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23 february 2000, Malaysia Canon conducted an elaborate launch for the Eos 1v here in Malaysia on Feb 23, 2000.I was among those privileged to be invited to attend the launching. Canon was even nice enough to fly me to and from Penang to Kuala Lumpur to attend the event at their HQ. There were about some 150 pros and advanced amateurs attending the launch. The event was very well planned and I was given copies of the Eos 1v's technical overview brochure, a technical illustration kit (which was chock-full of technical drawings and diagrams of the camera and its various parts), a high-quality interactive CD-ROM on the Eos 1v detailing its functions, plus a host of other attractive gifts and Canon-related literature. Since the Eos 1v is still relatively new to most of us, allow me to share a little of my experience there. The launch was very grand. After the speeches, including a technical explanation of the camera's functions by Canon senior engineer Mr. Yoshiaki Irie from Tokyo and a multimedia presentation, lovely female dancers and bodybuilders took to the stage for a fast dance number, before emerging with about 8 Eos 1V cameras - attached with the latest IS superteles and the new EF100 macro USM and the MR-14EX ringlite. There were also many Eos 3s on display. Because of the huge crowd, I only managed to get my hands on the Eos 1v for a brief moment. I'll share my thoughts on it in another post...suffice to say for now, I was most impressed. The sound is very refined, and noticeably quieter than the Eos 3. The feel is one of absolute quality and ruggedness. No cheapo plasticky feel at all. A lot of attention has gone into small details, such as a hinged waterproof rubber cap for the remote release socket, a magnet to keep the side palm door closed at all times, full textured grip and raised buttons for the light and +/- buttons. A careful check of the camera showed that it was very well sealed. The camera back and even the lens mount were lined with silicon rubber. Mirror slap is very well dampened...perhaps the best I've ever felt in any Canon AF SLR. Mirror blackout time is amazingly brief while the 10 fps shooting rate is terribly addictive! My Eos 3 with PB-E2 shooting at 6fps seemed so slow in comparison. AF in low light seemed significantly more sensitive and improved over the Eos 3. Shipments of the 1v will arrive here in April and I've been told I'll get one for testing. Let's keep our fingers crossed! Well, that's that for now. My main intention is to share my exclusive interview conducted with Mr. Irie on the Eos 1v. I managed to arrange for a short private interview and the transcript of that interview is printed below. I'd like to say a big thank-you to Mr. Irie for taking time to answer my questions and also to Mr. Toshiyuki (Tiger) Ishii, Canon Singapore deputy general manager, camera & video division (Asia region), who was so kind as to be my interpreter. Bear in mind that since there was very little time and the two VIPs were on a tight schedule, the interview was shorter than I had hoped for. But then again, I'm very thankful I was even granted a private audience at all. I found the interview very interesting as it is not often that we get to chat with a member of Canon's elite team of top engineers. Eos 1v - Interview with Canon Engineer YI: Mr. Yoshiaki Irie - Senior Engineer, Photo Products Design Department 11, Photo Products Development Division 1. Photo Products Development Centre, Canon Inc., Tokyo, Japan. JK: Mr. Jonathan Kwok (Interviewer) JK: Thank you for taking time to answer my questions. I'll try to keep this very short. YI: Thank you, go ahead. JK: First question. When did development on the Eos 1v start? YI: It was a top-secret project and essentially, the Eos 1v was developed at the same time with the Eos 3. Development on both cameras started about four to five years ago. I say "about" because there are many components to the cameras and since each component was being developed at different times at different stages, I cannot actually say when development exactly began. But basically, development on the Eos 1v and the Eos 3's 45-point AF system started about 4 years ago. JK: I see. So, what were the Eos 1v development team's goals? What kind of camera did you want to create? YI: We had three goals: to make a professional camera - a successor to the Eos 1n which had unmatched reliability, speed and customisability. Our goal was to create the world's toughest, fastest and most flexible camera to suit the different requirements of all professional photographers. JK: Well, looking at the Eos 1v, I'd say the team succeeded in achieving its goals. YI: Yes. Basically, the Canon team in Tokyo decided to