Canon EOS 30D

Reviewed November 2006

Interface & Software

With the addition of an extra Custom function, and an option here and there, the interface of the EOS 30D remains essentially the same as that of the 20D. One of these additions is particularly practical: the ISO can now be displayed in the viewfinder at a press of the DRIVE/ISO button.

Normally, the primary user interface of the EOS 30D is its LCD panel, on the top right of the camera. The panel is well designed, and only some of its icons, such as those that represent the white balance settings, may be a touch too small to be easily read by everyone.

The other part of the 30D's interface is the menu. The menu is composed of 3 sections: Shooting, Playback and Setup. The Setup section, identified by , serves to select basic settings for the camera, and is the access to the 19 Custom Settings (see the Characteristics section of the review for details about the Custom functions):

• Auto Power Off: decides the delay before the camera shuts down automatically: 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30 minutes, or Off.
• Auto Rotate: automatically rotates vertical shots so they are displayed correctly on the monitor, or on a computer running Canon's software. Options are: On for both the camera and computer playback; or On for computer playback only; or Off.

• LCD Brightness: to adjust the brightness of the LCD monitor over 5 increments.
• Date/Time: to set the time and date on the camera.
• File Numbering: allows files to be incremented continuously, Auto reset, or manually reset.
• Language: sets the menu language to English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, or Japanese.
• Video system: NTSC or PAL.

• Communication offers two choices: Print/PC (PictBridge or Mass Storage Device), or LAN (WFT-E1) to connect with the optional Wireless File Transmitter.
• Format: to format a memory card or a Microdrive.
• Custom Functions (C. Fn): access to the 19 Custom Functions of the 30D (see the Characteristics section of the review).
• Clear settings: returns all camera settings to the factory defaults.
• Sensor cleaning: lifts the mirror and raises the curtain so the sensor can be cleaned using a manual blower.

• Image Transfer (LAN) Settings: displayed only when Wireless File Transmitter (WFT-E1/E1A) is used. Serves to configure LAN settings.
• Firmware Version: serves to update the firmware.

Canon provides complete documentation with the EOS 30D. First, a compact printed manual that can be slipped in a camera bag is provided, covering all the functions and shooting modes of the camera. Second, a Pocket Guide is also included, perfect for keeping in a wallet. Third, a software manual is provided, detailing the uses and functions of the EOS Digital software that is bundled with the camera (see further). Finally, some foldouts containing information on compatible system accessories and lenses are supplied as well.

Canon provides two discs with the EOS 30D:

• A disc containing the instruction manuals for the supplied software in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) and in a variety of languages.
• A disc called EOS Digital Solution containing:
  
• ZoomBrowser EX,
• Digital Photo Professional,
• EOS Utility,
• EOS Capture,
• PhotoStitch 3.1,
• Canon camera TWAIN and WIA Drivers.

EOS Utility serves to download images automatically using either the Print/Share button or the computer to start the process; to select images for download; to control camera settings and perform Remote Shooting; to Monitor a folder automatically; or to set preferences for items, such as where photos are stored when downloaded.

ZoomBrowser is the standard Canon software, supplied with all Canon digital cameras. ZoomBrowser is a multi-facetted program that can be used to organize images, view them, do some editing, and even print them. Photos can be seen in one of three ways: in a detailed view, a thumbnail view or, as shown at right, as a film strip at the bottom of the program's window with the currently selected image shown larger above, with its basic data on the right.

Digital Photo Professional is an even more advanced piece of software, designed specifically for EOS cameras. The software is able to process RAW images quickly, and is intended to meet the needs of serious amateur photographers and professionals. The program not only supports Canon's RAW formats (.CRW and .CR2), it also supports Exif-TIFF and Exif 2.2 or 2.21 JPEG and JFIF images and supports CMS (Colour Management Systems).

PhotoStitch 3.1, also included with the EOS 30D, is to create panoramic images by stitching series of photographs together. As the 30D does not include a Panoramic mode, any use of the software will require that images are captured with a sufficient overlap, and comparable exposures for the program to assemble them.