Canon EOS 1100D and 600D Technologies Explained
Canon CMOS sensor
Exclusively designed and manufactured by Canon to work in combination with its own DIGIC processors, Canon’s CMOS technology integrates advanced noise reduction circuitry at each pixel site, delivering virtually noise-free images.
In comparison with CCD technology, the lower power consumption characteristics of Canon’s CMOS sensors also contribute to longer battery life.
Signal
conversion in Canon’s CMOS sensors is handled by individual amplifiers
at each pixel site. Unnecessary charge transfer operations are avoided,
vastly speeding up the process of getting the signal to the image processor. Noise is reduced, power consumption is limited and faster frame rate potential is increased.
DIGIC 4
Image data captured by the CMOS sensor is processed by Canon’s purpose-built DIGIC 4 image processors before being written to memory card. DIGIC technology uses advanced image processing algorithms to ensure precise, natural colours, tonal gradation, accurate white balance, and advanced noise reduction. Ultra-fast processing speeds result in highly responsive camera operation and ear-instant start-up times.
DIGIC chips work with a high speed image buffer, reading, processing, compressing and writing image data fast enough to keep the buffer clear during long continuous shooting bursts. In addition, because DIGIC 4 integrates all key processing functions, power consumption is kept to a minimum.
iFCL metering system with 63-zone Dual-layer Metering sensor The iFCL system uses focus, colour and luminance information to determine consistently exposed shots. All focus points provide distance
information to the metering system to determine the location of the subject and allow the algorithm to weight the exposure accordingly.
Both the EOS 600D and EOS 1100D models feature a metering sensor with 63 zones, compatible with all nine AF points. Typically, metering sensors are more sensitive to red subjects which can lead to overexposure. The EOS 600D and EOS 1100D counter this with the dual layer sensor, which has one layer sensitive to red and green light and one that is sensitive to blue and green light. The metering algorithm then compares the level of the two layers and adjusts the meter reading accordingly.
EOS Integrated Cleaning System
The new EOS 600D features the EOS Integrated Cleaning System, used to combat sensor dust in three important ways: Reduce, Repel and Remove.
– Reduce – Internal camera mechanisms are designed to minimise dust
generation. The redesigned body cap prevents dust generation through wear on the cap itself
– Repel – Anti-static technologies, including a magnesium fluoride coating, are applied to the low-pass filter covering
the front of the sensor so as not to attract dust
– Remove – A
Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit uses hi-frequency vibrations to shake dust from the infrared filter for a period of approximately one second after each start up. For instant shooting after power up, this feature is disabled immediately as the shutter release is depressed
The front surface of the EOS 1100D’s low-pass filter features a fluorine coating to minimize dust adhesion to the sensor. Both the EOS 600D and the EOS 1100D feature an internal Dust Delete Data system, which can map the position of visible dust on the sensor. This can then be deleted automatically after the shoot with the latest Digital Photo Professional software.
Vari-Angle Clear View LCD (EOS 600D only)
The EOS 600D features a 7.7cm (3.0″) 3:2 Vari-Angle Clear View LCD screen offering approximately 1.04 million dot resolution – allowing high-quality viewing of images, and focus checks, in playback. With a wide 160º angle of view, images on the Clear View LCD can be easily reviewed in a vast range of environments with reduced ghosting and reflections, thanks to three anti-reflection coatings and a smudge-resistant fluorine coating. Marks on the screen are prevented and colours on the monitor
appear natural and close to the sRGB colour space. The vari-angle screen has been designed to open sideways, enabling photographers to shoot from unusual angles, even while the EOS 600D is attached to a tripod or battery grip. The screen flips out 175° and can then rotate 90° forwards or 180° backwards, allowing the photographer to view the screen from low or high angles, and even from in front of the camera.
EOS Movie
EOS Movie allows users to record Full HD (1920x1080p)
movies on the EOS 600D and HD (1280x720p) movies on the EOS 1100D. The EOS 600D offers full manual control of exposure and frame rates of 30, 25 and 24 fps at full resolution, with 60 and 50 fps available at 720p resolution. The EOS 1100D has a choice of 30 and 25 fps frame rates.
When filming Full HD footage with the EOS 600D, Movie Digital Zoom can be used to magnify the centre of the sensor by 3-10x while maintaining Full HD quality.
