Canon EOS 30D Digital SLR

Description:

Canon's new EOS 30D brings proven EOS technology to a new level, giving photographers an unbeatable photographic experience. The EOS 30D incorporates a host of new features with Canon's highly acclaimed 8.2 megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC II Image Processor. The EOS 30D includes enhanced operational features such as a new 2.5 inch LCD monitor, true spot metering, a durable new shutter mechanism and Canon's Picture Style feature, all in an sturdy, magnesium-clad body. With all these new features the EOS 30D is truly perfection, refined.

The EOS 30D model builds upon the virtues that made the EOS 20D Digital SLR the number one camera in its class virtually from day-one, including Canon's proprietary 8.2-megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor, powerful DIGIC II Imaging processor, fast five fps shooting capability and field-tested tough construction. This new EOS 30D Digital SLR takes professional photographers even closer to the upper reaches of Canon's pro digital SLR line, incorporating input from users and features and innovations from the EOS 5D and even the EOS-1D Mark II N Digital SLRs, at a fraction of their respective prices.

Top lining the improvements that set the EOS 30D Digital SLR apart from its worthy predecessor are:

• A rugged new shutter fully rated up to 100,000 cycles;
• A brilliant 2.5-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD monitor (that yields a 92 percent increase in viewing area compared with the EOS 20D model's 1.8 -inch monitor); and
• A new spot metering capability that covers approximately 3.5 percent of the viewfinder area at the center while maintaining the 20D model's 35-zone metering sensor (raising the EOS 30D camera's available metering modes to four).

ISO in 1/3 Stop Increments Plus ISO 3200

Increasing the new camera's flexibility and ease of use, the ISO speed can now be set from 100 to 1600 in 1/3 stop increments, rather than full stops (and can be pushed to 3200 with ISO expansion). What's more, users can see the ISO setting in the EOS 30D SLR's viewfinder while changing it (and not simply on the monitor display as on the EOS 20D model), which in turn permits photographers to keep their eyes on their subject.

Improved Folder Management

Recognizing the need for efficient and effective work flow controls - particularly for professional photographers - the EOS 30D Digital Camera has improved folder management, providing manual folder creation and raising the number of images in each folder to 9,999 (from 100 as it was on the EOS 20D model). The unit offers enhanced camera-controlled direct print features and incorporates both direct print and direct download capabilities with the single press of the camera's print/share button.

"Canon focused the EOS 30D Digital SLR on professional photographers who need to keep a close watch on their equipment budget and advanced amateurs who want to step up in class and capabilities," added Mr. Hashimoto. "As an accessible primary pro SLR or the affordable second body in the camera bag, the EOS 30D digital SLR provides photo professionals with the advanced features, fast, responsive controls, and exceptional image quality they demand, in a compact, lightweight yet ruggedly constructed stainless steal and magnesium alloy package."

Capture

The EOS 30D SLR continues its predecessor's fastest-in-class shooting rate of five fps but, thanks to improvements in signal processing algorithms, the camera's burst rate has increased from 23 to 30 consecutive frames in JPEG L/F mode and from 6 to 11 consecutive frames in RAW mode. As an added enhancement, in those situations where a slower rate of continuous shooting will suffice, the EOS 30D SLR offers a three fps option that extends the burst capability to 37 shots in JPEG L/F mode.

Canon enhanced several basic functions for easy, efficient use that make the new EOS 30D SLR even more responsive than previous models, including:

• An initial startup time of 0.15 seconds (the fastest of any EOS digital camera on the market);
• A much-improved recovery from the camera's auto power off mode. Where previously the only way to restore operation was by depressing the shutter button half way, the EOS 30D SLR now permits users to awaken the camera by pressing the Playback, Menu or AE Lock button as well; and
• A single shot AE/AF lock, which retains settings for subsequent shots simply by keeping the shutter release half-pressed after taking the first shot.

As it has with the EOS 5D model, Canon has gone beyond the simple on/off options for long exposure noise reduction, adding automatic noise reduction to the EOS 30D SLR's settings. This is particularly useful in situations where it is difficult to judge whether there is noise in the image.

Autofocus and Exposure Control

The EOS 30D camera retains Canon's unique 9-point Wide-Area AF system, originally introduced with the EOS 20D model. This innovative focusing system features a diamond-shaped layout with a dual-precision central AF point that provides full cross-type performance with maximum apertures as small as f/5.6, yet achieves up to three times the standard focusing precision when used with EF lenses featuring maximum apertures larger than or equal to f/2.8. A convenient Multi-controller provides fast and easy AF point selection.

