02.02.06
Canon EOS-1Ds
Introduction
The EOS-1Ds is Canon’s newest professional SLR. Based on the EOS-1D body the EOS-1Ds raises resolution to 11 megapixels, uses a CMOS sensor (just like the EOS-D30 and D60) and is the first Canon digital SLR with a sensor which captures a full 35 mm frame.
Last year Canon introduced the EOS-1D, it was the first professional digital SLR since the EOS-D2000 which was a collaboration with Kodak. The EOS-1D has a 4 megapixel sensor and can capture at an amazing 8 frames per second, clearly targeted at the sports photographer. The EOS-1Ds covers almost every other type of photography, from landscape to portrait, photo journalism to weddings. The ability to use 35 mm lenses at their designed focal length (field of view) combined with the high pixel count will be strong points for those film photographers who have hesitated on going the digital route because of these two issues. The 1Ds is capable of shooting at wider angle than any other digital SLR (at least until the actual release of Kodak’s DCS-14n).
The EOS-1Ds body is based around the EOS-1V professional film SLR. From a size point of view the 1Ds body is almost identical to an EOS-1V with the additional powerdrive booster attached. The base of the camera contains the large battery pack and allows for the integration of a vertical (portrait) hand grip and control system. Build quality is superb, the entire body moulded from magnesium alloy with environmental seals around every compartment door, terminal, connector and button.
Canon EOS-1Ds major features summary
Professional EOS Digital SLR
Magnesium body, environmentally sealed, based on EOS-1V
Integrated battery compartment / vertical hand grip
11.4 megapixel CMOS sensor (primary colour filter)
Full frame sensor, no field of view crop / focal length multiplier
Output image size: 4064 x 2704 or 2032 x 1352
JPEG (Fine/Normal), RAW (12-bit)
Simultaneous RAW+JPEG mode (saves RAW plus either Full size or Half size JPEG)
Maximum burst speed of 3 fps for up to 10 JPEG frames or 10 RAW frames
Option to also record a JPEG file when shooting RAW
ISO 100 – 1250 in 1/3 stop steps, ISO 50 available from a custom function
ISO sensitivity bracketing
Same 45-point AF as EOS-1V
Response time similar to the EOS-1V – 57 ms shutter release and 87 ms viewfinder blackout
Evaluative, Partial, Center-weighted, Spot and Multi-spot metering
Shutter speed range: Bulb, 30 – 1/8,000 sec (1/250 sec flash X-sync)
Aperture range: F91 – F1
Noise reduction can be enabled for exposures 1/15 sec or slower
IEEE 1394 (Firewire) connectivity
CF Type I or II (inc. IBM Microdrive)
Hybrid Auto White balance combines external white balance sensor and main sensor
White balance bracketing
Up to three parameter sets: tone (gamma) curve, sharpening, JPEG compression ratio
Selectable ‘colour matrix’ settings define colour space (sRGB / Adobe RGB) and balance
21 custom functions, 26 personal functions, which can be stored into ‘function groups’
Bracketing of exposure (shutter / aperture), white balance and ISO sensitivity
Voice annotation capability (built-in microphone)
Illuminated status LCD’s
Supplied RAW conversion application (File Viewer Utility)
Supplied remote capture (tethered operation) software
Double battery charger
New features / updates since the EOS-1D
Full-frame11 megapixel CMOS sensor
Continuous shooting down to 3 fps, max 10 images
ISO range 100 – 1250, ISO 50 selectable from custom function
Noise reduction takes effect from 1 sec (1/15 sec for the EOS-1D)
Personal functions can be set via in-camera menu
JPEG compression now represented as numbers rather than a ruler
FAT32 filesystem support for Compact Flash cards greater than 2 GB
Playback magnification now available
Images can be tagged with a unique ‘signature’ for use with Data Verification Kit
Improved battery life (thanks to CMOS sensor)
Fastest shutter speed down to 1/8,000 sec (1/16,000 sec for the EOS-1D)
