![Procesador de Imagen Canon Digic 4](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Procesador_de_Imagen_Canon_Digic_4.JPG)
Digital Imaging Integrated Circuit (often styled as "DiG!C") is
Canon Inc.
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, specializing in optical, imaging, and industrial products, such as lenses, cameras, medical equipment, scanners, printers, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. 's name for a family of
signal processing
Signal processing is an electrical engineering subfield that focuses on analyzing, modifying and synthesizing ''signals'', such as audio signal processing, sound, image processing, images, and scientific measurements. Signal processing techniq ...
and
control unit
The control unit (CU) is a component of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) that directs the operation of the processor. A CU typically uses a binary decoder to convert coded instructions into timing and control signals that direct the ope ...
s for
digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that captures photographs in digital memory. Most cameras produced today are digital, largely replacing those that capture images on photographic film. Digital cameras are now widely incorporated into mobile device ...
s and
camcorder
A camcorder is a self-contained portable electronic device with video and recording as its primary function. It is typically equipped with an articulating screen mounted on the left side, a belt to facilitate holding on the right side, hot-swa ...
s. DIGIC units are used as
image processor
An image processor, also known as an image processing engine, image processing unit (IPU), or image signal processor (ISP), is a type of media processor or specialized digital signal processor (DSP) used for image processing, in digital cameras or ...
s by Canon in its own digital imaging products. Several generations of DIGICs exist, and are distinguished by a version number suffix.
Currently, DIGIC is implemented as an
application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) designed to perform high speed signal processing as well as the control operations in the product in which it has been incorporated. Over its numerous generations, DIGIC has evolved from a system involving a number of discrete
integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit (also referred to as an IC, a chip, or a microchip) is a set of electronic circuits on one small flat piece (or "chip") of semiconductor material, usually silicon. Large numbers of tiny ...
s to a single chip system, many of which are based around the
ARM
In human anatomy, the arm refers to the upper limb in common usage, although academically the term specifically means the upper arm between the glenohumeral joint (shoulder joint) and the elbow joint. The distal part of the upper limb between the ...
instruction set
In computer science, an instruction set architecture (ISA), also called computer architecture, is an abstract model of a computer. A device that executes instructions described by that ISA, such as a central processing unit (CPU), is called an ' ...
.
Custom firmware Custom firmware, also known as aftermarket firmware, is an unofficial new or modified version of firmware created by third parties on devices such as video game consoles and various embedded device types to provide new features or to unlock hidden f ...
for these units has been developed to add features to the cameras.
DIGIC in Cameras
Original DIGIC
The original DIGIC was used on the
PowerShot G3 (Sep 2002),
Canon S1 IS (Mar 2004),
A520 (Mar 2005), and other cameras. It consists of three separate chips: a video processing
IC, an image processing IC and a camera control IC.
DIGIC II
DIGIC II is a single chip system introduced in 2004,
unlike the first DIGIC, that allowed for more compact designs. DIGIC II also improved upon the original by adding a larger buffer and increasing processing speed. It has been used in some advanced consumer-level cameras and many digital SLRs such as
Canon EOS 5D and
Canon EOS 30D.
DIGIC II uses high-speed
DDR-SDRAM
Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DDR SDRAM) is a double data rate (DDR) synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) class of memory integrated circuits used in computers. DDR SDRAM, also retroactively called DDR1 ...
, which improves startup time and
AF performance. It can write to memory card at speeds up to 5.8 MB/sec. Additionally, Canon claims DIGIC II improves color, sharpness, and automatic
white balance
In photography and image processing, color balance is the global adjustment of the intensities of the colors (typically red, green, and blue primary colors). An important goal of this adjustment is to render specific colors – particularly neu ...
with its
CMOS sensor
An active-pixel sensor (APS) is an image sensor where each pixel sensor unit cell has a photodetector (typically a pinned photodiode) and one or more active transistors. In a metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) active-pixel sensor, MOS field-effec ...
in its
digital SLR
A digital single-lens reflex camera (digital SLR or DSLR) is a digital camera that combines the optics and the mechanisms of a single-lens reflex camera with a digital imaging sensor.
The reflex design scheme is the primary difference between a ...
camera line.
DIGIC III
![DIGIC III](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/DIGIC_III.JPG)
The DIGIC III Image Processor, introduced in 2006,
was advertised to deliver improved image quality, faster operation and extended battery life compared to its predecessor. DIGIC III provides a faster interface to the
SD memory card
Secure Digital, officially abbreviated as SD, is a proprietary non-volatile flash memory card format developed by the SD Association (SDA) for use in portable devices.
