[ Japan:EOS Kiss F, Americas:EOS Rebel XS, Europe/Asia/Oceania:EOS 1000D ]
Our July technical report brings you the latest news about our new EOS Kiss F, which went on sale in June.
Development aims
As the sister model to the EOS Kiss X2, the EOS Kiss F (Photo 1) is an entry-level, digital AF SLR camera with excellent image quality. The Kiss F was developed from the ground up to be sufficiently feature-rich while remaining easy on the pocketbook. The specific development aims are listed below.
• Superb resolution and image quality
· 10.10 megapixel CMOS sensor
· DIGIC III for fine detail and natural color
• Enhanced basic features
· High-speed seven-point broad coverage AF
· Continuous shooting with a maximum burst of 514 frames at three fps
· 2.5-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD monitor with a wide viewing angle
· Live View shooting functionality
· EOS Integrated Cleaning System
• Simple, intuitive operation
· Shares the EOS Kiss X2's intuitive, simple, and clear operability
• Attractive compact, Lightweight design
· Compact design emphasizing simplicity and ease-of-use
· 126.1 × 97.5 × 61.9 millimeters, 450 grams
Let's take a closer look at the EOS Kiss F, noting in particular the changes made from the EOS Kiss X2 and EOS Kiss Digital X.
Excellent resolution, image quality, and digital functions
(1)Canon-developed 10.10-megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC III
The EOS Kiss F's excellent image detail and exceptional image rendering are the result of employing our proven CMOS sensor (Photo 2) with 10.10 effective megapixels and an effective sensor size of 22.2 x 14.8mm - the same sensor used in the EOS Kiss Digital X - together with our latest image processor, the DIGIC III, and a newly developed low-pass filter.
The standard EOS Integrated Cleaning System (Photo 3) takes care of sensor dust issues.
(2)Auto Lighting Optimizer - feature that automatically adjusts images for optimal brightness and contrast
Like the EOS Kiss X2, the EOS Kiss F has the Auto Lighting Optimizer, which automatically detects images that are underexposed or dull looking (known as ''sleepy images'' in Japanese) and adjusts the image for better brightness and contrast. This feature also works together with face-detection to automatically brighten dark faces that occur because of strong backlighting or insufficient flash exposure.
The Auto Lighting Optimizer operates in all AE modes. It can be disabled in the Creative Zone modes with one of the custom functions.
(3)Auto ISO now works in Creative Zone modes
The EOS Kiss F, like the EOS Kiss X2, can automatically set the ISO sensitivity between ISO 400 and ISO 800 in modes in both the Creative Zone and Basic Zone.
(4)2.5-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD monitor with a wide viewing angle
The EOS Kiss F has a bright 2.5-inch LCD monitor (Figure 1) - the same size as the the EOS Kiss Digital X monitor - that has about 230,000 pixels and a wide viewing angle of 170° (the viewing angle of the Digital X's monitor was 160°) yet consumes very little power. The menu layout, based on the Kiss X2's menu, is designed for easy viewing.
(5)SD cards
The EOS Kiss F uses SD cards (and supports SD HC cards) as its recording media, as does the EOS Kiss X2. Since SD cards are the recording media used in almost all compact digital cameras, the EOS Kiss F's SD cards can be shared with compact digital cameras.
Speed, operating comfort, and shooting functions
(1)Good visibility viewfinder
The Kiss F's bright, comfortable viewfinder with 0.81 magnification was developed using a highly reflective, silver-evaporation pentamirror and a precision-matte focusing screen produced using a new manufacturing process. The information at the bottom of the viewfinder has been enhanced with the addition of ISO speed and B&W mode indicators.
(2)Fast, precise 7-point AF with a broad coverage area
Although the EOS Kiss F uses a basic 7-point AF ranging optical system, the AF response speed and the AI Servo AF tracking performance are equivalent to those of the Kiss X2.
