6.3-megapixel CMOS sensor, 3,072 x 2,048 pixel images
*
ISO of 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
*
Three frames per second, photo-centric design – touch
shutter button in Play mode and camera returns to Record mode.
*
Compatible with all Canon EOS system lenses and accessories,
focal length multiplier of 1.6
*
Multiple improvements and enhancements throughout the camera.
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Manufacturer Overview
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Look along the sidelines of any professional sports game, and the array
of big, white Canon lenses will speak volumes of Canon's presence and reputation
in the world of professional photography. If you ask experienced photographers
what the Canon name means to them, many would suggest that they associate the
name with innovation, the company having brought such technological advances as
Eye-Controlled Focusing (Canon EOS 5, 1992) and the USM ultrasonic motors used
in the more recent Canon EF lenses, which are extremely quiet and very fast.
Canon film cameras cover the full range from models such as those targeted at
professionals (the EOS 1 and 1N for example, and more recently the EOS 1V, to
those aimed toward the consumer (such as the tiny ELPH series or the EOS Rebel
cameras). Back at the Spring 2000 PMA show, Canon announced the EOS-D30, their
first digital SLR, in the process turning the Digital SLR market on its ear with
its excellent features and image quality and surprisingly aggressive price.
Now, Canon has once more upped the ante and upset the D-SLR pricing apple cart
(to mix metaphors a little), by updating last year's already highly affordable
D60 SLR with the new EOS-10D, in the process dropping the price to an announced
Suggested Retail price of $1999 at introduction. I'm told that this list price
will translate into "street" prices of $1499, an astonishing price point
for a camera with the 10D's capabilities, and one that will put "no excuses"
digital photography into the hands of thousands more photographers than has ever
before been possible.
While the EOS-10D has the same roughly six megapixel resolution as the D60,
Canon has built in a host of improvements, from a metal-alloy outer housing
to a greatly improved autofocus system, improved electronics, with a faster
processing chip, improved signal processing algorithms to reduce noise and improve
color fidelity, and many more besides. There are so many improvements to so
many aspects of camera performance and image quality that I suspect even some
D60 owners will be tempted to upgrade. Or to simply purchase a 10D to have a
second body. All in all, an impressive upgrade to an already excellent camera,
and one that's accompanied by an eye-popping price drop! Read on for all the
details!
Highlights
6.3-megapixel, 22.7 x 15.1mm, 12-bit RGB CMOS sensor delivering 3,072 x
2,048-pixel images. Effective count of 6.29-megapixels and 2:3 aspect ratio.
Single-lens reflex digital camera with interchangeable lenses (supports
all Canon EOS series lenses). Focal length multiplier of 1.6x as compared
to a 35mm camera.
Variable ISO (100, 200, 400, 800, 1,600, and 3,200 settings).
TTL optical viewfinder with detailed information display, diopter adjustment,
and depth-of-field preview.
1.8-inch, low-temperature TFT LCD with 118,000 pixels.
Automatic, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Depth-of-Field AE, Programmed
AE (Landscape, Macro, Night Portrait, Portrait, Sports, and Flash Off), and
Manual exposure modes.
Operates in "shooting priority mode," meaning the camera does
not need to be set in "play" mode to view pictures. Pictures can
be viewed in between shots, and even if camera is showing a picture or in
a menu, pressing the Shutter button halfway prepares camera to take a photo
immediately.
Continuous Shooting mode capturing as many as nine images as fast as three
frames per second with shutter at 1/250 second or faster.
Variable white balance with Auto, six manual presets, Custom (reads from
a neutral gray or white card), and a color temperature setting. White balance
can be changed on-capture for RAW-format files, using either presets or manually
selecting a neutral target in the image from which to reference white point
TTL autofocus with seven focusing points, manually or automatically selectable.
One shot AF, AI Servo AF with focus prediction, AI Focus AF, and manual focus
with AF assist beam. Working range of EV 0.5 to 18 at ISO 100.
