This month's Technical Report introduces the EOS 5D, Canon's high-end digital AF SLR camera with a 12.8-megapixel, 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor. It was announced on August 23, 2005.
Concept of development
The EOS 5D (Photo 1) is a high-end digital AF SLR camera newly developed under the following design concepts:
High image quality with 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor
• 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor with about 12.8 effective megapixels
• DIGIC II digital imaging engine for precise natural color reproduction and high-speed image processing
• The new Picture Style function provides optimal images for the photographer's purposes and desired effects
Quick response despite the high pixel count
• 0.2-second start-up time
• ISO speed range: 100 to 1600 (ISO extension settable L: 50, H: 3200)
• 3 fps continuous shooting (approx.) and maximum burst of 60 shots in JPEG Large/Fine format
Advanced functions and high performance
• Nine-point AF with six Assist AF points (three center points: AF at f/2.8)
• Interchangeable focusing screen
• 1/8000 sec. top shutter speed and X-sync at 1/200 sec.
• Specifications equivalent to the EOS-1D series
• Enhanced customizing functions
• High-definition 2.5" large LCD monitor with wide viewing angle
• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed supported
Quality design, compact and lightweight body
• Conventional design says Quality
• Magnesium alloy exterior
• 35mm full-frame camera measures a compact 152 x 113 x 75mm and weighs only 810g
Digital features: High-quality, precise image
(1) 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor with about 12.8 effective megapixels
The EOS 5D employs Canon's own large 35.8 x 23.9mm CMOS sensor with about 12.8 effective megapixels (see Photo 2), an RGB primary color filter, and high-quality three-layer hybrid low-pass/infrared cut filter. This enables the camera to achieve the highest level of precision and image quality of any digital AF SLR camera, matching the performance of digital backs for medium format cameras. The full 35mm film frame size and aspect ratio makes 35mm film camera users comfortable shooting with the EOS 5D.
(2) Ultra-fast, high-performance DIGIC II digital imaging engine
The EOS 5D employs the DIGIC II ultra-fast, high-performance imaging engine. The DIGIC II provides advanced processing ability and high-speed 4-channel signal scanning for precise, high-quality digital images and about 3 fps continuous shooting and maximum burst of 60 shots in JPEG Large/Fine format. DIGIC II is also a key component of the Picture Style function.
(3) New Picture Style function for images that best fit the purposes and desired effects
Six preset and three user-defined Picture Style settings are newly available.
• Six Picture Style settings
Image characteristics, so far defined with the processing parameters and color matrix when shooting, are now intuitively selectable with six preset ''Picture Style'' settings: Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful and Monochrome (See Table 1).
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| Table 1 Picture Style Settings and Characteristics |
The Picture Style function enables users to select the optimum settings for their purposes and desired effects at the time of shooting, just like choosing the appropriate film for a film camera.
These six Picture Style settings may well be regarded as ''digital films'' produced by Canon. The default setting can be adjusted by the user (Fig. 2).
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Fig. 1 Image-Recording Quality Setting Screen |
Fig. 2 Picture Style Selection Screen and Detailed Setting Screen |
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• Three user-defined Picture Style settings
The EOS 5D can also store up to three Picture Style settings adjusted or set as desired by the user. Adjustable parameters are sharpness, contrast, saturation and color tone. The adjustment range of each parameter is twice that of conventional models.
• Additional Picture Style file download
When new Picture Style settings are developed in the future, they will be downloadable from the Internet.
• DPP Ver. 2.0 supporting Picture Style
The high-speed RAW image processing software DPP (Digital Photo Professional) Ver. 2.0 provided with the EOS 5D supports Picture Style. It enables RAW images shot with the camera to be processed in any Picture Style setting. With DPP Ver. 2.0, up-to-date Picture Style settings are available for processing RAW data recorded with the EOS D30 or later EOS DIGITAL camera.
(4) Improved white balance
The EOS 5D has the following white balance modes: auto, preset for six light sources, custom and color temperature setting.
(5) Wide ISO speed range equal to the EOS-1Ds Mark II
The EOS 5D has the same ISO 100 to 1600 speed range (ISO extension to as low as 50 or as high as 3200) as in the EOS-1Ds Mark II.
