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| Canon announces 16.06 million image pixel EOS-1D Mark IV - Continued |
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HD video Now a standard digital
SLR feature, the EOS-1D Mark IV's 1080p video mode features are on par
with the 7D in almost all respects. This means manual and automatic
exposure, three static AF modes that can be activated prior to and
during video capture, both a built-in mic and a 3.5mm miniphone jack
for an external stereo mic, audio sample rate of 48khz, built-in
speaker, automatic audio gain with no manual override, H.264-compressed
movie files with a .mov extension, in-camera video clip trimming and a
4GB clip length limit. Plus, a healthy selection of video and frame
rate options:
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1080p: 1920 x 1080 pixels at 30fps (actually 29.97fps)
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1080p: 1920 x 1080 pixels at 25fps
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1080p: 1920 x 1080 pixels at 24fps (actually 23.976fps)
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720p: 1280 x 720 pixels at 60fps (actually 59.94fps)
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720p: 1280 x 720 pixels at 50fps
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SD: 640 x 480 pixels at 60fps (actually 59.94fps)
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SD: 640 x 480 pixels at 50fps
The resolution and frame rate selection screens are below. You'll see
the menu on the left if the camera is set for NTSC. PAL brings up the
menu on the right.
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Freeze Frame: Video frame rate selection menus (Screenshots courtesy Canon)
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The EOS-1D Mark IV is expected to lead all other video-capable Canon
digital SLRs in low light performance, and will certainly offer the
highest sensitivity (the camera can capture stills or video at up to
ISO 102,400). It will also be capable of depth of field effects that
are shallower than the smaller-sensor 7D for a given field of view, but
not as shallow as the 5D Mark II and it's larger full-frame sensor.
Canon hasn't incorporated the smart still/video mode switch and
start/stop button of the 7D into the EOS-1D Mark IV. They have
empowered the flash exposure lock (FEL) button, however, to optionally
serve as the video quick start button. With the camera configured this
way, pressing FEL, even when not in video mode, will begin the
recording of a movie clip.
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Quick Movie: The FEL button can be configured as the video quick start button (Screenshot and photo courtesy Canon)
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922,000-dot rear LCD
The EOS-1D Mark IV contains a 3.0 inch (diagonal), 922,000-dot rear LCD
that, in addition to being much crisper than the EOS-1D Mark III's
230,000-dot rear LCD, is also designed to be easier to see in overcast
and even sunny conditions.
The EOS-1D Mark IV is the second Canon digital SLR - after the 7D - to
employ a tempered glass cover over the rear LCD, rather than clear
resin. In addition, an optically-clear filler eliminates the air gap
between the glass and LCD itself. The filler both strengthens the cover
and limits the loss of contrast in brighter ambient light.
Rear LCD colour accuracy is expected to be the best of any Canon to
date, owing to the use of an LCD component with a wider colour gamut
than any previous digital SLR model.
Other changes and additions
Canon has revised Live View to bring its features up to the level of
other current Canons, which principally means that the EOS-1D Mark IV
can autofocus in this mode, whereas the EOS-1D Mark III cannot. The new
camera's E-TTL II algorithm has been revised to provide better flash
exposures when shooting with a wide angle lens and the subject is small
in the frame. Both global ambient and flash exposure adjustment Custom
Functions also debut in the EOS-1D Mark IV.
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Well Adjusted: Ambient and flash exposure adjustment Custom Functions (Screenshots courtesy Canon)
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In the 7D, not the EOS-1D Mark IV
The EOS-1D Mark IV is meant to be a better-specified camera than the 7D
in most respects, and ought to be, given the much higher price tag on
the camera being unveiled today. That said, the 7D incorporates several
features that didn't make it into the EOS-1D Mark IV, features that
would be equally useful in Canon's latest news and sports camera.
These include the 7D's combo mode switch and start/button, Q button for
quick access to key camera settings, unparalleled control customization
options, an electronic level and revised 63-zone meter. The lack of
some of these refinements gives the EOS-1D Mark IV the feel of an
interim product, like an EOS-1D Mark III N. That said, if the autofocus
and high ISO image quality are top-notch, then the absence of things
like an electronic level won't keep the EOS-1D Mark IV from flying off
store shelves.
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Wirey:
The WFT-E2 II/WFT-E2 II A. Click photo to enlarge (Photo courtesy Canon) |
Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E2 II/WFT-E2 II A
Also announced today is an update of the WFT-E2/E2A. Called the WFT-E2
II in most markets, and the WFT-E2 II A in the U.S., Canada and a few
other locales, it's a wired Ethernet/wireless Wi-Fi transmitter with
the capabilities of the previous model, plus more. Changes includes
support for 802.11a wireless networks, in addition to 802.11b/g, a
revised HTTP mode called WFT Server and slick multiple remote camera
triggering capabilities.
WFT Server mode allows for remote viewing of the camera's Live View
feed, adjusting of shutter speed, aperture, ISO and various other
camera settings, as well as firing the shutter, all from the web
browser of a linked computer, iPhone or other smartphone.
It's designed to be a web browser version of EOS Utility, though
without the same range of features as Canon's standalone camera control
application.
The screenshots below show WFT Server mode in action from
a wirelessly connected iPhone. These screenshots were generated using a
7D and its companion WFT-E5/E5A transmitter, but the interface and
controls with the EOS-1D Mark IV + WFT-E2 II/WFT-E2 II A are the
same as shown.
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Linked In: WFT Server mode in action (Screenshots courtesy Canon)
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The WFT-E2/E2A, which Canon shipped alongside
the EOS-1D Mark III back in 2007, is compatible with the EOS-1D Mark
IV, though minus the nifty new wireless features like WFT Server -
those require the newer transmitter.
Conversely, the WFT-E2 II/WFT-E2 II A is compatible with the EOS-1D
Mark III and EOS-1Ds Mark III. Both cameras will require a
not-yet-released firmware update, says Westfall, to operate the new
transmitter.
An EOS-1D Mark IV with a WFT-E2 II/WFT-E2 II A attached can be
configured to fire multiple remote cameras, up to 10 in all, in concert
with the camera in your hand. Once configured, pressing the shutter
button on the camera you're using causes the remote cameras to fire as
well, presumably with a slight delay. The master and remote cameras can
be any combination of:
- EOS-1D Mark IV + WFT-E2 II/WFT-E2 II A
- EOS 7D + WFT-E5/E5A
- EOS 5D Mark II + WFT-E4 II/WFT-E4 II A (also announced today)
- EOS-1D Mark III + WFT-E2 II/WFT-E2 II A
- EOS-1Ds Mark III + WFT-E2 II/WFT-E2 II A
More information is in a WFT-E2 II specification sheet.
The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV has an expected street price of US$4999 in the
U.S. and is to ship in late December 2009. Note that in the U.S., and perhaps other countries too, AC Adapter Kit ACK-E4 will not be included in the box and must be purchased separately, which is a departure from the EOS-1D Mark III.
In Canada, the EOS-1D Mark IV has an expected street price of CDN$5499,
with a ship date of late December 2009. There will be CPS pricing in
Canada on the EOS-1D Mark IV. If you're a Canadian CPS member, contact
your dealer for more information.
Canon USA is preparing a
detailed technical paper on the new model, which will be posted for
download on the Canon USA website in late October 2009 (when it goes live it will be linked to on this page). Example EOS-1D Mark IV photos and movies are here.
As of this writing, the price and ship date for the WFT-E2 II A have not been set for either the U.S. or Canada. Canon UK has said that the WFT-E2 II will be available in late December 2009 priced at £699.00/€849.00 RRP inc. VAT.
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