EOS Scene Detection Technology (EOS 600D only)
EOS Scene Detection Technology automatically analyses faces, brightness, movement, contrast and distance in the scene, with information provided as feedback to the Scene Intelligent Auto mode.
Scene Intelligent Auto (EOS 600D only)
Scene Intelligent Auto takes the information gathered by the EOS Scene Detection System and determines the best settings to capture the scene. For example, when shooting portraits, the settings are adjusted to make the skin appear more natural.
Picture Styles
Picture Style presets can be likened to different film types – each one offering a different colour response. Within each selectable preset, photographers have control over sharpness, contrast, colour tone and saturation. The camera’s Standard Picture Style is designed to deliver immediately-usable JPEG images without need for additional processing. When shooting RAW images Picture Styles can be revised with Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software.
The presets available with both the EOS 600D and EOS 1100D are:
– Standard: For crisp, vivid images that don’t require post-processing.
– Portrait: Optimises colour tone and saturation and weakens sharpening to achieve attractive skin tones.
– Landscape: For punchier greens and blues with stronger sharpening to give a crisp edge to mountain, tree and building outlines.
– Neutral: Ideal for post-processing.
– Faithful: Adjusts colour to match the subject colour when shot under a colour temperature of 5200K.
– Monochrome: For black and white shooting with a range of filter effects (yellow, orange, red and green) and toning effects (sepia, blue, purple and green.
A new Picture Style has been added to the EOS 600D – Picture Style Auto. This new Picture Style makes fine adjustments, based on the EOS Scene Detection System’s analysis, to create a Picture Style for the particular image. Three User Defined Picture Styles can be used to store customised pre-sets created using the supplied Picture Style Editor, or any of the pre-sets available for download from Canon’s web site: www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/picturestyle file/index.htm
Basic+
Basic+ is a creative imaging function that was first introduced in the EOS 60D, which makes it easier to create the desired image effects when shooting a scene. With Basic+, photographers have the option to apply a creative intent to their images whilst using the scene-based modes.
– Shoot by ambience: exposure compensation and white balance are adjusted according to preset styles to create ambience or tone in the image
– Shoot by lighting or scene type: a simplified form of white balance, which allows new digital photographers to change the white balance settings according to more understandable terms such as “Daylight”, “Shade”, “Cloudy”, “Sunset”, “Tungsten light” and “Fluorescent light”
Auto Lighting Optimizer (ALO)
Auto Lighting Optimiser analyses the image and selectively adjusts the brightness to achieve a more even result. For example, when a person is backlit, ALO detects the face and
increases its brightness to ensure a more pleasing image.
Lens peripheral illumination correction
The lens peripheral illumination correction function uses the power of the DIGIC 4 image processor to improve image quality by maintaining evenness of illumination from corner to corner, even when shooting wide open with a zoom lens. When shooting in RAW this correction can be further adjusted using Digital Photo Professional.
Highlight Tone Priority
With Highlight Tone Priority the dynamic range of the highlight tones is extended. The gradation between 18% greys (standard exposure) and the highlights are improved, reducing loss of detail in highlights. This enables a picture with a large proportion of highlights, such as a brightly-lit bride in her wedding gown, to show greater detail in the
white and grey areas of the photo, making the image more attractive and
natural.
Feature Guide
The Feature Guide acts as an on-board guide by displaying a simple description of each mode and the functions on the Quick Control Screen.
Creative Filters (EOS 600D only)
EOS 600D provides a range of creative effect filters which can be applied to RAW images and all
JPEG images. Since the filter can be applied after the shot is taken,
users can apply different filters to the same image and see the effects:
– Fish-eye effect: Creates a barrel-shaped distortion similar to a
fish-eye lens. The effect can be adjusted, and, depending on the level
of distortion, the image periphery may be cropped.
– Grainy B/W: Creates a grainy, black-and-white image. The effect can be emphasized by adjusting the contrast.
– Soft focus: Produces a soft result. This can be increased by adjusting the blur.
– Toy camera effect: Provides colour cast typical of toy cameras. The four corners are also darkened. The image looks soft with a subtle
grainy look. The colour cast can be changed to cool or warm colours.
– Miniature effect: Can be set by the user to make part of the image look sharp. The orientation (vertical or horizontal) of the area can be
changed by pressing the INFO button.
Video Snapshot (EOS 600D only)
The Video Snapshot feature enables
the user to capture short video clips of 2, 4 or 8 seconds in length.