The standard was introduced in August 1999 by joint efforts between SanDisk ...
for the Canon PowerShot G7 and G9, SD750, SD800, SD850, SD900, SD 1000, A560, A570 IS,
A590 IS, A650 IS,
A720 IS, A495, EOS XS/1000D, EOS XSi/450D, EOS 40D, EOS 1D Mark III, EOS 1Ds Mark III, and S5 IS. It also provides higher resolution for their LCD screens.
Additionally it has a 14-bit A to D converter providing greater bit depth than previous versions.
New features
DIGIC III provides face detection AF/AE, which finds and tracks up to nine faces at once and controls exposure and flash to ensure proper illumination of the faces as well as the rest of the frame, reducing the detrimental effect of overexposed or darkened faces in a photo. It reverts to the AiAF system if the subject is either not detected or not deemed to be a subject (based on the ''iSAPS'' database). The latter is useful at tourist spots where there may be many people around who are not intended to be the subject of the scene.
Scene-recognition
iSAPS is a scene-recognition technology developed by Canon for digital cameras.
Using an internal database of thousands of different photos, iSAPS also works with the DIGIC III Image Processor to improve focus speed and accuracy, as well as exposure and white balance.
Dual DIGIC III
The
Canon EOS-1D Mark III
The EOS 1D Mark III is a professional 10.1 megapixel digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR) camera body produced by Canon. The EOS 1D Mark III was announced on February 21, 2007 and is the successor of the Canon EOS-1D Mark II N and was first ...
uses dual DIGIC III processors to achieve a capture rate of 10 frames per second at 10.1
MP (with a maximum burst of 110
JPEG
JPEG ( ) is a commonly used method of lossy compression for digital images, particularly for those images produced by digital photography. The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and imag ...
images, depending on the speed of the attached storage).
The
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
The EOS-1Ds Mark III is a digital SLR camera body by Canon designed for professional photographers. The Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III is successor to the EOS-1Ds Mark II and was announced in August 2007. The camera features a full-frame 21.1 megapixe ...
also uses dual DIGIC III processors to achieve a capture rate of five frames per second at 21.1 MP.
DIGIC 4
In 2008, Canon introduced the DIGIC 4 processor, used by the
EOS 1100D/Rebel T3,
EOS 500D/Rebel T1i,
EOS 550D/Rebel T2i,
EOS 600D/Rebel T3i,
EOS 50D
In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Eos (; Ionic and Homeric Greek ''Ēṓs'', Attic ''Héōs'', "dawn", or ; Aeolic ''Aúōs'', Doric ''Āṓs'') is the goddess and personification of the dawn, who rose each morning from her home ...
,
EOS 60D,
EOS 1200D/Rebel T5,
EOS 5D Mark II and
EOS-1D X (for metering and AF only). It is also used in newer cameras in Canon's PowerShot lines (
A,
D,
G,
S,
SD, and
SX).
Canon claims improvements such as:
* Much faster image processing when compared to previous processors
* Improved noise reduction in high-
ISO
ISO is the most common abbreviation for the International Organization for Standardization.
ISO or Iso may also refer to: Business and finance
* Iso (supermarket), a chain of Danish supermarkets incorporated into the SuperBest chain in 2007
* Iso ...
images
* Improved performance while handling larger 14-bit RAW images
* Live Face Detection AF during Live View
*
H.264
Advanced Video Coding (AVC), also referred to as H.264 or MPEG-4 Part 10, is a video compression standard based on block-oriented, motion-compensated coding. It is by far the most commonly used format for the recording, compression, and distr ...
1080p
1080p (1920×1080 progressively displayed pixels; also known as Full HD or FHD, and BT.709) is a set of HDTV high-definition video modes characterized by 1,920 pixels displayed across the screen horizontally and 1,080 pixels down the screen vert ...
encoding.
Dual DIGIC 4
Dual DIGIC 4 processors are used in the
EOS 7D and
EOS-1D Mark IV.
DIGIC 4+
This processor was introduced in 2014, replacing the DIGIC 5 in some mid-range compact cameras (particularly in the
Elph/IXUS and
SX series) and later used in budget DSLRs such as
EOS 1300D/Rebel T6,
EOS 2000D/Rebel T7/EOS 1500D and the
EOS 4000D/EOS 3000D/Rebel T100. Full specifications were not made available at introduction, but Canon claims a 60% speed improvement over the original DIGIC 4 on high ISO shots.
DIGIC 5
![Canon EOS 650D in a show-case](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Canon_EOS_650D_in_a_show-case.jpg)
In 2011, Canon introduced the DIGIC 5.
