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Canon EOS 5D Digital SLR - Features

Canon EOS 5D Sophisticated New 9-Point Auto Focus System

The EOS 5D camera has a new 9-point AF unit with six Supplemental AF points, a new AF algorithm and new AF circuitry. The new AF system improves subject detection and focusing precision at the center, the most frequently used area, and significantly enhances subject tracking performance. The nine AF points are concentrated at the center, but the extreme left and right AF points are located in the same positions as the corresponding AF points on the EOS-1Ds Mark II. In addition, the six Supplemental AF points, grouped around the center of the image, provide highly accurate focusing and do an especially good job of tracking the subject in the AI SERVO AF mode. These Supplemental AF points are not visible in the finder and cannot be selected manually, but they can be seen in the ZoomBrowser or ImageBrowser software. They are used during automatic AF point selection (AF calculation speed and accuracy are as good as, or better than, the EOS 20D's) and as AF area expansion points when the center AF point is selected in C.Fn-17-1, "Expanded AF point activation area." They do not function in the One-Shot AF mode.

The EOS 5D camera has three autofocus modes plus manual focus (MF). In One-Shot AF, when focus is achieved, the AF operation stops and locks. Predictive AI SERVO AF tracks subject movement and focuses continuously until the start of exposure. AI Focus AF provides automatic switching from One-Shot AF to Predictive AI Servo AF when subject motion is detected. The manual focus mode provides a focus confirmation light, an illuminated superimposed AF point display (enabled/disabled with C.Fn-10) and a beeper (enabled/disabled with the power switch). AF-Assist is provided by EOS-dedicated Speedlites equipped with a near-infrared (peak wavelength approx. 700nm) AF-Supplemental beam.

AF sensor

In AI SERVO AF mode and with automatic AF point selection set, a total of fifteen AF points, including the six Supplemental AF points, will function automatically. As with previous cameras, focusing starts from the center AF point. If it cannot track the subject, the other AF points will help. The Supplemental AF points enhance subject tracking performance and enable a smoother transition from the center AF point to adjacent AF points. When C.Fn-17-1, AI SERVO AF and the center AF point are set together, subject tracking is improved because the seven AF points within the spot metering circle will be active: the center AF point and the six Supplemental AF points.

The center AF point has a special hybrid design. With f/2.8 or faster lenses, focusing is a two-step process. First, the f/5.6-sensitive cross-type sensor components are used to focus. When focus is almost achieved, a switch is made to the f/2.8-sensitive vertical line-sensitive sensors for high-precision focusing. Additionally, the center AF point's f/5.6-sensitive, horizontal line-sensitive sensors each have two lines with individual pixels arranged in a zigzag pattern, making a total of four lines for horizontal line-sensitive focusing at the center. With this improvement, the center AF point can now do a better job of detecting difficult-to-read, low-contrast subjects, thus improving the overall performance of the autofocusing system. All six Supplemental AF points are f/5.6- sensitive. The two Supplemental AF points directly above and below the center are also f/2.8-sensitive when a lens of f/2.8 or brighter is used.

Predictive AF can focus track a subject approaching at 186 mph up to 66 feet away with an EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens. The EOS 5D camera uses the same statistical prediction computation as the EOS-1Ds Mark II camera, incorporating data of past focusing operations. Because it can repeat more focusing operations in a short length of time, the predictive AF control can operate effectively from the first shot, even if a subject is moving erratically or if the subject's movement changes just before shutter release. (In this case, as with the EOS-1D Mark II camera, when focusing is possible, the lens drive is executed based on the focusing result right before shutter release.) For still subjects, too, AI SERVO AF is a useful option. Focus control is exceptionally stable; the lens does not move, even minutely. If the subject should move unexpectedly, focus detection is always active to enable subject tracking.

Shutter unit

Canon EOS 5D Highly Durable New High-Speed Shutter

The EOS 5D camera has a newly developed, high-speed and highly durable shutter unit that was designed to meet the demanding requirements of a full-frame sensor in a relatively compact body. The shutter is a vertical travel, focal plane type with two parallelogram link curtains. Each curtain has four blades, three KN Mylar and one Duralumin. The high-torque shutter cocking mechanism, curtain configuration and lightweight blades enable a top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec. with all speeds electronically controlled, and a maximum X-sync speed of 1/200 sec. The metal shutter plate and lever, high-strength cocking gear and a cocking motor that uses a carbon brush account for the remarkable-in-this-price-class 100,000-cycle life this unit enjoys.

This is a level of durability expected in a professional camera. For example, based on Canon's test standards, the EOS-1D Mark II and EOS-1Ds Mark II cameras are rated at 200,000 shots; the EOS-1v model is rated at 150,000 shots and the EOS-1n camera is rated at 100,000. In another clever bit of reliability engineering, because the electronic X-contact has been added to the sync contacts, the shutter unit's X-sync function uses an optically detected, contactless switch instead of a mechanical switch. This contributes to high durability and high reliability when a Speedlite is used, and also can handle trigger circuit voltages up to 250V from non-dedicated flash units, whether they are connected through the hot shoe or the provided PC socket.

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