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Canon 1DS Mk4 (EOS-1Ds MkIV) - replacement for the Mk3
20th Sept 2008 - AF and sensors
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Most of the stuff on this page is RUMOUR, so have that (big) pinch of salt ready. If you've got any info, let us know at 1DSreplacement@northlight-images.co.uk
All the latest Mk 4 information we get sent or find on the web goes here!
2008 September
20th Reports from several sources mention Canon working on 16 bit image technology and mention the dynamic ISO variation process. This should be thought of as matching the sensitivity of the sensor to the light falling on it, to give a greater effective dynamic range. Think of bright parts having an effective ISO of 100, while dark parts of the sensor have their sensitivity raised. You still expose to avoid clipping, but in the darker areas, the gain is raised - it will be interesting to see what the results are, but Canon want this technology in their 'flagship' camera.
- Image processing could get more complex with the dynamic ISO, but as long as images don't have that obvious 'HDR' look I won't mind. Personally I have a similar general dislike for those obvious HDR photos you see as I do with obvious use of graduated filters - if it's obvious, then it's usually too much IMHO ;-)
A dual Digic 4 approach can handle a FF camera at 50D pixel density (38MP) at 1Ds speeds, while Canon are again trialling a camera with 1.6, 1.3 and FF dynamic cropping as well as movie mode, for a sports Camera.
There are two current AF design tasks going on. There is the 'all new Pro' version with many more AF points and new tracking algorithms, and the 'next generation' approach, based on the 45 point system, but with more cross and 2.8 type sensors, and a lot more processing power. The 'All New' version will not be seen until it has been -very- solidly tested. This will not delay the replacement of the 1D3 and 1Ds3. Expect considerable re-badging of whatever AF is found in the next 1D to make a break from the 'problems' of the 1D3.
There is also a good possibility of "a new high end DSLR being added to the range soon to fill market demand" ...No, surely not the 3D at last! ;-)
Before the big shake-up last year, Canon kept its Pro and Consumer DSLR teams largely working on their own, however they are now much more integrated. Their CMOS technology is being very actively moved into the compact range.
Meanwhile Sony are quietly mentioning their own 50MP FF sensor in various 'off the record' technical briefings to their friends in the press ;-)
Some dates to consider
| Model |
Announced
|
Effective pixels
|
Sensor size
|
Continuous High (JPEG) | LCD monitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EOS-1D | Sep 2001 | 4.2 mp | 1.3x crop | 8.0 fps, 21 frames | 2.0" |
| EOS-1Ds | Sep 2002 | 11.1 mp | Full frame | 3.0 fps, 10 frames | 2.0" |
| EOS-1D Mark II | Jan 2004 | 8.2 mp | 1.3x crop | 8.3 fps, 40 frames | 2.0" |
| EOS-1Ds Mark II | Sep 2004 | 16.7 mp | Full frame | 4.0 fps, 32 images | 2.0" |
| EOS-1D Mark II N | Aug 2005 | 8.2 mp | 1.3x crop | 8.3 fps, 48 images | 2.5" |
| EOS-1D Mark III | Feb 2007 | 10.1 mp | 1.3x crop | 10.0 fps, 110 images | 3.0" (Live view) |
| EOS-1Ds Mark III | Aug 2007 | 21.1 mp | Full frame | 5.0 fps, 56 images | 3.0" (Live view) |
19th 5D2 and the 1Ds3? A comment from someone talking to Chuck Westfall [DPR] 'at higher ISO's the 5D II will outperform the 1Ds III by "two and a half stops."'
We're now definitely expecting both the 1D3 and 1Ds3 to be replaced by this time next year. Whilst we're waiting for more detailed info from some of our more reliable past sources, we know that Canon want to replace the 1Ds3 with something that makes a 'clear statement of leadership'.
17th The 21MP 5D2 arrives.
At a store showing a 5D2 to people, a Canon rep was asked if it will kill 1Ds3 sales - "I don't care" was the reply.
Meanwhile a Norwegian store has the 1Ds3 price reduced until 21/9
Whilst the 1D3 is a serious bet for an upgrade in the Spring, how about the 1Ds3 as well? How long does the 'flagship' not have the best sensor or LCD?
