Features

• Powered by lithium-ion rechargeable battery (battery pack BP-511)
• Digital AF SLR (body only)
• 6.3-megapixel CMOS sensor (3152 x 2068)
• Compatible with Type I/II CompactFlash cards and MicroDrives
• Connects to PCs and Macs via USB 1.1

Asin: B00008ACQZ
Sales Rank: 6071
Subjects:  1. Digital Camera (Cameras)    2. Photograph (Photography)   

Editorial Review

The Canon EOS D30 is one of the few available interchangeable-lens digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. It's designed to offer the performance and picture quality of a film-based SLR with the convenience and features of a digital camera. Based on Canon's EOS line of film cameras, the D30 is compatible with all EOS-related equipment, including EF lenses and EX-series Speedlite flashes. This model is targeted at "prosumers" (serious consumers and some professionals), and its EOS compatibility makes it a natural choice for people who already own Canon equipment.

If you're accustomed to using a Canon SLR, the D30's features and controls will be familiar. As with film models, the shutter speed, aperture, and focus can all be set manually or automatically. White balance can also be adjusted, either by selecting a preset value or by shooting and storing a reference image. Unlike most digital cameras, the traditional optical viewfinder is the only way to frame your shots; the 1.8-inch LCD monitor on the back of the camera is for perusing images and adjusting settings only. One bonus of this arrangement is that the D30 is always ready to take pictures; you don't have to worry about changing modes as you must on most digital cameras.

The introduction of the D30 also marks the first use of a CMOS sensor in a multimegapixel digital camera. Because CMOS sensors are less expensive, use less power, and are easier to manufacture than the traditional CCD sensors found on most cameras, there are high hopes that CMOS will be the primary sensor technology for the super-high resolution digital cameras of tomorrow. Until now, however, CMOS sensors have offered inferior results when compared to CCD, so they've been found primarily in entry-level and toy digital cameras. Canon seems to have solved the image-quality problem by custom designing the CMOS chip in the D30, and the company claims that their sensor offers better performance than most CCD sensors.

Images are stored on Type I or Type II CompactFlash cards, including the IBM Microdrive. By default, files are recorded in JPEG format, though there are also settings for TIFF and RAW recording. TIFF is the most common lossless recording format, and TIFF images can be viewed and edited with virtually any photo editing software. TIFF files provide the highest-quality images, but at a price: a single D30 image occupies nearly 10 MB of memory. RAW, in contrast, is a newer format that's not recognized by as many photo-editing software packages, though Canon provides a plug-in to let Adobe Photoshop users directly import RAW files, and also includes software that lets you convert RAW files to TIFF files on your computer. Like TIFF, RAW is a lossless format, yet RAW files are only about one-third the size of TIFFs. Because the RAW image comes directly from the sensor and has received less in-camera processing than other file formats, it also offers experienced users more image-correction options.

A final note about the EOS D30. The CMOS sensor is smaller than a 35mm negative, which means that when you take a picture, the focal length of the lens you are using is greater. For example, if you took a picture using a lens with a 28mm focal length, the actual focal length would be 1.6x greater, or 45mm. If you're currently shooting with a Canon SLR, this makes your zoom lenses even more powerful, but it also means that you'll need to pick up a wide-angle lens or wide-angle converter to regain the range of focal lengths you have with film. --Michael Lewis and Shane Burnett

Pros:

• Compatible with all Canon EOS equipment.
• Features RAW mode for ultimate photographic control.
• SLR flexibility and control.

Cons:

• Expensive.
• Focal length adjustment makes wide-angle shooting difficult.
• More memory is the first accessory you'll need to buy.

Features

• ISO equivalency 125-800 (variable in 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps)
• Supports CompactFlash (Type I/II) & Microdrive media
• 2-inch, 130,000-dot, low temp. polysilicon TFT LCD with white LED backlighting
• IEEE-1394 Firewire Interface
• Approx. 3 frames per second continuous shooting mode

Reviews (1)

Features

• Store images on either Microdrive or CompactFlash memory card (memory card not included)
• Powered by 4 AA batteries (not included, NiMH recommended) or by AC adapter (included); FireWire and USB ports
• 10-megapixel sensor captures three layers (RGB) of color at a maximum resolution of 2268 x 1512
• Includes both 18-50mm F3.5-5.6 zoom and 50-200mm F4-5.6 telephoto zoom lenses
• Image sensor dust protector; 1.8-inch TFT LCD screen; 2.5 frame-per-second burst mode up to 30 frames

