MARCH 2011
[ Japan:EOS Kiss X5, Americas:EOS REBEL T3i, Europe/Asia/Oceania:EOS 600D ]
A new digital SLR camera with an 18.0-megapixel CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4, EOS Scene Detection System, creative effect selection, Creative filters, EOS Movie, and a Vari-Angle LCD monitor.
Photo 1: EOS Kiss X5 (shown with the EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 IS II lens)
This month’s technical report brings you the latest information on the new EOS Kiss X5, which was announced on February 7 and went on sale on March 3.
Development objectives
The EOS Kiss X5 (Photo 1) is a high-quality digital SLR camera designed and developed as a fully upgraded replacement for the entry-level EOS Kiss X4. It incorporates many of the outstanding features found on our high-end models. The specific development objectives are outlined below.
●Excellent image fidelity, picture quality, and sensitivity range
- 18.00-megapixel CMOS sensor
- DIGIC 4 for fine image detail and natural color reproduction
- Full-time ISO range of 100 to 6400 (with an extended ISO speed of 12,800)
●Advanced imaging and processing functions
- EOS Scene Detection System
- Creative effect selection
- Creative filters
●Powerful, time-tested core functions
- About 3.7 fps continuous shooting speed with burst of up to about 34 frames
- Nine-point AF and a 63-zone dual-layer metering sensor
●Improved user comfort and control with expanded shooting and creative possibilities
- Vari-Angle LCD monitor (3.0-inch, wide aspect ratio, about 1.04 megapixels)
- Reassuring and useful Feature Guide
- Wireless flash photography
Let’s take a tour of the EOS Kiss X5 with special focus on its outstanding new features.
Digital functions for fine detail and top picture quality
Photo 2: Large 18.0-megapixel CMOS sensor
Photo 3: Portion of the DIGIC 4 circuit board
①Large 18.00-megapixel CMOS sensor
At the heart of the EOS Kiss X5 is a large, high-sensitivity CMOS sensor (Photo 2) with about 18.00 megapixels (effective) and an effective sensor size of 22.3 x 14.9 mm.
②DIGIC 4 high-performance image processor
The Kiss X5’s DIGIC 4 image processor (Photo 3) has a successful track record of providing fast, sophisticated signal processing. Not only does the DIGIC 4 power many digital imaging processes, it extends the sensitivity range while lowering noise.
③Wide ISO range (100 to 6400) creates more shooting opportunities
The EOS Kiss X5 borrows the high sensitivity, low noise, and extended dynamic range technologies from our high-end models to deliver a full-time 100 to 6400 ISO range.
Advanced imaging and processing features
Figure 1: Scene Intelligent Auto concept
Photo 4: Sunset scene
Photo 5: Miniature effect creative
filter applied to a photo
①EOS Scene Detection System
The camera comes with a system that automatically detects the current scene based on the subject’s color, brightness, movement, contrast, and distance as well as people’s faces and other information. What’s new on the Kiss X5 are Scene Intelligent Auto and the Picture Style “Auto”, two functions based on the scene detection results. Combining these new functions with the longstanding Auto White Balance and Auto Lighting Optimizer functions, users are able to obtain photos even more beautiful than before.
Scene Intelligent Auto
Scene Intelligent Auto is an advanced reincarnation of the fully automatic shooting mode. It makes the most of the EOS Scene Detection System’s potential. By systematically combining Picture Style, Auto Lighting Optimizer, Auto White Balance, AF, and AE, this mode enables users to get shots that are perfectly tailored to the scene (Figure 1).
Picture Style, Auto
The “auto” in this function name does not mean it automatically selects one of the preset Picture Styles. This is a new Picture Style that finely adjusts the color settings based on information from the EOS Scene Detection System. Picture Style “Auto” is particularly effective at making blue skies, green foliage, and sunsets look more vivid in Nature and Outdoor Scenes, where blue skies or green foliage dominate, and in Sunset Scenes of beautiful sunset colors (Photo 4).
