Canon EOS 5D Digital SLR - Features

Canon EOS 5D Flash and Exposure Control

The EOS 5D camera features Canon's sophisticated E-TTL II flash control system that incorporates improved flash exposure control, lens focusing distance data and flash color temperature information. The EOS 5D camera has built-in flash exposure compensation and flash exposure bracketing (FEB) with the 580EX, 550EX, MR-14EX and MT-24EX Speedlites. Wireless flash, using these units as well as the ST-E2 transmitter and 430EX or 420EX Speedlites (as slaves only), is possible with as many as three slave groups. High-speed sync (FP, or focal plane, flash) enables flash synchronization at all shutter speeds up to 1/8000 sec. The camera's hot shoe has a locking pin hole to prevent Speedlite slippage and the PC flash connector is threaded, also for security.

Evolved E-TTL II Flash Exposure Control

Though still compatible with all EX-series Speedlites, the "smarter" E-TTL II system captures the subject as a "plane" and ensures that images containing various colors and levels of reflection are captured accurately and optimally. The system compares the ambient light with the reflected pre-flash off the subject reported in all 35 metering zones and selects the areas with a small difference to be weighted for flash exposure calculation.

This system also eliminates or under weights areas with large difference recognizing them as an extremely reflective object in the background or as a highly reflective subject, smartly ensuring it by considering the distance information data provided from compatible EF lenses. The system similarly prevents over-exposure when photographers lock focus and recompose the shot by considering the flash output level calculated according to the broader distance. The camera also allows users to select an average metering pattern by using its custom function settings.

Canon's new Speedlite 580EX is perfectly suited to the EOS 5D. It includes a maximum guide no. of 190/58 @ ISO 100 m/ft., which, when mounted on the EOS 5D, automatically compensates for the EOS 5D's sensor size, enabling high output flash, with more flashes per charge. It includes an AF-assist Beam, which works in conjunction with the EOS 5D's focusing system, and automatically sends color temperature information to the camera when the flash fires, for more accurate color rendition with flash photography.

High-Performance Exposure Control

The EOS 5D Digital SLR uses the same 35-zone metering sensor as the EOS 20D, but it has metering functions on a par with the EOS 1D Series. The sensor and the metering optics are positioned behind the pentaprism with the metering lens magnification set to obtain the optimum correlation between the nine AF points and the metering sensor zone areas. Evaluative (set automatically in the Full Auto mode), partial, spot (updated for each shot during continuous shooting) and centerweighted average metering modes are provided. Partial metering reads approximately 8% of the viewfinder area at the center, and spot metering reads approximately 3.5% of the viewfinder area. The basic characteristics of the evaluative metering system and the E-TTL II autoflash metering system have been adjusted to make them just like those in the EOS 20D, which has the same 35-zone metering sensor and One-Shot AF with nine AF points.

Metering zones

The shooting modes are P (programmed AE, shiftable), Tv (shutter-priority AE), Av (aperture-priority AE), M (manual), Bulb, Full Auto (non-shiftable) and C (Camera setting registration, a saved set of custom settings). Basic Zone modes and Depth-of-Field AE are not offered. For flash photography, E-TTL II autoflash and averaged flash exposure (C.Fn-14-1) are both available. Metering begins when the shutter release is pressed halfway. Metering time lasts from approximately four seconds before exposure until approximately 2 seconds after exposure. Multiple exposures are not possible. Auto Exposure Bracketing can range up to +/- 2 stops in 1/2 or 1/3 stop increments. It can be affected in P (shutter or aperture varied), Tv (aperture varied), Av (shutter varied) or M (shutter varied). It is not settable in the Full Auto mode. The bracketing sequence is: standard exposure, decreased exposure, increased exposure; C.Fn-9 allows changes to this order. AEB can be used in conjunction with the self-timer or WB-BKT (nine images will be generated).

In the One-Shot AF mode with evaluative metering, AE lock takes effect when focus is achieved. Manual AE lock is enabled with the AE lock button (rear, top right). There is no AE lock in Full Auto. During evaluative metering, AE lock is applied to the exposure setting obtained by the selected AF point. During partial, spot or center-weighted average metering, AE lock is applied to the exposure setting obtained by the center point. The same button functions as an FE lock button when an EX-series Speedlite is attached.

Canon EOS 5D New Automatic and Intelligent Noise Reduction Function

Because noise is difficult to see on a camera's LCD screen, even one as large and detailed as the EOS 5D camera's, it is hard to know whether noise reduction should be turned on or not. On the EOS 5D model, C.Fn-2, noise reduction for long exposures, has three settings:On, Off or Auto noise reduction. In Auto with exposures of 1 second or longer, if noise caused by a long exposure or high temperature, such as spotty noise or reddish corners, is detected, noise reduction is performed automatically, regardless of ISO. This setting is highly effective and useful for photographers at all levels.

When C.Fn-2 is set to On, noise reduction is always performed for exposures of 1 second or longer, also regardless of ISO. This setting is most valuable in the uncommon occurrence of noise that cannot be detected automatically, such as that generated by low temperatures.

Like the EOS-1Ds Mark II model, the EOS 5D digital SLR enables continuous shooting even while noise reduction is performed, as long as the buffer memory has room. Cleverly, when shutter speed-priority AE or manual exposure is set and continuous shooting is done at the same shutter speed, noise reduction will be performed in a single process on all shots based on the first shot.

Canon EOS 5D
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