Every function optimized for fast RAW and JPEG capture
The EOS 30D is one of the fastest cameras Canon has ever produced. Incorporating the fast operation of the EOS 20D, the 30D allows users to specify high-speed 5 frames per second (fps) or a new low-speed 3 fps continuous shooting for more controlled shooting and/or to save space on the CF card. And it can capture up to 30 JPEG and 11 RAW (or 9 RAW + JPEG) files in one burst. Whether it's the 0.15-second startup time, the high-speed mirror drive, the nearly instant 65-millisecond shutter release lag time or the predictive AF focusing at speeds up to 5.0 frames per second, the EOS 30D will amaze and delight photographers who don't want to wait for their camera when they're ready to shoot.
EOS: The system
One of the EOS 30D's greatest advantages is the EOS system: compatibility with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses, EX-series Speedlites, and EOS accessories such as the Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E1. (Wireless file transmitter and lenses not included--must be purchased separately.) For high-speed processing of lossless RAW images and complete capture-to-print workflow management, the EOS 30D also comes with Canon's latest Digital Photo Professional software.
Battery grip
To extend the EOS 30D's 750-shot (CIPA standard) battery life and increase handling options, the camera is compatible with the BG-E2 battery grip. (Not included; must be purchased separately.) The BG-E2 takes two Lithium-Ion battery packs for up to 2,200 frames or six AA batteries in the supplied BGM-E2 battery magazine. (Shooting capacity with AA batteries is lower when compared with the Battery Pack BP-511A.) For easy vertical shooting, the BG-E2 provides additional shutter release, main dial, AE lock/FE lock, and AF point selection controls.
Software
As well as the latest Digital Photo Professional RAW image processing software, the EOS 30D comes with Canon EOS Solution Disk, containing the new EOS Utility (integrating remote capture software), plus the latest versions of ZoomBrowser/ImageBrowser and PhotoStitch.
The EOS 30D includes membership of Canon's online photo album, Canon iMAGE Gateway with 100 MB of space for image uploads and photo sharing. (Canon iMAGE Gateway is not available in all European countries.)
Technologies Explained
Picture Style
Picture Style pre-sets simplify in-camera control over image quality. Picture Style pre-sets can be likened to different film types--each one offering a different color response. Within each easily selectable pre-set, photographers have control over sharpness, contrast, color tone, and saturation. The camera's factory default configuration is set to deliver immediately-usable JPEG images without need for additional menu settings. Picture Style presets applied to a RAW image do not degrade the image in any way and can be revised with Canon's Digital Photo Professional software.
The six pre-sets include:
The User Defined pre-set can be used to store up to three customized pre-sets, or any of the pre-sets available for download from Canon's web site.
DIGIC II
Now found across the EOS range, DIGIC II is a purpose-built, dedicated image processor responsible for the high speed calculations necessary in order to providing exceptionally accurate color reproduction in real time. Canon's second generation imaging engine, DIGIC II performs the duties of a number of separate processing units to speed processing, save space, and optimize battery life.
To avoid the trade off faced by other manufacturers between camera responsiveness and image quality, Canon has created a processor so fast it can read, process, compress, and write image data back to the buffer between exposures. This allows for longer continuous bursts at maximum frame rates before the buffer fills. Moreover, each image can be subjected to the full complex processing algorithms required in order to deliver superb image quality.
CMOS
Canon's award winning CMOS technology is one of the company's key competitive advantages. With noise reduction circuitry at each pixel site, Canon's CMOS sensors have lower noise and lower power consumption characteristics than CCD sensors.
CCD sensors use a bucket relay system to transfer each pixel's accumulated electrical charge to a corresponding gutter. The operation is time consuming and draws considerable power, which limits battery life and generates unwanted heat, further increasing noise and lowering image quality.
By contrast, signal conversion in Canon's CMOS sensors is handled by the individual amplifiers at each pixel site. Unnecessary charge transfer operations are avoided, vastly speeding up the process of getting signal to the image processor. Noise generation is reduced and power consumption limited.
Digital Photo Professional Software
Digital Photo Professional software provides high-speed processing of lossless RAW images. Processing with Digital Photo Professional allows real-time display and immediate application of image adjustments, giving control over RAW image variables such as white balance, dynamic range, exposure compensation, and color tone. The camera JPEG images can be recorded in sRGB or Adobe RGB color space, and the Digital Photo Professional application supports sRGB, Adobe RGB and Wide Gamut RGB color spaces. An ICC (International Colour Consortium) profile attaches automatically to RAW images converted to TIFF or JPEG images. This allows faithful reproduction of colors in software applications that support ICC profiles, such as Adobe Photoshop. For improved efficiency, a set of image adjustments can be saved as a recipe and applied to multiple images.