[ Japan : EOS Kiss Digital, Americas : EOS DIGITAL REBEL,
Europe/Asia/Oceania : EOS 300D DIGITAL ]
This month's Technical Report begins an overview of the EOS Kiss Digital, a new digital AF SLR that was announced worldwide on August 20, 2003 as a highly affordable model incorporating a 6.3 megapixel CMOS sensor.
(Built-In Flash Retracted)
The EOS Kiss series of SLR cameras, which has attracted more than 8.5 million users worldwide since its debut in 1993, has gone digital. While inheriting the basic concepts of the Canon's best-selling EOS Kiss series 35mm SLR cameras, the new EOS Kiss Digital (Photo 1), incorporates digital specifications equivalent with the EOS 10D.
The concepts of development are as follows:
New entry level EOS digital SLR camera
| • | 6.3-megapixel CMOS sensor |
| • | Digital specifications equivalent with the EOS 10D |
| • | Higher shooting performance than the EOS Kiss 5 |
| • | High-speed, 7-point AF |
| • | Excellent cost performance |
Compatible with all EF lenses including newly developed EF-S lens
| • | Simultaneous development of the EF-S lens, a standard zoom lens exclusively for the EOS Kiss Digital |
| • | Compatible with all EF lenses |
Simple and easy operation, compact and high-grade design
| • | Retains the basic operational ease of EOS series SLR cameras |
| • | Adopts cross keys for digital operations |
| • | Stylish and refreshing body design |
| • | Titanium gray, metallic color body |
Compatible with Direct printing
| • | Compatible with the PictBridge standard |
| • | By connecting with Bubble Jet and CP series photo printers, images can be printed directly from the camera without using computer |
Digital features
(1) Large CMOS sensor with 6.3 effective megapixels
| The EOS Kiss Digital 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). The size and pixel count of
the EOS Kiss Digital's CMOS sensor are the same as those of the EOS 10D. In terms of the sensor's basic performance such as high S/N ratio and noise reduction during long exposure, the EOS Kiss Digital also achieves the same level of performance as the EOS 10D except for the maximum ISO sensitivity (EOS Kiss Digital: 1600/EOS 10D: 3200). The EOS Kiss Digital 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 as with the EOS 10D. |
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| With Canon's proprietary
Digital Imaging Processor, called DIGIC (Digital Imaging IC, Photo 3) for high-quality
image processing, the EOS Kiss Digital attains the precise and detailed image
quality as well as natural-looking color reproduction equivalent to that of the
EOS 10D. |
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| (3) | Features processing parameter 1 as standard settings for vivid and crisp colors |
| In addition to the "Standard"
type of processing parameter settings of the EOS 10D, the EOS Kiss Digital provides
a new standard, Parameter 1 (see Fig. 1), for more vivid, crisp colors ideal for
direct printing. In Basic Zone modes, the camera is automatically set to Parameter
1. In Creative Zone modes, it is possible for the user to select parameter settings
as required. |
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Parameter 2 settings obtain the same image characteristics as with the "Standard" settings in the EOS 10D. The captured image is processed to look as faithful to the original as possible, allowing the users to freely retouch the image. The settable processing parameters (Contrast, Sharpness, Color Saturation and Color Tone) can be set at five increments as with the EOS 10D.
The default processing settings of Parameter 1 and 2 are shown in Figs. 2 and 3 respectively.
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| Fig. 2 Parameter 1 Settings | Fig. 3 Parameter 2 Settings |
The ISO speed can be set to 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1600. 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 1.
| AE Shooting | Flash Shooting | |||
| Normal | Daytime Backlit Conditions | Built-In | External | |
| Full Auto | 100 to 400 | 100 | 400 | 100 |
| Portrait |
100 | 100 | 100 | |
| Landscape |
100 to 400 | 100 | — | 100 |
| Close-Up | 100 to 400 | 100 | 400 | 100 |
| Sports | 400 | — | 400 | |
| Night Portrait | 100 to 400 | 100 | 400 | 100 |
| Flash OFF | 100 to 400 | 100 | — | — |
(5) Magnified (Zoom) view
As with the EOS 10D, the EOS Kiss Digital 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 cross keys while in the magnified view.
Index display (nine thumbnail images) is shown by pressing the Reduce button during a single image display.
(6) Enlarged image viewing
By turning Main 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 for focus confirmation of multiple shots in a single shooting occasion.
(7) Automatic rotation of vertical image
With orientation detection function, vertical images are rotated automatically to the upright position for image viewing while Auto Rotate is set to ON.
| (8) | Feature-laden white balance and white balance bracketing (WB-BKT) |
The EOS Kiss Digital achieves the accurate and stable automatic white balance by dividing the screen into hundred thousands-zones for precise calculation.