Built-in E-TTL type retractable-type flash with red-eye reduction. Guide
Number is 13/43 at ISO 100, m/ft, flash angle covers the field of an 18mm
lens. Topside hot shoe for external flash connection of EX Speedlite flashes
as well as a PC flash sync socket.
Flash exposure compensation of +/- 2 stops in one-half or one-third stop
increments. Flash exposure lock function. First and second curtain sync function.
External shoe supports E-TTL, FEL, and FP (high speed sync) flash metering
with Canon 550EX speedlight.
Redeye Reduction by built-in illuminator.
TTL maximum aperture metering with a 35-zone silicon photocell. 35-zone
Evaluative metering linked to all focusing points, Center weighted average
metering, or nine percent central-area spot metering. Metering range of EV
1 to 20 (at normal temperatures, EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, ISO 100).
Adjustable exposure compensation from -2 to +2 EV in 1/2 EV or 1/3 EV increments
in all exposure modes.
Auto exposure bracketing (AEB) from -2 to +2 EV in 1/2 EV or 1/3 EV increments
in all autoexposure modes.
White balance bracketing. (JPEG file format only)
Shutter speeds from 1/4,000 to 30 seconds, and a Bulb setting for longer
exposures.
Electronic self-timer with a fixed duration of 10 seconds.
Optional external hand grip/battery pack adds secondary shutter release
and control wheel, as well as AE lock and focus point buttons for vertical-format
shooting.
Image storage on CompactFlash Type I or II, compatible with IBM MicroDrives
USB connectivity with TWAIN driver for PC and Adobe Photoshop plugin for
Macintosh. NTSC/PAL selectable video out connectivity. N3 remote control socket.
24-bit JPEG and 36-bit RAW data file formats. Available resolution settings
are: 3,072 x 2,048; 2,048 x 1,360; and 1,536 x 1,024.
Backlit LCD data readout, for easier operation in the dark.
Magnesium-alloy body panels, stainless steel chassis.
DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) and DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System)
compliant.
Comparison with the EOS-D60
Many of our readers will be familiar with Canon's earlier D60 SLR, a hugely
popular model throughout 2002. The table below highlights similarities and differences
between the EOS-10D and the EOS-D60. Areas in which the 10D's specs constitute
an improvement over the D60 are highlighted. (Thanks to Canon USA Technical
Info Department and Chuck Westfall for concisely assembling this information.):
Canon EOS 10D vs. EOS D60
Item
EOS 10D
EOS D60
Imaging
System
Imaging Element/Effective
Pixels
CMOS/6.30 Megapixels
Effective Sensor Size
15.1 x 22.7mm
35mm Focal Length Equivalent
Approx. 1.6x
Image Processor
SLR-DIGIC
Pre-DIGIC
Recording
System
Recording Media/Quantity/Slot
Type
CF card/1 slot/Type
I or II
Compatible File Formats
FAT 16/32
FAT 16
Recording Formats
RAW (CRW),
JPEG
Maximum Resolution
3072 x 2048
Reduced Resolutions (JPEG
only)
2048 x 1360,
1356 x 1024
RAW + JPEG Recording
Yes/Selectable JPEG resolution/compression
Yes/Middle Fine JPEG only
Color
Space &
White Balance
User-Selectable Color Space
Yes
sRGB + Adobe RGB
No
sRGB only
Processing Parameters
(Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, Color Tone)/# of Increments
Yes/5
Yes/3
# of preset WB settings
6
5
Manual Color Temperature Setting
Range
2,800 ~ 10,000K
in 100K increments
None
WB Bracketing Range (JPEG
only)
±3 steps
5 mireds per step
None
Autofocus
System
# of Focusing Points/Superimposed
Display
7/Yes
3/Yes
AF Working Range
EV 0.5 ~ 18
One Shot AF Speed
Faster
Fast
Predictive AF Minimum Tracking
Distance
at 50kph/30mph with EF 300/2.8L IS USM
