Flash Shooting | ||
| Built-in | External | ||
| Full Auto | 100 to 400 | 400 | 100 |
| Portrait | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Landscape | 100 to 400 | — | 100 |
| Close-Up | 100 to 400 | 400 | — |
| Sports | 400 | — | 400 |
| Night Portrait | 100 to 400 | 400 | 100 |
| Flash OFF | 100 to 400 | — | — |
(8) Compatible recording media with 2 GB and larger
The EOS D60 can only handle recording media up to 2GB. However, the EOS 10D can handle recording media larger than 2 GB in anticipation of larger recording media in the future.
Moreover, the EOS 10D succeeds in reducing the image data volume for the same pixel count by about 7 to 20% compared to the EOS D60.
(9) Magnified (Zoom) view
The EOS D60’s magnified image view is fixed at about 3x with nine image segments. However, the EOS 10D permits the user to magnify the image up to 10x with the Magnify/Reduce button. It is also possible for the user to scroll over the image horizontally and vertically with the direction button and Quick Control Dial while in the magnified view.
Index display (nine thumbnail images) is shown by pressing the Reduce button during a single image display.
(10) Enlarged image viewing
By turning Quick Control Dial while in the enlarged view, the previous or next image stored in the CF card can be viewed, maintaining enlarged status. This function is helpful to the focus confirmation of multiple shots in a single shooting occasion.
(11) Automatic rotation of vertical image
With orientation detection function, vertical images are rotated automatically to the upright position for image viewing as shown in Fig. 3.
The EOS 10D is compatible with USB 1.1 for computer connection. The DIGITAL terminal has been changed to a smaller and easier type as with the latest PowerShot-series digital cameras.
Evolution of shooting features
The EOS 10D achieves further improvements in shooting features especially on AF performance, in accordance with feedback from EOS D60 users.
(1) High-speed, 7point AF
The EOS 10D adopts the same CMOS sensor (Photo 4) as the EOS 7/EOS Kiss 5 in the AF system with seven AF points. The smaller screen size, compared to EOS-series 35mm SLR cameras, contributes to an optimal positioning balance between focusing points against the viewfinder coverage (see Fig. 4), resulting in accurate focusing with speedy subject tracking.
With a high-speed 32bit RISC microcomputer and an improved AF sequence to maximize its benefits, the EOS 10D’s AF speed is as fast as the EOS 7 and approximately 1.5 to 2 times faster than the EOS D60.
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| Photo 4 AF Sensor | Fig. 4 Viewfinder View |
AI Servo AF system incorporated in the EOS 10D is based on the design concept adopted by the EOS-1V, the EOS-1D, the EOS-1Ds, and the EOS Kiss 5, performing precise and high-speed control for superb subject tracking and stable continuous shooting speed. As a result, the EOS 10D achieves higher level of predictive AF performance to track a moving subject which is approaching at a speed of 50km/h, to as close as eight meters when used with EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM (twelve meters with the EOS D60, see Fig. 5).
(with EF300 f/2.8L IS USM)
As with the EOS 7, an SI optical system is employed in the EOS 10D. It is comprised of horizontal 5 metering points arranged in front of pentaprism and vertical 2 metering points along the side of mirror box, ensuring superimposed display which can be clearly viewable even under bright conditions of EV 15 (see Fig. 6).
While the continuous shooting speed of the EOS D60 is approximately 3 fps at one-shot AF and 2.5 fps at AI servo AF, the EOS 10D accomplishes continuous shooting speed of approximately 3 fps in both modes thanks to a high-speed RISC microcomputer and an improved AF sequence.
Like the EOS D60, the EOS 10D does not perform image processing during shooting, thus providing a maximum burst of 9 shots during continuous shooting, regardless of the recording quality.
(5) Flash OFF mode
The Flash OFF mode is added to the Basic Zone of the Mode Dial (see Fig. 7). This mode is effective for photography where only the given light is applied in order to create an atmosphere. This mode disables any EOS-dedicated, external Speedlites as well.
As with the EOS D60, the EOS 10D has a shutter speed range of 1/4000 sec. to 30 sec., X-sync at 1/200 sec., and a 35-zone metering sensor. For even better exposure stability in various situations, the camera also has a new evaluative metering algorithm based on the EOS Kiss 5’s and a new flash metering algorithm based on the EOS-1V and the EOS-1D’s E-TTL autoflash algorithm.
(To be continued in the next issue)
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| Photo 5 EOS 10D Top View | Photo 6 EOS 10D Back View |