• Preset white balance
As does the EOS 10D, the EOS Kiss Digital has seven white balance modes (Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash and Custom).
• White balance bracketing
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.
(9) RAW+JPEG simultaneous recording function
When a RAW image is captured, the EOS Kiss Digital simultaneously records and stores a JPEG image in the RAW image file as the EOS 10D does. However, while the JPEG image can be set to any of the six JPEG quality settings with the EOS 10D, only the Middle/Fine setting is possible in the EOS Kiss Digital (see Table 2).
Table 2 Image File Size and CF Card Capacity According to Image-Recording Quality
(10) Compatible with Adobe RGB
The EOS Kiss Digital is compatible with Adobe RGB like the EOS-1D, EOS-1Ds and EOS 10D.
(11) Compatible with 2-GB and larger recording media
The EOS Kiss Digital can handle recording media larger than 2 GB like the EOS-1Ds and the EOS 10D.
(12) Smaller USB port
The EOS Kiss Digital is compatible with USB 1.1 for computer connection. The DIGITAL terminal has been changed to the smaller, more convenient type as adopted in the latest PowerShot-series and the EOS 10D.
Shooting functions
The EOS Kiss Digital is equipped with the same basic shooting functions as those of the EOS Kiss 5.
(1) High-speed, 7-point AF
| The EOS Kiss Digital adopts the same CMOS sensor as the EOS 7/EOS Kiss 5/EOS 10D in the AF system with seven AF points. The smaller screen size, compared to EOS-series 35mm SLR cameras, contributes to optimal positioning balance between focusing points against the viewfinder coverage (see Fig. 4), resulting in accurate focusing with speedy subject tracking. |
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[ Japan : EOS 7, Americas : EOS ELAN 7E/DATE /7, Europe/Asia/Oceania : EOS 30/DATE 33/DATE ]
With a high-speed 32bit RISC microcomputer and an improved AF sequence to maximize its benefits, the EOS Kiss Digital’s AF speed is as fast as the EOS 10D.
AI Servo AF system incorporated in the EOS Kiss Digital has the same sequence and algorithm as with the EOS 10D, performing precise and high-speed control for superb subject tracking and stable continuous shooting speed. As a result, the EOS Kiss Digital achieves a higher level of predictive AF performance, and is able to track a moving subject approaching at a speed of 50km/h, to as close as ten meters when used with EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM.
(2) Superimposed (SI) display of seven AF points
The EOS Kiss Digital employs the same SI optical system (see Fig. 5) as the EOS Kiss 5, where superimpose is conducted by applying a light to the points within AF frames.
The EOS Kiss Digital gives continuous shooting at approximately 2.5 fps and 4-shot burst in both one-shot AF and AI servo AF thanks to a high-speed RISC microcomputer and an improved AF sequence.
(4) A variety of exposure control modes
The EOS Kiss Digital has the same number of light metering and exposure control modes as the EOS Kiss 5 (see Fig. 6). As with the EOS 10D, the EOS Kiss Digital has a shutter speed range of 1/4,000 to 30 sec., bulb, X-sync at 1/200 sec. and a 35-zone metering sensor. Also, the Flash OFF mode is added to the Basic Zone of the Mode Dial. This mode is effective for photography where only the ambient light is used to create an atmosphere.
The EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM (focal length range equivalent to 29-88mm in 35mm film) is a compact, lightweight standard zoom lens that was developed simultaneously and exclusively for the EOS Kiss Digital. While retaining the basic structure of the EF lens mount, the EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM incorporates a renewed design so as to optimally match the CMOS sensor size adopted in the EOS Kiss Digital.
The EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM has a shorter back-focus (distance from the rear of the lens to the focal plane) and smaller image circle than other EF lenses to match the EOS Kiss Digital’s frame size of 22.7 x 15.1 mm, which made it possible to realize a wider angle of view, as well as a compact, lightweight lens.
Because of the short back focus, the rear of the EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM intrudes into the camera body. The EOS Kiss Digital solves this problem by recessing the inner ring of body mount (see Fig. 7) by 3 mm and adopting a compact main reflex mirror that has a rear swing-up mechanism.
The EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM cannot be physically attached to EOS SLR cameras other than the EOS Kiss Digital since the rear end sticks out further than other EF lenses.
More information on the EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM will be provided in the next issue.
* An "S" in the name of the EF-S lens comes from the first initial of the "short back focus."
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| Photo 4 Top View | Photo 5 Back View | Photo 6 With Built-In Flash Popped Up |
The EOS Kiss Digital has a longer off-set between the center of the built-in flash head and the optical axis of the lens. As a result, when the camera is used with EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM without a hood, shooting at the shortest distance of 0.7 m is possible without vignetting caused by the lens barrel.