It is featured on Canon compact cameras like
PowerShot SX40 HS to achieve a capture rate of 10.3 frames per second at full resolution in High-Speed Burst HQ, Full HD 1080p Videos and Intelligent Image Stabilization. Canon claims the new DIGIC 5 processor is six times faster than the DIGIC 4 processor and efficiently manages the increase in scene information and simultaneously reduces the appearance of image noise by up to 75%. According to Canon, DIGIC 5 analyses four times more image information to create each pixel, recording more detail and colour from a scene than ever before.
DIGIC 5 was co-designed with
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is an American technology company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, that designs and manufactures semiconductors and various integrated circuits, which it sells to electronics designers and manufacturers globall ...
(TI) and manufactured by TI through foundry partnership in Asia using 45 nm node technology fanned out by TI.
DIGIC 5 Is used in the
EOS 650D/Rebel T4i/Kiss X6i,
EOS 700D/Rebel T5i/Kiss X7i,
Canon EOS M
Canon EOS M is the first mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera produced by Canon.
DPReview noted that the EOS M is effectively a miniature version of the Canon EOS 650D, which was introduced in June 2012, with a simpler physical interface. The ...
, and
EOS 100D/Rebel SL1/Kiss X7, as well as
PowerShot
The PowerShot products is a line of consumer and prosumer grade digital cameras, launched by Canon in 1996. () In 1996 a model of PowerShot was introduced to the market, The Powershot 600. The production of The PowerShort came shortly after Can ...
cameras such as the Canon PowerShot N,
S100,
S110,
G15 and
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
The Canon PowerShot SX50 HS is a 12.1 megapixel PowerShot made by Canon
Canon or Canons may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Canon (fiction), the conceptual material accepted as official in a fictional universe by its fan base
* Literar ...
.
DIGIC 5+
DIGIC 5+ is an enhancement to the DIGIC 5 and DIGIC 4. The performance is said to be 17x the performance of the DIGIC 4. The additional processing power allows for higher frame rate in continuous shooting (burst) modes, and greater noise correction through the use of signal processing.
DIGIC 5+ is used in the
EOS-1D X,
EOS 6D,
EOS 5D Mark III and the
EOS 70D.
Dual DIGIC 5+
The
EOS-1D X includes dual DIGIC 5+ processors, allowing for a capture rate of 12 frames per second in RAW + JPEG, and an additional DIGIC 4 processor specifically for its Intelligent Subject Analysis System.
DIGIC 6
Introduced in 2013,
the DIGIC 6 image processor enables improved low-light performance up to ISO 6400, with reduced noise. In addition, it enables improved AF times and reduced lag over previous models. The improved performance allows for shots at up to 14 fps.
Further advancements attributed to DIGIC 6 can be experienced in movie mode, which records in MP4 format and doubles the frame-rate to 60 fps at 1080p. It also features reduced noise at 30 fps and improved image stabilization.
DIGIC 6 is used in
EOS 750D/Rebel T6i,
EOS 760D/Rebel T6s,
EOS 80D,
PowerShot G16,
PowerShot N100,
PowerShot S120,
PowerShot SX270 HS,
PowerShot SX280 HS,
PowerShot SX60 HS, PowerShot SX700 HS, PowerShot SX710 HS and PowerShot SX720 HS.
In February 2014, Canon also released the compact
Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II. They released their newest compact mirrorless
Canon EOS M3
The Canon EOS M3 is a digital mirrorless camera announced by Canon on February 6, 2015.
Design
Like its predecessor, the Canon EOS M2, the camera uses the Canon EF-M lens mount. However, the EOS M3 adds a number of new features, including a ...
in February 2015 and the
Canon EOS M10
The Canon EOS M10 is a digital mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera first announced by Canon Inc. on October 13, 2015. It was replaced by the Canon EOS M100.
Design
The EOS M10 is an interchangeable lens camera that uses the Canon EF-M le ...
in October 2015, both also utilize internal WLAN 802.11b/g/n.
Dual DIGIC 6
The
Canon EOS 7D Mark II
The Canon EOS 7D Mark II is a professional digital single-lens reflex camera made by Canon. It was announced on September 15, 2014 with a suggested retail price of US$1,799. It features a 20.2 effective megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, Full HD vi ...
includes dual DIGIC 6 processors, allowing for a capture rate of 10 frames per second in RAW + JPEG, and an additional DIGIC 6 processor specifically for its Intelligent Subject Analysis System. The
Canon EOS 5DS
The Canon EOS 5DS and EOS 5DS R (known as the EOS 5Ds and EOS 5Ds R in Japan) are two closely related digital SLR cameras announced by Canon on February 6, 2015. Both are professional full-frame cameras with 50.6-megapixel se ...
and
EOS 5DS R also use dual DIGIC 6 processors, with the capability to shoot up to five 50.6MP frames per second.
