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Interview: Canon Inc manager discusses 1D Mark IV's development
One week after Canon launched the fourth iteration of its 1D pro digital SLR, BJP sits down with Tsunemasa Ohara, senior general manager, Photo Products Group at Canon Inc, who has been in charge of the camera's development.
The camera , years in the making, was designed using extensive feedback from photographers using the Canon Professional Services centres across the world, Ohara tells BJP. ‘The centres have discussions with the users, and that feedback then come to Canon Japan,' he says. ‘The second kind of feedback we receive is during test shoots of the new product by professional photographers. During testing, we receive a lot of information we can use.'
He explains that product development times depend on the components of a camera. The body, sensors and other components have different development cycles, which makes it close to impossible to determine when a product really start to being developed.
This time around, Canon has one issue to take care of – that of the autofocus system. Weeks after the release of its 1D Mark III camera, photographers reported issues with the camera's sub-mirror, which caused autofocus tracking inconsistencies when used in Artificial Intelligent Servo continuous shooting mode (BJP, 07 November 2007).
However, Ohara didn't see the autofocus problems as issues, he says. ‘The 1D Mark III was not so good in a specific situation for a specific purpose. We redesigned the autofocus sensor and improved it. We also redesigned the algorithms, and we now believe we have solved it.'
Canon's next task was to decide what features should be enhanced. ‘When we developed and manufactured the CMOS sensor and Digic processor, we looked at the combination these two elements could bring to photographers. It's possible to have higher ISO as well as more pixels, so we looked at having the best combination of the two.'
The 1D Mark IV offers an ISO range of 50 to 102,400, as well as a 16.1 million pixel resolution. ‘We think that ISO and resolution should be improved upon. Some people require more pixels, other prefer a higher ISO. We provide a combination of both.'
The video mode was also enhanced to provide variable frame rates at the maximum high-definition resolution available. While Canon refuses to discuss future product development, it says that it regards video as being an integral part of a DSLR. ‘We take video very seriously,' Ohara tells BJP. ‘Video is not just an add-on to a camera. We see a lot of photographers and videographers are asked to take both still and moving images. Our goal is to supply one tool that can answer these needs.'
Ohara adds that Canon hasn't ruled out merging its 1D camera line with the 1Ds – a pro DSLR with higher resolution and slower frame rate, designed at commercial photographers. ‘We have a lot of contacts with professional photographers,' he says. ‘Right now, they want two different models. But if tomorrow they asked for one single model, we will decide on the direction we will take.'
In the meantime, one thing is sure, Canon always intended to give the number four to its latest model, despite rumours that the 1D Mark IV would actually be named the 1D Mark V. ‘In the Asian region, the number four is not so good, but we did launch Digic 4 and now the 1D Mark IV,' says Ohara. ‘We don't think 4 is unlucky.'
It was made by "The British Journal of Photography"
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV details
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