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DIGIC

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Digital Imaging Core (usually referred to as DIGIC, sometimes rendered as DiG!C) is Canon Inc.'s name for a family of signal processing and control units for digital cameras and camcorders. DIGIC units are used as image processors by Canon in its own digital imagery products. Several generations of DIGICs exist, and are distinguished by a version number suffix.

Currently, DIGIC is implemented as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) designed to perform high speed signal processing as well as the control operations in the product in which it has been incorporated. Over its numerous generations, DIGIC has evolved from a system involving a number of discrete integrated circuits to a single chip system, many of which are based around the ARM architecture platform of RISC processors. Since these processors are based around the ARM CPUs, custom firmware for these units have been developed to add features to the cameras.

DIGIC

The original DIGIC was used on the PowerShot G3[1] (Sep 2002), Canon S1 IS (Mar 2004), A520 (Mar 2005), and other cameras. It consists of three separate chips: a video processing IC, an image processing IC and a camera control IC.

DIGIC II

DIGIC II is a single chip system, unlike the first DIGIC, that allowed for more compact designs. DIGIC II also improved upon the original by adding a larger buffer and increasing processing speed. It has been used in some advanced consumer-level cameras and many discontinued digital SLRs such as Canon EOS 5D and Canon EOS 30D.

DIGIC II uses high-speed DDR-SDRAM, which improves startup time and AF performance. It can write to memory card at speeds up to 5.8 MB/sec.[2] Additionally, Canon claims DIGIC II improves color, sharpness, and automatic white balance with its CMOS sensor in its digital SLR camera line.

DIGIC III

Front view of Canon PowerShot A720 IS

The DIGIC III Image Processor was advertised to deliver improved image quality, faster operation and extended battery life compared to its predecessor. DIGIC III provides a faster interface to the SD memory card for the Canon PowerShot G7 and G9, SD750, SD800, SD850, SD900, SD 1000, A560, A570 IS, A590 IS, A650 IS, A720 IS, A495, EOS XS/1000D, EOS XSi/450D, EOS 40D, EOS 1D Mark III, EOS 1Ds Mark III, and S5 IS. It also provides higher resolution for their LCD screens.[3] Additionally it has a 14-bit A to D converter providing greater bit depth than previous versions.[4]

New features

DIGIC III provides face detection AF/AE, which finds and tracks up to nine faces at once and controls exposure and flash to ensure proper illumination of the faces as well as the rest of the frame, reducing the detrimental effect of overexposed or darkened faces in a photo. It reverts to the AiAF system if the subject is either not detected or not deemed to be a subject (based on the iSAPS database). The latter is useful at tourist spots where there may be many people around who are not intended to be the subject of the scene.[citation needed]

Scene-recognition

iSAPS is a scene-recognition technology developed by Canon for digital cameras.[3] Using an internal database of thousands of different photos, iSAPS also works with the DiG!C III Image Processor to improve focus speed and accuracy, as well as exposure and white balance.[3]

Dual DIGIC III

The Canon EOS-1D Mark III uses dual DIGIC III processors to achieve a capture rate of 10 frames per second at 10.1 MP (with a maximum burst of 110 JPEG images, depending on the speed of the attached storage).[5] The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III also uses dual DIGIC III processors to achieve a capture rate of five frames per second at 21.1 MP.[6]

DIGIC 4

The Canon PowerShot SX210 uses the DIGIC 4 processor.

In 2008, Canon introduced the new DIGIC 4 processor, used by the EOS 1100D/Rebel T3, EOS 500D/Rebel T1i, EOS 550D/Rebel T2i, EOS 600D/Rebel T3i, EOS 50D, EOS 60D, EOS 5D Mark II and EOS-1D X (for metering and AF only). It is also used in newer cameras in Canon's PowerShot lines (A, G, S, SD, and SX).

Canon claims improvements such as:

  • Much faster image processing when compared to previous processors
  • Improved noise reduction in high-ISO images
  • Improved performance while handling larger 14-bit RAW images
  • Live Face Detection AF during Live View
  • H.264 1080p encoding.[7]

Dual DIGIC 4

Dual DIGIC 4 processors are used in the EOS 7D and EOS-1D Mark IV.

DIGIC 5

The Canon EOS 650D/Rebel T4i/Kiss X6i uses the DIGIC 5 processor.