DIGIC 6+
The
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is a professional-grade 30.1-megapixel full-frame digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera made by Canon.
Succeeding the EOS 5D Mark III, it was announced on 25 August 2016. The Mark IV went on sale in September 2016 w ...
includes a DIGIC 6+ processor.
Dual DIGIC 6+
The
Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II was the company's 20-megapixel full-frame DSLR flagship camera, announced on February 1, 2016, by Canon with an MSRP of US$5,999.00. It is the successor to the Canon EOS-1D X, which was released in 2012.
On January 6, 2 ...
includes dual DIGIC 6+ processors, allowing for a capture rate of 170 consecutive RAW images at 14 fps or 4k Video with up to 60 fps.
DIGIC 7
The DIGIC 7 processor was introduced in 2016 with the
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
The Canon PowerShot G7 X is a compact digital camera announced by Canon Inc. on September 15, 2014. It did not replace any model in the Canon lineup. Instead it was a new camera intended to compete with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100-series camera ...
the first Canon camera to include this feature.
Canon’s next generation DIGIC 7 adds substantially improved image processing power and enables super-fast AF speeds and 8 fps RAW continuous shooting, reducing noise and helping you capture the most fleeting of moments. For assured, responsive shooting, improved subject detection ensures the camera locks onto subjects even when saturation and contrast are low. The EOS-like Auto Lighting Optimizer also improves contrast by providing natural correction while maintaining balanced brightness and darkness.
The following cameras are using this processor:
* The
Canon EOS M5
The Canon EOS M5 is a digital mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera announced by Canon on September 15, 2016, and released in November 2016.
As with all of the Canon EOS M series cameras, the M5 uses the Canon EF-M lens mount. With the EF-EOS ...
, a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, introduced in 2016.
* The
Canon EOS 77D
The Canon EOS 77D, known in Japan as the EOS 9000D, and in Mainland China as the EOS 770D, is a digital single-lens reflex camera announced by Canon on February 14, 2017. It has a body-only MSRP of US$899.99, which is more expensive than Canon EOS ...
and
Canon EOS 800D
The Canon EOS 800D, known in the Americas as the EOS Rebel T7i and in Japan as the EOS Kiss X9i, is a digital single-lens reflex camera announced by Canon on February 14, 2017. It is the successor to the EOS 750D (Rebel T6i) and the predecessor t ...
, introduced in February 2017.
* The
Canon EOS M6
The Canon EOS M6 is a digital mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera announced by Canon on February 14, 2017, and released in April 2017. As with all of the Canon EOS M series cameras, the M6 uses the Canon EF-M lens mount.
The camera's screen ...
, announced in February 2017.
* The
Canon EOS 6D Mark II released in July 2017.
* The
Canon EOS 200D
The Canon EOS 200D, known as the EOS Rebel SL2 in the Americas and EOS Kiss X9 in Japan, is a 24.2-megapixel upper entry-level midrange digital single-lens reflex camera made by Canon. It was announced on 28 June 2017, with a suggested retail pr ...
, known as the EOS Rebel SL2 in the Americas and EOS Kiss X8 in Japan, released in July 2017.
* Last in this series is the
Canon EOS M100
The Canon EOS M100 is a digital mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera first announced by Canon Inc. on August 29, 2017. Canon EOS M100 incorporates the proprietary image processor that allows the camera to capture still images up to 6.1 fps ...
, released in August 2017.
DIGIC 8
The DIGIC 8 was introduced together with the
Canon EOS M50
The Canon EOS M50, called Canon EOS Kiss M in Japan, is a digital mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera announced by Canon on February 26, 2018 and sale began on March 23, 2018.
As with all of the Canon EOS M series cameras, the M50 uses the ...
in February 2018. It can process 4k videos with up to 30 fps using MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression.
The new DIGIC 8 image processor has also contributed to an enhanced Dual Pixel CMOS AF system. The system can now display more AF points (99 points; up to 143 points with supported lenses), and covers a larger AF area (approximately 88% horizontal by 100% vertical of the screen) when a compatible lens is attached. This contributes to improved AF capability and tracking performance.
Cameras using this processor include:
* The
EOS M50, a crop-sensor (APS-C) mirrorless camera in Canon M series lineup introduced in February 2018. It is the first camera with DIGIC 8 processor.
* The
EOS R
The Canon EOS R is a 30.3 megapixel full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera launched by Canon in October 2018.
The "R" in EOS R comes from the first letter of "Reimagine optical excellence", Canon's development concept for both th ...
, the first full-frame mirrorless camera from Canon, introduced in October 2018.
* It was also introduced with the Canon SX740HS and SX 70 HS cameras in 2018.
