How to select the right Canon dSLR

By Leonard Goh
Jul 09, 2009

The EOS 5D Mark II is the world's first dSLR with full HD-video recording feature.

One of the two big daddies in the camera business, Canon has a rich heritage of making SLRs since 1959, with the Canonflex being the first. However, it was its debut EOS camera, the EOS 650, which started it all. Not everyone knows this, but EOS stands for Electro-Optical System, and in Greek mythology, Eos is the goddess of dawn. This format uses the EF lens mount which is still in use today in the company's highest-end dSLR. Lenses which were manufactured 20 years ago are still compatible with today's camear. A subset of the EF-mount, the EF-S, was introduced in 2003 to accommodate dSLRs with crop factors.

Canon has come a long way since its first dSLR, the D2000, was showcased in 1998. Its shooters are trusted and used by professional photographers, and its track record remained good. Last year, its anticipated EOS 5D Mark II raised the benchmark by incorporating a full-HD video-recording function. This has set a new standard for other brands to follow.

Some key innovations which Canon has pioneered include the optical image stabilizer (IS) and Ultra Sonic Motor (USM) lenses. Optical IS works by calculating the movements detected and shifting the lens elements in different planes to compensate. This helps prevent bluriness from handshake. USM lenses focus quickly and smoothly, but the most distinct trait would be their extremely silent operation. Today, Canon has incorporated these two features into its entry-level optics.

Click here to see Canon's compact shooters.