These short snapshots are then stitched together into one file as a Video Snapshot Album, creating a dynamic, fast-paced movie sequence. Once video clip duration has been selected, every time the Movie shooting button is pressed a video clip of that length will be captured. For example, if a 4 second Video Snapshot is selected, the Video Snapshot Album will be created consisting of 4-second movie clips. This creates a much more engaging movie and encourages the user to think about the shots they take.
When playing a Movie, Video Snapshot Album or Slideshow, background music (BGM) can be applied, whether on
the camera’s screen, or on a larger HDTV using the camera’s HDMI connection. To do this, users must convert audio files to the supported .WAV format, before using EOS Utility software to upload the files to the camera’s SD card ready for selection during playback. A choice of five music tracks supplied with the camera can also be used.
Digital Photo Professional Software
Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software provides high speed, high quality 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, noise reduction and colour tone – plus the ability to view Auto Focus points on an image and apply un-sharp mask sharpening. The Lens Aberration correction tool allows precise correction of different types of distortion caused by certain lenses. Newly added is a set of distortion corrections for use with the EF 8-15mm f/4L USM Fisheye. These corrections allow you to produce fisheye images for different uses.
– Emphasize Linearity: Converts the image to a ‘Central Projection’ style image. This creates a full frame image from a circular fisheye image.
– Emphasize Distance: This converts the image into an ‘Equidistant Projection’ image. This method preserves distance relationships between objects, but removes much of the distortion. It is particularly useful for creating star maps and solar path diagrams.
– Emphasize Periphery: This converts the image into a ‘Stereographic Projection’ image. This allows positional relationships on a spherical surface to be displayed correctly, such as an image of a globe.
– Emphasize Centre: This converts the image to an ‘Orthogonal Projection’ image, enlarging the centre of the image. This is useful for city planners to measure the luminance of an area by the sky to ensure adequate lighting.
Images can be recorded in camera with sRGB or Adobe RGB colour space. Images can also be rotated and trimmed allowing photographers to correct framing and horizons as part of the RAW processing. Digital Photo Professional also provides full support for the rating system within the EOS 600D and EOS 1100D allowing star ratings to be added or edited for easier sorting.
Digital Photo Professional supports sRGB, Adobe RGB, ColorMatch RGB, Apple RGB and Wide Gamut RGB colour spaces. ICC (International Colour Consortium) profiles can be attached to TIFF or JPEG images when converted from RAW. This allows faithful reproduction of colours 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.
EOS Utility
The latest version of EOS Utility
provides essential support for Live View remote shooting (with the ability to overlay an image to assist with alignment of subsequent shots during product photography), camera configuration and image transfers. Tightly integrated with Digital Photo Professional, EOS Utility can be configured to monitor ‘hot’ folders, automatically renaming and moving incoming images to a structured file system. Images can also be tagged with EXIF data, including copyright information. Newly added is the ability to register background music, with users now able to add or remove .WAV format files from the playlist used by the camera.
Picture Style Editor
Picture Style Editor allows
photographers to create individual Picture Styles that meet their personal requirements. Each Picture Style contains detailed information on how specific colours should be represented within an image. Once new Picture Styles have been created, they can be uploaded directly into the camera and applied to JPEG or RAW images. When working with RAW files in DPP, both personal Picture Styles and predetermined Picture Styles can be adjusted.
ZoomBrowser EX (PC)/ImageBrowser (MAC)
ZoomBrowser EX/ImageBrowser is designed to give photographers a quick and easy way of managing their images. Basic JPEG editing functionality enables users to adjust image brightness and colour balance, with an in-software connection to DPP for RAW image editing. Users can select, rename and resize multiple images at once, set star ratings and organise images by shooting date, making it simple to manage large image libraries. Photographers can also select, add comments and then print images via a range of simplified printing options, and direct uploads to CANON iMAGE GATEWAY enables image sharing via personal online photo albums. ZoomBrowser EX/ImageBrowser also offers support for video editing, including a new Video Snapshot Edit Task that makes it easy for users to manage, edit and share Video Snapshot Albums.
Video Snapshot Edit Task
This feature allows Video Snapshot Albums to be edited using a computer. Individual snapshots can be removed or reordered, and a background music track can also be added . The resulting file can be uploaded to YouTubeTM quickly and easily using a new YouTubeTM upload task.