Canon EOS-1Ds Mark IICanon upgrades their "ultimate" d-SLR with 16.7 megapixels of resolution and significant performance improvements.<<Intro and Highlights :(Previous) | (Next): Executive Overview>> Page 2:Comparison, Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II vs EOS-1DsReview First Posted: 9/26/2005 |
Comparison, Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II vs EOS-1Ds
Since many of our readers will already be familiar with the earlier Canon EOS-1Ds, we've prepared the following table showing differences between the two models:
| Canon EOS-1D Mark II vs EOS 1-D | ||
| Camera | EOS-1Ds Mark II | EOS-1Ds |
| Sensor Type | 35.8 x 23.8 mm CMOS w/ RGBG filter | 36 x 24 mm CMOS w/ RGBG filter |
| Sensor Improvements | Larger microlenses, size of gaps between microlenses reduced by 50%. Greater area of each pixel on the sensor sensitive to light, due to elimination of transistors in each pixel. Canon claims higher sensitivity, higher dynamic range | - |
| Sensor Resolution (total) | 17.2 megapixels | 11.4 megapixels |
| Sensor Resolution (effective) | 16.7 megapixels | 11.1 megapixels |
| Image Sizes | 4,992 x 3,328 3,600 x 2, 400 3,072 x 2,048 2,496 x 1,664 |
4064 x 2704 2032 x 1352 |
| File Formats | Four JPEG sizes, 10 possible levels of compression, plus CR2 RAW format. (CR2 format allows more room for metadata, much of which is supported by Photoshop CS and CS2.) |
Two JPEG quality settings (adjustable via host software), Original CRW RAW format |
| Image Storage | Compact Flash and Secure Digital cards supported.
Can write to either card separately, or both cards simultaneously (redundant backup) or sequentially ("reserve tank"). Opening card compartment halts writing, but does not erase written data. Writing resumes when cover is closed again. |
Compact Flash only |
| FAT 32 file system support | Yes | No |
| IPTC data support | RAW and JPEG files | RAW files only |
| RAW File Format | .CR2 (Canon RAW, Second Edition) | .CRW (Canon RAW) |
| Compliance | EXIF 2.21 (Adds Adobe RGB support to EXIF 2 spec.) | DCF (EXIF 1?) |
| ISO Sensitivity | ISO 100 - 1600 (extendable to 50 to 3200 via menu option) |
ISO 100 - 1250 (extendable to ISO 50 via menu option) |
| Image Noise | High sensitivity CMOS sensor and new second-generation on-chip 3-stage noise reduction circuit. CMOS sensor consumes less power, so less temperature rise and noise in longer exposures. Digital control circuit board completely separated from analog circuitry. Flex circuit wiring reconfigured to shorten analog signal paths. Noise is lower at all ISO ratings, especially above ISO 400. | - |
| Noise Reduction | New noise reduction uses CMOS technology to eliminate the need for a dark-frame noise reference, greatly speeding shot to shot times for long exposures and bulb exposures. Power to the output amp and circuit-driving standard current is cut off during long exposures to reduce noise. | Dark-frame subtraction required dark frame to be captured after every "live" shot. |
| White Balance Sensing |
CMOS image sensor only (New white balance algorithm eliminates need for external sensor) |
External light sensor plus CCD image sensor |
| White Balance and Color Rendering | Auto white balance now more precise and accurate in low color temperatures (eg, tungsten light sources). False colors and noise in low light have been reduced.
White balance compensation function added, permits up to 9 levels of adjustment for each color. Blue/amber and magenta/green bias adjustments can be set simultaneously. Overall white balance range (including the effect of the WB compensation function) now extends as low as 2000K, vs 2800K in the 1Ds. White balance bracketing now done in a single shot (3 bracketed files from one exposure). Color reproduction of high-saturation, bright subjects improved. |
- |
| Color Matrix | 4 sRGB, Adobe RGB, 2 user-set
User-set color matrices can be set to sRGB or Adobe, any of 5 saturation levels, or 5 color tone levels Menu now states what each color matrix setting is (standard, portrait, etc), rather than just displaying a number. |
4 sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Contrast Control | Tone curve, plus 5-level contrast adjustment | Tone curve |
| Sharpness Control | Level | Level, radius |
| Orientation Sensor | Yes | No |
| Shutter Durability | 200,000 cycles | 150,000 cycles |
| Shutter Speed | 1/8,000 to 30 sec, bulb | 1/8,000 to 30 sec, bulb |
| X-sync Speed | 1/250 sec. (FP sync at all shutter speeds) |
1/250 sec. (FP sync at all shutter speeds) |
| Burst Speed | 3.93 frames per second (By actual measurement) |
3.0 frames per second (By actual measurement) |
| Burst Depth (Large / Fine JPEG) | 16-17 frames | 10 frames |
| Burst Depth (RAW) | 11 frames | 10 frames |
| Start-up Time (approx.) | 0.3 seconds | 1.3 seconds |
| Shutter Lag (approx.) | 57 milliseconds (By measurment, manual focus mode) (40 msec with Personal Function 26, not tested) |
83 milliseconds (Measured) |
| Autofocus Improvements | Autofocus function now divided between two 32-bit RISC microprocessors. Twice as many focus operations per unit time than the (already very fast) EOS-1Ds.
