What does DIGIC mean for users?

The Digic processor in the new Canon cameras is supposed to be a real improvement over previous models. What I'm wondering is: what concrete benefits does this processor have?

Has anyone tested a DIGIC camera vs. an older equivalent (such as S45 to S40)? If so, what benefits to everyday use does this processor give? Is the speed increase of this processor negligable (10%) or noticable (100%)?

Well, I'm hoping for an increase in autofocus speed and, much more importantly, a vast increase in frames/second speed over my G1. With the G1 you take a shot, then it's anything from 20secs upwards before you can press the shutter again. I think the G3 will allow buffering of several frames a second for a short burst of shots.

Phil

DrewG said:

The Digic processor in the new Canon cameras is supposed to be a
real improvement over previous models. What I'm wondering is: what
concrete benefits does this processor have?

Has anyone tested a DIGIC camera vs. an older equivalent (such as
S45 to S40)? If so, what benefits to everyday use does this
processor give? Is the speed increase of this processor negligable
(10%) or noticable (100%)?

Click to expand...

--
Phil

I'm sure we'll see reports on the speed improvements once the cameras are ready for distribution! All the reviewers still only have pre-production models.

Michael

DrewG said:

The Digic processor in the new Canon cameras is supposed to be a
real improvement over previous models. What I'm wondering is: what
concrete benefits does this processor have?

Has anyone tested a DIGIC camera vs. an older equivalent (such as
S45 to S40)? If so, what benefits to everyday use does this
processor give? Is the speed increase of this processor negligable
(10%) or noticable (100%)?

Click to expand...

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Hi Phil,

I think there may be something wrong with your camera; while the G1 is kind of slow, I agree with that, I never have to wait so much after taking a shot. If that's what you are waiting, I'm pretty sure it needs to be repaired.

Good luck
Gio

Phil King said:

Phil

DrewG said:

The Digic processor in the new Canon cameras is supposed to be a
real improvement over previous models. What I'm wondering is: what
concrete benefits does this processor have?

Has anyone tested a DIGIC camera vs. an older equivalent (such as
S45 to S40)? If so, what benefits to everyday use does this
processor give? Is the speed increase of this processor negligable
(10%) or noticable (100%)?

Click to expand...

--
Phil

Click to expand...

--
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Giordano Biondani said:

Hi Phil,

I think there may be something wrong with your camera; while the G1
is kind of slow, I agree with that, I never have to wait so much
after taking a shot. If that's what you are waiting, I'm pretty
sure it needs to be repaired.

Click to expand...

I agree. In fact I was thrilled with the G1's speed when I moved up from the Kodak DC260. Now that one really did make you wait 20 seconds.

Sure, the G1 can't be considered a speed demon compared to more modern models, but 20 seconds sounds broken to me.

Giordano Biondani said:

Good luck
Gio

Phil King said:

Well, I'm hoping for an increase in autofocus speed and, much more
importantly, a vast increase in frames/second speed over my G1.
With the G1 you take a shot, then it's anything from 20secs upwards
before you can press the shutter again. I think the G3 will allow
buffering of several frames a second for a short burst of shots.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Errrr well, I have to admit that I don't often take "action" shots, but the last time I tried it I missed most of the action because the camera seemed not to want to release the shutter again. It was a boat race, I took a nicely composed shot right at the start of the race, then ran along the river bank to get another at the finishing line. As I took my position I was still kind've on the move, and of course the boats were too! I think it was because the camera was not able to focus that the shutter wouldn't fire.

I just tested it, and the G1 fires approximately once every 2-3 seconds on a fixed subject - phew, perhaps it's not such a bad old box after all !

eg said:

Giordano Biondani said:

Hi Phil,

I think there may be something wrong with your camera; while the G1
is kind of slow, I agree with that, I never have to wait so much
after taking a shot. If that's what you are waiting, I'm pretty
sure it needs to be repaired.

Click to expand...

I agree. In fact I was thrilled with the G1's speed when I moved up
from the Kodak DC260. Now that one really did make you wait 20
seconds.

Sure, the G1 can't be considered a speed demon compared to more
modern models, but 20 seconds sounds broken to me.

eg #37159 said:

Good luck
Gio

Phil King said:

Well, I'm hoping for an increase in autofocus speed and, much more
importantly, a vast increase in frames/second speed over my G1.
With the G1 you take a shot, then it's anything from 20secs upwards
before you can press the shutter again. I think the G3 will allow
buffering of several frames a second for a short burst of shots.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Phil

I would define “DIGIC” as a magical marketing term that Canon has come out with in the hope of confusing consumers that there ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) is the best thing since sliced bread.