put a lot of advanced functions on the Eos 3 while the Eos 1v was developed to feature higher reliability, ruggedness and durability. JK: Were there different teams working on the Eos 1v and the Eos 3? YI: No, it was the same team. JK: What were the major challenges that Canon engineers faced in developing the 1v? YI: Our greatest challenge was to make the camera absolutely durable and rugged. We had to ensure that the new 1v would survive even the harshest shooting conditions. JK: Oh yes, that is very important for professionals. Hi-tech features without 100% reliability are useless. YI: Testing, testing, testing. We did so much testing of the camera to ensure that it could withstand the most punishing elements, ranging from moisture, humidity, heat, cold, snow or rain. We subjected the camera to many different kinds of environments to ensure the camera would perform flawlessly under all conditions. The challenge was to make the Eos 1v the most rugged and durable AF SLR ever. For this, we employed a lot of new technology, from the thixotropic-moulded magnesium alloy body, to fully sealed joints and buttons and even the shutter, circuitry and AF sensors were modified to be absolutely dependable in harsh working conditions. JK: This is the first time that metal is used for the exterior of an Eos camera. Why did Canon choose metal instead of fibreglass-reinforced plastic? YI: Basically, we have used plastic all along as it is very strong and we have tested it many times and confirmed that plastic can withstand shock and impact very well because of its inherent properties. On top of that, plastic is quite easy to mould and we can use it to make very attractive designs. But this time, through the use of a sophisticated process called thixotropic injection moulding - we are able to use metal and still produce a very attractive design with it. If you observe carefully, the Eos 1v does not have sharp edges. It has very nicely rounded curves and the production process prevents the formation of bubbles in the moulded parts that is a common problem with conventional moulding processes. JK: So, is metal better than plastic? There has been a lot of debate on this matter, especially between Nikon and Canon users. YI: Better in what sense? JK: Better in the sense of impact resistance. Which camera can resist impact better? The Eos 1n, which has more plastic or the 1v which has the metal exterior? For example, if I were to drop both cameras, which would have a better chance of survival? YI: (Smiles) Well, we have tested the 1n and the 1v to meet Canon's strict standards and both cameras are quite impact resistant. JK: Yes, but which camera is stronger? Let's say on the scale of one to 10 points. How would you rate both cameras in terms of strength and impact resistance? What about the Eos 3? How would it rate? YI: There are actually many factors to consider, but basically I'd rate the Eos 1v at 10 points and the Eos 1n and Eos 3 at about 8 points each. JK: You mean the Eos 1n and Eos 3 are about equal in strength? YI: Yes, they are about equal. JK: What about the Nikon F5? Is the Eos 1v tougher than the Nikon F5? YI: I cannot say for sure as I have not conducted such comparative tests on both cameras. But I do know that the Eos 1v is very tough, very solid...probably the toughest AF SLR in the world. JK: Tell me, why was magnesium alloy selected for the Eos 1v's exterior and not other metals such as titanium, stainless steel, zinc or aluminium alloy, as used in other rival pro cameras? YI: We chose magnesium alloy because it is very light and very hard, very rigid. That's why we chose it. It offers very good protection for the camera and its internal parts while acting as a good electromagnetic shield. We studied other materials and their suitability, but decided on magnesium, based on the moulding technology available while considering other factors such as weight, strength and hardness. Magnesium alloy gives a very good balance of all these and it can be moulded very nicely. It has very good strength-to-weight ratio. Finally, we decided it was the best choice. JK: In terms of resistance to dust and water, how would you rate the cameras on a scale of one to 10? YI: I'd say 10 points for Eos 1v, and 5 points each for the Eos 1n and Eos 3. But bear in mind that I would also rate the Nikon F5 at about 5 points. JK: That's quite a big difference in terms of weather sealing between the 1v and the other cameras. YI: Yes it is. Actually, Canon Tokyo went all out to make the camera highly resistant to water and dust. Every opening, joint and button is sealed with silicon rubber or 'O' rings. There are 72 parts that are sealed and even the tiny exterior screws have gaskets. JK: Are you saying then that the 