Canon has introduced the new high performance EOS 30 and EOS 33 - 35mm AF SLR cameras incorporating a host of features into a compactly and neatly designed body with ultra quiet operation.
The EOS 30/33 features include a high precision focusing system using a CMOS sensor, powerful 7-point AF, Eye-control (EOS 30 only), fast and silent operation, plus 13 custom functions derived from the professionals` most used settings. Such technology combined with other enhanced features, and of course compatibility with the extensive range of over 50 EF lenses and accessories, make the EOS 30/33 the perfect choice for advanced amateurs.
The EOS 30/33 aluminum design is compact and sturdy, with easily accessible controls for quick and easy execution of camera`s operations.
On the exterior of the camera are three dials serving as the user interface. This interface includes new focusing point selection keys within the Quick Control Dial, allowing for quick and easy selection of the seven focusing points.
Canon has refined its eye-controlled focus system first seen on the EOS 5, making it faster and more precise. Eye Control focus can be used with the camera held vertically as well as horizontally. The eye control system used in the EOS 30 is 1.5 times more precise than the previous eye control systems.
By combining the area AF and eye-control, focus is achieved at the point selected by the user`s eye.
The Eye Control mode uses a new algorithm for automatic focusing point selection. Eye Control information is registered and the selection priority for each focusing point changes accordingly, allowing the user to select the desired focusing point.
In addition to Eye Control selection, the focusing point can be selected automatically by the camera or set manually. Outstanding high-speed focus tracking is achieved using a 32bit micro-computer and high speed predictive algorithm. When used with Canon`s EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens the camera can track a moving subject approaching at a speed of 50kph up to as close as 8 meters, this is as fast as Canon`s top-of-the-range EOS-1V and EOS-3.
The EOS 30/33 is the fastest AF SLR in its class with four frames per second (fps) shooting in One-Shot AF mode. With the use of Canon technology in the built-in motor drive, it also ranks among the quietest EOS cameras.
The EOS 30/33 uses Canon`s evaluative metering, in which readings are taken from 35 different areas of the scene. However, for occasions when evaluative metering is not appropriate, partial metering can be used. This takes a reading from 10% of the viewfinder area (the important area of the subject) and ignores the background. Readings can be taken from the centre of the frame, or linked to the active focusing point. Centre-weighted exposure metering reads from the entire image area, but is influenced most by the central subject area. The shutter speed range of the EOS 30/33 is 30 sec to 1/4000 sec and its maximum x-sync speed is 1/125 sec.
The EOS 30/33 offers a range of shooting modes for every subject. There are ten in total, with one of these settings offering a further choice of 5 programs including the addition of a Night Scene mode. The ten AE-modes include:
Intelligent Program AE
Shutter Speed Priority AE
Aperture Priority AE
Depth-of-Field AE
Full Auto
Program Image Control (Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports and Night Scene)
E-TTL Program Flash
TTL Program Flash AE (for compatibility with EZ-series Speedlites)
A-TTL program flash AE
Metered manual exposure
The camera has a retractable built-in flash, which uses 3-zone TTL auto flash metering linked to the focusing points. In Full Auto or Programmed Image Control modes, the built-in flash pops up and fires automatically in low-light or backlit conditions.
The EOS 30/33 features 13 custom functions allowing users to configure some of the camera settings to their own requirements.
Remote control operation is possible with the RC-1 for wireless picture-taking or the RS-60E3 for wired picture-taking. The film advance feature with a new self-timer setting can also be used with remote control operation.
New Accessories
To complement the EOS 30/33, a range of new accessories has been launched.
A new shoe-mounted Speedlite 420EX has an auto zoom head and E-TTL auto flash metering. It has attractive new features such as an AF-assist light linked to 7 focusing points, horizontal bounce flash and a wireless slave unit setting.
The new BP300 battery pack with vertical grip shutter button uses AA size (Ni-Cd or Nickel hydride). The vertical grip features a shutter button and AE/FE lock button.
Other new accessories include a wide strap EW-100BK and semi-hard case EH14-L.
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