New Digital SLRs from Canon and Nikon

Published October 18, 2004

There are exciting new digital SLR offerings from Canon and Nikon with significant improvements in speed and image quality. Recent announcements from Canon include the EOS 20D, EOS-1D Mark II, and EOS-1Ds Mark II. Nikon announced the Nikon D2X. Of these, the EOS 20D and EOS-1D Mark II are in stores now. Some of the key features of these new models, along with comparisons to some Canon models, are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1. Comparative Specs

Camera Street Price Mega Pixels Crop factor Frames per sec AF points
EOS 10D $1,150 6.3 1.6X 3 7
EOS 20D $1,500 8.2 1.6X 5 9
EOS-1D discon. 4.1 1.3X 8 45
EOS-1D Mark II $4,500 8.2 1.3X 8.5 45
EOS-1Ds $6,900 11.1 Full 3 45
EOS-1Ds Mark II $8,000 16.7 Full 4 45
Nikon D2X ? 12.4 1.5X 5 11
  reduced mode - 6.3 2X 8 9

Canon EOS 20D

This model replaces the popular EOS 10D, which is still available at this writing. Significant improvements include

  • Improved CMOS sensor with DIGIC II image processor and 8.2 Megapixels (1.6X crop factor vs. 35 mm)
  • 5 frames/sec burst rate and much faster transfer to CF card
  • 9-point AF sensor with improved performance and useful Multi-controller for selecting AF point
  • 0.2 sec startup time, responsive 65 msec shutter release lag time
  • improved E-TTL II flash metering
  • compatible with new EF-S 10-22mm ultra wide zoom—equivalent to 16-35mm with film

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

The anxiously awaited successor to the EOS-1D is a significant advance for action shooters. It's best new features include

  • Action class leader with a very fast 8.5 frames per second and large 8.2 Megapixel images.
  • Separate dedicated AF processor for very fast and accurate AF tracking
  • 4 channel CMOS sensor allows higher image transfer rates and lower power consumption compared to EOD 1D CCD (1.3X crop factor)
  • DIGIC II processor reduces noise, improves image quality
  • improved E-TTL II flash metering

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

For the ultimate in image size and quality, look to the new EOS-1Ds Mark II, with 16.7 Megapixels in a full frame sensor. It is full of improvements over the highly regarded EOS-1Ds, such as

  • huge 16.7 Megapixel capture for big enlargements and wonderful image quality
  • 4 frames per second burst rate for up to 11 Raw or 32 JPEG images
  • improved E-TTL II flash metering

Nikon D2X

Nikon has taken an innovative approach to image size and shooting speed in the recently announced D2X. It is in some ways two cameras in one:

  • a 12.4 Megapixel body with 5 frames-per-second burst rate with a 1.5X crop factor sensor
  • a fast 8 frames-per-second body with 6.3 Megapixel captures and 2X crop factor
  • i-TTL II flash metering

Nikon achieves the second, high speed mode by using only the central area of the sensor, sacrificing image size but gaining in shooting speed. (The reduced area is markedin the viewfinder.) In this mode, the crop factor of 2X cramps your ability to capture ultra wide angle scenes, but gives you much extended reach with telephotos.

Speed versus image quality

Previous generations of digital SLRs required you to choose between capture speed and image size. Sports and action shooters gravitated to the EOS-1D, with fast 8 frame per second captures but relatively small 4.1 MP captures. People who could take their time and wanted the ultimate digital image quality could choose the EOS-1Ds; many feel the 11.1 MP files surpass 35 mm film, but you were limited to a slow 3 frames per second (and frustratingly slow transfer from the buffer to CF card).

The speed versus quality choice is still there, but the improvements in both areas make the choice much less difficult. You can get close to having it all—if you're willing to pay for it.

If you're a landscape and scenic shooter, or a wildlife shooter who doesn't concentrate on fast action, you might forego maximum speed and select a camera with lots of megapixels and ultimate image quality.

Fast action shooters will find that they can get superb autofocus performance and blazing shooting rates, and still capture images with 8.3 MP (EOS-1D Mark II) or 6.3 MP (Nikon D2X) image files.

Nikon shooters can get both options in one body. Canon shooters will have to make a choice (or better—get one of each).

Factors influencing speed

To gauge the shooting speeds of these cameras, consider four factors:

  • What is the burst rate (frames per second)?
  • How many images can the buffer hold before I have pause shooting?
  • How fast can the camera empty the buffer to the memory card and be ready for more shots?
  • How fast is the autofocus and general responsiveness of the camera?