That said, wait till some people get their hands on the G3 and see what the whole camera system can do, this is what is important.

Morris

DrewG said:

The Digic processor in the new Canon cameras is supposed to be a
real improvement over previous models. What I'm wondering is: what
concrete benefits does this processor have?

Has anyone tested a DIGIC camera vs. an older equivalent (such as
S45 to S40)? If so, what benefits to everyday use does this
processor give? Is the speed increase of this processor negligable
(10%) or noticable (100%)?

Click to expand...

DrewG wrote:
From the Canon web site:

Canon has designed the DIGIC processor specifically for great image processing. Combining the 6 key elements of image rendering

AE / AF
AWB
signal processing
JPEG compression
memory card control
LCD monitor display

I believe I read elseware (although I cannot find it atm) that Canon has previously been using off the shelf componants comprised of multiple chips for the above functions. Now they've combined all these functions into a single unit. This alows them to make a smaller package (lower power) as well as tune the componants specifically for thier application.

If they've done it right, I'd expect a marginal improvement all the above areas. Not dramatic but, however. Since this is thier first round of camera's with this chip, there may be some "maturing" required to obtain its full potential.

But as has been mentioned many times before, we will have to wait and see.

Greg

Let me add one more thing. For me the Canon hype around DIGIC reminds me of all the techno hype about APS a few years ago. The film was magnetic, so all the exposure information could stored for each shot alowing the developer to leverage the data for optimized processing.

While that may all be true, the pictures coming out of my expensive Elph 370z (also a pre-order) were very dissapointing. Either way the techno-gadgetry could not overcome the small size of the APS film or my bad photography skills. While on paper it was impressive, in practice it was a bust.

Greg

Also consider that the brand of CF card can effect the write speed greatly.

I have a few different cards and the speed difference on the same camera is up to 2.5 times slower on some brands (for me anyway)

(My Ridata ones are quickest and the Sandisk that came with the camera are slowest)

Cheers Tim....

Phil King said:

I just tested it, and the G1 fires approximately once every 2-3
seconds on a fixed subject - phew, perhaps it's not such a bad old
box after all !

eg said:

Giordano Biondani said:

Hi Phil,

I think there may be something wrong with your camera; while the G1
is kind of slow, I agree with that, I never have to wait so much
after taking a shot. If that's what you are waiting, I'm pretty
sure it needs to be repaired.

Click to expand...

I agree. In fact I was thrilled with the G1's speed when I moved up
from the Kodak DC260. Now that one really did make you wait 20
seconds.

Sure, the G1 can't be considered a speed demon compared to more
modern models, but 20 seconds sounds broken to me.

Member said:

Good luck
Gio

Phil King said:

Well, I'm hoping for an increase in autofocus speed and, much more
importantly, a vast increase in frames/second speed over my G1.
With the G1 you take a shot, then it's anything from 20secs upwards
before you can press the shutter again. I think the G3 will allow
buffering of several frames a second for a short burst of shots.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Phil

Click to expand...

I agree that it does have a very "marketing dept" sound to it.

I hope it works like they say and means faster processing.

The proof, as they say, will be in the pudding. (or the eating of the pudding)

Hmmmm pudding.....

Tim...

The benefits of a fast CF card are totally realized with this camera. If you use a Ridata or Transcend CF card in your G1 it will act like a totally different camera.

Matt Dawson

T L Johns said:

I have a few different cards and the speed difference on the same
camera is up to 2.5 times slower on some brands (for me anyway)

(My Ridata ones are quickest and the Sandisk that came with the
camera are slowest)

Cheers Tim....

Phil King said:

I just tested it, and the G1 fires approximately once every 2-3
seconds on a fixed subject - phew, perhaps it's not such a bad old
box after all !

eg said:

Giordano Biondani said:

Hi Phil,

I think there may be something wrong with your camera; while the G1
is kind of slow, I agree with that, I never have to wait so much
after taking a shot. If that's what you are waiting, I'm pretty
sure it needs to be repaired.

Click to expand...

I agree. In fact I was thrilled with the G1's speed when I moved up
from the Kodak DC260. Now that one really did make you wait 20
seconds.

Sure, the G1 can't be considered a speed demon compared to more
modern models, but 20 seconds sounds broken to me.

T L Johns said:

Good luck
Gio

Phil King said:

Well, I'm hoping for an increase in autofocus speed and, much more
importantly, a vast increase in frames/second speed over my G1.
With the G1 you take a shot, then it's anything from 20secs upwards
before you can press the shutter again. I think the G3 will allow
buffering of several frames a second for a short burst of shots.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Phil

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

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