This entry-level digital AF SLR camera features excellent image quality and a 15.10-megapixel CMOS sensor, a DIGIC 4 image processor, Full HD movie capability, and Live View movie shooting

EOS Kiss X3 [ Japan:EOS KISS X3, Americas:EOS Rebel T1i, Europe/Asia/Oceania:EOS500D ]

The May technical report brings the latest information on the new EOS Kiss X3, which was announced on March 25 and went on sale at the end of April.

Photo 1: EOS Kiss X3 (shown with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens)

Development objectives The EOS Kiss X3 (Photo 1), an entry-level digital AF SLR camera with excellent image quality, was designed as a full-upgrade replacement of the EOS Kiss X2. The major objective of the camera was to enhance the core functions and to expand the photographic and expressive possibilities. Specific development objectives are outlined below. Improvements to the core functions and performance 15.10-megapixel CMOS sensor DIGIC 4 for fine image detail and natural color reproduction Full-time ISO range of 100 to 3200 (with extended ISO speeds of 6400 and 12,800) New features that extend the camera's photographic and expressive possibilities Full HD movie recording capability Live View shooting functionality (with a Face Detection Live AF mode) Full HD support/HDMI output Usability improvements made in response to user feedback Three-inch Clear View LCD monitor (920,000 pixels/VGA resolution) Simple, beginner-friendly controls   · Creative Auto mode and the Quick Control screen Enhanced automatic image correction features   · Advanced Auto Lighting Optimizer   · Lens peripheral illumination correction Shares the EOS Kiss X2's superb core functionality Let's take a closer look at the EOS Kiss X3, noting in particular the advances from the EOS Kiss X2. Advances in fine detail, image quality, and digital functions (1)Large 15.10-megapixel CMOS sensor The EOS Kiss X3 features a new CMOS sensor (Photo 2) with 15.10 effective megapixels and an effective sensor size of 22.3 x 14.9mm. We designed this highly sensitive CMOS sensor with Live View shooting and movie recording in mind. We increased the sensor's readout speed by incorporating high-speed amplifiers and improving the dual channel/line readout process while adopting technology to reduce the sensor's power consumption.

Photo 2: Large 15.1-megapixel CMOS sensor

(2)Latest DIGIC 4 high-performance image processor For faster signal processing and a greater range of functions, the EOS Kiss X3 comes with the DIGIC 4 image processor (Photo 3). Not only does the DIGIC 4 accelerate the processing of the 15.10-megapixel images, it also achieves higher sensitivity and lower noise, allows for more auto image processing functions, and boosts the performance of many digital image processing functions including face detection, Full HD video capture, and HDMI output.

Photo 3: DIGIC 4 (partial view of its circuit board)

(3)Full-time ISO 3200 gives more shooting opportunities The EOS Kiss X3 freely borrows the high sensitivity and low noise technology from our high-end models (the EOS 50D and the EOS 5D Mark II) for an ISO range (ISO 100 to 3200) double that of the Kiss X2. ISO extension modes provide ISOs as high as 6400 and 12,800. (4)Enhanced auto image processing features The Kiss X3 comes with the following feature upgrades over the X2. Auto Lighting Optimizer The X3 has an improved Auto Lighting Optimizer function, which automatically corrects brightness and contrast when the camera detects that a face in a photograph has turned out dark or that the overall contrast is low. The function is automatically set to Standard optimization in all Basic Zone modes. When in Creative Zone modes, however, a custom function allows the user to set the optimization to Standard, Low, Strong, or Disable. *The Auto Lighting Optimizer does not function for manual exposures or bulb exposures. Peripheral illumination correction As on the high-end EOS 50D and EOS 5D Mark II, this function automatically corrects JPEG images for vignetting. EOS Utility is used to register and delete lens correction data (the camera can store correction data for up to 40 lenses; it is shipped with data for 26 lenses). JPEG images are corrected automatically in-camera immediately after shooting. RAW images can be corrected later with a computer using the Digital Photo Professional's capture settings. Noise reduction at high ISO settings The noise reduction function is divided into four settings - Standard, Low, Strong, and Disable. In the Standard, Low, and Disable settings, the noise reduction function has no impact on the maximum burst length during continuous shooting. Highlight Tone Priority mode The X3 also has this function, which prioritizes the reproduction of highlight tonal information. (5)Three-inch Clear View LCD monitor The EOS Kiss X3 has a three-inch, 920,000-dot, LCD monitor (Photo 4) with a wide 170° viewing angle and crisp VGA resolution. This monitor has three times the resolution of the X2's monitor. An anti-reflective and smudge-resistant coating has been applied to the protective cover surface, resulting in a clear, easy viewing monitor that resists dust and fingerprints. The monitor's brightness can be adjusted in seven levels.