Table 2 has some relevant data. The first item is the Buffer Size. That's the number of images the camera can store in its temporary memory. You can shoot at the maximum frames per second until the buffer fills. At that point the camera gives you its "busy" signal while it transfers the images in succession to the CompactFlash (or other) storage card.

Table 2. Buffer Size and Data Transfer Speeds

Camera Buffer Size
Raw / JPEG		 Buffer to CF Card Rate MB/sec Transfer time
for 5 Raw
images, sec
EOS 10D 9 / 9 1.3 23
EOS 20D 6 / 23 5.6 8
EOS-1D 16 / 21 3.1 7
EOS-1D Mark II 20 / 40 3.9 11
EOS-1Ds 10 / 10 2.0 29
EOS-1Ds Mark II 11 / 32 ? ?
Nikon D2X 15 / 21 ? ?
  reduced mode 26 / 35 ? ?

 

If you're shooting a lot of fast action, a larger buffer will enable you to capture more images at the maximum rate before you have to wait for the buffer to download.

The other key variable, however, is how fast the camera can clear out the buffer to the storage card and free up more space for you to shoot. On all the new cameras, this transfer takes place in the background, and as spaces are cleared in the buffer, you can immediately shoot until the buffer fills again. But as soon as the buffer fills, you have to cool your heels (and shutter finger) until more space opens. This can be maddening when you want to take a shot (although no much different from reaching frame 36 with film and having to rewind and reload).

The Buffer to CF Card Rates in Table 2 are taken from Rob Galbraith's CompactFlash Database. Rob has measured the transfer speeds for an exhaustive series of cameras and memory cards, and new data is added regularly.

Note that the actual transfer speeds will vary depending on what brand and type of card you use. Check the CompactFlash Database for speed comparisons. For this article, I used an average of the speeds for the ten fastest CF cards. By checking each camera's specs for typical Raw image file size, I could then estimate the time required to move a given number of images out of the buffer. The last column in Table 2 shows this number for 5 Raw images.

Notice how the buffer size for Raw images in the EOS 20D has decreased from the 10D. The actual memory size is the same, but the image files are larger in the 20D, so the buffer can't hold as many. If you're shooting in JPEG (not my preference), the 20D has greatly improved capacity. But even for Raw shooters, Canon has dramatically improved the 20D's speed for emptying the buffer to your CF card. In fact, it's the fastest Rob Galbraith has measured so far.

So if you're shooting action with the 20D in Raw mode, you can fire off a quick burst of 6 images, but then you'll have to wait about 10 seconds before you can shoot another 6-shot burst. Of course, as soon as one image has cleared from the buffer, you can fire off another shot; but then you'll have to wait a couple seconds for another space to clear in the buffer.

WIth the EOS-1D Mark II, you can shoot a generous 20 Raw images before the buffer fills, and after 11 seconds, you'll be able to fire off another 5. This body is optimized for action shooters.

Numbers aren't available for the EOS-1Ds Mark II or Nikon D2X yet. The EOS-1Ds can be frustratingly slow—you're essentially limited to about 10 shots per minute. Of course, this camera wasn't designed for action, and loss of speed is the price you paid for generous 11 MP image files. I'm betting that Canon has significantly improved this transfer rate in the 1Ds Mark II.

Conclusions

Options keep getting better for nature photographers who want to shoot digital.

The EOS 20D is a very capable camera for serious hobbyists and pros alike, at a reasonable price point. The improved autofocus is significant, as is improved E-TTL II flash metering. The new EF-S 10-22mm zoom overcomes the 1.6X crop factor and gives you ultra wide options again (equivalent to 16-35mm with film).

The EOS-1D Mark II is the new action leader. It also appears to be the new autofocus leader, film or digital. The generous 8 MP image files and superb quality, along with rugged sealed body, make this a must-have camera for action shooters.

The EOS-1Ds Mark II presents an alluring choice for shooters who want the biggest files and are willing to pay the steep price. If you want the biggest enlargements and don't need high shooting speeds, save your pennies (lots and lots of pennies) and get this body. I predict many medium- and large-format landscape shooters will take a serious look at this body.

Nikon has lagged somewhat behind Canon in recent digital bodies, but Nikon shooters will have an solid dual-purpose option in the D2X. The main questions now are price and ship date.