While the EOS 30D SLR uses the same 35-zone metering sensor as its predecessor, Canon has added a spot metering capability that covers approximately 3.5 percent of the viewfinder area at the center. As a result, there are now four metering modes offered on the EOS 30D SLR: Evaluative (set automatically in the Basic Zone modes), partial (approximately 9 percent), centerweighted average and spot. AF-point linked Evaluative metering, E-TTL II autoflash and 12 exposure control modes (11 AE modes plus manual) are unchanged from the EOS 20D SLR.

Picture Style

First introduced on the Canon EOS-1D Mark II N and EOS 5D cameras, Picture Style is Canon's improved approach to selecting the presets for sharpening, contrast, saturation and color tone that most closely reflect the needs and intent of the user. Similar to selecting the film type in order to achieve a desired result, the Picture Style feature offers six setting choices - Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful and Monochrome - with an additional three user defined settings available.

Large 2.5-inch LCD Screen

Among the enhancements most immediately noticeable on the EOS 30D SLR (compared to its predecessor) is the camera's new 2.5-inch LCD screen with 230,000-pixel resolution, wide 170-degree viewing angle, and LED-backlight design for substantially improved visibility. While it is identical to the one found on the EOS-1D Mark II N and the EOS 5D models, the significance of the EOS 30D SLR's 2.5-inch LCD monitor looms larger than simply its viewing area (and correspondingly larger and easier to read menu text). Like the EOS 5D model, the EOS 30D SLR's full-featured INFO screen includes files sizes, a choice of brightness and RGB histograms and AF frame displays. In addition, Quick Review images are now enlargeable making it quicker and easier to check the focus of a shot immediately after taking the shot.

Navigating through the images is also easier on the eyes thanks to the EOS 30D SLR's improved auto rotate feature. This feature gives the user the choice of automatically rotating vertical images to correct the orientation for viewing on the camera's LCD monitor as well as on a PC, rotating only for the PC or not rotating the image at all.

Work Flow

The camera also features improved file handling, which allows for 9,999 images to be stored in a single folder (compared with a new folder for every 100 images on the EOS 20D model) and an improved "jump feature" that permits image searches by ten images in one step, 100 images in one step or searching by date. Finally, in a stroke of user-friendliness, error codes that typically send users scurrying to the manual for a translation now appear on the monitor screen with an explanation and recommended solutions for correcting the error.

Direct Print/Direct Download Functionality

An ease of use feature that actually migrates up to the EOS 30D SLR from Canon's PowerShot line of digital cameras, EOS 30D SLR users can now access direct print and direct download functions simply by pressing the print/share button on the back of the camera. Further, when users connect the EOS 30D SLR to a PictBridge or other compatible printer, the user can select paper sizes, cropping, and even some special effects. One-touch direct downloading is also available when the EOS 30D camera is connected to personal computers running Microsoft Windows XP or Mac OS X 10.2-10.4.

In addition to its standard PictBridge features, which are compatible with most PictBridge-compliant printers regardless of manufacturer, the 30D model supports additional direct printing features exclusively when the camera is connected to one of the new PIXMA Pro9500 or PIXMA Pro9000 desktop photo printers. These features include:

• Full support for Picture Style settings: Photographers can print images according to their preferences for sharpening, contrast, saturation, and color tone, as well as monochrome and other special effects;
• Fine adjustment of other image quality settings such as color balance, overall brightness, face brightness, and microcontrast levels as well as a red-eye correction function; and
• Expanded paper selection, including a range of fine art paper stocks available in a variety of sizes up to 13 x 19-inches.

Canon included these to meet the needs of camera users who pay close attention to details and want to fine tune their image quality to the highest possible degree. As a result, customers who purchase the EOS 30D camera together with a compatible PIXMA Pro printer will achieve levels of quality and convenience that are only available with this new Canon-to-Canon solution.

DIGIC II Image Processing Technology

At the heart of the EOS 30D SLR - as it is throughout Canon's EOS line of digital cameras - is the proprietary and renowned DIGIC II imaging processor. This power-efficient processor enhances picture definition, vibrancy and quality, while helping increase the speed of the camera's startup, autofocus, shutter response, playback and image processing speed.