1v is now the most weather resistant professional AF SLR camera in the world? Discounting underwater cameras of course. YI: Yes, it is the most weather resistant AF SLR in the world as of now. JK: So, this means I can confidently use it in heavy rain? YI: Well, we have tested the camera in heavy rain. It can take a good soaking, but it is not waterproof. If you leave it in heavy rain for many hours then of course there is a risk of water damage. JK: So, how long can I leave it in the rain? YI: This is hard to answer. It also depends on how you hold and position the camera in the rain. JK: So, what is the best way to hold it? Like this? (Waves my Eos 3 in various positions) Is this the worst angle? How about upside down? YI: (Laughs) Upright position is the best. I'm sorry I did not specialise in this area, so I can't give you specific details. I was actually more involved in designing the AE (auto exposure) system for the 1v. JK: I know what you mean. The Eos 1v is not a waterproof camera. It has extra weather resistance in order that pros may use it confidently in punishing conditions, but I still don't think that one should go out and leave the camera in the rain just for fun. YI: Yes, that's true. JK: Many have speculated that the 1v would have Eye Controlled Focus. Why is ECF not featured in the 1v? YI: Ahh...good question. Well, firstly, we wanted to develop the best viewfinder possible for the 1v. Emphasis was on viewfinder image quality, clarity, high magnification, dioptre correction and 100% coverage. If the Eos 1v had ECF, we would have to sacrifice a certain level of functions or quality in the viewfinder, as there is limited space. The emphasis was to have the best viewfinder possible with good eye-relief, high-eyepoint and 100% coverage. JK: I think another reason it was omitted was because ECF is still not 100% realiable and does not work perfectly for everyone. Is this true? YI: The Canon team in Tokyo decided that since the Eos 1v would be a 100% pro camera, we had to ensure that any feature incorporated in this camera must be 100% reliable. There is absolutely no excuse for any function not to work 100% on a professional camera. At this point, ECF is almost perfect, but even if one professional photographer finds that ECF does not work perfectly for him or her, then, that feature is not good enough for inclusion in our top-of-the-line pro camera. Our emphasis in the 1v is 100% reliability and dependability. If ECF is to be put on a pro camera, it must also be 100% reliable. JK: I see. OK, let's talk about the AF system. YI: OK. JK: The Eos 3 and 1v have basically the same AF system. In what ways are the 1v's AF system improved over the Eos 3's? YI: Yes, the AF mechanisms in both cameras are basically the same, but since Canon had an additional one-year to develop the 1v, we took the time to make further refinements. The Eos 1v's AF system uses a better algorithm. The AF CPU is also faster. And the surface of 1v's AF sensor module has a better coating. JK: A better coating? YI: Yes, better coating - an anti-reflection layer on the light-sensing surface which reduces ghosting that causes sound to noise ratio deterioration. We also improved on the efficiency of the CMOS AF sensor in the 1v. Each CMOS pixel has a higher active area per pixel. (Clarification from Eos 1v Technical Overview, page 18: "By making full use of its immense semiconductor know-how, Canon achieved a capacity of 10,724 pixels on the 11.3 x 6mm sensor chip. In addition, Canon succeeded in providing each pixel with 12% more effective light-sensing area than the previous level, while achieving an improved S/N ratio.") JK: That's very interesting. YI: Furthermore, to enhance the AF sensor's reliability under varying conditions, we created the secondary image-forming lens (in the AF sensor) from glass instead of moulded plastic. This is a world's first as all other AF sensors, including the Eos 3's, use moulded plastic. Glass is harder and more resistant to temperature changes. By reducing the effects of heat-induced expansion and contraction, AF accuracy is maintained even under extreme conditions. The AF unit is further protected by a special box structure. (Clarification from Eos 1v Technical Overview, page 18: "Development of the glass lens required processing technology with sub-micron (0.0001mm) level precision. Canon cleared this hurdle with its unique expertise and so the Eos 1V becomes the first camera to employ a glass-moulded secondary image-forming lens. No other current AF SLR camera uses this type of lens, which offers both super-high precision and reliability. Canon developed a unique box structure to ensure the AF unit could achieve outstanding resistance to extremes in environmental