TWAIN software

Just like the EOS-D30 the EOS-1D is supplied with a TWAIN module which provides a RAW conversion and programming of certain camera functions. Unlike the D30's USB the 1D has an IEEE 1394 (Firewire) port and so will require you to have Firewire connectivity to transfer images directly from the camera, control the camera from your PC/Mac (remote capture - not yet available for testing) and create image parameter sets (tone, sharpening and JPEG quality settings).

TWAIN software features summary

Direct connection to the EOS-1D (via Firewire)

• Set camera owners name, date & time, format CF card
• Set personal functions (25)
• Program camera parameter sets (custom tone curves, sharpening, JPEG quality settings)
• Program personal white balance presets (PC-1, PC-2, PC-3)
• Browse, modify, erase and transfer images from CF card in camera

Browsing images (on camera or local folder)

• View as a thumbnail index (three sizes of thumbnail)
• View as full window preview
• Check / Un-check images
• Protect / Un-protect images
• Attach IPTC information
• Playback attached voice annotations
• Transfer images from CF card to local hard disk
• Re-save images into different formats (RAW to RAW, JPEG or TIFF)
• Acquire images (convert / transfer back to host application)
• Acquire a thumbnail index (contact sheet)
• Display detailed exposure and camera settings information for each image
• Erase image(s)
• Set RAW parameters
  • Tone curve (gamma)
  • White balance
  • Sharpening (on a global basis)
  • Exposure compensation (makes use of additional latitude in RAW files)
• Convert RAW image
  • Acquire back to host application (8 or 16 bit or Linear)
  • Save as JPEG or TIFF (8 or 16 bit)

Main window

Thumbnail mode

After starting the TWAIN module (selecting 'acquire' from a TWAIN compatible host application) the main window is displayed. Those who have used Kodak's Acquire modules in the past will find the layout of this screen quite familiar. You can connect directly to the camera to browse the contents of a CF card or select a folder on your local disk which contains JPEG or RAW files. It's interesting to note that Canon have stuck to the Kodak convention of giving their RAW files a TIF file extension (not the CRW extension used on the D30).

Preview mode

Images can also be 'previewed' as a full window size image, in this mode it is possible to view the AF point positions by clicking on the AF point icon on the toolbar.

Preferences

The preferences dialog is spread across two tabs (as shown below). It allows you to set various conversion settings: transfer resolution (DPI embedded in the file header), transfer bit depth (8 / 16), transfer JPEG (if shot as RAW+JPEG), sharpness settings, linear (no gamma correction / tone curve), false color filter (moiré filter).

RAW file manipulation

You can manipulate one image or a multiple selection of images, RAW images can have their white balance, colour matrix, tone curve and even 'digital exposure compensation' set before the image is either acquired or saved. Some of the adjustments which can be made:

Digital Exposure Compensation

Below you can see the same RAW image acquired with both negative and positive exposure compensation. Image saved in colour matrix 1 (sRGB). Original shot: ISO 640, 1/100 s, F6.3.

0.0 EV compen. (Original)	+1.0 EV compen.	+2.0 EV compen.

IPTC

The TWAIN software also supports IPTC (Interational Press and Telecommunications Council) information which can be embedded within the images.

Save File

With one or more image selected you can either acquire (transfer the image back to the host application) or save files as RAW, TIFF or JPEG (seen below):

Image file information (from file header)

The text below is an example of the information available in the bottom right hand pane of the main TWAIN software window. As you can see it covers a wide range of exposure and camera setting information as well as a complete set of the custom function settings.

File Name
     7E9A1451.TIF
Camera Model Name
     Canon EOS-1D
Shooting Date/Time
     11/24/2001 2:07:49 PM
Shooting Mode
     Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed )
     1/2000
Av( Aperture Value )
     3.2
Metering Mode
     Evaluative
Exposure Compensation
     0
ISO Speed
     400
Lens
     70.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length
     125.0 mm
Image Size
     2464x1648
Image Quality
     RAW
Flash
     Off
White Balance
     Shade
AF Mode
     One-Shot AF
Parameters
     Tone Curve         Standard
     Sharpness level    0
     Pattern sharpness  Standard
Color Matrix
     4
File Size
     3454KB
Serial Number
       0-1451

Custom Function Settings
    00:Focusing Screen
         1:[L] Ec-A,B,C,CII,CIII,D,H,I,L
    01:Finder display during exposure
         0:No viewfinder display
    02:Shutter release without CF card
         1:Not possible
    03:ISO speed expansion
         1:Expanded sensitivity
    04:Shutter button/AE lock button
         0:AF/AE lock
    05:Manual Tv/Av set. for M exp.
         0:Tv value: Main dial, 
         Av value: Quick Control dial
    06:Exposure level increments
         0:1/3-stop set, 1/3-stop comp.
    07:USM lens electronic MF
         0:Turns on after One-Shot AF
    08:Top LCD panel/Back LCD panel
         1:ISO/Remain. Shots
    09:Auto bracketing sequence/cancel
         0:0,-,+/Auto cancellation
    10:AF point illumination
         0:On
    11:AF point selection method
         0:AF point selection button
           + Main (horizontal) /
           Quick Control (vertical) dial operation
    12:Mirror lockup
         0:Disable
    13:Number AF points/Spot metering
         0:45/Center AF point
    14:Auto reduction of fill flash
         0:Enable
    15:Shutter curtain synchronization
         0:1st-curtain synchronization
    16:Safety shift in Av or Tv
         0:Disable
    17:AF point activation area
         0:Single AF point
    18:Switch to registered AF point
         0:Assist button + AF point selection button
    19:Lens AF stop button function
         0:AF stop
    20:AI SERVO tracking sensitivity
         0:Standard
Drive Mode
     Single-frame shooting
Owner's Name
     dpreview.com
Camera Body No.
     002025

RAW Conversion Performance

The test machine used was a Vaio Notebook with an 850 Mhz Pentium III processor and 256 MB of RAM running Windows 2000. Software used was Canon Digital Camera TWAIN Version 4.0.1.22. A group of RAW images were selected from the thumbnail window and then the 'Save File' option was used to convert images directly to the destination format. The conversion process was timed and divided by the number of images converted.

As you can see the EOS-1D's RAW conversion is very fast, considerably faster than the EOS-D30 and faster than Nikon Capture converting Nikon RAW files. I was however shocked to see that it takes three times longer to convert / acquire an image when rotated through 90 degrees, so the advice from me (at least until Canon fix this bug) is always acquire in the default orientation and rotate the images later. Applying differeing white balance, color matrix or sharpening settings only added about 0.3 seconds to the conversion of each image.