X-Sync speed down to 1/250 sec (1/500 sec for the EOS-1D)Full-frame 11 megapixel CMOS sensorContinuous shooting down to 3 fps, max 10 imagesISO range 100 – 1250, ISO 50 selectable from custom functionNoise reduction takes effect from 1 sec (1/15 sec for the EOS-1D)Personal functions can be set via in-camera menuJPEG compression now represented as numbers rather than a rulerFAT32 filesystem support for Compact Flash cards greater than 2 GBPlayback magnification now availableImages can be tagged with a unique ‘signature’ for use with Data Verification KitImproved battery life (thanks to CMOS sensor)Fastest shutter speed down to 1/8,000 sec (1/16,000 sec for the EOS-1D)X-Sync speed down to 1/250 sec (1/500 sec for the EOS-1D)11 megapixel CMOS sensorContinuous shooting down to 3 fps, max 10 imagesISO range 100 – 1250, ISO 50 selectable from custom functionNoise reduction takes effect from 1 sec (1/15 sec for the EOS-1D)Personal functions can be set via in-camera menuJPEG compression now represented as numbers rather than a rulerFAT32 filesystem support for Compact Flash cards greater than 2 GBPlayback magnification now availableImages can be tagged with a unique ‘signature’ for use with Data Verification KitImproved battery life (thanks to CMOS sensor)Fastest shutter speed down to 1/8,000 sec (1/16,000 sec for the EOS-1D)X-Sync speed down to 1/250 sec (1/500 sec for the EOS-1D)Full-frame 11 megapixel CMOS sensorContinuous shooting down to 3 fps, max 10 imagesISO range 100 – 1250, ISO 50 selectable from custom functionNoise reduction takes effect from 1 sec (1/15 sec for the EOS-1D)Personal functions can be set via in-camera menuJPEG compression now represented as numbers rather than a rulerFAT32 filesystem support for Compact Flash cards greater than 2 GBPlayback magnification now availableImages can be tagged with a unique ‘signature’ for use with Data Verification KitImproved battery life (thanks to CMOS sensor)Fastest shutter speed down to 1/8,000 sec (1/16,000 sec for the EOS-1D)X-Sync speed down to 1/250 sec (1/500 sec for the EOS-1D)
Eleven megapixelsThe EOS-1Ds features a full-frame 11 megapixel CMOS sensor. The sensor makes this camera the first Canon EF mount digital SLR without any field of view crop (focal length multiplier), that 16 – 35 mm lens will provide the exact same field of view on the EOS-1Ds as it would on an EOS-1V with film.Interestingly despite the increase in resolution compared to the EOS-D60 the EOS-1Ds sensor has a larger pixel pitch because of its larger effective imaging area, this in theory will lead to more sensitivity, dynamic range and lower noise. Below you can see a comparison of the EOS-1Ds sensor beside that from the EOS-1D and EOS-D60. To the right is a shot ‘down the neck’ of the EOS-1Ds with the sensor exposed.
Canon EOS-1Ds digital camera specifications:
Format SLR
Price (street) US$6742
Max resolution 4064 x 2704
Low resolution 2032 x 1352
Image ratio w:h 3:2
Effective pixels 11.0 million
Sensor photo detectors 11.4 million
Sensor size 35.8 x 23.8 mm
Sensor type CMOS
Colour filter array RGB
Sensor manufacturer Canon
ISO rating 100 – 1250 in 1/3 stops, plus 50 as option
Zoom wide (W) n/a
Zoom tele (T) n/a
Digital zoom No
Image stabilization No
Auto Focus Yes
Manual Focus Yes
Auto focus type TTL-AREA-SIR with CMOS sensor
Normal focus range n/a
Macro focus range n/a
White balance override 8 positions & manual preset and 3 memories
Aperture range n/a
Min shutter 30 sec + Bulb
Max shutter 1/8000 sec
Built-in Flash No
Flash guide no.
External flash Yes, hot-shoe & sync
Flash modes External
Exposure compensation -3 EV to +3 EV in 1/3 EV or 1/2 EV steps
Metering 21 area eval, partial, spot (center, AF point, multi-spot), center-weighted average
Aperture priority Yes
Shutter priority Yes
Focal length multiplier 1
Lens thread Canon EOS EF mount
Continuous Drive Yes, 3 fps max 10 JPEG or RAW
Movie Clips No
Remote control N3 connector
Tripod mount Yes
Self-timer 2 or 10 sec
Time-lapse recording Yes, by cable and PC
Orientation sensor No
Storage types Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Storage included None
Uncompressed format RAW
Compressed format JPEG (EXIF)
Quality Levels Fine, Normal (can have ratios programmed)
Viewfinder TTL
LCD 2.0 ”
LCD Pixels 120,000
Playback zoom Yes, one step
Video out No
USB No
Firewire (IEEE 1394) Yes
Battery / Charger Yes
Battery Canon Ni-MH battery pack & Double Charger
Weight (inc. batteries) 1585 g (55.9 oz)
Dimensions 156 x 158 x 80 mm (6.1 x 6.2 x 3.2 in)