(3)Capable of 3 fps continuous shooting in bursts of up to 514 frames (until the SD card is full) with AI Servo AF
This model can reach continuous shooting speeds of 3 fps with predictive-tracking AF in bursts of about 514 frames (JPEG Large/Fine) or five RAW frames (Table 1). The DIGIC III's exceptionally fast data processing capability plays a large part in the camera's stress-free continuous shooting, which can continue until the SD card is full.
| Recording Quality | No. of Pixels | Shooting Capacity | Continuous Shooting Capacit |
| Large/Fine | 10.1M | 514 | 514 |
| Large/Normal | 982 | 982 | |
| Middle/Fine | 5.3M | 859 | 859 |
| Middle/Normal | 1630 | 1630 | |
| Small/Fine | 2.5M | 1474 | 1474 |
| Small/Normal | 2816 | 2816 | |
| RAW | 10.1M | 120 | 5 |
| RAW+ Large/Fine | 99 | 4 |
 |
Possible to shoot continuously until the card is full |
(4)Live View shooting functionality
As with the EOS Kiss X2, the Kiss F features Live View shooting with manual focusing and with two different autofocusing modes.
• Live View shooting with manual focusing
In this mode, the focus frame (which can be moved with the cross keys) is magnified (either 5x or 10x) for easier manual focusing. Once the user confirms the focus, the screen returns to the normal live view. Pressing the shutter button makes the exposure. This type of Live View shooting is recommended for tripod work or for situations where very precise focusing is required.
• AF mode (1) Quick Mode (C. Fn-7-1)
Holding down the AE Lock button in Live View mode (Figure 3) pauses Live View, lowers the mirror, and performs normal auto focusing using phase detection. After the user confirms the focus and releases the AE Lock button, Live View immediately returns. Pressing the shutter button will resume Live View shooting.
• AF mode (2) Live Mode (C. Fn-7-2)
Holding down the AE Lock button in Live View mode (Figure 4) automatically focuses the image using the CMOS sensor (this process takes longer). The AF frame can be moved with the cross keys. Pressing the shutter button will take an exposure.
A Live View-specific evaluative metering mode controls exposure during Live View shooting. The exposure levels are shown in real time.
(5)New power system with 1.5-times more capacity
The EOS Kiss F uses the same compact, high-capacity LP-E5 battery pack (lithium-ion battery pack, 1080 mAh) as found on the KISS X2. When fully charged (charging time is about two hours), the Kiss F can shoot about 600 frames at room temperature without flash or about 500 frames using flash for 50% of the shots. It also accepts the BG-E5 battery grip (Photo 6).
(6)New design and improved operability
• Modern design pursuing ease-of-use and simplicity
While maintaining the SLR camera form, the Kiss F is designed around a modern, friendly form (photos 1, 4, and 5), taking ''basic'' as the concept for the design.
• Compact and lightweight
The EOS Kiss F is even lighter and more compact than the Kiss X2, trimming 25 grams (to 450 grams) and 2.7 millimeters in width (to 126.1 millimeters) (the height and depth are the same).
• Larger control buttons and markings
To make the EOS Kiss F even easier to use, the control buttons and icon markings (Photo 4) are two sizes larger than on the X2
• New menu screen design
The menu screen was designed based on the EOS Kiss X2 and advances menu uniformity as the latest EOS model.
• Improved LCD monitor indications of the shooting settings
Several improvements found on the Kiss X2 have been made to the Kiss F's LCD monitor, including larger indications of the current shooting settings. To make it even more intuitive, the menu items have been reorganized, a directional guide has been added for Main Dial settings, and messages added when a setting is not available in the Basic Zone modes.
On the X2, the LCD display automatically turns off when the user looks through the viewfinder. This EOS Kiss F lacks this function . As a result, the monitor's default background color is black because black is still readable in glaring light; but, just like on the X2, the Kiss F offers four background color choices. Furthermore, custom functions provide controls over the display of the shooting settings, such as linking the display to half-presses of the shutter button or redisplaying settings with the SET button.
Custom functions
(1)Enhanced custom functions
There are 12 custom functions with 32 selectable options. Only the Highlight Tone Priority custom function from the EOS Kiss X2 is missing. The categories have been reorganized based on the EOS-1D Mark III and EOS 40D.
(2)My Menu
Up to six frequently used menu options or custom functions can be set to appear on the My Menu screen. When enabled, the My Menu options will appear first when the Menu button is pressed.
System extensions
• Supports the original image verification system
The EOS Kiss F comes with a function that adds verification data to images. It is compatible with the OSK-E3 original data security kit, which is particularly valuable in verifying image integrity.
• Set flash functions from the camera
Various functions on the 580EX II flash unit and the newly developed 430EX II flash unit can be set from the camera's menu.
This concludes this month's overview of the EOS Kiss F (F stands for ''family'' since the whole family can easily use this camera).
Table 2 compares the main specifications of the EOS Kiss F with those of the Kiss X2 and the Kiss Digital X to highlight the differences between the three models.