AI Servo AF/Predictive AF uses statistical information from previous focusing operations to enhance speed and improve precision. Faster predictive AF means AF more likely to catch subject movement just prior to the shutter release. Bottom line, one-shot AF speed is higher for Mark II, and AI Servo AF precision is higher. |
(Single processor for AF operations.) |
| Shooting Modes | P, M, Tv, Av (DEP mode dropped) |
P, M, Tv, Av, DEP (Depth of field priority) |
| Flash Metering | E-TTL II | E-TTL |
| Flash Metering Improvements | Ambient light measurement before pre-flash and distance information from lens helps to identify and ignore highly reflective or specular objects, avoiding underexposure.
Flash autoexposure no longer dependent on active AF point. Compares ambient and flash exposures at 17 central metering zones, uses match between ambient and flash to exclude reflective and non-subject objects. Distance information from EF lenses also incorporated into flash exposure determination. |
N/A |
| Image Processor | DIGIC II | DIGIC |
| Image Processor Improvements | Generally much faster image processing.
CompactFlash maximum write speed now 5.0 MB/sec. |
Data read from sensor two channels at a time.
CF max write speed 3.2 MB/sec. |
| Control and Layout Improvements | Color Matrix settings now labeled with description vs just a number.
White balance color temperatures now entered directly via WB button and the main dial, vs in a menu window. JPEG, RAW, and RAW+JPEG formats all selectable via a single control. (No need for menu entry.) ISO speed extension moved to main menu from Custom Function menu. Enlarge button added to control playback magnification. Erase button moved to bottom row with Quality and White Balance buttons. Erase button now has small raised point in center to distinguish from other buttons. Camera settings can now be saved to a memory card, allowing settings to be copied to multiple cameras used for covering a large event, or preserved when the camera is sent in for service. |
- |
| Custom/Personal Functions | 21 custom functions. New or changed functions are: C. Fn-03, ISO expansion has been dropped. (ISO 50 ("L") and 3200 ("H") are always available) C. Fn-06, Exposure level increments, has been modified slightly, to give separate options for exposure settings and compensation adjustments. C.Fn-14 E-TTL II - was formerly "Auto reduction of daylight sync. C. Fn-21, Drive speed priority AI Servo, is newly added., Exposure level increments, has been changed to 0: 1/3 stop and 1: 1/2 stop. (Moved from Personal Function menu.) P.Fn-26 added, Shortened release time lag P.Fn-30 added, Quick Control switch turns off main dial too. P.Fn-31 added, Add original decision data. |
21 custom functions |
| Connectivity | IEEE 1394 (FireWire), 4-pin connector USB v2.0 (For both image download and printing, with PictBridge support) |
IEEE 1394 (FireWire), 6-pin connector |
| Direct Printing | Supports PictBridge via USB v2.0 | N/A |
| LCD Display | 2.0", 230,000 pixels
White LED backlight |
2.0", 120,000 pixels
Fluorescent backlight |
| Playback Enhancements | Zoom option on playback, up to 10x in 15 steps. Scroll around magnified image, view next image while retaining magnification and location settings(!).
RGB histogram facilitates checking color-related information that the LCD can't show. |
- |
| Orientation Sensor | Yes | No |
| Video Out | Yes, NTSC or PAL timing, user-selectable | No |
| Audio Recording | Yes | No |
| Size | 6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 in (156 x 157.6 x 79.9 mm) |
6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 in (156 x 157.6 x 79.9 mm) |
| Weight | 42.9 oz. (1215 g) body only | 44.6 oz. (1265 g) body only |
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