(6) 230,000-pixel, high-definition 2.5'' LCD monitor
The EOS 5D employs a large, high-definition 2.5'' LCD monitor (Photo 3) without sacrificing operability.
With its wide viewing angle (See Fig. 3), this monitor is very easy to see even from a considerable angle, and its large area (about double that of the EOS 20D) means the menu display is large and easy to read as well.
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| Photo 3 EOS 5D Back View | Fig. 3 Wide Viewing Angle of LCD Monitor |
Shooting features
(1) 0.2-second start-up time
The EOS 5D has a quick 0.2-sec start-up time approx thanks to the expertise accumulated through the development of the EOS 20D.
(2) High-speed, precise nine-point AF with six Assist points
With its new nine-point AF sensor with six Assist AF points (See Photo 4), the EOS 5D focuses quickly and precisely. Nine focusing points (AF points) are displayed in the viewfinder (Fig. 4). The center AF frame has a cross-type sensor with a highly sensitive vertical line-sensor working at f/2.8 and a horizontal line-sensitive sensor working at f/5.6 with a base length twice as long as previous models. This delivers improvement in both tracking and precision.
Also six Assist AF points (two points for f/2.8 and four points for f/5.6, all invisible) (Fig. 4) are located for intensive measurement in the center area. The six points together with the nine points deliver fifteen-point AF in the AI servo AF mode for automatic AF point selection, dramatically enhancing the performance in tracking.
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| Fig. 4 AF Points in the Viewfinder |
The EOS 5D features spot metering function in response to many requests from advanced users.
(4) Approx. 3 fps and maximum 60-shot burst
The EOS 5D achieves about 3 fps continuous shooting despite the very high-resolution 12.8- megapixel sensor.
The camera can continuously take as many as 60 shots in JPEG Large/Fine, 120 shots in JPEG Middle/Fine, and up to the capacity of the CF card in JPEG Middle/Normal and Small/Normal formats (see Table 2).
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| Notes: | * | The file size and number of shots possible are based on Canon's testing criteria. | |||
| * | The actual file size and number of possible shots will depend on the subject, JPEG quality, shooting mode, ISO speed, processing parameters, etc. | ||||
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Memory Card according to Image Size
(5) Interchangeable focusing screen
The EOS 5D has interchangeable focusing screens. In addition to the standard Ee-A focusing screen, two optional focusing screens are available: Grid-type precision matte Ee-D and Super precision matte Ee-S making it easy to see the center focus when a large aperture lens is used.
Note: These focusing screens are not compatible with the interchangeable screens for the EOS-1D series.
(6) Shutter durability of 100,000 cycles
The EOD 5D has a newly developed high-speed, high-durability 35mm full-frame shutter. The charge motor uses carbon brushes and it has electronic X-sync contact. This new shutter gives durability of 100,000 cycles.
Design and operability features
(1) Conventional design with metal exterior
The design concept for the EOS 5D is ''Premium EOS''. The metal exterior adds an air of dignity and stateliness to the straightforward design of the camera. The camera inherits the basic operations of the EOS 20D.
(2) Multi-controller
The EOS 5D features the multi-controller hailed in the EOS 20D. The controller can be used to easily select AF frame, set white balance compensation or move the cropping frame for direct printing.
(3) Direct Printing supported
The EOS 5D supports direct printing. Once the printing conditions are set, direct printing is as easy as the following steps: (1) select the image to be printed on the LCD monitor and (2) press the Direct Print button. Maximum size for direct printing is A3+ (329 x 483mm).
(4) Enhanced custom functions
The EOS 5D provides twenty-one custom functions with fifty-seven settings. Most of the camera settings, including those on the top LCD panel, menu items and C. Fn, can be stored using ''C'' on the mode dial (Fig. 5).
(with EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM)
Table 3 shows the major specifications comparison between the EOS 5D, the EOS-1Ds Mark II, and the EOS 20D. Concurrent with the EOS 5D, Battery Grip BG-E4 (Photo 6), Speedlite 430EX (Photo 7) and new EF lenses were developed. The next issue will introduce these new EF lenses.
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| Photo 6 With Battery Grip BG-E4 | Photo 7 With Speedlite 430EX |