On February 27th as a Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show "pre-release"
Canon announced the 10D digital SLR. The full text of the press release is given
below. It looks like this is the replacement for the D60 DSLR which was announced
at PMA last year and was widely rumored to have been discontinued by Canon last
month. I guess now we know why it was dropped - a better, cheaper DSLR was on the
way!
photo.net has not yet got it's hands on a 10D, so this is a
preview, not a review, however I think it may
still be useful to many readers. I think there's very little doubt that it will
be an improvement over the D60 and it seems to address some of the most often
heard requests and complaints of current 60 owners.
The 10D is based around the same size sensor as the D60, a 6MP CMOS chip with
an effective 1.6x multiplier factor for 35mm lenses, so your 100mm lens has the
same view on a D10 DSLR as a 160mm lens on your 35mm film body. Great for
telephoto shooters, though no so great if you are a fan of really wide wide-angle
lenses.
The main 10D features which differentiate it from the D60 are:
- DIGIC - a dedicated fast parallel processing image chip
- Direct printer connectivity (to some Canon BJ printers)
- Magnesium alloy body
- Fast, wide area, 7-point AF, similar to EOS-30
- ISO 100-3200 settings
- Auto sensitivity mode (100/200/400)
- New metering algorithm
- Selectable color space (including Adobe RGB and sRGB)
- RAW + JPEG possible with any JPEG setting
- Horizontal/Vertical sensor with auto image orientation
- Scrollable 10x zoom in playback mode
- USB Plug and Play (but only USB1.1, not 2.0)
- FAT32 support for large CF cards
- 9 consecutive frames at 3fps
- 30% longer battery life (due to DIGIC chip)
- Improved white balance (more modes and options from 2800K to 10,000K)
- Lower noise CMOS sensor (though still same size as D60)
- Photoshop Elements 2.0 included in package
- List price $1999
An upgrade to the AF system is certainly something that many D60 users
requested. Although AF on the D30 and D60 (which use pretty much the same system)
isn't terrible, it's certainly not on a par with the EOS-1D or 1Ds or Canon's EOS
film body cameras such as the EOS-3 or EOS-1n. While AF on static targets with
the D60 is generally OK, tracking moving targets of low contrast in poor light
can be something of a problem. Let's hope the D10 does better and from what Canon
have to say, it should!
The control layout looks very similar to the D60 with a rotating mode control
dial on the left rather than the button based control scheme found on the 1D and
1Ds. It also has a built in flash (which the Canon "pro" bodies lack), so it's
obviously firmly in the "consumer" or possibly "prosumer" class. That's not a bad
thing and many D60s are used professionally, it's just a matter of designation.
The "pro" bodies are better sealed against dust and moisture, are generally more
durable and have a longer life shutter - they also cost more.
The addition of more AF points in a wide area pattern is also a welcome
upgrade. Though one AF point was good enough 10 years ago and 3 AF points were
good enough 5 years ago, these days any self respecting AF SLR seems needs more!
7 is good (though I suppose 43 would be even better?)
While many users thought that a larger sensor with more pixels would have been
great in the next Canon DSLR, it would probably have boosted the price
significantly. Rumors of a digital version of the EOS-3 continue to circulate,
but nothing official has been announced by Canon at this point. If it were going
to be available soon, PMA would have been the place to make the announcement, so
it looks like we are going to have to wait for a while to find out what Canon
have up their sleeve in that regard. I have no doubt that there will eventually
be a "prosumer" model positioned between the D10 and "professional" 1D and
1Ds with intermediate specifications and price. When is the only question (though
some people will also want to know "how much"!).
Upgraded firmware with more options (like ADOBE RGB color mode and extra white
balance choices) , a lower noise sensor with an expanded ISO range, extended
battery life, better AF and a lower price all make the D10 a very attractive
package indeed. If history is anything to go by you'd better get your name on a
waiting list now if you want one of these bodies anytime soon!
I'm sure that demand will exceed supply for quite a while! The camera is expected
to start shipping to dealers in mid-March 2003 with a suggested list price of
$1999. I'd expect the street price to start out at the suggested list price given
the expected demand for this camera.
Where to get one....
Ritz
Camera is currently taking orders at $1499.99 with free shipping and no
sales tax.
