Canon updated its 1D series with the launch of the 10-megapixel EOS 1D Mark III, tagging it as the “world’s fastest DSLR” and marking the 20th anniversary of its EOS system. DCI interviewed with Canon’s director of media and consumer relations Chuck Westfall and discuss the new camera, its design, and some of its more experimental features. Here are some of his interesting comments:

DCI: The press materials mention that the camera includes a 14-bit analog-to-digital converter that should significantly reduce digital and shadow noise. How much less noise should potential users expect, compared to the 1Ds Mark II or the 5D?
Westfall: What we have seen as far as the spec is concerned is only a comparison to the 1D Mark II N. It didn’t compare to the 5D or 30D. Compared to the 1D Mark II N, they are stating that it is 50 percent less shadow noise.

DCI: This is the first EOS DSLR to include live preview. Why introduce it on this camera as opposed to a more affordable or accessible DSLR?
Westfall: We didn’t decide to pick a particular price point. What it really comes down to is the technology that we developed to be able to get the live video feed off the CMOS sensor. It’s somewhat related to what we’ve been able to do with the video-camcorder side products like the HV10 and the HV20. It just turned out that due to the timing of our release schedule, it was better to put it into the 1D at this particular time.

DCI: You mentioned a live video feed. Was there any intention to include video capture on this model?
Westfall: They didn’t have any plan of doing that one way or the other. That’s certainly a legitimate question. At this moment, we don’t know that answer.

DCI: There is drastic reduction of battery size on this model as opposed to the previous 1D-series cameras. How were you able to reduce the battery size so significantly and still supply ample power with dual processors?
Westfall: First, we changed the chemistry of the battery away from the Ni-MH and into Li-ion…the Li-ion has a greater storage capacity than the Ni-MH…stores 2300 milliamps of power compared to only 1600 in the previous. That’s where we were really able to see the improvements in shooting capacity.

DCI: Can you discuss the difference between the dust reduction system on the 1D Mark III and the Digital Rebel XTi?
Westfall: The first physical difference is that instead of having one piezoelectric vibrator located above the cover glass, you now have two, one on the left and one on the right…On the 1D Mark III, the vibrating part is the IR filter. On the XTi, it was the anti-aliasing filter. The difference is between the IR and the anti-aliasing filter.

DCI: What price point will the EOS-1D Mark III be introduced at and when can we expect to see it on the market?
Westfall: We are expecting it during the month of April. The pricing will be finalized once we get close to shipping. The White Papers price is subject to change without notice.