Photo 4: Rear panel of the EOS Kiss X3, showing the three-inch LCD monitor

(6)Appending copyright information Using the EOS Utility, the user can set the ''Photographer'' and ''Copyright'' parameters on the camera. These parameters are saved in the Exif data with each shot. (7)Integrated sensor cleaning strategy The EOS Kiss X3 employs the EOS Integrated Cleaning System found on our high-end models. Advances in speed, comfort, and shooting functions (1)Comfortable, high-power viewfinder The Kiss X3 uses the same bright, clear 0.87X viewfinder (Figure 1) as the Kiss X2. A new D+ indicator in the viewfinder is displayed when the Highlight Tone Priority mode is on.

Figure 1: Viewfinder coverage

(2)Fast, precise nine AF points with a broad coverage area The Kiss X3 uses the same nine-point AF sensor as the Kiss X2. The center AF point is a cross-type sensor that is vertical-line sensitive at f/2.8 and vertical- and horizontal-line sensitive at f/5.6. The other six points are f/5.6 sensitive - the EOS standard. (The top and bottom points are vertical-line sensitive; the others are horizontal-line sensitive.) The camera also comes with light source auto compensation, which determines the type of light source illuminating the subject and automatically corrects for the slight focusing errors that occur between different light sources (a result of their dispersion characteristics). (3)AI Servo AF capable of 3.4 fps continuous shooting in bursts of up to 170 frames Despite having about 24% more data per frame than the Kiss X2, the X3 still attains a continuous shooting speed of about 3.4fps with a maximum burst capacity of about 170 JPEG (Large/Fine) frames. (See Table 2.) (4)Advanced Live View shooting features Unlike the Kiss X2, the X3 offers a Face Detection Live AF mode and two grid displays. <AF modes> · Quick mode Quick mode makes it possible to select the AF point while displaying the Live View image. This mode has been improved so that it automatically returns to the Live View display after confirming the focus. · Live mode Same as the EOS Kiss X2. · Face Detection Live mode (Figure 2) This mode focuses on faces detected in the frame. It can detect up to 35 faces at once. When multiple faces are detected, the mode automatically selects and focuses on the largest face closest to the center. The user can use the cross keys to select a different face if the automaticly selected one is not desired.

Figure 2: AF frame in the Face Detection Live mode

<Grid displays> Users can select from two grid displays (Figure 3), which are useful for composing a shot.