4th Mk4 for next Feb? [POTN]
Some specs to go with that:
- 32 MP FF sensor
- Dual Digic IV processors
- ISO from 50 - 12800 + H1(25600) + H2(51200)
- 5.5 FPS
- 60 JPG Continuous Shooting
- 19 Raw Continuous Shooting
- Slightly larger AF area compared to the Mk III
- 920,000 pixel LCD screen
- Autofocus is upgraded
- Completely new power system - fuel cell based
Whilst I'd expect the 1D3 to be replaced next year, I'd thought (or should I say 'hoped' ) the 1Ds3 might last a bit longer ;-)
3rd More Canon technical info.... 60D features, 70D prospects, feature migration from the 'pro' range and the wholesale redesign of what a 'professional' camera is. (warning - mentions EVF - I know this scares some people ;-)
Info on the 60D page (now updated with lots more info just received)
24th August With the 50D widely expected, its 15.1MP sensor scales to 38MP for the 1Ds4
There are also strong hints that the 3 year camera cycle is no more. Look for 1Ds3 price cuts next year to signify at least a new version of the 1D3 (which may yet be FF)
Also before that, expect a new FF 'Pro' camera (3D??) next year (see 5D2 page for more background info)
23rd June A 50MP CMOS sensor from Canon gets a mention in a Chinese report from the P&E show currently on in China.
Google translations don't say much ;-) - but I believe it's from a senior Canon Exec.
This follows on from our information of last September which discussed aspects of potential 40-50MP sensors and their eventual introduction in the 1 series (Photokina 2010? :-)
12th March Is there an announcement of something this Autumn?
Lots of rumours on the 5D2 page, which includes this, about something else new...
"The new Canon flagship, this Fall, will have a "1.5:1 price/performance advantage to the Nikon flagship." (Read carefully: this statement refers to the coming Canon flagship, not the 5D II being discussed here)."
More likely, the 1D3 replacement?
6th December 2007
Since I'm still getting used to some of the capabilities of the 1Ds3, it's a bit early to say what I'd like to see in the next version! ;-)
However, better noise performance at even higher ISO, might be one area I'd prefer over many more MP. A bit more DR along with the 16 bit A/D would make for even more stunning output (it's good in the 1Ds3)
Anyway, I'm not expecting much of note on this page until the replacement for the 1D3 comes out (maybe later in 2008, given the 1D3 problems)
17th September From our collections of Canon info received over the last few days
The 1Ds Mk.IV
2010 target with no firm plans – for features
Current target is to include:
- Next generation low voltage CMOS supporting 1 to 2 stops lower noise a high ISOs
- 16 bit A/D on each pixel
- DIGIC IV
- Dynamic cropping so that the camera can do 1.3 and 1.6 and other crops off the sensor.
- A much higher FPS – allowing the camera to be used for sports as well (though not up to the very fast 1D Mk4)
It will be a year or more before even early test samples are available, longer than that for the advanced CMOS sensors.
DIGIC IV would allow this to be 'The One Camera' having similar FPS in crop mode to the 1D mk4 if required.
Such a choice would be driven by the market and not added unless there was demand.
Canon remains open to merging the 1D and 1Ds lines at some stage, however previous pro feedback when developing the mark III series was against this.
23rd August 2007
Nikon move to FF too (Nikon D3 info) Very interesting specs and well worth a look for 1Ds3 users - look to see some of these features in the 1Ds3N or Mark four ;-)
22nd Well, it had to happen -- a 1DsMk4 thread on DPR :-)
"The 1Ds Mkiii has the same pixel density as the 20D. Is this a good reason to believe that after three years the 1Ds MkIV will have a full frame sensor ( 6422 x 4282) with the pixel density of the 40D, which translates to aprox 27.5 Mp?"
20th
I'm expecting the Mark 4 to have at least 33MP, 16 bit processing and a max iso of 12800. Announcement in time for Photokina 2010
In the mean time here's some miscellaneous facts...