DIGIC 5 is now featured on Canon compact cameras like PowerShot SX40 HS to achieve a capture rate of 10.3 frames per second at full resolution in High-Speed Burst HQ, Full HD 1080p Videos and Intelligent Image Stabilization. Canon claims the new DIGIC 5 processor is 6 times faster than the DIGIC 4 processor and efficiently manages the increase in scene information and simultaneously reduces the appearance of image noise by up to 75%.[8] According to Canon DIGIC 5 analyses four times more image information to create each pixel, recording more detail and colour from a scene than ever before.

DIGIC 5, appears to have been co-designed by Texas Instruments.[9][10]

DIGIC 5 Is used in the Canon EOS 650D/Rebel T4i/Kiss X6i, Canon EOS 700D/Rebel T5i/Kiss X7i, and Canon EOS 100D/Rebel SL1/Kiss X7, as well as Powershot cameras such as the S100 and S110.

DIGIC 5+

DIGIC 5+ is an enhancement to the DIGIC 5 and DIGIC 4. The performance is said to be 17x the performance of the DIGIC 4. [11] [12] The additional processing power allows for higher frame rate in continuous shooting (burst) modes, and greater noise correction through the use of signal processing.

DIGIC 5+ is used in the Canon EOS-1D X, Canon EOS 6D, Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Canon EOS 70D.[13]

Dual DIGIC 5+

The EOS-1D X includes dual DIGIC 5+ processors, allowing for a capture rate of 12 frames per second in RAW + JPEG, and an additional DIGIC 4 processor specifically for its Intelligent Subject Analysis System.[14]

DIGIC 6

The DIGIC 6 Image Processor enables improved low-light performance up to ISO 6400, with reduced noise. In addition, it enables improved AF times and reduced lag over previous models. The improved performance allows for shots at up to 14fps.

Further advancements attributed to DIGIC 6 Image Processor can be experienced in movie mode, which records in MP4 format and doubles the frame-rate to 60fps at 1080p. It also features reduced noise at 30fps and improved image stabilization.[15]

DIGIC 6 is used in the Powershot SX280 HS and Powershot SX270 HS (announced March 2013 and available in April 2013).[16]

DIGIC DV

The DIGIC DV is used in Canon's single-chip CCD digital camcorders as well as the DC20 and DC40 DVD camcorders.

DIGIC DV II

The DIGIC DV II utilizes a hybrid noise reduction system and a new gamma system. The processor is used in all of Canon's high-definition camcorders and, with the exception of the DC20 and DC40, all of their DVD camcorders including the new SD camcorders FS100, FS10, FS11.

DIGIC DV III

The DIGIC DV III processor is used in the new Canon's Legria (PAL)/Vixia (NTSC) high-definition HFS100, HFS10, HF200 and HF20.

The Digic DV III has also been incorporated into the new Canon Cinema EOS line of digital cinema camera, commencing with the C300 in late 2011.

Custom firmware

CHDK firmware, showing the on-screen display editor

The DIGIC board contains an x86 compatible processor (NEC V30 emulation) running Datalight ROM-DOS[17] and only S1IS running VxWorks and two other chips (the image processor itself and a Motorola 68HC12).[18]

The DIGIC II and DIGIC III ASICs contain embedded 32-bit ARM architecture processors. Until around 2007, Canon point-and-shoot cameras ran a VxWorks-based operating system, but recent cameras are based on the DRYOS operating system developed in-house by Canon.[19][20]

CHDK

The free software Canon Hack Development Kit (CHDK) project, started by Andrey Gratchev, has successfully enhanced many Canon PowerShot cameras without replacing the stock firmware.[21][22] It allows vast programmatic control of many Canon compact cameras, enabling users to add features, including games and scripts written in UBASIC or Lua. Features include shooting in RAW, USB-cable remote shutter-release, motion-detection triggered photography, customizable high-speed continuous (burst) TV, Av, ISO, and Focus bracketing (increasing depth of field), 1 Gig video-size limit removed in earlier cameras, Shutter, Aperture, and ISO overrides (shutter speeds of 64" to 1/10,000" and higher).[23]

For the CHDK project to augment or extend firmware, it was necessary to obtain copies of the cameras' original firmware; in some cases this can be done via a pure software method, while others[24] rely on a method of using a blinking LED on the camera as an optical serial port to transmit the firmware to a host computer.[25]

However, to install precompiled firmware on a PowerShot camera, it is only necessary to download the correct binary and copy it to an SD memory card. If the firmware on the card is present when the camera is tuned on, the CHDK firmware will boot and run; if the card is removed, the camera will start up in the original Canon firmware.

400plus

400plus is a free firmware add-on which offers additional functionality for Canon 400D in a non-destructive and non-permanent way.[26] It is a CHDK project.