conditions. This innovative unit completely eliminates component distortion with a closed, all-in-one structure.) JK: Why is it that the 1v's low light AF capability is only at EV 0 while rival cameras can focus down to EV-1? YI: It's quite technical, but let me just say that our emphasis was on a 45-point AF system. If we sacrificed the 45-point AF system, then we can have low light AF capability of -1EV. But we chose to go with the 45 point AF system and besides, EV 0 is still a very good low light performance. JK: Yes. I noticed that although the Eos 1v and Eos 3 are both rated to have similar low-light focusing capability (EV 0), in actual use just now, the Eos 1v focuses faster and more confidently in low light than the Eos 3. YI: Yes, that is true. This is because of the refinements we put in the Eos 1v's AF system. JK: We know that the 1v has very fast AF. The world's fastest in fact. But how good is its accuracy? How does it compare with its rivals, especially the Nikon F5 when it comes to focus tracking? YI: Well, it's difficult to say, as there are many variables in focus tracking. It depends on subject size, speed, movement, etc. Canon's AF system has its strengths and Nikon's AF system also has its strengths, but overall, in total, I'd say that the Canon Eos 1v's AF system is ahead of Nikon's in accuracy and AF tracking. JK: And how much better than the Eos 3? YI: Well, based on the shooting rate in continuous tracking mode, I'd say about a 30% improvement over the Eos 3. JK: Oh, I just remembered, can I use lithium AA's with the Battery pack BP-E1 with the 1v? I know that lithiums can be safely used with the PB-E2 booster, but what about the smaller BP-E1? The instruction manual that comes with it says that lithium AAs are not recommended. YI: I need to check, but I think it should not be a problem. Although lithiums have a higher initial voltage, it goes down very sharply... so, I don't think it might be a crucial problem. Older Eos system accessories may not be able to adjust to lithium AAs, but current Eos equipment and accessories, including the BP-E1, should be able to adjust to lithium AAs. JK: I'd like to ask you about the AE (auto exposure) system now. Both the Eos 1v and Eos 3 have basically the same exposure system - the 21-zone evaluative meter. But is the 1v's AE system any better than the Eos 3's? For example, does it handle backlighting better? YI: Yes, basically both cameras' AE systems are similar. In both cameras, the AE is linked to the active AF point, giving most weightage to the active AF point in use. However, the 1v has a newer, better algorithm which is more "intelligent." With the Eos 1v, even if you made subtle compositional changes, or if your subject moved out slightly out from the coverage of a particular evaluative segment, the camera is able to know which is the actual subject, and that it has moved and will provide a more accurate meter reading. The camera is less affected by differences in brightness between the subject and background or by the subject's reflectance. JK: I know that time is catching up on us. A few quick questions and I'll stop. YI: Yes. JK: Some have said that this may be the last film-based pro camera from Canon. Is that true? YI: Canon will continue to develop 35mm film cameras into the future because 135mm format will still be popular. Of course, digital cameras will provide the greatest speed in producing pictures, but not all users need that kind of speed and many will still want to use film-based cameras. Such people will want a film-based camera, so we at Canon will continue to respond to their needs. JK: So, do you think the Eos 1v is Canon's last professional film-based camera? YI: No, I don't think so. I also think there are still lots of room for improvement in 35mm SLRs - even the Eos 1v has room for improvement. JK: Oh really, what do you think can be improved? YI: Well, a wider AF area, better AE system...etc. JK: Oh yes, why wasn't the AF sensors spread out over a larger area? YI: Well, it's a complex issue but our greatest limitation is the current optical technology. We are working on it and this is one area that will be improved. With current technology, this is the widest area we can cover while maintaining AF accuracy. This is the best we can do for now, but we are continuing our R&D in this area. JK: Will there be a digital version of the 1v? YI: We are now researching and developing it. (Laughs and refuses to comment further). JK: Thank you so much for your time and patience. Last question? In your opinion, is this the world's best 35mm SLR? YI: Of course. YES! (Rises up to shake hands as he leaves) JK: Thank you. END. By Jonathan Kwok (Penang, Malaysia)
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