In addition you can check with these vendors who support photo.net for current
ordering status on the 10D
Canon Press Release
LAKE SUCCESS, February 27, 2003 - Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon
Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), continues to provide professional photographers and enthusiasts
with the highest-quality digital SLR cameras available by taking the most
advanced camera features and combining them with the latest innovations in
digital imaging technology. In addition, Canon is the only company in the
industry to offer a camera with the 3 primary components: an Image Sensor, Image
Processor and Optics designed and produced by the camera manufacturer*. And with
its suggested list price of $1,999, the new EOS 10D delivers one of the most
important features requested by photographers - affordability.
The new EOS 10D is the first digital SLR to offer Canon's exclusive DIGIC
Image Processor for maximum camera performance as well as direct connectivity to
several Canon Bubble Jet Direct printers and the CP-100 Card Photo Printer. The
camera's body, constructed with rigid magnesium alloy covers, houses and protects
a number of advanced camera features which are distinctively Canon including a
very fast, wide area 7-point autofocus system for precise focusing; 3 frames per
second drive speed in 9-frame bursts in either JPEG or simultaneous RAW + JPEG
capture settings; an extended ISO range of 100-3200; manual white balance mode;
selectable color space options including Adobe RGB and sRGB; a scrollable 10x
zoom playback mode; and a Plug and Play USB interface.
The EOS 10D also supports EXIF 2.2, DPOF 1.1, FAT32, and Compact Flash Type I and
II, and is completely compatible with all EF-series lenses, including the new EF
17-40mm f/4L USM.
"The EOS 10D is as much revolutionary as it is evolutionary," says Yukiaki
Hashimoto, senior vice president, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "It
represents the perfect combination of advanced features from existing EOS System
cameras and the latest in digital imaging technology such as Canon's exclusive
DIGIC Image Processor. With features not found in other digital SLRs at this, or
any other pricepoint, we are confident that the EOS 10D will meet and exceed the
expectations of even the most demanding photographers," Mr. Hashimoto added.
Elements of Image Quality
The image quality of any digital camera is not based solely on its resolution.
While resolution is clearly a key component of image quality, two additional
factors must be taken into consideration. First is the quality of the camera's
optics. The second is the quality of the camera's image processor. Collectively
these three units, working together, ultimately determine the image quality of
any digital camera. Today, Canon is the only manufacturer of digital cameras that
combines its own extensive EF-series line of high-quality lenses, its own Image
Sensor (CMOS), and its own dedicated Image Processor (DIGIC), to help users
achieve maximum image quality.
Canon EF Lenses
Canon's heritage as an imaging company dates back almost 70 years to the
company's founding in 1935. Since then, Canon has worked hard to perfect the
process of creating extremely high-quality optics for its line of 35mm cameras
and other imaging products and is now the world's largest manufacturer of cameras
and lenses. Canon is a global leader in optical design, with many advanced and
original technologies such as aspherical and fluorite lenses, optical image
stabilizers, ultrasonic motors, and more. Canon currently markets over 50 EF
lenses for the EOS 10D, representing one of the largest selections of
interchangeable autofocus lenses from any manufacturer.
Canon's CMOS Image Sensor
The EOS 10D incorporates a large-area 6.3 megapixel CMOS sensor designed,
developed and manufactured entirely within Canon. This sensor has the same
picture area (15.1 x 22.7mm) and aspect ratio (2:3) as the EOS D60, but features
superior image quality thanks to peripheral circuitry improvements and a refined
manufacturing process. A new amplifier circuit boosts the S/N (signal to-noise)
ratio to provide an extended sensitivity range from ISO 100 to 3200 and superior
noise reduction at all ISO speed settings.
Canon’s DIGIC Image Processor
Every digital camera uses a CPU of some kind to "process" images recorded by the
camera and also to control overall camera functions. In most cases, this is the
same type of general-purpose CPU typically used for video games, word processors
and computer spreadsheets. However, when such CPUs are applied to image
processing in digital cameras they tend to be very slow.
Canon's proprietary image processor, called DIGIC, was developed specifically for
use with its line of digital cameras and combines the jobs of image processing
and camera function control into one chip. Canon's DIGIC (short for Digital
Imaging Integrated Circuit) is much faster at image processing than a general
purpose CPU because it employs parallel processing rather than the sequential,
one pixel at a time processing methods used by "conventional" digital cameras.
The extra speed of DIGIC makes it possible to incorporate higher quality signal
processing algorithms than conventional digital cameras, while at the same time
improving buffer performance and consuming less battery power because signal
processing is completed more quickly on a per-image basis.