Magic Lantern

Magic Lantern is a firmware add-on written for the Canon 5D Mark II by Trammell Hudson in 2009, and ported to the 550D/T2i/Kiss X4 (1.0.8) in July 2010 by the same author. Starting September 2010, A1ex from CHDK forum and other people ported this add-on to the 550D/T2i (1.0.9), 60D, 500D/T1i/Kiss X3, 600D/T3i/Kiss X5 (1.0.1) and 50D; It also runs on the 5D Mk II as well as on the 7D.[27] The firmware is released under the GNU General Public License.[28] Originally developed for DSLR filmmaking, its feature base has expanded to include tools useful for still photography as well.[29]

Current features include:

Planned future features include clean HDMI output, anamorphic preview, and custom curves.[30] Because installing Magic Lantern does not replace the stock Canon firmware or modify the ROM but rather runs alongside it, it is both easy to remove and carries little risk. Canon has not made any official statements regarding the add-on firmware, either on the subject of warranty or on the features. [31][32]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Canon PowerShot G3 Review". dpreview. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  2. ^ "The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II: The Absolute Pinnacle Of D-SLR Design And Performance" (PDF). Canon Professional Network. Canon. 2004. p. 12. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "Canon Powershot G7 digital camera". Usa.canon.com. 25 May 2006. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  4. ^ "Canon Professional Network - DIGIC processing". Canon Europe N.V. 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Canon UK – EOS 1D Mark III". Canon.co.uk. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  6. ^ "Canon UK – EOS-1Ds Mark III". Canon.co.uk. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  7. ^ Tomohiro Otsuki, Nikkei Electronics (22 September 2008). "Canon Tips Off Enhanced Capabilities of Its New Image Processor – Tech-On!". Techon.nikkeibp.co.jp. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  8. ^ vashistha pathak, New Camera (15 September 2011). "Canon New Digic V Image Processor". thenewcamera.com. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  9. ^ Inside the Canon Rebel T4i DSLR Chipworks
  10. ^ Magic Lantern Firmware Wiki: Datasheets
  11. ^ "Canon EOS-1D X overview". DP Review. 2012 [last update]. Retrieved 7 December 2012. (Intelligent Subject Analysis System {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  12. ^ "DIGIC Processors Explained". Canon Knowledge Base. 2012 [last update]. Retrieved 16 February 2013. A DIGIC 5+ is [...] 17 times faster than DIGIC 4 {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  13. ^ "Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : EOS 5D Mark III". Canon U.S.A., Inc. 2012 [last update]. Retrieved 6 March 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  14. ^ "Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : EOS-1D X". Canon U.S.A., Inc. 2012 [last update]. Retrieved 6 March 2012. (Intelligent Subject Analysis System {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  15. ^ "All About Canon's Digic 6 Image Processors (Video)". Retrieved 22 May 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Canon unveils SX270 HS 20x superzoom and SX280 HS with GPS and WiFi". Retrieved 21 March 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Tuesday, 24 August 1999  04:00 GMT (24 August 1999). "Canon Pro 70 runs ROM-DOS!: Digital Photography Review". Dpreview.com. Retrieved 30 December 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "Harware of Canon PS A70 (in czech)". Rayer.ic.cz. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  19. ^ "Canon Technologies". Canon. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  20. ^ "DryOS Porting – OS Switch". Chdk.wikia.com. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  21. ^ "CHDK Wiki". Chdk.wikia.com. 30 March 2006. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  22. ^ "How to give your low-end Canon digital camera RAW support". Linux.com. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  23. ^ Slashdot, Hacking Canon Point-and-Shoot Cameras, Posted by kdawson on Tuesday 6 May, @04:56 pm, from the now-don't-brick-it dept.
  24. ^ Canon-hack Development Kit (CHDK) – StereoData Maker
  25. ^ "Porting the CHDK – CHDK Wiki". Chdk.wikia.com. 18 December 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  26. ^ User Guide for 400plus
  27. ^ Magic Lantern team finally cracks the Canon EOS 7D
  28. ^ Unified - Magic Lantern Firmware Wiki
  29. ^ Digital Convergence Episode 3 – Trammell Hudson and Magic Lantern Firmware for the Canon 5D Mark II
  30. ^ "RAW-like highlight recovery in Movie Mode". Magic Lantern Firmware Development Google Groups. Retrieved 23 February 2012. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  31. ^ "Unified User Guide – Magic Lantern Firmware". Magic Lantern Firmware Wiki. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  32. ^ "FAQ – Magic Lantern Firmware WIKI". Magic Lantern Firmware Wiki. Retrieved 23 February 2012.

CHDK and Magic Lantern

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