| Model |
Announced
|
Effective pixels
|
Sensor size
|
Continuous High (JPEG) | LCD monitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EOS-1D | Sep 2001 | 4.2 mp | 1.3x crop | 8.0 fps, 21 frames | 2.0" |
| EOS-1Ds | Sep 2002 | 11.1 mp | Full frame | 3.0 fps, 10 frames | 2.0" |
| EOS-1D Mark II | Jan 2004 | 8.2 mp | 1.3x crop | 8.3 fps, 40 frames | 2.0" |
| EOS-1Ds Mark II | Sep 2004 | 16.7 mp | Full frame | 4.0 fps, 32 images | 2.0" |
| EOS-1D Mark II N | Aug 2005 | 8.2 mp | 1.3x crop | 8.3 fps, 48 images | 2.5" |
| EOS-1D Mark III | Feb 2007 | 10.1 mp | 1.3x crop | 10.0 fps, 110 images | 3.0" (Live view) |
| EOS-1Ds Mark III | Aug 2007 | 21.1 mp | Full frame | 5.0 fps, 56 images | 3.0" (Live view) |
1Ds2/1DS3 features comparison
|
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
|
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 21.1 million effective pixels 6.4 µm pixel pitch |
16.7 million effective pixels 7.2 µm pixel pitch |
| Image processor | Dual DIGIC III | DIGIC II |
| A/D converter | 14-bit | 12-bit |
| Image sizes | 5616 x 3744 4992 x 3328 4080 x 2720 2784 x 1856 |
4992 x 3328 3600 x 2400 3072 x 2048 2496 x 1664 |
| RAW files | CR2 format, 14-bit RAW full resolution sRAW (5.2 MP) |
CR2 format, 12-bit RAW full resolution |
| Dust reduction | High speed vibration of filter | None |
| Auto focus | 45-point TTL CMOS sensor 19 cross-type for F2.8 or faster lens |
45-point TTL CMOS sensor 7 cross-type for F4 or faster lens |
| AF adjustment | Yes | No |
| Metering | 63-zone linked to AF points | 21-zone linked to AF points |
| Shutter | 300,000 exposure durability | 200,000 exposure durability |
| Noise reduction | Optional High ISO | No option |
| White balance | Up to five personal WB presets | Up to three personal WB presets |
| Image parameters | Picture Styles (six default, three user) Sharpness: 0 to 7 Contrast: -4 to +4 Saturation: -4 to +4 Colour tone: -4 to +4 B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, G B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G |
Colour matrix (five default, two user) Sharpness: 0 to 5 Contrast: -2 to +2 Saturation: -2 to +2 Colour tone: -2 to +2 |
| Viewfinder | 100% frame coverage Magnification: 0.76x Eyepoint: 20 mm |
100% frame coverage Magnification: 0.70x Eyepoint: 20 mm |
| ISO in viewfinder | Yes | No |
| LCD monitor | 3.0" TFT LCD 230,000 pixels 7 brightness levels |
2.0" TFT LCD 230,000 pixels 5 brightness levels |
| LCD Live View | Yes | No |
| Playback modes | Exposure line at top in single image view | No exposure in single image view |
| Silent shooting | Yes (quieter release) | No |
| Continuous shooting | 5.0 / 3.0 fps Up to 56 JPEG Large/Fine images |
5.0 fps Up to 32 JPEG Large/Fine images |
| Auto rotate | On (recorded and LCD display) On (recorded only) Off |
On Off |
| My Menu | Up to six menu options can be customised | No |
| Menu languages | 18 | 15 |
| Custom functions | 57 | 20 |
| Hot-shoe water resistance | Yes (with 580 EX II) | No |
| Storage | Compact Flash slot (UDMA support) SD card slot (SDHC support) USB drives via WFT-E2/E2A |
Compact Flash slot SD card slot |
| Data connectivity | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed | USB 1.1 Firewire IEEE 1394 |
| Battery power | Lithium-Ion LP-E4 rechargeable battery | Ni-MH NP-E3 rechargeable battery |
| Dimensions | 150 x 160 x 80 mm (6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 in) | 156 x 158 x 80 mm (6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 in) |
| Weight | No battery: 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) With battery: 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) |
No battery: 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) With battery: 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) |
And yes - I'm still (aug 2007) using the one below - great camera!
The original EOS 1Ds
Featuring a full frame 35mm CMOS sensor, with 11.1 million effective pixels. Targeting the professional user that seeks the highest image quality, the EOS-1Ds captures astounding detail & colour.
Full Frame
Having a full frame sensor the same size & aspect ratio as 35mm film allows the use of wide-angle lenses without any focal length magnification, a traditional limitation of previous digital cameras.
High Resolution
The EOS-1Ds has made a huge leap in resolution by means of the continuous development of the CMOS sensor. Canon's ground breaking CMOS technologies deliver high resolution, low noise and low power consumption. With its extremely high resolution, the EOS-1Ds has been designed to meet the needs of those professional photographers who require the ultimate in digital image quality. The camera will be ideal for professionals active in a wide range of specialities including studio, commercial, reportage, or fashion photography.
