Canon EOS 1D professional digital SLR released

[Pekka]

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/canoneos1d/

[MrEWorm]

The Canon USA web site posted this on the 1-D model today. Canon emailed me that dealers will have the camera in December but they did not mention a MSRP.

http://www.usa.canon.com/EOS-1D/

[gandini]

Pekka wrote:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/canoneos1d/


Well, after reading Phil Askey's preview, (and calming myself down...) I called my wife to tell her the bad news! Now I just have to find 10-grand (well, I'll probably have to work for it, darn)
Geez, the last real 35mm camera I had (and still have for sentimental reasons) was the T-90. Great camera that launched an entire evolution of Canon cameras. It's amazing how much the T-90 still looks like the EOS line. But under the skin it all seems different, and no lenses to hamper my choice of new ones to get 8-)
Pekka--stand aside, dude! Actually you'll probably have one years before I get one, since you *don't* have a 6-month old!

cheers,

[MrEWorm]

Nikon prices on D1H are at 4050 and D1X are at 4600 US. If the 1D is priced at the big numbers that have been tossed around ie: $6-7000, I don't think they will be selling many of them.

[afly]

MrEWorm wrote:
Nikon prices on D1H are at 4050 and D1X are at 4600 US. If the 1D is priced at the big numbers that have been tossed around ie: $6-7000, I don't think they will be selling many of them.


Difference of $2000 is not an issue for professional who has already full line-up of EF lenses since switching the brand would cost a _lot_ more. Press photographers will most likely end up queueing for EOS-1d. And they definitely are the target market.

It's a fair question to ask how many amateurs will choose 1d as the first digital SLR. The feature list tells clearly that 1D is not meant for them. The ccd is enough for uses where 35mm film would suffice. After that, it's just "this is tool for hard use" thinking, precisely what was lacking in D30. It's robust, water and dirt resistant, and it has quite good shooting speed and even the autofocus should be on par with the best available.

[LaptopPop]

So, Pekka - what do you think? Will you be ditching your D30 or is it too early to tell?

-lee-

[subq]

ditching the D30? I don't think many will be doing that...I would bet that all the non-pros (and some of the pros) keep the D30 as a nice backup camera

[Gomez Photography]

I would like to know if Canon will come out with a slower but larger file. The 1D seems to be more for the sports photographer. 4 megapixels are not bad, but I'll have to put it next to a D1x to be sure. If its close enough, I'll get it right away. If I find that Canon is coming out with the slower camera with the bigger file, I'll hold out with my D30. Nikon has the D1H (like this new 1D) They will have to answer with a D1X verson. I'll be happy to step into something more professional. Michael Gomez

[Pekka]

laptoppop wrote:
So, Pekka - what do you think? Will you be ditching your D30 or is it too early to tell?

-lee-

Number one issue is that I refuse not pay double the D30 price for all those features I really don't need. E.g. the 1D high burst speed cannot be used in any concert halls (high noise, you need to be in minimum 1/500 shutter and low ISO to get 8fps).

What is nice in 1D is quiet shutter click when not in burst mode, and weather protection - I'd really like to shoot in any weather. Also what is nice is backlit LCD, changeable focusing screens and a separate FEL button.

The image quality difference to D30 is yet to be seen - the preproduction samples don't promise much - the "D30 magic" does not simply be there in 1D. To me the image quality matters most.

All I would need is less noise in higher ISO's , and quieter operation. If the reason for getting a new body would be more resolution, then it should be at least 6-8 megapixels so that the upgrade really shows and would be worth the money.

As that camera is not yet announced D30 is still going strong for a long time to come. If I get any extra money I'll invest it to lenses.

And in any case - I 've noticed that you really need two bodies - one with long zoom and one with wide/short zoom. And then you have one backup camera if other fails. That would be most comfortable way to work in situations where they pay you for shooting.

[jray]

Pekka wrote:

The image quality difference to D30 is yet to be seen - the preproduction samples don't promise much - the "D30 magic" does not simply be there in 1D. To me the image quality matters most.

All I would need is less noise in higher ISO's , and quieter operation. If the reason for getting a new body would be more resolution, then it should be at least 6-8 megapixels so that the upgrade really shows and would be worth the money.
I agree. The increase to 4 mega pixels is not nearly enough to cause me to move from my D30, especially because the CCD they are using is not yet known (ie, who makes it).

If it is similar to most CCD elements, it is more prone to dust collection due to the larger electric charge in the element, it has more noise than the Canon CMOS sensor (I never thought I would say this about a CMOS sensor), and it may not retain the noise figure from ISO 100-400 as does the Canon CMOS element (both ISO's are real close in noise figures). I sure hope Canon has kept in mind the digital camera community that have praised the D30's CMOS sensor's noise figure and the camera's lack of 'in camera' sharpening while developing the EOS-1D.

Eight frames per second is not everything, in fact it's not that much in the whole scheme of things. Five frames per second with a low noise CMOS sensor at 6 mega pixels would have been better in my opinion. Perhaps there will be a Canon 1Dx, ie Canon will say 'oops!'.

Consider the following:

The D30 is one of the few, if not the only, digital camera that has such a low noise figure and lack of 'in camera' sharpening that it allows the image to be up sampled 2x-3x with minimal affects on the total image quality, ie no loss of detail, and minimal amplification of noise because of any 'in camera' sharpening routines. The resulting image can be sharpened as necessary for print output without worry about any artifacts caused by 'in camera' sharpening routines or CCD noise.

The Canon D30 is a winner and Canon needs to consider their landmark CMOS technology for future digital cameras.

Note: I can produce an 11x14 with the D30 that is 'better' than pro film (Fuji/Kodak/Agfa) with pro processing at normal viewing distances, and at substantial savings. 'Better' means I have more control, there are not enlarger lenses involved, there is no need to focus on the grain, no lack of detail due to the paper used, no color errors due to chemistry, etc. In addition, the whole concept of 'in house' exposure control, cropping, and dodging/burning, is a mute point. Yeah, I know, it's the same with 'all' digital media, but the D30 is the first camera to make me feel like I had real control of this process at a 'professional' level.

Once again, I think the D30 is a real winner (OK, auto-focus sucks sometimes, but I'm a manual kind of guy).

Edit: BTW, if the sample images on the Canon site are any indication of what to expect from the 1D, then I will wait for their next generation of digital SLR. Take a look at:

http://www.usa.canon.com/EOS-1D/images/IMG_0002.jpg

Talk about blown out highlights! Hey Canon, have a photographer do your sample shots for you

John Ray - admin@drgrease.com