Auto White Balance
The previous Auto White Balance (AWB) function sometimes caused faces to look pale in portrait shots. But the Kiss X5’s AWB function sets the white balance to capture faces with natural looking colors. The improved AWB function also adds an impressive vividness to the colors of the setting sun when shooting sunsets.
Auto Lighting Optimizer
Auto Lighting Optimizer adjusts the brightness in sunset shots to produce sunsets with improved ambience. And when shooting a subject with very vivid colors, Auto Lighting Optimizer has been improved to reduce color saturation in very vivid areas.
②Creative effect selection
Creative effect selection gives users a straightforward method to produce the image they have in their minds. This selection function consists of two sub-functions: Shoot by Ambience Selection and Shoot by Lighting or Scene. The results of the creative effect selection can be easily checked on the Live View screen.
*Creative effect selection is only available in the Basic Zone.
Shoot by Ambience Selection
This function allows users to shoot photos that project a certain ambiences, such as Vivid, Soft, Warm, Intense, or Cool. Other selections include Brighter, Darker, and Monochrome (with Blue, Black and White, and Sepia options). These ambiences are created through a combination of Picture Style, exposure, and white balance settings.
Shoot by Lighting or Scene
This function enables users to get shots with colors that are virtually the same as those seen with the naked eye by selecting the mode suited to the lighting type or scene.
In the Daylight, Shade, and Cloudy settings, cherry blossoms and other pale colors that tend to wash out are reproduced almost perfectly. The Tungsten light setting reduces the reddish tinge of incandescent light bulbs. The Fluorescent light setting produces photos with natural looking colors regardless of the type of fluorescent lighting. The Sunset setting creates impressive photos that retain the reddish tones of a sunset.
③Creative filters
The Kiss X5 offers five creative filters — Grainy B/W, Soft focus, Fish-eye effect, Toy camera effect, and Miniature effect (Photo 5) — that can be applied to photos after they have been taken. After applying a creative filter, the result is saved as a separate JPEG file, so users can experiment with applying filters with different settings as many times as they like.
④Other enhanced functions
Resizing
Captured JPEG images can be downsized to M, S1, S2, or S3 size.
Ratings
Users can rate their photos with one to five stars. Ratings can be used for sorting photos or for selectively choosing photos for slideshow playbacks.
Improved user comfort and control
Photo 6: Vari-Angle LCD monitor
Figure 2: Feature guide
①Vari-Angle LCD monitor
The X5’s 3.0-inch, wide-viewing-angle LCD monitor has a resolution of about 1.04 million pixels and a wide 3:2 aspect ratio. The monitor’s Vari-Angle mechanism makes viewing the monitor easy while shooting from high or low angles, or diagonally (Photo 6). Because the monitor opens horizontally, there is no loss of adjustment flexibility when the camera is mounted on a tripod or used with a battery pack.
An anti-reflective and smudge-resistant coating has been applied to the LCD panel’s protective cover surface.
②Feature guide
The Feature guide (Figure 2) consists of brief descriptions of functions and modes that appear on the monitor after changing the shooting mode, when adjusting Mode Dial functions, and when making Quick Control settings during Live View shooting, Movie shooting, and playback. The useful descriptions allow even beginners to operate the camera with confidence.
③User-friendly design
The camera’s design strikes a good balance between the technical imaging functions and the physical interface between the photographer and the camera. This includes revamping the mode dial’s knurl pattern and using an anti-slip rubber skin on the left end of the body.
Continuation of the camera’s basic performance
The Kiss X5 has inherited the following outstanding core performance from the X4.
- About 3.7 fps maximum continuous shooting speed with a continuous burst of about 34 frames
- High-speed nine-point AF
- 63-zone dual-layer metering sensor
The metering sensor has a color measurement function, which enables the camera to automatically compensate for exposure errors and slight focusing errors caused by different light sources.
