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Controls

In this article I'm going to tell you about the key principles of the controls of Canon EOS D30. The camera is a typical model of the EOS series. Modes can be chosen by turning a dial, one half of which is meant for advanced users (it's called "a creative zone"), the other half is intended for beginners (it's called "an easy shooting zone"). In the middle there is a "green zone" where the camera works in a full auto mode. The creative zone includes the following modes: Program Auto Exposition (P), Shutter Speed Priority AE (Tv), Aperture Priority AE (Av), Manual Exposure (M) and Auto Depth of Field Priority AE (A-DEP). In these modes two proprietary wheels allow to adjust the shooting parameters.

One of the wheels suits the forefinger, the other is meant for the thumb.

In Manual mode (M) the wheel for a forefinger allows to set the exposure, and the other is meant for the aperture.

In Aperture Priority AE mode (Av) the forefinger wheel changes the aperture, and the other one the exposure correction.

The latter is possible only after pressing halfway the release button, i.e. after the camera has set an exposure. The functioning of the thumb wheel can be disabled with a special switch.

In Shutter Speed Priority AE mode (Tv) the situation is the same as in the previous mode, except for that the forefinger wheel is used to set the exposure.

In Program Auto Exposition mode (P) with the forefinger wheel you can choose among pairs "exposure-aperture" which provide an exposure recommended by the camera. The other wheel is for the exposure correction.

In the last mode, auto depth-of-field priority AE mode (A-DEP) the camera tries to set the aperture so that different objects located at different distances from the camera and meant for different focusing points were sharp.

The green zone is a full automatic mode, which allows for no user interferences.

The modes included in the "easy shooting zone" are Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Scene - no user interferences are allowed.

On the upper side of the camera there are 3 buttons. The first is meant for exposure metering zones. On pressing this button all the information disappears from the LCD display , there is only a sign showing a way of exposure metering. After that, turning the wheel with a forefinger you can choose among a central-weighted, integral and spot metering. When rotating the wheel with your thumb you can correct the power of the impulse of a built-in or external matched flash.

The DRIVE button lets you choose among a single shot, a serial shooting or a shooting-on-timer. You can switch to these modes with either wheel. The third button, AF-WB, lets us choose between an auto focusing for stationary objects and follow-up focusing for moving objects. In the first case the focusing is made right after pressing halfway the release button, in the second case it is implemented continuously until you release this button.

Rotating the thumb wheel you can adjust the white balance choosing among incandescent lamps, sunlight, flash etc. Besides, the camera has got an additional button for a visual control of a depth-of-field.

When pressing this button the aperture of auto lenses is set to the working value (the lower button in the photo). And looking in the optical viewfinder you can visually control which objects are sharp.

On the rear panel there is a button for choosing a focusing point, and a button with an asterisk for functions set by a user. These 2 buttons are intended for a thumb. The information on the parameters you have set is displayed on a LCD display on the upper panel of the camera, as well as in the illuminated line seen in the optical viewfinder.

The LCD screen and buttons around it concern the digital part of the camera. These buttons are "menu"," info"," jump", "enlarge", "playback", "delete". On pressing the menu button a list of adjusted parameters appears on the screen. You can navigate along the menu with a thumb wheel and make a choice with a button in the center of the wheel. The set of functions is standard: quality, compression, red-eye reduction, exposure bracketing, exposure index, sound signals, white balance, locking, rotation, print order, auto playback, sleep down time, viewing of captured shots, time of viewing shots, LCD brightness, date, time, file numeration, language, video system, memory card formatting and user's functions. Let's consider the last menu item in detail. It includes the following functions: noise elimination in case of a long exposure; distribution of functions among the release button and the user's button marked with an asterisk; fixation of the mirror in a lifted position; choice of exposure and aperture increments; switching on/off the auto focus backlight; shutter speed in the aperture priority mode when shooting with a flash; exposure bracketing functions; 1st and 2nd curtain sync function; reaction of an auto focusing system on a halfway pressing of the release button; automatic restriction of a flash power; menu position on opening; user's functions for the "set" button located in the center of the parameter choice wheel, matrix clean-up mode (in this mode the mirror is lifted up, the shutter opens and you can blow off the dust from the matrix). Among the other buttons the "info" one should be paid attention to as well: it allows not only to see the shooting parameters but also histograms of brightness and pixels, plus, too light or too dark parts of the shot where details can't be distinguished are marked.

The camera can be controlled with a remote control and with a computer. Now let's turn to the remote control.

The remote control TC-80N3 is intended for controlling film cameras EOS 3 and EOS 1V. I have already written about the policy of Canon towards the connectors for connecting a remote control to a camera in the previous part. The remote control can be used as a primitive cable if you want to avoid the shaking of the camera at long exposures. The remote control's button has two positions; half pressing - full pressing, and it can be fixed in a pressed position. The remote control has its own LCD display with a backlight and a built-in timer used to set a period between shots, exposure time and the number of shots to be done.

Technical Specifications

Sensing element
Type	CMOS
Size	22.7 X 15.1 mm
Number of pixels	3.25 million (2226 X 1460)
Number of effective pixels	3.11 million (2160 X 1440)
Filters	RGB; a nonremovable filter located in front of the matrix surface and letting pass only the visible spectrum
LCD display
Type	TFT
Size	1.8"
Number of pixels	114 000
Brightness adjustment	2 values: standard and increased brightness
Recording technique
Memory cards	CF type 1 and 2
Recording format	JPEG and RAW
Auto focus	TTL
Number of focusing points	3
Choice of focusing points	Automatic and manual
Focusing modes	One-shot AF - the shutter works only if an object is in the focus. AI servo AF - an auto focusing system tracks movements of an object. AI focus AF - auto switching between the first and the second modes (only in the auto mode). Manual focusing
White balance	Automatic and manual
Viewfinder	Pentaprism + eyepiece with dioptric correction
Visible part of the shot	95%
Exposure control	35-zone exposure metering
Measurement range	EV2 - EV20
Exposure index (ISO)	100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Exposure compensation	+- two values
Shutter	Focal with vertical moving of curtains
Shutter speed	1/4000 s - 30 s. Synchronization with electronic flashes at 1/200 s exposure
Timer	10-sec fixed duration
Shooting modes	Single shots, serial shooting (approx 3 frames per sec, max. 8 fps), shooting-on-timer
Built-in flash
Type	E-TTL
Leading figure	12
Charging time	3 s
Power supply	BP 511 rechargeable batteries
Battery for storing of chosen parameters	CR 2025
Connectors
Flash connection	Connector for X-synchronization and a connector for TTL-synchronization
Remote control	Connector of N3 type
Computer connection	USB connector
Video-out	NTSC/PAL
Dimensions	149.5 X 106.5 X 75 mm
Weight	780 g