* The
EOS RP, introduced in February 2019.
* The
Canon EOS 250D
The Canon EOS 250D is a 24.1 megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) made by Canon. It was announced on 10 April 2019 with a suggested retail price of €549. It is also known as the EOS Kiss X10 in Japan and the EOS Rebel SL3 in ...
, also called Canon EOS Rebel SL3, announced 10 April 2019, also uses the DIGIC 8.
* The Canon G7 X Mark III and Canon G5 X Mark II, both introduced in July 2019.
* The
Canon EOS 90D
The Canon EOS 90D is a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera announced by Canon on August 28, 2019. It has a body-only MSRP of US$1199, which is the same as the Canon EOS 80D, which it replaces.
The camera is one of Canon's higher-end A ...
and the
Canon EOS M6 Mark II
The Canon EOS M6 Mark II is a digital mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera announced by Canon on August 28, 2019, and released in September 2019. As with all of the Canon EOS M series cameras, the Canon EOS M6 Mark II uses the Canon EF-M lens ...
, both introduced in August 2019.
* The
Canon EOS M200
The Canon EOS M200 is a digital mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera first announced by Canon Inc. on September 25, 2019. Canon EOS M200 incorporates the proprietary image processor that allows the camera to capture still images up to 6.1 ...
announced in September 2019.
* The
Canon EOS 850D
The Canon EOS 850D, known in the Americas as the EOS Rebel T8i and in Japan as the EOS Kiss X10i, is a digital single-lens reflex camera announced by Canon on February 12, 2020.
Main features
* 24.1-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with Dual Pixel C ...
announced February 2020.
DIGIC X
The DIGIC X was introduced together with the
1D X Mark III in February 2020. It can process 4k videos with up to 120fps (8k videos up to 30fps on EOS R5). The new performance and image quality-based improvements include:
* Improved noise-reduction processing.
* Sharpness-based image processing.
* Dedicated sections ("blocks") of the processor for specific Dual Pixel CMOS AF tasks, and for subject detection (including the new Head Detection AF, and AF tracking capabilities for both viewfinder and Live View shooting).
* Image processing performance up to approximately 3.1× faster than two DIGIC 6+ processors.
* Continuous processing speeds up to approximately 380× faster than two DIGIC 6+ processors.
* A significant reduction in power consumption against previous Dual DIGIC 6+ processors.
Cameras using this processor include:
* The
Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III is the company's 20-megapixel full-frame DSLR flagship camera, announced on January 6, 2020, by Canon. It is the successor to the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, which was released on February 1, 2016.
The camera will reporte ...
introduced in February 2020.
* The
Canon EOS R5
The Canon EOS R5 is a full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera officially announced by Canon on July 9, 2020 alongside the lower-resolution EOS R6 and various new RF mount lenses. While it is not a direct successor to any of Canon's pr ...
and the
Canon EOS R6
The Canon EOS R6 is a high-end full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera produced by Canon. The camera was announced by Canon on July 9, 2020, alongside the EOS R5.
Features
* 20.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor
* 4K 10-bit ...
, both introduced in July 2020.
* The
Canon EOS R3
The Canon EOS R3 is a 24 megapixel full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera launched by Canon officially announced by Canon on 14 September 2021 alongside two RF mount lenses. The camera is available as body only with a MSRP of US$5,999 ...
introduced in September 2021.
* The
Canon EOS R7 &
Canon EOS R10
Canon or Canons may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Canon (fiction), the conceptual material accepted as official in a fictional universe by its fan base
* Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture
** Western can ...
announced on May 24th 2022.
DIGIC DV in Video Cameras
DIGIC DV
The DIGIC DV is used in Canon's single-chip CCD digital camcorders as well as the DC20 and DC40 DVD camcorders.
DIGIC DV II
The DIGIC DV II utilizes a hybrid noise reduction system and a new gamma system. The processor is used in all of Canon's high-definition camcorders and, with the exception of the DC20 and DC40, all of their DVD camcorders including the new SD camcorders FS100, FS10, FS11.
DIGIC DV III
The DIGIC DV III processor is used in the Legria (
PAL
Phase Alternating Line (PAL) is a colour encoding system for analogue television. It was one of three major analogue colour television standards, the others being NTSC and SECAM. In most countries it was broadcast at 625 lines, 50 fields (25 ...
)/Vixia (
NTSC
The first American standard for analog television broadcast was developed by National Television System Committee (NTSC)National Television System Committee (1951–1953), Report and Reports of Panel No. 11, 11-A, 12–19, with Some supplement ...
) high-definition HFS100, HFS10, HF200 and HF20.