Expanded shooting and creative possibilities
Photo 7: Speedlite 270EX II
and Speedlite 320EX
Figure 3: Easy wireless setup window
①Speedlite transmitter function
The Kiss X5 can wirelessly control the Speedlite 270EX II and Speedlite 320EX (Photo 7), announced concurrently with the X5, as well as other EX Speedlite models with slave functionality. A new menu option, Easy wireless, has been added so that even beginners can take advantage of wireless flash photography (Figure 3).
②Advanced Live View shooting
The new multi aspect ratio function can take photos at 4:3, 16:9, and 1:1 aspect ratios as well as at the standard 3:2 aspect ratio. A border indicating the selected aspect ratio’s boundary is displayed on the monitor when shooting. JPEG images are recorded at the selected aspect ratio. RAW images are recorded at 3:2 and then converted to the selected aspect ratio when processed in software.
*Available only in the Creative Zone.
③Enhanced Movie shooting
The user can choose from full HD, HD, and SD (standard definition) when shooting movies.
Both automatic and manual exposure settings are available, and the user can have the camera automatically set the ISO speed between 100 and 6400 or the user can set the ISO manually. The built-in microphone records a monaural track, but an external microphone can be used for stereo audio recording. The audio recording level is adjustable automatically or manually (in 64 steps), and a wind filter can be applied.
Movies shot in full HD can be enjoyed in high definition by connecting the camera to a full HD television with an HDMI cable.
The Kiss X5 is the first EOS camera with the Movie Digital zoom and the Video snapshot function.
Movie Digital zoom
The camera can zoom in on the center of the frame at magnifications between approximately 3x and 10x while recording in full HD without any loss of quality.
Video snapshot
This function puts together a number of short movie clips (2, 4 or 8 seconds long) into one video file as a video snapshot album that is similar in feel to a photo snapshot album. The scene and angle can be changed for each clip to create a fast-paced short movie. Background music can also be included in the album playback.
Greater system expandability
①Power supply system
The Kiss X5 uses the same LP-E8 battery pack as the X4.
②Eye-Fi card support
Users can insert a commercially available Eye-Fi card to automatically transfer images via Wi-Fi to a computer as the images are being taken. Eye-Fi card use must be checked beforehand, as its use is prohibited in some countries and regions.
This concludes this month’s overview of the EOS Kiss X5. Table 1 compares the main specifications of the EOS Kiss X5 with those of the Kiss X4.
| Item | Kiss X5 | Kiss X4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imaging sensor | Imaging sensor type / effective megapixels [approx. megapixels] | CMOS / 18.00 | ||
| Sensor size [mm] | 22.3 × 14.9 | |||
| Lens crop factor [35mm equivalent] | Displayed focal length x 1.6 | |||
| Dust removal system (EOS ICS) | Yes | |||
| Recording | A/D conversion [bits] | 14 | ||
| Recording media | SD / SDHC / SDXC cards | |||
| Eye-Fi card support | Yes | |||
| Recording formats | DCF 2.0, Exif 2.30 | DCF 2.0, Exif 2.21 | ||
| Recording pixels [approx. megapixels] | Large, RAW | 17.9 | ||
| Middle | 8.00 | |||
| Small 1 / Small 2 / Small 3 | 4.5, 2.5, 0.35 | 4.5 / n/a / n/a | ||
| Folder selection / creation | Yes | No | ||
| Creative image processing | EOS Scene Detection System | Yes | No | |
| Picture Style Auto | Yes | No | ||