Reviews (6)

sd10 + 24-70mm lens+memory card reader + battery set =>1523$
like title

sd10 + 24-70mm lens + memory card reader + battery set =>1523$

in korea

if you are going to korea ..^^

2004.02

Possibly the best Digital SLR Camera ever !
I first read about Foveon X3 two years ago. Long before reading about the X3, I always wondered why we had to be content with 25% Red, 25% Blue and 50% Green on an Image Sensor -- why not 100% of all colours? However, business was booming for all Digital Camera companies despite the fact that there wasn't really a CCD that could be seriously taken till the X3 arrived on the market. I knew instantly, the SIGMA-Foveon joint venture would break through a newer kind of Digital Photography, so I decided to wait. I skipped SD9 when I realized Foveon was working on a combined 10MP X3 Chip.

The wait was worth every second! I ordered the SIGMA SD10 with the standard twin Lens Kits (18-50mm F3.5-5.6 and 55-200mm F4-5.6) and separately ordered a 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Lens. I wish SIGMA had packaged the kit with at least one F2.8 large aperture Lens. Anyway, I will give my 18-50mm F3.5-5.6 to a friend who just bought a NIKON D70 with a NIKOR 18-70mm Lens.

I have not yet received my shipment from AMAZON, but have had the chance of using my friend's SD10, including the SIGMA Photo Pro software and some sample X3Fs and some of my own. The RAW format of SIGMA has some outstanding advantages over the JPEG type of files. With a RAW file, you will feel like as if you're truly dealing with a "Negative", whereas the JPEGs will feel like "Polaroid" shots -- equivalent to getting prints from a Camera. SIGMA should never revert to traditional file formats and stick to this great RAW format which allows the best possible artistry with digital negatives.

I know why NIKONs, CANONs and other brands won't want to use X3 -- they want to maximize their profits by using their proprietory CCDs no matter how badly they compare to a superior product. I think they are also complacent that their "devoted" customers will not change sides because of their famous names. But I can tell you, there would be a lot of migrations now towards the X3 and SIGMA -- those popular brands have already compromised their quality by not developing something equivalent to X3.

Well, I have used NIKON, CANON, Fuji and the rest --- but to tell you the truth, SIGMA is like a Rolls Royce of a Camera. They have only two Models, but they speak volume of quality and they are also the only sellers of X3 sensors at the moment.

So, if you want to experience something quite special and differnt than the rest, then SIGMA is the only option currently available --- I suggest, you give it a try to judge for yourself.

Editorial Review

Early Adopters Pick: December 2002. Powered by Foveon X3 image sensors, the world’s only technology that captures red, green, and blue light at each and every pixel in three distinct layers.

The breakthrough Sigma SD9 high-definition, digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera contains the world's first image sensor to feature three layers of photo-detectors. The camera’s SLR system can take advantage of over 30 different lenses, from 8mm circular fisheye to 800mm ultra-telephoto, plus two digital flashguns, power pack, and accessories.

Optics and Resolution
The Sigma SD9, powered by the Foveon X3 image sensors, captures red, green, and blue light at each and every pixel in three distinct layers. All other image sensors feature just one layer of photo-detectors, with just one photo-detector per pixel.

The SD9's three layers are embedded in silicon to take advantage of the fact that red, green, and blue light penetrate silicon to different depths, allowing full color to be measured at every pixel. This means that for every pixel on a Foveon X3 image sensor, there's actually a stack of three photo-detectors, forming the first and only full-color capture system.

Storage and Transfer
The SD9 uses CompactFlash memory cards and is compatible with CompactFlash Type I/II cards, which enables you to use IBM Microdrives as well. You can transfer the images from camera to computer with high-speed IEEE 1394 (also known as FireWire) and widely available USB (1.1) interfaces. The camera's video-output system can be switched between the PAL system (used in Europe) and the NTSC system (used in Japan and the U.S.).

Image Format
With the RAW data recording system of the SD9, it is possible to obtain high-picture definition and compact file size. The lossless compression system of RAW data eliminates image deterioration, and provides superior pictures, without sacrificing original image quality.

More Features
The SD9 is equipped with a large 1.8-inch, 130,000-dot low-temperature polysilicon TFT-LCD monitor with a white LED on the back panel, which displays images, menus, and histograms.

The SD9 is equipped with a "sport finder," so you can easily follow the situation outside the picture area. The area that is out of the image sensor’s coverage range is marked by transparent light gray, to distinguish it from the active picture-taking area.

Dust and dirt entering through the lens mount of a digital camera can create serious defects in image quality. In order to prevent dust entering and adhering to the image sensor, the body mount of SIGMA SD9 is equipped with an integral dust protector.