<Grid 1> <Grid 2>

Figure 3: Grid displays

(5)Movie recording · Three movie quality settings The EOS Kiss X3 features the Live View movie recording function that the EOS 5D Mark II has popularized. Movies can be recorded at three different qualities. · Full high definition (HD) 1920 x 1080 pixels at 20fps · High definition 1280 x 720 pixels at 30fps · Standard definition (SD) 640 x 480 pixels at 30fps · Exposure control during movie recording The exposure is controlled using the imaging sensor with the metering mode set to center-weighted averaging and Program AE for movies. When the AF mode is set to Face Detection Live, the camera uses evaluative metering linked to the AF frame activated by the face detection function. · Movie image effects The Picture Style (including any sharpness or saturation adjustments) set for Live View still-image shooting is applied to movies. · Movie file format and recording times Movies are saved as .MOV files. A 4GB card can hold about 12 minutes of continuous movie recording in Full HD, about 18 minutes in HD, and about 24 minutes in SD. Note that movie recordings require an SD card with a read/write speed of at least 6MB per second. Sound is recorded in mono (real PCM) with the built-in microphone. Sound level (recording level) is adjusted automatically. *The X3 does not have an external microphone jack. · Support for wireless remote controllers RC-1 and RC-5 remote controllers can record movies as well as shoot still images. The controllers start and stop movie recording in the two-second delay release mode. They can be used to shoot stills in the instantaneous release mode. (6)Movie playback · Playback on a Full HD TV (recommended) Because of the huge amounts of data, Canon recommends playing movies from the camera by connecting it to a Full HD TV with an HDMI cable. The camera selects the output resolution based on the connected TV's capabilities so that the user can enjoy the highest image quality. Still images can also be enjoyed in stunning HD quality with this setup. The X3 also offers an improved slideshow function, which allows users to select images for playback from All images, Stills, Movies, or Date and to set Play time (interval between slides) and Repeat (looping the slideshow). · Playback on a computer It is possible to play back movies on a computer using the bundled software (ZoomBrowser EX 6.3/ImageBrowser 6.3), but because of the amount of data a high-performance computer (Core 2 Duo CPU, 2.6GHz clock or better, and 2GB of RAM or more) is necessary for smooth playback. Advances in operating comfort (1)Improved grip Canon has furnished the camera with a better grip for reliable handling and excellent operability. The grip rubber coating is extended and the finger rest around the Mode Dial control has been reshaped. (2)Creative Auto mode The new Creative Auto (CA) mode helps users who want to move beyond the Full Auto mode but don't understand how to set the camera to capture the photographic expression they want. The EOS Kiss X3 adds the CA mode position to the Mode Dial (Photo 5), allowing the user to set the functions given in Table 1 intuitively while viewing setting tips (Figure 4).

Photo 5: Top panel of the EOS Kiss X3 and the Mode Dial

Figure 4: Settings for the Creative Auto mode

Function Guide Text Flash mode Auto flash Flash on Flash off Program shift (in 1 stop intervals ) Background: Blurred <-> Sharp Exposure compensation/ Flash exposure compensation (in intervals of 2/3 of a stop) Exposure: Darker <-> Brighter Picture Style Standard Smooth skin tones Vivid blues and greens Monochrome image Image recording quality Pixel count indicator Drive mode Single shooting Continuous shooting Self-timer/Remote control Self-timer: Continuous

Table 1: Creative Auto mode settable functions and setting tips

(3)Quick Control screen The Quick Control screen appears by pressing the SET button when the camera is ready to shoot. The cross keys can then be used to select functions and the Main Dial to adjust settings, making operation of the camera much more intuitive (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Quick Control screen

(4)Movie recording mode setup A movie recording position has been added to the Mode Dial (Photo 5) for easier, more intuitive operation. When the Mode Dial is set in this position, the camera immediately locks up the reflex mirror and switches to the Live View mode. Pressing the Live View button starts and stops movie recording. Pressing the shutter button while recording a movie will take a still image (the still image has a resolution of about 2 megapixels; movie recording is interrupted for about one second). Advances in system expandability (1)External interfaces (Figure 6) In addition to the terminal for the RS-60E3 remote switch, the EOS Kiss X3 has an audio-video output/digital terminal (used both for video and audio outputs and for inputs and outputs of digital signals) and an mini HDMI output terminal (Type C).

Figure 6: External interfaces

(2)Set flash functions from the camera Various functions on the 580EX II flash unit, the 430EX II unit, and the new 270EX unit can be set from the camera's menu. This concludes this month's overview of the EOS Kiss X3. Table 2 compares the main specifications of the EOS Kiss X3 with those of the Kiss X2.