Professional and quick response
The EOD-1Ds can capture images at approximately 3 frames per second for a 10-frame burst, even at the highest quality setting. It features the same shooting functions and operation system as the EOS 1D. The EOS 1Ds has fast shutter speeds with a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 sec and X-sync at 1/250 sec. Users have the choice of an ISO speed range of 100-1250 and ISO 50 provided with custom functions. Photographers also benefit from the high speed, high precision 45 -point area auto focus and 21-zone metering.
Colour Quality
The EOS-1Ds sees the introduction of Canon's new imaging engine. This has been specially designed to achieve high image quality, excellent colour reproduction and a wide tonal range equal to, or better than, the 35mm slide film often favoured by professionals. In addition, the CMOS sensor's extremely high signal to noise ratio means that noise is minimized, even at the equivalent of ISO 1250.
Reliability
The EOS-1Ds incorporates outstanding professional features tried and tested by the EOS-1D including the same dust and water resistance. The Chassis and external covers are made of magnesium allow for light weight and excellent rigidity. The shutter has been tested to an incredible 150,000 exposures.
Advanced Features
In response to customer requests, an image enlargement function has been introduced. 25 sections of a selected image can be enlarged on the camera's LCD screen, thus allowing users to check for detail & sharpness.
As CMOS sensors consume less power than CCDs, battery life has been improved, so that the NP-E3 battery pack can now capture up to 600 exposures on one charge (at 20° C). With the high-speed FireWire standard IEEE1394 you will get 40 MB per second high speed transfer to give rapid plug & play downloads to a computer. CF cards can be formatted in either the FAT16 or FAT32 file system. Formatting in FAT32 is intended for high-capacity CF cards over 2GB and is selected automatically by the camera when formatting this type of card.
Other leading innovations include the unique ability to dial in colour temperatures to meet specific lighting conditions. 10 White Balance (WB) modes and WB bracketing provide maximum flexibility and superb colour accuracy. ISO speed bracketing allows photographers to fix aperture and shutter speeds, yet shoot at 3 different equivalent film speeds. Such advances offer the professional advanced creative opportunities. Entirely new software is available for the EOS-1Ds from the EOS Digital Solutions Disk and is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.
The camera also features a CF card type I/II slot enabling the use of CF cards and IBM Microdrives.
An optional accessory, the Data Verification Kit DVK-E1 consists of a dedicated IC card and card reader, together with special software for Windows 2000/XP. This allows one to check that the EOS-1Ds' image files have remained absolutely unaltered after being circulated. This may well be a landmark for digital imaging in law enforcement, copyright and many other areas. Availability of this is to be confirmed.
The EOS-1Ds is compatible with over 60 of Canon's EF lenses. Canon has also extended its professional photographic system by introducing the Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX for extremely versatile macro flash photography.
Additional Information
Specification Features
MegaPixel (Effective Resolution) 11.1
CCD Size (WxH mm)
35.8x23.8mm
Max Image Resolution
4064x2704
Lens Fitting
Canon EF
Focal Length Conversion Factor 1.0
Storage
CompactFlash
CompactFlash Type II
Compatible with MicroDrive Yes
Max No of Images on an optional 64MB Card 5, 15, 37, 45
Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) 3fps
Max Consecutive Shots
Up to 10
Battery Type
Ni-Mh NP-E3
Exposure Modes
Program
Aperture Priority
Shutter Priority
Manual Metering Modes
Evaluative
Partial Metering
Centre Weighted
Spot ISO Speed Range
50-1250
Exposure Compensation
Yes
LCD Monitor
Yes
Built in Flash
No
Auto Exposure Bracketing
Yes
Flash Modes
E-TTL
Connection Type
FireWire (IEEE 1394)
White Balance Modes
White Balance Bracketing
Custom
Auto
Manual
Preset Depth of Field Preview
Yes
Focusing Modes
One-shot AF
AI Servo AF
Manual Audio Recording
Yes
Flash Sync Socket
Yes
Operating System
Windows 98
Windows 98 SE
Windows ME
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Mac OS 8.6-9
Tripod Thread
Yes
Dimensions (WxHxD) mm
156x157.6x79.9 mm
Weight (Kg)
1265 g (batt 335g)