New EOS-10D is an evolved D-60
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It looks like Canon has been listening to its customers. The out-going D60 was a hot favourite, though even its most ardent fans recognised some deficiencies, primarily low light autofocus performance and build ruggedness compared to the 1D pro models and some of the semi-pro film EOS range. Price has also been tackled, with a quarter lopped off the old D60 price. You should be able to pick up a D60 some time starting next month for around £1499 inc. VAT, though that’s still without a lens.
At 6.3 megapixels, the 10D makes no advances in resolution with its CMOS sensor, but there is a new seven point wide area autofocus system, plus a three frames per second burst rate that can extend to nine consecutive frames and the body has been beefed up with a magnesium alloy shell.
Pro features
Like the pro-level EOS 1D family, the EOS 10D is able to save images simultaneously in both RAW and JPEG formats. Likewise, there is an option to select Kelvin colour temperature settings in small increments and white balance can be bracketed. You can also choose between Adobe or sRGB colour space modes. The standard ISO sensitivity range has been widened to 100-1600. ISO 3200 is also selectable from the custom function mode.
A new metering algorithm couple to a 35 zone evaluative metering system is, in turn, the seven of its focus points. Also connected to this system is a smart orientation sensor. When in portrait mode, for example, the camera adjusts the sensitivity pattern to avoid sky-related exposure imbalance.
Direct Print support
The EOS 10D is the first digital SLR camera to feature the new wired Direct Print standard introduced at the end of last year. Direct Print, which has some declared support from rival camera and printer makers, lets the camera print directly to a compatible printer without the need for a host PC. The camera can control print numbers, sizes and you can crop the image from within the camera too. If you are worried about dust accumulating on the CMOS sensor chip, there is a sensor cleaning mode.
Is the sensor size mis-match the 10D's Achilles heel?
One thing that remains unresolved is the continued reliance on mating 35mm system lenses with the sub-35mm frame sensor size. At the pro level, Canon has licked the problem by using a superb 11MP, but mega-expensive full-frame CMOS sensor chip. It remains to be seen if this will become affordable enough for a future descendant of the 10D.
www.canon.co.uk
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Canon UK press release:
Canon EOS 10D –The new digital SLR incorporating a 6.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor, wide area seven point AF and magnesium alloy body
Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, is pleased to announce the launch of the EOS 10D, a 6.3 million pixel Canon digital SLR with a seven point wide area autofocus system, fast three frames per second burst rate and an ergonomic super-tough magnesium alloy body shell. Launched as the successor to the award winning EOS D60, the EOS 10D builds on the strengths of this highly popular model with a range of improvements to both the camera's design and its specification.
"The EOS 10D is a camera with massive appeal for serious amateur photographers and professionals alike,” says Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK. “Its new magnesium alloy body makes it a much more durable camera, while the improvements in focusing speed and tracking put the EOS 10D on a par with our high-end EOS film cameras.”
Faster processing power
The 6.3 million effective pixel CMOS sensor used in the Canon EOS 10D is supported by Canon's unique high power DIGital Imaging Core (DIGIC) processor. The speed at which the DIGIC processor works has allowed Canon to extend the number of full resolution images in burst sequences to nine, at a rate of three frames per second. As well as improved speed, DIGIC also helps produce more accurate colour rendition while reducing image noise.
Adaptable to all shooting conditions
The EOS 10D is able to save images simultaneously in both RAW and JPEG formats, with a choice of six JPEG file sizes. It has a wider set of ISO equivalents than its predecessor, covering ISO 100-1600. This increased range enables the EOS 10D to offer high quality images across a very broad spectrum of shooting conditions. Photographers working in particularly poor light can also take advantage of an option to extend the range to ISO 3200 via the camera’s custom function menu.
The metering system on the EOS 10D has improved exposure consistency and stability. It uses the newest metering algorithm available and a 35 zone evaluative metering system linked to all seven of its focus points.
Colour and light versatility
The EOS 10D adheres to the Adobe RGB Colour Space standard, offering a greater selection of recordable colours and increased image flexibility, while maintaining the sRGB format. This development means photographers can now select a colour space to suit the job in hand.
The EOS 10D shares the same white balance controls as Canon's Professional digital EOS models. In addition to the custom white balance, the EOS 10D provides users with the option to select Kelvin colour temperature settings (identical to the Kelvin scale used in Canon’s top specification EOS 1Ds) to suit almost any lighting situation. The Kelvin scale covers values of 2800-10000K in 100K increments. The EOS 10D also comes with white balance bracketing and a new pre-set 'Shade', in addition to the existing six auto white balance modes.
Printing and cropping on the road
The EOS 10D is the first digital SLR camera to feature Direct Print. Using a USB cable to link directly to a printer, photographers can create prints immediately from any of Canon’s range of compatible Bubble Jet or Card Photo (CP) printers without the need to connect to a computer. Print quantity, size and image cropping can all be set via controls within the camera’s own menu system, and prints can even be produced without access to a mains power supply, using Canon's CP-100 4” x 6” printer and a battery pack.
Feature laden
Other significant features of the EOS 10D include:
• The automatic selection of FAT16 or FAT32 file systems, to support large capacity CF memory cards of over 2GB storage size.
• An extended parameters set, which provides incremental adjustments of sharpness, contrast, colour saturation and colour tone, over a range of +/-5 units.
• 10x magnification in image playback mode.
• A Super Intelligent Orientation Sensor, built in to the EOS 10D body. This sensor detects whether the camera is being held in the portrait or landscape orientation when an image is captured, and automatically rotates the image in the camera's LCD preview screen and on a computer when downloading using Canons ZoomBrowser software. The Orientation Sensor also plays an important part in the scene metering system, particularly for evaluating the area of sky in an image.
• A brighter LCD screen back-illuminated by LEDs.
• Extended battery life providing approximately 650 frames without flash or approximately 500 with 50% flash.
• Sensor cleaning that can be powered by either a charged battery or when attached to the ACK-E2 AC adapter and the DR-400.
Complete accessory pack
The EOS 10D comes complete with battery pack, compact single battery charging unit, USB cable, video cable, the latest Canon software and Photoshop Elements. The EOS 10D accepts the same BP-511 battery pack, and the same BG-ED3 battery grip as the EOS D60. A new smaller mains power adapter unit ACK-E2 AC is also available.
-ENDS-
Pricing, availability and reader enquiries
The EOS 10D will be available from March 2003 for around £1499.99 RRP inc VAT.
Reader enquiries: 08705 143723 / www.canon.co.uk/eoscameras
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