The new crop of
8-megapixel cameras are impressive and exciting in many ways,
but the increased resolution means more data for camera hardware
and software to process, which could lead to a potential problem.
Issues such as efficiency and power consumption come into play
with these larger file sizes, and the manufacturers need to
address such issues.
Improving upon its high-performance,
proprietary imaging engine, the DIGIC chip, Canon has introduced
an even faster, more powerful processing unit—the DIGIC
II. Compared to its predecessor, the DIGIC II achieves higher
speed, enhanced processing capability and performance, more
efficient power consumption and, perhaps most importantly, superior
image quality. It’s featured in the 8-megapixel Canon EOS-1D
Mark II and contributes a host of other features that complement
the advances made in the CMOS sensor to result in a greatly
enhanced digital camera.
The faster processing speed of the DIGIC II, which is significantly
better than a conventional high-speed imaging engine, allows
it to process the first image taken while simultaneously reading
the second image from the sensor. It’s twice as fast as
the image processor used in the EOS-1D and four times faster
than the original DIGIC chip in the EOS 10D and EOS Digital
Rebel. The powerful external interface, which accommodates both
CF and SD cards with high-speed DMA, makes interaction with
other digital equipment, such as printers and computers, faster
than before.
In the Mark II, the DIGIC II facilitates continuous shooting
of 8.2-megapixel images at a rate of 8.5 frames per second in
maximum bursts of 40 shots in JPEG format or 20 shots in RAW
format. Powering up takes about half the time as the first DIGIC
chip. These speed-enhancing innovations mean less time for you
to wait for the technology to catch up with your photography.
It would make sense for a faster, more advanced system to require
more power, but the opposite is true of this robust chip. Efficient
power management and state-of-the-art processing greatly reduce
the battery intake of the camera, enabling you to take many
more pictures than you could with previous Canon D-SLRs. This
lower power consumption is possible because the chip handles
larger volumes of image data at a time; about 1,200 shots can
be taken on a full battery.
The new DIGIC II chip also promises improved overall image quality.
According to Canon, “This single-chip image processor employs
original Canon algorithms to accurately convert signals from
the CMOS sensor into crisp, high-quality images with natural
color and rich gradation.” The color saturation has been
improved, false colors have been reduced and fine adjustment
of tonal curves has been achieved. In short, the color rendering
is superior and the details are more precise.
Speed, quality and efficiency are all components that we look
for in our cameras. Unfortunately, sometimes we have to sacrifice
one for the other, but in this case, Canon has found a way to
give us the best of both worlds: better quality and higher-resolution
images along with faster processing. In an industry where there’s
always room to improve, the DIGIC II has raised the bar.
COMING
DOWN THE LINE
We expect to see DIGIC technology
incorporated into more camera models in the future. As
resolution and functionality continue to increase, the
need for more robust in-camera processing is clear.