| Creative effect selection | Yes | No | ||
| Image quality and image correction functions | Auto Lighting Optimizer | Yes | ||
| Lens peripheral illumination correction | Yes | |||
| Noise reduction | Long exposures | Yes | ||
| High ISO speed | Yes | |||
| Highlight tone priority | Yes | |||
| White balance | Auto / presets / custom | Yes / Yes (six) / specify image | ||
| Correction / bracketing | Yes / Yes | |||
| Post-shooting image processing | Creative filters | Yes | No | |
| Resizing | Yes | No | ||
| Imaging processor | DIGIC 4 | |||
| Viewfinder | Coverage [%] / Magnification (50 mm lens, infinity, -1 m-1 [dpt]) |
95 / 0.85 | 95 / 0.87 | |
| Eye point [mm] | 19 | |||
| Focusing screen | Precision matte | |||
| Dioptric adjustment [m-1 dpt] | -3.0 - +1 | |||
| Auto focus | AF points | 9 | ||
| f/2.8 sensitive center cross-type AF point | Yes | |||
| Focusing brightness range [EV] | -0.5 - 18 | |||
| Exposure control | Metering sensor zones | 63 | ||
| Metering modes | Evaluative, Partial, Spot, Center-weighted average | |||
| Metering range [EV] | 1 - 20 | |||
| ISO speeds | Basic Zone modes | ISO 100 - 3200, auto selection | ||
| Creative Zone modes | ISO 100 - 6400, manual selection
ISO 100 - 6400, auto selection Extension mode: 12,800 |
|||
| ISO Auto Limit setting | Yes | |||
| Shutter | Shutter speeds [sec.] | 1/4000 - 30 (bulb) | ||
| X-sync [sec.] | 1/200 | |||
| Release time lag [ms] | 0.09 | |||
| Built-in flash | G No. [ISO 100 o m] | 13 | ||
| Flash coverage [supported focal length, mm] | 17 | |||
| Speedlite transmitter function | Yes | No | ||
| Drive | Continuous shooting speed [approx. fps] |
3.7 | ||
| Max. burst [frames] | JPEG Large/Fine | 34 | ||
| RAW | 6 | |||
| Live View shooting | AF modes | Live / Face Detection Live / Quick | ||
| Multiple aspect ratios | Yes | No | ||
| Movie shooting | Recording size (frame rate)* | Full HD 1920 × 1080(24 / 25 / 30) | ||
| HD 1280 × 720(50 / 60) | ||||
| SD 640 × 480 (25 / 30) |
SD 640 × 480 (50 / 60) |
|||
| Manual exposure | Yes | |||
| Video snapshots | Yes | No | ||
| Movie Digital zoom [approx. magnification ratio] | 3 - 10 | No | ||
| File format / compression method / audio | MOV / H.264 / Linear PCM | |||
| LCD monitor | Screen size [inches] / display dots [approx.] | 3.0 wide aspect ratio / 1,040,000 | ||
| Vari-Angle | Yes | No | ||
| Anti-reflection / smudge-resistant | Yes / Yes | |||
| Feature guide | Yes | No | ||
| Playback | Histogram display / highlight alert | Yes / Yes | ||
| Slideshows | Display modes | 6 | 4 | |
| Transition effects | 5 | No | ||
| Background music playback | Yes | No | ||
| Ratings | Yes | No | ||
| Movies | Background music playback | Yes | No | |
| In-camera entry of copyright information | Yes / Yes | |||
| External interfaces | USB | Yes, Hi-Speed USB equivalent | ||
| HDMI output / CEC compatibility | Yes / Yes | |||
| External microphone jack | 3.5-mm-diameter stereo mini jack | |||
| Remote controller support | RS-60E3 and RC-1 / RC-5 / RC-6 | |||
| Power source | Acceptable batteries (capacity) | LP-E8 (1120 mAh) | ||
| Shooting capacity (room temp.) | No flash | 550 | ||
| Flash for 50% of shots | 440 | |||
| Size / Weight | Dimensions (w × h × d) [mm] | 133.1 × 99.5 × 79.7 | 128.8 × 97.5 × 75.3 | |
| Weight [approx. grams] | 570 (CIPA standard), 515 (unit only) | 530 (CIPA standard), 475 (unit only) | ||
Table 1: Comparison of EOS Kiss X5 and EOS Kiss X4 specifications
* 24: 23.976 fps; 25: 25.00 fps; 30: 29.97 fps; 50: 50.00 fps; 60: 59.94 fps fps: frames per second