The Digic DV III has also been incorporated into
Cinema EOS
The Canon Inc., Canon Cinema EOS (Cinema Electro-Optical System) autofocus Digital data, digital photographic and cinematographic single-lens reflex camera, SLR and mirrorless interchangeable lens camera system was introduced in late 2011 with ...
line of digital cinema camera, commencing with the
C300 in late 2011.
DIGIC DV 4
The DIGIC DV 4 processor was introduced in 2013 in the Vixia/Legria G, R, and Mini series camcorders, as well as that year's XA-20 and -25 professional camcorders. Canon claims it is capable of recording simultaneous MP4 and AVCHD video streams.
DIGIC DV 5
The DIGIC DV 5 first seen in the 2015
Canon XC10
Digital Imaging Integrated Circuit (often styled as "DiG!C") is Canon Inc.'s name for a family of signal processing and control units for digital cameras and camcorders. DIGIC units are used as image processors by Canon in its own digital imagi ...
and the
Canon EOS C300 Mark II
The Canon EOS C300 Mark II is Canon's update to its first generation cinema camera, the Canon C300, and is part of the Canon Cinema EOS line. Notable new features compared to the previous model are the implementation of a sensor capable of a 15-sto ...
, which both were announced on 8 April 2015 right before the
NAB Show
NAB Show is an annual trade show produced by the National Association of Broadcasters. It takes place in April, and has been held since 1991 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show's tagline is "Where Content Comes to ...
. The XC10 uses a single DIGIC DV 5, while the C300 Mark II uses a dual DIGIC DV 5 implementation. Both are capable of 4k at 24, 25 and 30fps with 4:2:2 colour sampling in the XF-AVC H.264 codec. The DV 5 also allowed for a much more advanced and intuitive GUI.
DIGIC DV 6
The DIGIC DV 6 is used at the
Canon EOS C200
The Canon EOS C200 is a digital cinema camera in the Cinema EOS range. It was announced by Canon on May 31, 2017. It is available in two options: as the production-ready C200 with an EVF, LCD monitor, handle and handgrip accessories; or as the st ...
, which were announced on 31 May 2017. The C200 uses a dual DIGIC DV 6 implementation. It is capable of 4k up to 60fps.
DIGIC DV 7
The DIGIC DV 7 is used on the Canon EOS C500 Mark II, which was announced on 5 September 2019. The C300 mark III uses a DIGIC DV 7 implementation. The C300mkiii is capable of 4k up to 120fps when recording in XF-AVC 4:2:2 10-Bit, and Cinema RAW Light. The Canon C500mkii is capable of 5952 x 3140 up to 60fps when recording in Cinema RAW Light 10-Bit, as well as 12-Bit 30fps in both 5.9k and 4k super35 modes.
Custom firmware
The DIGIC board contains an x86 compatible processor (
NEC V30
The NEC V20 is a microprocessor that was designed and produced by NEC. It is both pin compatible and object code compatible with the Intel 8088, with an instruction set architecture (ISA) similar to that of the Intel 80188 with some extensio ...
emulation) running
Datalight
Datalight was a privately held software company specializing in power failsafe and high performance software for preserving data integrity in embedded systems. The company was founded in 1983 by Roy Sherrill, and is headquartered in Bothell, Washi ...
ROM-DOS
Datalight was a privately held software company specializing in power failsafe and high performance software for preserving data integrity in embedded systems. The company was founded in 1983 by Roy Sherrill, and is headquartered in Bothell, Washi ...
and only S1IS running VxWorks and two other chips (the image processor itself and a
Motorola 68HC12
The 68HC12 (6812 or HC12 for short) is a microcontroller family from Freescale Semiconductor. Originally introduced in the mid-1990s, the architecture is an enhancement of the Freescale 68HC11. Programs written for the HC11 are usually compatib ...
).
The DIGIC II and DIGIC III
ASIC
An application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC ) is an integrated circuit (IC) chip customized for a particular use, rather than intended for general-purpose use, such as a chip designed to run in a digital voice recorder or a high-efficien ...
s contain embedded 32-bit processors based on the
ARM
In human anatomy, the arm refers to the upper limb in common usage, although academically the term specifically means the upper arm between the glenohumeral joint (shoulder joint) and the elbow joint. The distal part of the upper limb between the ...
instruction set
In computer science, an instruction set architecture (ISA), also called computer architecture, is an abstract model of a computer. A device that executes instructions described by that ISA, such as a central processing unit (CPU), is called an ' ...
. Until around 2007, Canon point-and-shoot cameras ran a
VxWorks
VxWorks is a real-time operating system (or RTOS) developed as proprietary software by Wind River Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aptiv. First released in 1987, VxWorks is designed for use in embedded systems requiring real-time, determin ...
-based
operating system
An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs.
Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also in ...
, but recent cameras are based on the
DRYOS
DRYOS is a real-time operating system made by Canon
Canon or Canons may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Canon (fiction), the conceptual material accepted as official in a fictional universe by its fan base
* Literary canon, an accepted b ...
operating system developed in-house by Canon.
CHDK
The
free software
Free software or libre software is computer software distributed under terms that allow users to run the software for any purpose as well as to study, change, and distribute it and any adapted versions. Free software is a matter of liberty, no ...
Canon Hack Development Kit (CHDK) project, started by
Andrey Gratchev, has successfully enhanced many
Canon PowerShot
The PowerShot products is a line of consumer and prosumer grade digital cameras, launched by Canon in 1996. () In 1996 a model of PowerShot was introduced to the market, The Powershot 600. The production of The PowerShort came shortly after Cano ...
cameras without replacing the stock
firmware
In computing, firmware is a specific class of computer software that provides the low-level control for a device's specific hardware. Firmware, such as the BIOS of a personal computer, may contain basic functions of a device, and may provide h ...
. It allows programmatic control of many Canon compact cameras, enabling users to add features, including games and scripts written in
UBASIC
UBASIC is a freeware (public domain software without source code) BASIC interpreter written by Yuji Kida at Rikkyo University in Japan, specialized for mathematical computing.
Features
UBASIC is a ready-to-run language that does not need to be s ...
or
Lua
Lua or LUA may refer to:
Science and technology
* Lua (programming language)
* Latvia University of Agriculture
* Last universal ancestor, in evolution
Ethnicity and language
* Lua people, of Laos
* Lawa people, of Thailand sometimes referred t ...
. Features include shooting in RAW, USB-cable remote shutter-release, synchronized shooting between multiple cameras, motion-detection triggered photography, customizable high-speed continuous (burst) TV, Av, ISO, and Focus bracketing (increasing
depth of field
The depth of field (DOF) is the distance between the nearest and the furthest objects that are in acceptably sharp focus in an image captured with a camera.
Factors affecting depth of field
For cameras that can only focus on one object dist ...
), 1 Gig video-size limit removed in earlier cameras, Shutter, Aperture, and ISO overrides (shutter speeds of 64" to 1/10,000" and higher).
For the CHDK project to augment or extend firmware, it was necessary to obtain copies of the cameras' original firmware; in some cases this can be done via a pure software method, while others rely on a method of using a blinking LED on the camera as an optical serial port to transmit the firmware to a host computer.
However, to install precompiled firmware on a PowerShot camera, it is only necessary to download the correct binary and copy it to an SD memory card. If the SD card is set to lock and the boot flag is enabled when the camera is turned on, the camera will autoboot from the binary file on the card and CHDK will be loaded into the camera's RAM. If the card is unlocked or removed, the camera will start up in the original Canon firmware. CHDK will mask the lock on the SD card so that the camera will still write to it however. Alternatively, CHDK can be loaded manually from the Canon menu.
CHDK is released under the
GNU GPL
The GNU General Public License (GNU GPL or simply GPL) is a series of widely used free software licenses that guarantee end users the four freedoms to run, study, share, and modify the software. The license was the first copyleft for general us ...
, version 2 or later.
400plus
400plus is a free firmware add-on which offers additional functionality for Canon
400D in a non-destructive and non-permanent way.
Spy Lantern
Spy Lantern is a
surveillance camera
A closed-circuit television camera can produce images or recordings for surveillance or other private purposes. Cameras can be either video cameras, or digital stills cameras. Walter Bruch was the inventor of the CCTV camera. The main purpose o ...
commercial project based on PowerShot and CHDK open script.
Magic Lantern
![MagicLanternLOGO-SVG-Datei](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/MagicLanternLOGO-SVG-Datei.svg)
Magic Lantern is a firmware add-on written for the Canon 5D Mark II by Trammell Hudson in 2009, and ported to the 550D/T2i/Kiss X4 (1.0.8) in July 2010 by the same author. Starting September 2010, A1ex from CHDK forum and other people ported this add-on to the 550D/T2i (1.0.9), 60D, 500D/T1i/Kiss X3, 600D/T3i/Kiss X5 (1.0.1) and 50D; It also runs on the 7D. The firmware is released under the
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License (GNU GPL or simply GPL) is a series of widely used free software licenses that guarantee end users the Four Freedoms (Free software), four freedoms to run, study, share, and modify the software. The license was th ...
. Originally developed for DSLR filmmaking, its feature base has expanded to include tools useful for still photography as well.
Current features include:
* Audio controls, on-screen audio meter, audio monitoring via A/V cable
*
HDR video,
bitrate
In telecommunications and computing, bit rate (bitrate or as a variable ''R'') is the number of bits that are conveyed or processed per unit of time.
