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D-SLR Systems

Get a grip on the complete offerings from the major camera makers when selecting your new D-SLR

Lenses. Canon users currently can choose among 60 lenses, of which six are EF-S models, designed especially for (and able to be used only on) the smaller-sensor EOS Digital Rebel series and the 20D, 30D and 40D. The EOS series includes five macro lenses like the EF-S 60mm ƒ/2.8 and the 65mm MP-E Macro Photo. Seventeen of the lenses, designated IS, have built-in optical image stabilizers optimized for their characteristics. There are also 1.4x and 2x tele-extenders for the longer lenses.

Fixed focal lengths range from 14mm superwide-angle and 15mm full-frame fish-eye to 600mm supertelephoto. Zooms range from 16-35mm superwide to 100-400mm supertele for all cameras. EF-S zooms go down to 10-22mm, providing 35mm-camera focal-length equivalents of 16-35mm with those cameras' 1.6x focal-length factor. There are also three manual-focus tilt-shift lenses, great for architectural and studio photography.

Flash. All current EOS D-SLRs have hot-shoes for dedicated Speedlite flash units and also can perform wireless TTL flash via the optional ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter. The EOS Digital Rebel XTi and EOS 40D have built-in TTL flash units; the higher-end models don't. All current EOS D-SLRs provide Canon's E-TTL II flash control, which uses ambient and flash readings plus distance information from the lens to optimize exposures. E-TTL II is good at exposing the main subject and balancing flash and ambient background exposures. You can also apply flash exposure compensation to change the flash-to-ambient ratio.

Current Speedlites include the new top-of-the-line 580EX II, plus the 430EX, 220EX, MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite and MR-14EX Macro Ring Lite. The dust- and water-resistant 580EX II (ISO 100/GN 190, in feet, at the 105mm zoom setting) swivels 180 degrees left and right and offers 14 built-in Speedlite Custom Functions.

Software. Canon provides an EOS Digital Solutions Disk containing image-processing software for Mac and Windows with each D-SLR. Canon Digital Photo Professional 3.2 lets you view, edit and process RAW and JPEG images. ImageBrowser 5.8 (ZoomBrowserEX 6.0 for Windows) lets you download, view, edit, store and print images. EOS Utility 2.2 downloads RAW and JPEG images, converts RAW images, and lets you operate the camera remotely and modify camera settings. PhotoStitch 3.1 lets you merge multiple images into a panorama. WFT Utility 3.1 lets you work with the wireless file transmitter. Picture Style Editor 1.0 lets you apply and modify Picture Styles to RAW images after the fact. Original Data Security Tools 1.1 (Windows only) works with the Original Data Security Kit to confirm that image data is unaltered.

Accessories. The EOS-1 models, EOS 5D and EOS 40D accept interchangeable focusing screens, can transmit files wirelessly via optional Wireless File Transmitters and are compatible with Canon's Original Data Security Kit. AC adapters are available for all models, as is the Angle Finder C. All but the Rebel can use the TC-80N3 Timer Remote Controller and RS-80N3 Remote Switch.

 

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