However, DIGIC does much more than image processing. Because it was specifically
designed for use in a digital camera, it is also capable of handling nearly every
digital camera function including JPEG compression/expansion; memory card
control; Auto Exposure; Auto White Balance control and most other camera
functions. In the case of the EOS 10D, for example, the number of consecutive
frames is 9, compared to 8 in the EOS D60 and the battery life lasts
approximately 30 percent longer. These improvements were made possible by the
DIGIC Image Processor, not by any improvements in the camera or batteries
themselves.
7-Point Wide-Area Autofocus
The EOS 10D's advanced 7-point AF system is a major upgrade from the D60's
3-point system, and its speed is as fast or faster than the EOS Elan 7/7E's. The
7 focusing points are conveniently and unobtrusively superimposed on the
viewfinder, cover a wide area for superb precision, and are manually selectable
for a high degree of control. Ideal focus is achieved whether camera orientation
is vertical or horizontal, with moving, still or off-center subjects, and even in
low light/low contrast situations.
Intelligent Orientation Sensor
This new function detects whether the camera is positioned horizontally or
vertically and uses that information in a variety of helpful ways. In addition to
improving autofocus and exposure metering accuracy, the Intelligent Orientation
Sensor enables the EOS 10D to automatically rotate vertical format images during
playback on the built-in LCD monitor, and add rotation data to the image file
header. Compatible software applications such as Canon's File Viewer Utility,
ZoomBrowser EX and ImageBrowser read this data and automatically rotate thumbnail
images during downloads to accelerate workflow.
Expanded RAW + Jpeg Settings
When a RAW image is captured, the EOS 10D simultaneously records and stores a
JPEG image in the RAW image file. Unlike the EOS D60 where this mode was only
possible for the Middle/Fine setting, the JPEG image can be set to any of the six
JPEG quality settings on the EOS 10D.
White Balance and Color Temperature
In addition to the five preset White Balance modes featured on the EOS D60, the
shade setting (approximately 7000K) has been added for a total of nine white
balance modes. The EOS 10D also features a Manual color temperature setting
allowing for greater color precision and creative control over any scene. Users
are now able to manually set the color temperature directly from the camera's
menu from 2800 to 10,000 degrees Kelvin values in 100-degree increments.
In the White Balance Bracketing mode, a set of three images is made at the same
exposure level while shifting the white balance up to +/- 3 steps in 1-step
increments, to render a cooler or warmer color temperature. Each step is
equivalent to 5 Mireds (Micro-reciprocal degrees).
Bundled Software
The EOS 10D is bundled with an upgraded software package featuring powerful
drivers which are compatible with Windows XP and Mac OS X. Additional Canon
utilities such as ZoomBrowser EX, PhotoRecord, RAW Image Converter, PhotoStitch
and RemoteCapture are also supplied, together with Adobe Photoshop Elements
2.0.
The EOS 10D measures 5.9 x 4.2 x 3.0 inches and weighs 27.9 oz. (body only). It
will be available at authorized retailers in mid-March with a suggested list
price of $1,999.
EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
The EF 17-40mm f/4L USM is an ultra wide-angle zoom lens that is being announced
simultaneously with the EOS 10D, but is compatible with all Canon cameras that
use the company's proprietary EF lens mount. The new lens was developed as a more
affordable alternative to the renowned EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM lens that has become
a mainstay for professional photographers around the world. Featuring 3
aspherical surfaces and 1 UD glass element in a 13-element optical formula, the
new 17-40mm lens delivers image quality equal to the 16-35mm lens. Like other
current L-series models, the new 17-40mm lens is also built to professional
standards in terms of build quality, with a metallic lens barrel and extensive
gasketing for superb weather resistance. It will be available at authorized
retailers in May with a suggested list price of $1,200.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial
imaging solutions. In 2001, the Company was listed as one of Fortune's Most
Admired Companies in America, and was ranked #41 on the Business Week list of
"Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent-holder
of technology, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2002, with global revenues
of $24.5 billion. Canon U.S.A. employs approximately 11,000 people at over 30
locations. For more information, visit
www.usa.canon.com.
All referenced product names, and other marks, are
trademarks of their respective owners.
*As of 2/27/03
Article created 2003
, February 27, 2003; 01:39 P.M. 
for shotting fast action I like 10D, otherwise I rather choose sigma SD9
