DIGIC
With Digic ( Dig ital I maging C ore ; own spelling in different uppercase and lowercase letters , sometimes completely in capital letters) the Japanese manufacturer Canon designates a number of image and video processors developed in-house . They have been used in many of the company's digital cameras since 2002 . The designation of individual processors takes place in Roman and Indian-Arabic numerals .
history
The original Digic processor appeared in 2002. The Digic II version followed in 2004, and the Digic III version in 2006 . With the Canon EOS 50D model , the Digic-4 processor was introduced in October 2008 . The Digic 5 generation was introduced on September 15, 2011 with the presentation of the PowerShot S100 . An improved version of this processor, the Digic 5+ , was used in the EOS models 6D , 1D X , 70D, and 5D Mark III . The successor Digic 6 was used in the Powershot SX280 HS model in April 2013 . This processor was presented in parallel in September 2014 with the further developed model EOS 7D Mark II . The Digic 6+ processor was introduced in the EOS 5D Mark IV , which was launched in September 2016 . The successor Digic 7 was used for the first time in the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and Canon EOS M5 camera models . Its successor processor Digic 8 was initially used in the Canon EOS M50 camera ; Canon introduced with this the possibility of 4k video recordings in the EOS series (up to 25 fps using MPEG-4-AVC / H.264 compression). With the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III , the Digic X processor was introduced in February 2020 . It allows you to record 4k videos with up to 60 fps.
description
The Digic image processors (mostly with ARM core) take over all tasks of digital image processing and camera control. While three ICs were still used with the first Digic (for camera control, image processing, video editing), from the Digic II onwards all functions were implemented on a single chip. These include in particular JPEG compression, control of memory card functions, control of the LC screen , automatic exposure metering and exposure control, autofocus and automatic white balance . According to the manufacturer, the concept of hardware-based camera control with a chip has advantages such as faster response times or shorter shutter release delays , better image processing, faster and more precise autofocus and longer battery life.
The Digic image processors form the basis for Canon's iSAPS technology (“Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space”). Immediately before the shutter is released, essential photographic parameters of the scene such as focal length, brightness and tonal value distribution are automatically analyzed and suitable camera settings are estimated on the basis of a statistical model. The cameras equipped with Digic / iSAPS achieve a fast and precise function of autofocus, exposure control and white balance and, as a result, good image quality.
Alternative firmware attachment
For some cameras (mostly of the compact series) with Digic II, III, -4 and -5 processors, an alternative firmware attachment is available. Free software is being developed under the name CHDK (“Canon Hacker Development Kit”) , which is written to the memory card and adds numerous functions to the original firmware. CHDK can be loaded automatically or manually when switched on. The memory card must be made bootable for CHDK to start automatically. This change is not permanent and can be deactivated at any time by replacing the memory card. The first cameras with a Digic III processor used the VxWorks operating system , the newer Canons own development DryOS . The alternative firmware offers many diverse additional functions, such as a battery level indicator, support for raw files , additional setting options, and extended information on the monitor. Scripts (in Lua and uBasic ) can be used to automate photo-technical processes.
For the 5D Mark II and other models in the EOS series, Magic Lantern is a similar open source project that focuses on the video function. These SLR cameras have a Digic-4 processor and also use DryOS, but have the usual functions that can be retrofitted on the compact cameras using CHDK. That is why the Magic Lantern project has specialized in improving and expanding the film functions of the cameras.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Canon Germany: New flagship: Canon introduces the EOS-1D X Mark III - Canon Press Center. Accessed February 1, 2020 (German).