Canon EOS D30 Digital SLRCanon's first digital SLR packs 3 megapixels of CMOS sensor into a speedy, compact body! (Smallest/lightest digital SLR as of August, 2000)<<Video, Power, Software :(Previous) | (Next): Reference: Datasheet>> Page 13:Test Results & ConclusionReview First Posted: 8/27/2000 |
Test Results
As always in Imaging Resource reviews, we strongly encourage you to let
your own eyes be the judge of how the camera under test performed: Check out
the D30's Picture Analysis page for actual reference
images from the D30, shot under controlled conditions.
In our preliminary review of the D30, we lacked the proper version of Canon
software to interpret the large number of RAW images we collected. We've now
reshot all our test images with the production model, and have had the opportunity
to process many of these from the RAW format as well. At the time we performed
the original analysis though, we prepared a comparison piece we called the "Three
Titans" page, that compares the EOS D30 with the other two major SLR
digicams it compete with, the Nikon D1 and Fuji S1 Pro. We think the results
of this comparison will be of interest to anyone planning to purchase any of
these three digicams.
At the time of our initial review, we commented that we made somewhat of an
exception to our normal rule of not testing preproduction camera models extensively
for the EOS D30. This was partly because Canon USA made available to us a unit
that was supposedly the closest in the world to the final production models.
We were told that, to all intents and purposes, the unit we tested would prove
to be virtually identical to final production models. As it happens, our subsequent
testing of a full-production unit bore out those claims, as we found nothing
in the production model that changed any of our conclusions about the D30 or
its images.
We feel that several things stand out about the EOS D30's images. The first
thing that struck our eye was that they appeared somewhat soft for a three-plus
megapixel digicam, particularly a professional model. Closer examination revealed
though that the level of detail they contained was actually quite exceptional.
The difference apparently lies in the fact that Canon (wisely, we think, for
a professional camera) has chosen to treat the images delicately, vis a vis
the in-camera sharpening algorithms. The reason we applaud this decision is
that image sharpening is something you simply can't undo once it's been done.
Thus, if the way a camera sharpens the image doesn't meet your aesthetics or
practical needs, you're simply out of luck. On the other hand, if the images
are left largely unsharpened, you're free to apply whatever sophisticated sharpening
algorithm you'd like after the fact, in imaging software like Photoshop(tm)
and various other programs. In playing with the test images we shot with the
D30, we found that relatively strong, low-radius unsharp masking in Photoshop
(150-200%, 0.3-0.4 pixel radius) brought out dramatic detail without introducing
undesirable artifacts. Once subjected to this sort of processing, the D30 images
in fact looked better (to our eyes, at least) than what we've seen from most
other digicams.
We also noted the excellent color of the D30, which seemed accurate and bright,
without any over-saturation. The one area of (slight) weakness we noted was
in bright yellows, and to a lesser extent bright reds, which were somewhat undersaturated.
Our experimentation with the saturation and tonal adjustments available in Canon's
ZoomBrowser software working from the RAW format files showed a very nice ability
to choose more or less color saturation though, without obvious exaggeration.
The third thing that really stood out with the D30 was how well it did at low
light levels. The bright autofocus-assist light worked well, but even without
it, the camera could focus well below 1 foot-candle (about 11 lux). Beyond its
focusing ability, the D30's low light performance was exceptional in how consistently
the camera behaved when compared to more ordinary shooting conditions: Automatic
metering was accurate, all the way out to 30 second exposure times, white balance
and color accuracy was extraordinary, and noise in time exposures (more than
one second) was excellent when the noise reduction processing was enabled.
We did find the D30's images to be slightly higher in noise than other SLR digicams.
We actually found it to be less objectionable in many ways when compared to
noise in some other cameras though, because it had such a small, tight "grain
structure" to it: We usually see sensor noise appearing as more of an area
affect, with large blotches of the image lighter or darker in the various color
channels. Apparently inherent in Canon's CMOS sensor technology is an ability
to avoid "bulk defects" resulting from the semiconductor fabrication
process. (Our guess is that this is related to the per-sensor amplification
and digitization circuitry, as opposed to CCD architecture, which dictates that
signal processing be conducted at the edges of the chip.) The net result is
that the D30's images look exceptionally smooth to the eye: Flat tint areas
look buttery-soft and smooth, with none of the blotchiness that characterizes
noise from CCD-based cameras we've tested in the past. Overall, the D30's images
have a distinctive and exceptionally appealing "look" to them.
On more quantitative fronts, we found that, although the D30's images tend to
be slightly soft, due to the aforementioned very restrained use of in-camera
image sharpening, the level of resolution and detail is truly exceptional. In
fact, it's actually the highest of any 3 megapixel digicam we've tested to date.
(October, 2000) Overall, we "called" the D30's resolution as 850 lines
per picture height vertically, and 900 horizontally before aliasing became visible,
although detail was clearly visible beyond 1000 lines per picture height in
both directions.
Canon rates the D30's viewfinder as being 95% accurate, which agrees well with
our measurement of 96%. Flash uniformity here was very good, but that's to be
expected, as we were shooting with the 100mm lens on the camera. Even the 28mm
lens didn't stretch the flash's coverage in the slightest, although again that's
not too surprising, given that a 28mm lens on the D30 is only equivalent to
a 45mm on a 35mm film camera. (And thus has a relatively narrow field of view.)
We normally report on lens distortion in this part of our analysis, but in the
case of the D30, any such distortion will be entirely dependent on the lens
used with it. As we noted earlier though, the Canon lenses we tested with the
D30 were uniformly of exceptionally high quality, and we were particularly impressed
that the less expensive 24-85mm zoom performed as well as it did.
Overall, the D30 delivered exceptionally high quality images, with excellent
detail, excellent color, excellent tonal range, and very good noise performance.
Conclusion
Even though Canon themselves don't bill the EOS D30 as a "professional"
camera, we see it as exactly what a huge number of Canon-shooting professionals
have been waiting for. Its controls, handling, and performance are in every
way suited to professional usage. While not coming anywhere near the speed or
incredible ruggedness of the EOS 1V film camera or its brethren, the D30 nonetheless
shows solid engineering, and at nearly 3 frames per second is fast enough for
most applications. When you toss in its excellent image quality, generous ISO
speed capability, superb low-light shooting, excellent flash integration, and
compatibility with the full range of Canon EF lenses, it'd be a bargain at twice
the price. With a suggested retail price in the US of $3,500, and an initial
"street" price closer to $3,000, it represents an incredible value.
(Particularly when you consider that this price includes the software necessary
to access the CCD RAW file format.) Even more amazing, this is obviously just
the first of a planned extensive line of Canon pro digital SLRs. Look out world,
Canon's on a roll, and the digital photography landscape is changing yet again...
For the better! Highly recommended!
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