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.
Software
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.
ZoomBrowser is able to show and
print both JPEG and RAW images. Moreover, RAW images can be
processed and tweaked, using RAW Image Task, a utility
called up by ZoomBrowser.
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.
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Interface & Software
,
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):