The bit rate is expressed in the unit bit per second (symbol: bit/s), often in conjunction w ...
control,
FPS
FPS may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* "F.P.S." (''Law & Order: Criminal Intent''), an episode of the TV show ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent''
* '' fps magazine'', a defunct magazine about animation
* ''The Fabulous Picture Show'', a televi ...
control, auto-restart
* Precise ISO, White Balance, and Shutter Speed controls
*
Zebras
Zebras (, ) (subgenus ''Hippotigris'') are African equines with distinctive black-and-white striped coats. There are three living species: the Grévy's zebra (''Equus grevyi''), plains zebra (''E. quagga''), and the mountain zebra (''E. zeb ...
,
false colour
False color (or pseudo color) refers to a group of color rendering methods used to display images in color which were recorded in the visible or non-visible parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. A false-color image is an image that depicts ...
,
histogram
A histogram is an approximate representation of the distribution of numerical data. The term was first introduced by Karl Pearson. To construct a histogram, the first step is to " bin" (or "bucket") the range of values—that is, divide the ent ...
,
waveform
In electronics, acoustics, and related fields, the waveform of a signal is the shape of its graph as a function of time, independent of its time and magnitude scales and of any displacement in time.David Crecraft, David Gorham, ''Electronic ...
, spot meter,
vectorscope
A vectorscope is a special type of oscilloscope used in both audio and video applications. Whereas an oscilloscope or waveform monitor normally displays a plot of signal vs. time, a vectorscope displays an X-Y plot of two signals, which can r ...
* Focus peaking, 'magic zoom',
trap focus,
rack focus
A focus puller or first assistant camera (1st AC) is a member of a film crew's camera department whose primary responsibility is to maintain the camera lens's optical focus on whatever subject or action is being filmed.
"Pulling focus" refers to ...
,
follow focus {{unreferenced, date=September 2008
A follow focus is a focus control mechanism used in filmmaking with film cameras and in television production with professional video cameras. It is ergonomic rather than strictly necessary; in other words it do ...
*
Automatic Exposure Bracketing
Autobracketing is a feature of some more advanced cameras, whether film or digital cameras, particularly single-lens reflex cameras, where the camera will take several successive shots (often three) with slightly different settings. The images may ...
,
focus stacking
Focus stacking (also known as focal plane merging and z-stacking or focus blending) is a digital image processing technique which combines multiple images taken at different focus distances to give a resulting image with a greater depth of fiel ...
*
Intervalometer
An intervalometer, also called an interval meter or interval timer, is a device that measures short intervals of time. People commonly use such devices to signal, in accurate time intervals, the operation of some other device. The intervalomete ...
, bulb ramping, bulb timer (up to 8 hours)
* Custom cropmarks/on-screen graphics
* On-screen focus and
DOF info, CMOS temperature, clock
* Customizable menus
* 14 bit RAW Video on some DSLRs
Planned future features include
clean HDMI
Uncompressed video is digital video that either has never been compressed or was generated by decompressing previously compressed digital video. It is commonly used by video cameras, video monitors, video recording devices (including general-purp ...
output, anamorphic preview, and custom
curves
A curve is a geometrical object in mathematics.
Curve(s) may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Curve (band), an English alternative rock music group
* ''Curve'' (album), a 2012 album by Our Lady Peace
* "Curve" (song), a 20 ...
.
Because installing Magic Lantern does not replace the stock Canon firmware or modify the ROM but rather runs alongside it, it is both easy to remove and carries little risk. Canon has not made any official statements regarding the add-on firmware, either on the subject of warranty or on the features.
See also
*
Nikon EXPEED
The Nikon Expeed image/video processors (often styled ''EXPEED'') are media processors for Nikon's digital cameras. They perform a large number of tasks: Bayer filtering, demosaicing, image sensor corrections/dark-frame subtraction, image noise ...
*
Sony BIONZ
BIONZ is a line of image processors used in Sony digital cameras.
It is currently used in many Sony α DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Image processing in the camera converts the raw data from a CCD or CMOS image sensor into the format that is sto ...
*
Texas Instruments DaVinci
The Texas Instruments DaVinci is a family of system on a chip processors that are primarily used in embedded video and vision applications. Many processors in the family combine a DSP core based on the TMS320 C6000 VLIW DSP family and an ARM CPU ...
References
External links
CHDK and Magic Lantern
CHDK project at WikiaCHDK Autobuild*
Official Magic Lantern Website StereoData Maker, a 'light-weight' variant of CHDK.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Digic
Canon Inc.
Camera firmware
Free photo software
ARM architecture
Image processors